Respiratory therapists perform procedures crucial in maintaining the lives of seriously ill patients with respiratory problems. RTs administer various types of gas, aerosol and breathing treatments; assist with long-term continuous artificial ventilation; maintain respiratory therapy equipment; and maintain records of patients’ therapies.

The therapist’s training leads to extensive knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and clinical medicine. Individuals who want to assist others by combining personal interaction with technical skills are well suited to this profession.

Respiratory therapists are employed in hospitals, nursing care facilities, clinics, physicians’ offices, companies providing emergency oxygen services and municipal organizations.

Missouri State offers a program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in respiratory therapy for students who have completed, or will complete, a registry-level program at an accredited respiratory therapy school. The curriculum requires 90 university-level credit hours, plus completion of an accredited respiratory therapy program (35 hours).

The curriculum includes biological and physical sciences basic to understanding the functioning of the human breathing system, such as anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, chemistry, mathematics, microbiology and physics. Please consult the current Missouri State Catalog at www.missouristate.edu/catalog for specific degree requirements.

The on-campus faculty teaches the general education, preparatory and major degree requirements, such as anatomy, physiology and medical and pathologic physiology. Specialists who have considerable experience in the practical, as well as theoretical, aspects of respiratory therapy provide the training received during the clinical phase.

The Respiratory Therapy major is administered by the Kinesiology Department housed in McDonald Arena. The affiliated hospitals are all exceptionally well-equipped with modern medical equipment. During training in the clinical phase, students are taught how to work with such equipment.