College of Applied and Technical Studies
www.kent.edu/cats

About This Program

The Bachelor of Science degree in Respiratory Care is a completer program designed to prepare qualified respiratory therapists with the necessary knowledge and skills to develop professionalism and advance their careers in the areas of leadership, management, education, research, disease and sleep medicine utilizing best practices in order to advance the practice of respiratory care.

Contact Information

• Amy Rodenhausen | arodenha@kent.edu | 440-964-4362
• Speak with an Advisor
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • Fully online

Applications to the B.S. in Respiratory Care are not being accepted starting with the spring 2026 admission term.

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

Accreditation

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

Admission Requirements

Applications to the B.S. in Respiratory Care are not being accepted starting with the spring 2026 admission term.

Admission to the Respiratory Care major is selective. Applicants must hold an active credential for certified respiratory therapist (CRT) or registered respiratory therapist (RRT) and an entry-level degree from an accredited respiratory therapy/care program with a minimum 2.000 overall GPA.

Applicants who are actively enrolled and in good standing in the second year of an accredited entry-level associate degree in respiratory therapy/care or are actively enrolled and in good standing in the third year of an accredited entry-level bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy/care may be conditionally enrolled in the program.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

²

Not required of transfer students with 25 or more credit hours

³

MATH 12022 and MATH 30011 are not offered online presently.

⁴

The majority of general elective credit hours may be transfer courses from an associate degree in respiratory care/therapy.

Progression Requirements

To be able to register for Respiratory Care (RSPC) courses, students must be admitted to professional study. Admission is a selective process. Criteria for admission into professional study are the following:

• Evidence of an earned accredited entry-level associate degree in respiratory therapy/care or accredited entry- level bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy/care
• Evidence of earned RRT credential
• Evidence of current active license to practice respiratory therapy

Graduation Requirements

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

University Requirements

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.

Kent Core Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication skills by presenting arguments, recommendations and research with relevant sources used for support with proper citation.
2. Use research methodology and critical inquiry to formulate research questions, search for relevant literature, critically evaluate literature to determine quality, synthesize available literature and write a research project proposal.
3. Utilize research and theories of teaching and learning to produce educational materials for patients, families and healthcare professionals.
4. Analyze contemporary issues and evidence-based practices in respiratory care, and demonstrate the ability to identify the impact on professional practice and the ability to advocate for patients through ethical and current best practices.
5. Explore the principles of inter-professional collaboration and leadership to identify how teams come together to improve the knowledge of the team and create innovations for advancement of the field and improvements in patient outcomes.