This program will be available in the Spring 2026 term.

The bachelor’s degree completion program in respiratory care requires a total of 120 credits completed through a combination of respiratory care component requirements, transfer credits and credits earned by meeting SUNY Empire’s general learning requirements. This is an upper-division online bachelor’s degree completion program requiring an associate’s degree in respiratory care from an accredited institution of higher education. Most students enroll on a part-time basis and complete the program in 36 – 48 months.

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.

This 120-credit degree completion program will include 48 credits of upper-division program requirements and electives (listed below). Participating students may transfer up to 72 lower-division credits from an associate degree program (A.S., A.A.S.). Further, students completing an A.A.S. degree and missing any required general education and liberal arts credits, may take them post-associate degree and transfer them to SUNY Empire. These credits may also be taken with SUNY Empire, along with any remaining credits to reach the 120 required.

Total Credits Distribution:
• Liberal Arts Credits: 62
• Lower Division Credits: 72 or less
• Upper Division Credit: 48
• Total Required Program’s Credits: 120

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Upper-division Program Requirements and Electives
ALLH 3020	Quality Systems and Improving Health Care Outcomes	4
ALLH 3025	Health Research Methods	4
ALLH 3030	Contemporary Applications of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice in Healthcare	4
NURS 3035	Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Global Health	4
HLAD 3045	Healthcare Ethics	4
RESP 4010	Disease Management, Patient Education, and Health Promotion	4
HLAD 4020	Leadership in Healthcare	4
RESP 4030	Advanced Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics, Rehabilitation & Sleep Medicine	4
RESP 4035	Advanced Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care	4
RESP 4080	Advanced Respiratory Critical Care and Interventions ( Advanced Respiratory Critical Care & Interventions)	4
RESP 4090	Baccalaureate Respiratory Therapy Capstone ( Baccalaureate Respiratory Care Capstone)	4
Advanced Level Elective		4
Total Credits		48

This program was developed to meet student learning objectives from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

• Students will demonstrate the ability to access, interpret, and review medical literature associated with respiratory care and/or related to clinical practice, education, or management.
• Students will participate as an interdisciplinary team member providing education and disease management to patients and their families along with understanding the expanded roles those respiratory therapists hold.
• Students will demonstrate cultural competency as a health care provider on an interprofessional team.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to solve complex health conditions and take into consideration ethical concerns of all members of the interdisciplinary team while focusing on patient care.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to solve multifaceted leadership problems, implement process improvement, and provide effective oral and written communication skills.
• Students will develop and present a professionally relevant project related to their personal professional goals.