Online Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy
UC’s Bachelor’s in Respiratory Therapy degree prepares professional Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs) and Certified Respiratory Therapists (CRTs) with additional knowledge, skills, and attributes in leadership management, education, and research.
What is Respiratory Therapy?
Respiratory Therapy refers to the care of patients who are diagnosed with diseases related to the lungs and respiratory system, including those suffering from COPD, asthma, problems from lung cancer, and more. Respiratory therapists work in a variety of settings – from hospitals to home-based care – performing assessments, disease management, patient education, and more.
A career in respiratory therapy is ideal for compassionate individuals interested in lung-related healthcare. Graduates of the University of Cincinnati’s Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy program are equipped with the knowledge and skills required to take on leadership roles in the world of respiratory care, from assisting patients with lung conditions to educating family members of patients about how to offer care.
BS Respiratory Therapy Program Highlights
High Quality Education
- All of UC's programs (on campus and online) are led by nationally-recognized, award-winning faculty
- CoARC accredidated
- A complete educational pathway starting with bachelor's into the Master of Science in Respiratory Therapy
Flexibility
- Easy credit transfer
- Fully Online (No Campus Visits)
- Complete in as little as 5 semesters
Support from Application through Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your partner through the application process, getting enrolled, and starting your program
Student Success Coordinator: Helping you prepare for classes and stay on track
Access to Resources: Access to university resources that will support you through your program including online learning expectations and resources, health and wellness resources, and academic support
The BS in Respiratory Therapy is a completely online program that trains students in all the necessary skills, knowledge and technical expertise required for Respiratory Therapists to advance their careers including management opportunities, graduate school, and specialized clinical practice.
Core Courses: 28 credits
Advanced Courses: 22 credits
All core courses must be completed prior to enrolling in advanced courses
Accelerated Option
For students who plan to continue on to our MSRT (Master of Science in Respiratory Therapy) program, there is an accelerated option that allows students to take some of their core MSRT courses before they graduate with their BSRT. This allows students to start their graduate degree while still paying the undergraduate rate for classes. For more information, talk to an Enrollment Services Advisor today.
| Course | Title/Description | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| RSTH 3001 | Community Health Problems and Practices This course focuses on determinants of the health of individuals and the challenges faced by communities as they work to improve the health of their residents. Students develop plans to maximize the use of community resources to address both acute and chronic respiratory conditions. |
3 |
| RSTH 3002 | Healthcare Documentation and Communication This course is designed to improve writing competence as a healthcare leader, clinician or educator. Focus is on the construction, evaluation and organization of written communication in the healthcare setting with an emphasis on Respiratory Therapy. Topics include: written medical documentation; article and proposal writing, using APA style for citations and references; patient education materials; etc. Students also review the basics of clear communication, both written and oral. |
3 |
| RSTH 3004 | Integration of Delivery of Respiratory Therapy The course provides students with an overview of how the healthcare system works in the United States. Specifically, the focus of the course is the role of the respiratory therapist within the healthcare system. The differences between public and private healthcare insurance are evaluated throughout the course. Students gain insight into healthcare from both a clinical and management aspect. The course provides the student with the tools to function more efficiently as part of an integrated healthcare team. |
3 |
| RSTH 3010 | Caregiving in the Respiratory Therapy Professions This course develops expertise in the science and art of caregiving from the perspective of the healthcare professional. Students study age-specific care issues, culturally specific caregiving, compassion fatigue, family interaction and family-centered care, and death and dying. Caregiving issues directly related to patients with respiratory disease will be emphasized. |
3 |
| RSTH 3040 | Management in Respiratory Therapy This course focuses on the basics of healthcare management, including budgeting and financial management, data management, managing in clinical settings, and resource utilization. Respiratory Therapy students learn how to assess healthcare information systems and database management systems. |
3 |
| RSTH 3050 | Aging and Respiratory Therapy This course provides Respiratory Therapy students with an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of gerontology. Topics include theories of aging, health and illness in later life, diversity and aging, and bio-psycho/social and spiritual aspects of growing old. Respiratory Therapy content includes the biology of aging on lung function and working with older patients with multiple impairments. |
