Respiratory Therapy
Major Information
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians, to assist in developing respiratory care plans, administer respiratory care procedures, supervise personnel and equipment operation, maintain records, and consult with other health care team members. Includes instruction in the applied basic biomedical sciences; anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the respiratory system; clinical medicine; therapeutic procedures; clinical expressions; data collection and record-keeping; patient communication; equipment operation and maintenance; personnel supervision; and procedures for special population groups.
General Information
Degree(s) Offered:
- Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy
- Online Bachelor of Science (RTTs Only)
Sample Occupations
- Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics
- Smoking Cessation Counselor
- Asthma and Cystic Fibrosis Educator
- Disease Prevention
- Case Manager
- Polysomnography
- Asthma Educator-Certification
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Sleep Disorders Specialist
- Clinical Program Manager
- Acute-Care Hospital Supervisor or Manager
- Durable Medical Equipment
- Pharmaceutical Industry Sales and Marketing
- Healthcare Management
- Respiratory Therapist
- Medical Technologist
- Respiratory Care Technician
- Respiratory Therapist
- Respiratory Therapy Technician
- Health Services Director
Sample Work Settings
- Hospitals
- Home Health Agencies
- Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
- Private Practices
- Children’s Hospitals
- Acute-Care Hospitals
- Physician Offices
- Homecare/Durable Medical Equipment
- Not-for-Profit Healthcare Systems
- Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Clinics
- Cystic Fibrosis Centers
Sample Employers
- Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center
- Coliseum Medical Centers
- St. Joseph’s/Candler
- Tift Regional Health
- Doctors Hospital of Augusta
- Piedmont Healthcare
- WellStar Health System
- VieMed Healthcare
- Emory Healthcare
- TriHealth
- East Georgia Regional Medical Center
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
- Wake Forest Baptist Health
- Live Oak Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, LLC
- Cook Children’s Health Care System
- Compassionate Care Hospice
Connecting Majors, Skills, and Occupations
- View learning outcomes associated with your major in the Georgia Southern Academic Catalog:
Georgia Southern Academic Catalog
- Explore the connection between occupations and skills in O*Net:
- Use Handshake to upload your résumé and explore internships and jobs. For more information:
Internet Resources
To explore values, interests, and skills:
FOCUS 2
bit.ly/focuscareer
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) – $18
To explore occupational outlooks and salaries:
National Compensation Survey
Salary.Com
Professional Organizations
American Association for Respiratory Care
Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
Georgia Society for Respiratory Care
National Board for Respiratory Care
Georgia Southern Student Organizations
Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) – Student Chapter
Health Sciences Student Association (HSSA)
Last updated: 9/21/2022
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Office of Career and Professional Development • 912-478-5197 • ocpd@georgiasouthern.edu