Respiratory therapists help people who suffer from chronic respiratory diseases like asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. People who have had heart attacks or who have sleep disorders and infants who are born prematurely might also need respiratory therapy to help them breathe more easily. They also provide emergency care to patients suffering from heart attacks, drowning or shock.

Advanced level therapists participate in clinical decision-making and patient education, the development and implementation of protocols and treatment plans, health promotion, disease prevention and disease management. Although they practice under the supervision of a physician, they exercise considerable independent judgment in providing respiratory therapy to patients.

The GVSU Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care (RSC) major has been developed for two distinct student groups that require two distinct pathways to completion: students entering Grand Valley State University (GVSU) who do not currently have a respiratory care degree (Track A), and those who are already graduates from a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) associate degree program who have at least the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential (Track B).

The Respiratory Care (RSC) courses are offered in an online format and can be taken full or part-time.