Respiratory Care
Take your respiratory therapy career to the next level without putting your life on hold. Our 100% online B.S. in Respiratory Care is a degree completion program designed for licensed respiratory therapists who want to build on their experience and advance their education. You’ll strengthen your expertise in advanced respiratory critical care, cardiopulmonary diagnostics and rehabilitation, patient education, and healthcare leadership. With flexible online learning and opportunities to transfer credits from your associate degree, you’ll prepare for expanded responsibilities in clinical care, education, and management.
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Program Overview
Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care
Next term starts
Spring 2027
Ready to Apply?
Make a Difference in Respiratory Care
Our curriculum prepares respiratory care professionals to take on expanded roles in clinical practice, leadership, education, and disease management. Courses emphasize evidence-based practice, ethical decision-making, cultural competency, and collaboration across interdisciplinary teams.
"SUNY Empire provided me with the flexibility to balance my professional responsibilities and academic pursuits, allowing me to advance my career while continuing to help others."
Lynda Wilson '23
Advance Your Skills. Expand Your Impact.
What you'll learn
- Apply evidence-based respiratory care practices
- Manage complex cardiopulmonary patient needs
- Lead healthcare teams and improve outcomes
- Educate patients on respiratory disease management
Take Your Respiratory Care Career Further
Build on your experience as a respiratory therapist and explore opportunities to expand your responsibilities in advanced patient care, healthcare leadership, education, and respiratory care management.
Possible careers:
- Respiratory Care Supervisor
- Respiratory Therapy Manager
- Clinical Respiratory Care Specialist
- Respiratory Care Educator
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation Coordinator
Interested? Take the Next Steps
Your Next Chapter in Respiratory Care Starts Here
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Check for Prior Learning Credits
Put your past experience toward your degree. Use transfer credits, work experience, or life skills to get a head start, save money, and earn your degree faster.
Apply for This Program
Students are required to have an associate degree in respiratory care from an accredited institution of higher education and hold a valid respiratory therapist license. This is a non-licensure qualifying program.
Make sure you have all the admissions requirements and complete your application to be ready for our next term!
Next start term
Spring 2027
Deadline to apply
December 4
Start Your Degree
FAQ
Our online B.S. in Respiratory Care is a bachelor's degree completion program designed for licensed respiratory therapists who already hold an associate degree in respiratory care or respiratory therapy. The program builds on your clinical experience with advanced coursework in respiratory critical care, disease management, healthcare leadership, research, and patient education.
Yes. Our respiratory care bachelor's degree is offered 100% online, allowing you to continue working while completing your education. Designed with working adults in mind, the program offers flexible learning opportunities, and most students are expected to study part time.
To apply, you must have an associate degree in respiratory care or respiratory therapy from an accredited institution of higher education and hold a valid respiratory therapist license. You must also meet our general undergraduate admission requirements. This is a degree completion program for existing respiratory therapists, not an entry-level program leading to initial licensure.
The B.S. in Respiratory Care requires 120 total credits. You may transfer up to 72 lower-division credits from your associate degree, with 48 credits of upper-division coursework and electives included in the program. Depending on your previous coursework and course load, the remaining degree requirements may take approximately two to four years to complete.
Meet our Professors
Sarah K Valentine
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing and Allied Health
Sarah Valentine holds a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an M.S.N. from Columbia University. She teaches population health, research methods, and global health. Her research interests include environmental justice and nursing education. She is currently developing a model for hospital–community engagement on environmental pollution.
