Respiratory Therapy
MS
Why study Respiratory Therapy?
The Master of Science in Respiratory Therapy is designed to educate respiratory therapists with a bachelor’s degree with increased knowledge and preparation to facilitate their transition into educator and/or managerial roles.
Program Goals
The goal of the Master of Science in Respiratory Therapy Program is to provide graduates of entry into respiratory care professional practice degree programs with additional knowledge, skills, and attributes in leadership, management, education, and research that will enable them to meet their current professional goals and prepare them for practice as advanced degree respiratory therapists. To that end, program coursework and experiences emphasize the competencies required of respiratory therapists to serve as leaders and educators in accordance with the standards of ethics and professionalism outlined by The American Association for Respiratory Care.
The program is designed for working adults who need to maintain employment while furthering their education. Students take 2 courses per semester for 5 semesters and have the ability to select one of three available concentrations that will focus on the career advancement that is right for them.
CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.”
Review CoARC Program Outcomes Data
Admission Requirements
The online Master of Science in Respiratory Therapy program empowers medical professionals to advance their careers and take on roles as educators and leaders in their workplace. If you’re currently a registered respiratory care worker with a bachelor’s degree, you can earn your respiratory therapy master’s degree online with a flexible schedule in under two years at the University of Cincinnati.
Prerequisites
- Bachelor’s degree in a health-related field.
- Conferred degree from a CoARC-accredited Entry into Respiratory Care Professional Practice program.
- NBRC Credentials – Be credentialed by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). The RRT credential cannot be expired.
- Transcript: Submit unofficial transcripts for all college and universities attended.
- Active state license – Upload an active (non-expired) copy of your state license.
Bachelor’s Degree
Students applying to the program must have completed a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field.
Professional Experience
Two years of respiratory therapy professional experience.
- Upload a copy of your active state license
- Upload a copy of your active NBRC RRT credentials
Application Fee
$65 domestic/$70 international application fee.
Transcript
- Student will upload unofficial transcripts (from all colleges or universities attended)
- Official transcripts are not required until an offer of admission has been accepted
Resume
Upload your CV/Resume demonstrating a minimum of two years of professional respiratory therapy experience.
Personal Statement
A narrative written essay, minimum one page (500 words), describing your future academic and professional goals.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation should be from a professional (supervisor, manager, administrator, medical director, mentor, educator) who has knowledge of your readiness for graduate-level work.
The United States is currently witnessing a boom in demand for knowledgeable, qualified respiratory therapists. This need derives mainly from our aging population. As baby boomers move into retirement, we are seeing an increase in age-related health issues, including pulmonary conditions. Respiratory therapists are required to help patients cope with, recover from and find comfort with their conditions.
Another major cause stems from the poor air quality found in communities around the world. From cities in the United States to developing countries across the globe, a decline in air quality has resulted in an increase in lung-related health conditions. We rely on respiratory therapists to help fight these health issues.
The need for kind, caring respiratory therapists and health care professionals is clear. Today, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute estimates there are 12 million patients suffering from undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as 12 million diagnosed patients.
In addition to clinical roles, there is also a growing and urgent demand for educators within the respiratory care field. As the profession expands, so does the need for those who can teach and mentor the next generation of respiratory therapists. Earning a master’s degree in respiratory care not only enhances your clinical expertise but also opens the door to shaping the future of the field—making a lasting impact through education and leadership.
The information provided is sourced from a third party, Lightcast. Their product, called Career Coach, combines extensive labor market data from Lightcast and the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics. It provides insights on industry, occupation, compensation, and projected growth for each profession. Economic and workforce information is available for various geographic regions. Some careers may require additional training or education.
For advising, information, questions or concerns, please contact the Program Director, Nancy Colletti (College of Allied Health Sciences).
The Master’s in Respiratory Therapy degree at University of Cincinnati Online is unique because you can choose 1 of 3 concentration options: Health Informatics, Higher Education or Health Administration, so you can focus and excel on the career that is right for you. The program consists of 6 respiratory core classes, 1 capstone course, and 1 set of concentration courses.
Completion of the 30 program credits including 3 hours of Capstone. A 3.0 GPA is required to graduate.
Students who have earned graduate credits from accredited institutions may be eligible to apply some or all of those credits towards their pursuit of the Master of Respiratory Therapy, provided they are from an accredited institution. Please contact the program for specifics about the policy.
We will accept transfers from other UC majors as long as they meet the criteria for admission into this program.
Transcripts for a degree received outside the U.S. must be evaluated by a credible credential evaluation organization such as WES.
Because this is an online program, students abroad will not need visas, and will complete the program remotely.
Explore unique opportunities, faculty, and resources available in Clinical and Health Information Sciences
The University of Cincinnati Master of Science degree in Respiratory Therapy Program, CoARC #520015, Cincinnati campus location holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com). This status signifies that a program with an Approval of Intent has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the Standards (through submission of an acceptable Provisional Accreditation Self Study Report (PSSR) and any other documentation required by the CoARC, as well as satisfactory completion of an initial on-site visit. Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care http://www.coarc.com/
Contact Information
Find related programs in the following interest areas:
Program Code: 35MAS-RSTH-MS-.RSTH-DL