3 |
| RSTH 3065 | Disease Management/Patient Education Students in this course will learn to communicate with patients regarding their disease state. By developing a detailed knowledge of respiratory disease and treatment options, future practitioners will be prepared to counsel and advise patients on how to deal with their disease through the use of diet, exercise, medication regimes, etc. |
3 |
| RSTH 3080 | Mid-Collegiate Interprofessional Touch Point Conference This course will focus on the basics of healthcare management, including budgeting and financial management, data management, managing in clinical settings, and resource utilization. Respiratory Therapy students will learn how to assess healthcare information systems and database management systems. |
0 |
| RSTH 4060 | Research Method and Analysis Students review basic statistical models and inference applied to problems in healthcare, with an emphasis on Respiratory Therapy. Students also develop an understanding of research protocols and evaluation, critically analyze research data, and develop skills in interpreting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative research in Respiratory Therapy. Topics include IRBs and clinical trials. |
9 |
| Course | Title/Description | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| RSTH 4001 | Research Methods & Analysis Students will review basic statistical models and inference applied to problems in health care, with an emphasis on Respiratory Therapy. Students will develop an understanding of research protocols and evaluation, critically analyze research data, and develop skills in interpreting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative research in Respiratory Therapy. Topics will include IRBs and clinical trials. By completing this course, students will be prepared to write an abstract, develop a proposal, and be capable of undertaking a significant research project. |
5 |
| RSTH 4030 | Alternative Practices and Current Trends in Respiratory Care A study of the Respiratory Therapist role in other healthcare areas and an analysis of current administrative, legal, regulatory, professional issues, and current trends which influence the Respiratory Care Profession. |
4 |
| RSTH 4050 | Advanced Respiratory Therapy/Leadership & Project Management This course focuses on strategic, operational, and project management topics in the healthcare/respiratory care field, with an emphasis on increasing efficiency and quality of care. Topics include: allocating staff and resources effectively; assessing financial and regulatory implications from a business perspective; developing, negotiating, and managing comprehensive programs; and leading and motivating effective teams. |
|
| RSTH 4070 | Respiratory Therapy Specialty I w/ Observation An internship that will focus on specialty disciplines within respiratory therapy that potentially will foster an interest for the student to sit for one of NBRC or its affiliates specialty exams (NPS, CPFT, RPFT, SDS, ACCS, or AE-C). The course is designed to promote interest for RRTs in the specialty practices of respiratory therapy. The internship design and placement will be determined by the interest area of the student (neonatal, pediatrics, sleep disorders, asthma, diagnostics, or critical care). The students will complete 20 hours of observation in their chosen specialty of respiratory therapy. The observation can be performed at the student’s place of employment as long as it is a specialty area in which the students does not currently work and during non-working hours. Paid work time cannot count as observation time. The program director will help the student arrange an alternate observation site other than the site of employment within close proximity to where the student lives if necessary. In addition to other assignments, the student will develop a comprehensive reflective journal detailing their experiences as the final project for the course. |
3 |
| RSTH 4075 | Respiratory Therapy Specialty II Registered Respiratory Therapist can practice in expanded respiratory care areas that require additional training, education, credentials, and knowledge that goes beyond what is taught in an introductory respiratory care program. This course will focus on the expanded roles that Respiratory Therapists can take beyond traditional in-patient hospital care. Students will identify the benefits of these expanded roles and how these roles impact patient care. |
3 |
| RSTH 5001 | Respiratory Therapy Capstone This culminating course will enable senior-level Respiratory Therapy students to develop a proposal and complete a project or research paper based upon one of their areas of interest (Disease Management, Leadership and Project Management, or Education and Research). Presentations of completed papers or projects will be delivered by the student to selected Respiratory Therapy managers/specialists at a pre-determined site. |
3 |
Prerequisites
- Earned associate degree in respiratory care or respiratory therapy from a CoARC accredited institution.
*If students have a degree from a nationally accredited CoARC institution, their transcripts will be eligible for review. Fill out the form above to be contacted by an enrollment advisor who will be able to answer any further questions.
Complete the online application and submit the application fee.
