Respiratory Therapy Program FAQs
What does a respiratory therapist do?
The profession’s site is www.aarc.org and look for a video collection titled “Life and Breath” as well as”BeAnRT!” designed for college students. The Georgia Society for Respiratory Care is also a helpful source for more information. Take a look at Focus and The Advance for Respiratory Care Professionals to see student-oriented writing and professional development information.
When should I change my major to respiratory therapy?
Students who declare a respiratory therapy major will start as health science: pre-professional respiratory therapy majors. Students will be advised by professional advisors on their home campus. Once accepted into the Respiratory Therapy program the student will be changed to a respiratory therapy major prior to the start of their first semester in the program.
Please tell me about the community service requirement.
Prospective students must complete 20 hours of community service prior to their interview. Ideally, prospective students have 10 to 20 hours of observation at the hospital of your choice in the Respiratory Therapy, Sleep or Cardiopulmonary Department. A respiratory therapist or their supervisor must sign and initial your observation hours. If you cannot finish your community service before your interview, it must be completed before you start the program in the fall.
What are the academic requirements of the program?
Students interviewed for the program are usually late sophomores approaching 60-70+ hours of semester credit, and having completed the initial Area D sequence of science (Biol, Chem, Physics and Labs) and Statistics. The core curriculum guide is on the department website. Students can work with their advisors, and select courses with emphasis on completing the sciences by the end of their sophomore year. We recommend that students take the sequence of BIOL 1107 and 1108 and labs, Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Human Anatomy and Physiology II and labs, Microbiology and lab, and Physical Environment (no lab) prior to the spring interview. Additionally, your GPA should be at least 2.5 to be considered as a respiratory therapy major student (especially in the Area D and F sciences) and you should be near completion of all electives in Area A-E courses, to make you a more competitive candidate.
What does the interview process consist of?
The application process, College Application Services or CAS, starts in November and the deadline is March 1st. We interview in the spring of the year. You can interview as a provisional candidate if your classes are not complete. You will meet with students and faculty members at the 30-60 minute interview in the spring preceding the program’s start date.
What are the academic thresholds to establish who gets into the program?
Your GPA should be > 2.5 and you should be near completion of all electives in Area A-E courses to make you a competitive candidate for the Respiratory Therapy program.
What about my transfer credit?
If you have transfer credit, check the transfer credit link, choose your state and college for transfer credit. Ideally, classes should transfer as equivalent to a Georgia Southern course (i.e., BIOL, CHEM) NOT as an elective (ELEC). Discuss transfer credit concerns with your advisor.
What happens after I am accepted?
The program administrative assistant will contact you either by telephone or email, if you are a candidate for the program, followed by a formal letter. After acceptance into the program, you will receive an admissions packet of forms required by the department and university that is due back before the start of classes in the fall. The department will make several follow-up calls, emails and letters to be sure you have completed all courses. Then you will have a physical, a check on immunizations, etc.
Tell me more about financial aid and the course load.
The first fall semester after being accepted into the Respiratory Therapy program students usually take Medical Terminology (RESP 2110), Patient Assessment (RESP 3110) and Introduction to Intro to Research in Health Professions (HLPR 2000). Every other semester are full-time (> or = 12 hours). There are fees assessed by the program to cover materials needed in laboratories and safety equipment. Classes in the major will start in August, and we go 5 semesters, including the internship.
Last updated: 6/21/2023