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Career Information
The Online Bachelor of Science Degree Completion Program enables respiratory therapists to earn a bachelor’s degree with minimal disruption to their lives and livelihoods. A bachelor’s degree can increase base pay and enhance competitiveness for positions such as disease or case manager, clinical educator, supervisor, clinical specialist departmental director, clinical sales specialist, and pharmaceutical representative.
The percentage of respiratory therapists with higher degrees has increased considerably since 2000, according to the American Association for Respiratory Care. Approximately a third of respiratory therapists have a bachelor’s or graduate degree. Average salaries for experienced respiratory therapists range from $50,000 to $70,000, depending on job responsibilities, education and location.
The program enables working individuals to earn a degree through part time online classes. The program has a low student-to-teacher ratio and strongly emphasizes professional and academic growth, through development of critical thinking and effective communication skills.
The program requires 120 semester hours for completion: 60 hours of academic core, (see core curriculum) 30 semester hours of professional courses with GHSU (see program curriculum) and 30 semester hours of conferred with proof of the RRT credential. Students may take up to 6 semester hours of courses per semester. Students will choose from three tracks: Education, Adult Critical Care and Neonatal/Pediatric Critical Care. Students in all tracks will complete 4 required courses and 3 required elective courses. The remainder of the courses will be chosen from the general electives.
The Online Bachelor of Science Degree Completion Program requires 60 hours of core classes prior to admission (see academic core). Admission is based on college grade point average, references, personal interview, assessment of professional qualities needed to complete the program. Admission criteria include:
- Current National Board for Respiratory Care credentials as a registered respiratory therapist
- Minimum overall GPA of 2.5
- Current cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first-aid certification
Computer Requirements
- Pentium IV or better computer System
- Windows XP or Vista operating system
(Vista may require special configuration to work with Tegrity)
- Minimum 512 MB or RAM (1 GB or more preferred)
- Windows Media Player 10 or 11
- Internet Explorer version 6 or higher
- Microsoft Virtual Machine Installed
- Headphones or speaker
- Microphone
- Web Camera
In addition to demonstrating personal characteristics appropriate for a health professions career, students must satisfy general and specific technical standards. Visit www.georgiahealth.edu/sah/respther/techstandards.htm to review these requirements.
GHSU participates in all federal student aid programs. Educational assistance may be available for students who want to work in rural Georgia.
GHSU helps students fund their education through grants, scholarships, loans, a service commitment program and/or employment. GHSU students are very competitive for national, regional and local scholarships.
Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
1248 Harwood Road
Bedford, Texas 76012-4244
817-283-2835
A complete application must be received by April 1.
Apply online at www.georgiahealth.edu/Admissions, or contact:
Office of Admissions
170 Kelly Building–Administration
Georgia Health Sciences University
Augusta, Georgia 30912
Telephone: 706-721-2725
800-519-3388
E-mail: Admissions@georgiahealth.edu
The program’s core curriculum is divided into six categories (A-F). Options for completing these prerequisites for transfer to GHSU:
| A. Essential Skills |
9 semester hours |
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| English Composition I |
3 hours |
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| English Composition II |
3 hours |
|
| (literature-based) |
|
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College Algebra, Mathematical Modeling,
Trigonometry, Pre-calculus or Calculus |
3 hours |
|
| |
| B. Institutional Options** |
4-5 semester hours |
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Introduction to Computers
Critical Thinking
Creative Writing
Ethics
Health and Wellness
Statistics
Economics
Speech
Medical Terminology
Any approved guided elective from Area F |
| |
| C. Humanities and Fine Arts** |
6 semester hours |
|
Ethics
Foreign Language
Speech, Oral Communications
Literature
Philosophy
Drama, Art or Music Appreciation
Logic
Electives in Humanities and Fine Arts
Religion |
| |
| D. Science, Mathematics and Technology |
10-11 semester hours |
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| One eight-hour laboratory course sequence in biology, chemistry or physics and an additional course in mathematics, science or technology. |
| E. Social Science** |
12 semester hours |
|
|
U.S. History
U.S. Government
Other History
Economics
Psychology
Sociology
Anthropology
Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups
Lower-division electives in Psychology and Sociology
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| F. Courses Appropriate to the Major |
18 semester hours |
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| Anatomy and Physiology I and II w/labs |
8 hours |
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| Microbiology |
4 hours |
|
Guided electives
Biology,* Chemistry,* Research
Methods, Human Development,
Physics, Statistics |
6 hours |
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* If this is taken in another area of the core, additional hours would be taken in additional guided electives to total 18 semester hours.
** If a student planning to transfer to GHSU from another school in the University System of Georgia has completed this area with courses taken there or at another institution from which GHSU accepts transfer credit, GHSU will accept the area as satisfied. A student planning to transfer from a school not in the University System of Georgia should choose from the list of courses.
Estimated Tuition and Fees
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For estimated tuition and fees, please see the Tuition and Fees section of this catalog.
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