Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy

School of Health Professions

Advance Your Respiratory Therapy Career Online

A healthcare professional in blue scrubs smiles while standing outside a modern medical building.

Designed for registered respiratory therapists with an associate degree, the online, self-paced Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy program allows you to build on your clinical experience while continuing to work.

Through advanced coursework and practical application, you will strengthen your skills in patient assessment, clinical decision-making, leadership, critical thinking and evidence-based practice. Graduates are prepared to pursue expanded opportunities in specialized clinical care, management, education, research, and the healthcare industry.

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Application Dates
Fall SemesterAugust 31, 2026 - December 11, 2026
Spring SemesterJanuary 4, 2027 - April 23, 2027
Summer SemesterMay 3, 2027 - August 16, 2027
International StudentsSeptember 1
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  • Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy

    Estimated Tuition and Fees
    Texas resident tuition$11,157.74
    Non-Texas resident tuition$27,160.74

    View BSRT Tuition by Credit Hour

Program Highlights

Recognized Program Quality

UTMB was the first respiratory therapy program in Texas to receive the APEX Recognition Award.

Personalized Faculty Support

Low student-to-faculty ratios provide greater access to instruction, mentoring, and academic guidance.

Experienced Faculty

Faculty bring advanced clinical, educational and leadership experience into the online classroom.

Flexible Online Learning

Online coursework and digital learning tools allow practicing respiratory therapists to continue working while completing their degree.

Preparation for Continued Career Growth

The BSRT program strengthens clinical, leadership and evidence-based practice skills and can support continued graduate study, including UTMB’s Degree Advancement MSRT Track.

Courses & Prerequisites

The fully online BSRT program features a self-paced curriculum. The bachelor’s degree requires a total of 120 credit hours

 

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  • Core Courses

    Students must complete at least 27 credit hours of core courses.

    • RESC 3240: Patient Education — 2 credit hours
    • RESC 3621: Physiologic Monitoring — 6 credit hours
    • RESC 3332: Pulmonary Functions — 3 credit hours
    • RESC 4165: Advanced Cardiac Life Support — 1 credit hour
    • RESC 3236: Diagnostic Procedures — 2 credit hours
    • RESC 4264: Professional Issues — 2 credit hours
    • RESC 4267: Introduction to Respiratory Research — 2 credit hours
    • RESC 4361: Rehabilitation and Home Care — 3 credit hours
    • RESC 4371: Cardiopulmonary Imaging — 3 credit hours
    • RESC 4375: Respiratory Therapy Management — 3 credit hours

  • Elective Courses

    Students must complete at least 5 elective credit hours.

    • RESC 4090: Topics in Respiratory Care — 2 credit hours
    • RESC 4372: Team Science — 3 credit hours
    • RESC 4373: Adult Critical Care — 3 credit hours
    • RESC 4374: Sleep Medicine — 3 credit hours

  • Prerequisites

    Applicants must:

    • Graduate from a CoARC-accredited respiratory care or respiratory therapy program
    • Hold an Associate of Science or Associate of Arts degree
    • Have a minimum GPA of 2.5
    • Hold a current, unexpired Registered Respiratory Therapist credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care
    • Students must also have completed the 42-credit-hour Texas Core Curriculum with a grade of "C" or higher before graduating from the BSRT program. To check if your courses meet our prerequisite credits, visit our  Core Curriculum Policy.

  • Transfer Credits

    Practicing registered respiratory therapists who hold an active RRT credential may receive up to 54 credit hours for prior learning. Additional coursework completed as part of an associate degree may be applied toward the Texas Core Curriculum, depending on the student’s transcript evaluation.

A healthcare professional in blue scrubs works on a laptop at a clinical workstation.

Student Experience

After You Are Accepted

Accepted students receive a formal offer of admission with instructions for confirming their place in the program. The offer also includes links to checklists that guide students through the enrollment process. This information can also be found on the New Students section of the School of Health Professions website.

Admission is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and drug screening.

A Community of Support

As an online BSRT student, you will have access to faculty guidance, academic resources and a community of respiratory therapy professionals throughout the program.

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  • Faculty Guidance and Mentoring
    • You will be matched with a faculty mentor during orientation.
    • The program director and faculty offer weekly office hours.
    • Faculty are typically available by email or phone during business hours and respond to student emails within one business day.

  • Academic, Financial and Personal Support
    • The School of Health Professions Office of Student Affairs provides academic coaching, assistance with educational accommodations and support for personal concerns.
    • UTMB Student Health and Counseling Services offers counseling and wellbeing resources for enrolled students.
    • Financial aid counseling and scholarship guidance are also available.

  • Wellbeing and Professional Resilience
    • Faculty address stress, wellbeing, and professional resilience as part of the learning experience.
    • Students can connect with respiratory therapy peers who understand the opportunities and challenges of balancing school, work, and other responsibilities.

  • Peer Community

    The online learning environment gives students opportunities to learn from and build connections with fellow respiratory therapy professionals.

The Learning Environment

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  • Experiential Components

    This program is designed for working respiratory therapists. Students do not step away from their careers to learn; they bring their professional experience into the classroom.