Standard Application Fees:
- $50.00 for domestic applicants to most degree programs
- $100.00 for international applicants to most degree programs
- Application fees for UC Online programs are waived through Summer 2026 for all applicants
- Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who:
- are currently serving in the US armed forces
- are veterans of the US armed forces
Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year. Our staff will review your application based on the following:
If you’ve earned an associate degree from a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program, your previously completed coursework will be reviewed for transfer toward your bachelor’s degree.
a.***UC now evaluates all college-level credit, not just coursework from nationally accredited institutions. Each course is individually reviewed for content, rigor, and alignment with the respiratory therapy curriculum to determine transfer eligibility.
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) or
- Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) who is eligible to take the RRT Clinical Simulation Exam. For questions regarding the NBRC Clinical Simulation Exam admission requirements see the NBRC CSE webpage. Students who enroll as a CRT must earn the RRT credential before enrolling in advanced courses in the program. The program will provide CRT students with the Kettering National Seminars RRT Home Study guide as well as Clinical Simulation Exam reimbursement.
Have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all college level coursework
After submitting your application form, all applicants are required to have official transcripts sent directly to University of Cincinnati in order to be eligible for admissions review.
- First-Year and Transfer Applicants with Fewer Than 24 Completed Semester Hours at a Prior College:
- Order official transcripts from your high school and all prior colleges (if applicable) for delivery directly to University of Cincinnati.
- Transfer Applicants with 24+ Completed Semester Hours at a Prior College:
- Order official transcripts from all prior colleges for delivery directly to University of Cincinnati.
- You are exempt from the High School transcript requirement, this item will be removed from your application checklist once your college documents are received.
Please review the section below for guidance on how to submit your transcripts.
Online transcript request systems are the preferred method to deliver official transcripts electronically. To see if your transcript(s) can be ordered electronically, visit the links below and search for your previous school(s).
- Parchment
- Please select “University of Cincinnati – Main Campus” as the recipient of your transcript.
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Please have your transcript sent directly to admissions@uc.edu.
If you do not see your past school(s) listed on either site, please contact the school(s) directly to determine their ordering process.
If a physical copy must be sent, DO NOT request it be delivered to you. It must be sent directly from your prior school to the following address:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091
In order to apply to University of Cincinnati as a transfer student, learners must submit a transfer application form and have official transcripts sent directly to UC from all prior institutions they’ve attended.
To request these transcripts, please contact your previous institution’s registrar and ask them to send the official transcript to the University of Cincinnati via an approved electronic method such as Parchment, eScrip-Safe, National Student Clearinghouse, or similar services. This is the preferred method. If electronic submission isn’t available, transcripts may be mailed to the Office of Admissions at:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, OH 45221
Due to this program’s professional licensure requirement, students are not eligible to complete the program while located outside of the United States.
Applicants with college coursework completed outside the United States are required to provide a course-by-course foreign credential evaluation for each college or university you attended outside the United States. This evaluation must be obtained from a service listed on the NACES member website.
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
Summer 2026 Fall 2026 Spring 2027 |
March 15, 2026 July 15, 2026 November 15, 2026 |
May 11, 2026 August 24, 2026 January 11, 2027 |
The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.
The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.
To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.
*CoARC Accreditation: The Respiratory Therapy, 500015, Bachelor of Science, University of Cincinnati 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.
The goal of the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Sciences 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.
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.
The program’s coursework and experiences emphasize the technical and academic competencies required of a respiratory therapist as well as the ethic and professionalism outlined by The American Association for Respiratory Care.
Students who successfully complete this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate entry-level competencies in the domains of management, ethics, community engagement and project development as they relate to the discipline of respiratory therapy.
- Develop and/or disseminate scientific information for the general public and the academic community in respiratory therapy practice, administration, and research.
- Read, evaluate, and integrate information from current scientific and popular literature within the discipline’s content area.
- Plan, execute, and evaluate, treatment protocols that enhance the departments and patients that they serve.
- Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning and professional service and leadership.
- The University of Cincinnati and all of its regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Learn why we’re ranked the #1 Respiratory Therapy program by EduMed.org!
"The flexibility of the program allows me to get a degree while on active military duty."
A. Pickett
BS Respiratory Therapy
“What I am learning and what I have learned is WELL worth the hard work and sacrifice of time and money. I am so excited to be part of the promotion of this field as well. I believe in our field, and I am an eager advocate for the requirement that all RTs hold a bachelor's degree.”
Danna W.
BS Respiratory Therapy
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