德克萨斯州立大学圣马科斯分校

The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care (B.S.R.C) degree prepares students to practice as respiratory care professionals and take their place as a key healthcare team member. Skilled in assessing patients with breathing disorders in the emergency room, intensive care units and many other areas in healthcare facilities, respiratory therapists work directly with physicians on newborn, pediatric or adult patients to analyze oxygen levels and breathing difficulty. Therapists administer medications to relieve breathing distress, provide pulmonary/lung therapies, and conduct lung diagnostics for all ages. Graduates find employment in many settings such as hospitals, pulmonary rehabilitation clinics, doctors offices, sleep labs, homecare, and air-life transport teams working with patients in the emergency room, newborn/pediatric/adult intensive care units, and many other areas.

Respiratory care (RC) majors take classes on the San Marcos campus and gain clinical experience in area hospitals. Students successfully admitted to the program must complete the sequenced curriculum within the cohort group. Individuals taking core courses prior to applying for admission to the RC program should contact the College of Health Professions' Advising Office. Students completing an associate degree in RC from another university or college are eligible to apply for admission to the B.S.R.C. Program at Texas State for bachelor degree completion. For information on this option, see the department chair. The B.S.R.C. Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) and qualifies graduates to take national board credentialing exams offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care immediately upon completion.

The department also offers a graduate certificate in Polysomnographic Technology (sleep studies) at the graduate level that is fully accredited by CoARC and qualifies individuals to sit for national board credentialing exams immediately upon completion. The polysomnographic (PSG) graduate certificate is comprised of six courses (15 credit hours) with three courses offered each fall and spring. Individuals credentialed in PSG provide diagnostic and therapeutic treatment for those suffering from sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, and other conditions. Admission for the Polysomnographic Technology certificate is granted each summer for a cohort starting in the fall. Please refer to the Graduate catalog for admission requirements and course descriptions.