    • Real-world integration: Assignments, discussions and projects encourage students to connect their daily clinical experiences with course concepts. A respiratory therapist managing ventilators in the ICU, leading a shift, or educating patients, can apply those experiences to leadership, evidence-based practice and advanced clinical decision-making.
    • Professional relevance: Coursework helps students evaluate their current practice, identify opportunities for improvement, and apply new knowledge to support safer, more effective patient care.
    • Career-aligned learning: Whether students are preparing for roles in leadership, education, or research, or strengthening their current clinical practice, the program emphasizes practical learning that can be applied in the workplace.

    This approach recognizes the experience practicing respiratory therapists bring to the program and builds on it through structured academic development.

  • Technology

    Our program uses a range of digital tools to help students access coursework, communicate with faculty and classmates, manage academic tasks and complete collaborative projects.

    • Blackboard: Serves as the central location for course materials, assignments, grades, announcements, discussions and faculty communication.
    • Panopto: Provides recorded lectures, demonstrations and instructional walkthroughs that students can view on their own schedule. Students may also use Panopto to record presentations, reflections, and project work.
    • mySTAR: Allows students to manage registration, class schedules, tuition and fees, and academic records through UTMB’s secure student portal.
    • Microsoft 365 and Citrix Workspace: Support writing, data analysis, presentations, group projects and communication through tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams.

    Together, these platforms support a flexible and organized online learning experience for working respiratory therapists.

  • Faculty and Peer Collaboration

    Although the program is fully online, students have opportunities to engage with faculty and learn alongside other practicing respiratory therapists.

    • Faculty engagement: Experienced clinicians, researchers and leaders provide personalized feedback, offer virtual office hours, and guide students through advanced concepts. Their mentorship helps students connect academic learning with professional practice.
    • Peer learning: Students collaborate through discussions, group projects, shared documents, and video presentations. Because classmates bring experience from a variety of respiratory care settings, these activities create opportunities to exchange ideas, professional perspectives and effective practices.
    • Professional community: Students can build relationships that extend beyond the classroom and support continued learning, leadership development, and career growth.

A Day in the Life of a Working Respiratory Therapy Student

Your workday may include patient care, transport, team leadership or department operations. Along the way, you may recognize real situations that connect directly to your coursework, from patient safety and clinical decision-making to leadership and quality improvement.

When your schedule allows, you can log in to review weekly modules, watch recorded lectures, join a discussion or complete an assignment. You may also meet virtually with classmates to exchange ideas, work on a group project or prepare a presentation.

Over time, what you learn can strengthen how you communicate, evaluate care and approach new professional opportunities. It is a flexible learning experience designed to fit into the life of a working respiratory therapist.

Frequently Asked Questions

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  • How is the BSRT program at UTMB different?

    The program is designed specifically for licensed registered respiratory therapists and builds on their existing education and clinical experience. It:

    • Avoids repeating foundational clinical training
    • Aligns with AARC workforce priorities
    • Emphasizes learning that can be applied immediately in clinical practice and leadership roles

  • Do I need prior healthcare experience to apply?

    Yes, you must be a registered respiratory therapist to be eligible for the BSRT or MSRT Programs.

  • Am I a good fit for this program?

    This program may be a good fit if you:

    • Want to prepare for leadership, advanced clinical or specialized roles
    • Are seeking greater career mobility and professional growth
    • Want to strengthen your skills as the respiratory therapy profession continues to evolve

  • What can I do with a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy degree?

    A BSRT can support career advancement across the respiratory therapy profession. Graduates may qualify for clinical ladder opportunities and pursue roles in leadership, critical care, transport, pulmonary diagnostics, education, quality improvement and other specialized areas.

    The degree also strengthens clinical knowledge, broadens professional opportunities and prepares respiratory therapists for continued growth as the field evolves.

  • How long does the BSRT program take to complete?

    The program can be completed in two years.

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  • Is the program online?

    Yes, it is 100% online.

  • Can I continue working while enrolled in the BSRT program?

    Yes. The program is designed to allow students to continue working full time while completing their degree.

  • What specialized training will I receive in the BSRT program?

    The BSRT program at UTMB strengthens and elevates the clinical expertise of practicing respiratory therapists while preparing them for advancement on the clinical ladder and eligibility for supervisory or specialist roles.

    Clinical & Professional Training

    • Advanced Cardiopulmonary Care: Deepened understanding of complex respiratory pathophysiology, evidence-based interventions, and advanced modalities used across acute and critical care.
    • Quality & Patient Safety: Training in performance improvement, safety culture, and systems-based practice to support departmental and hospital wide initiatives.
    • Clinical Decision Making: Enhanced skills in assessment, interpretation, and application of clinical data to improve patient outcomes.
    • Disease Management & Population Health: Expanded knowledge in chronic disease management, pulmonary rehabilitation, and long-term care strategies.
    • Professional Communication: Strengthened interprofessional communication, documentation, and patient education techniques.

    Career Focused Development

    • Clinical Ladder Advancement: Preparation for higher level clinical roles, specialist positions, and eligibility for promotion.
    • Leadership Foundations: Introduction to supervisory concepts, team dynamics, and frontline leadership responsibilities.
    • Education & Precepting Skills: Training in teaching, mentoring, and onboarding new staff or students.

  • Does the BSRT program offer research opportunities?

    Yes. Students can engage with respiratory care research through UTMB’s CardioRespiratory Assisted Ventilation and Evaluation Research Lab, where they are exposed to emerging technologies and work that supports advancement in the profession.

Last updated: August 19, 2026