Respiratory Care, B.S.
The new BSRC-Entry level track is now accepting students for a January 2026 start. If you think you might be eligible to start in January 2026, and you know you'd like to become a respiratory therapist, please review the program requisites below to be sure.
If you are ready, please apply now!
If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact Ann Flint today.
The program prerequisite courses (with a grade of "C" or higher) are:
AHS 100 – Medical Terminology
BMS 250 & 251 – Anatomy and Physiology I & II
CHM 109 - Introductory Chemistry
MTH 110 - Algebra (A general education course may be substituted if advanced math placement is achieved)
WRT 150 – Strategies in Writing
The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care has been developed for two distinct audiences: Students 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, and those entering Grand Valley State University (GVSU) who do not currently have a respiratory care degree. Students entering GVSU who do not currently have a respiratory care degree will have two pathway options to acquire that degree. The three available tracks are:
- RRT-BSRC is for students who are already graduates from a CoARC-accredited associate degree program. Students can transfer up to 80 credits from the respiratory care associate degree program.
- BSRC- 1 + 2 + 1 is for students entering GVSU who do not currently have a respiratory care degree. Students will complete the first year as prerequisites to the respiratory care portion of the program and then enroll concurrently in a CoARC-accredited respiratory care program in partnership with GVSU. Students will then complete the last 40 credits of the degree at GVSU.
- BSRC- Entry level is for students entering GVSU who do not currently have a respiratory care degree and would like to complete the entire program at GVSU. Students will complete the first year as prerequisites to the respiratory care portion of the program and then enter the respiratory care portion of the program, completing the entire degree from that point.
The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care program is part of the Grand Valley State University's School of Interdisciplinary Health, which sits within the College of Health Professions.
Respiratory care is an allied health profession whose practitioners focus on the diagnosis and treatment of cardiopulmonary disorders and diseases. A respiratory care practitioner (RCP) is a credentialed medical professional who can be instrumental in assisting a physician in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of a wide spectrum of disorders affecting the heart and lungs, and specializes in the application of scientific knowledge and theory to practical, clinical problems of respiratory care. Also known as respiratory therapists (RTs), RCPs are qualified to assume primary clinical responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, and are an integral part of today’s multidisciplinary health teams. They must enjoy working with people and providing direct patient care to those of all ages, from neonatal to geriatric.
To ensure the respiratory therapy workforce is prepared to meet the growing challenges and demands it will face in terms of protocol-driven care and disease management, the American Association for Respiratory Care has called for 80% of therapists to either hold or be working toward a bachelor's degree. The degree provides the opportunity for professional career enhancement and offers the foundation for rapid advancement in administration, research, and critical care.
Located near Grand Rapids' Medical Mile
The respiratory care program is housed in the state-of-the-art Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, located on the GVSU Health Campus alongside Grand Rapids' Medical Mile.
Source: EMSI 2021
Respiratory Therapy Program Accreditation: BSRC- Entry level
The GVSU Respiratory Care Program (Track: BSRC- Entry level) is seeking provisional accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). For more information on the program’s accreditation status, please click on the following link:: www.coarc.com
As the program has not yet started, it has no graduate outcome data—but all currently running accreditation programs have such data readily available. To learn about outcomes of all accredited RT programs, please click on the following link: https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/
GVSU CoARC Program # 200697
Important Program Information for Prospective and Enrolled BSRC Students
Please see the following for further program information:
- GVSU BSRC Student Handbook
- GVSU Academic Calendar: https://www.gvsu.edu/registrar/academiccalendar.htm
- GVSU Costs: https://www.gvsu.edu/catalog/navigation/costs-and-financial-aid.htm
Events
Respiratory Care Information Session (Online)
December 16, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Respiratory Care Information Session (Online)
December 16, 2025 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Respiratory Care Information Session (Online)
February 3, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM