Skip to Content
College of Health Professions
Department of Respiratory Care

Career Development

Advantages of a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care (B.S.R.C.)

Less than ten percent of respiratory therapists in the U.S. have a bachelor’s degree in respiratory care. This means the B.S.R.C. graduate has a tremendous advantage in the workforce, both in competing for job opportunities and for promotions. Many Texas State respiratory care graduates find themselves quickly moving up the management ranks due to their degree and specialty training.

The B.S.R.C. program at Texas State offers an opportunity to specialize in an area that is of particular interest to the respiratory care student.

Specialty areas include:

  • acute care
  • intensive care
  • pediatrics
  • neonatology
  • emergency room care
  • transplant ICU specialty
  • home care
  • extended care
  • pulmonary rehabilitation
  • diagnostic testing
  • research
  • education
  • polysomnography (sleep studies)

Although each student is trained as a “generalist” in all these areas, the area of special interest can be chosen for a specialization to begin a career in respiratory care.

Respiratory Care Overview

Respiratory therapists work with patients who have breathing problems. Our national organization, the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), developed the Be An RT campaign to highlight the profession and the opportunities available to respiratory therapists. Check out the Be An RT page for information on being a respiratory therapist. Contact us if you want more information on being a respiratory therapist.

 

Information from the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Statistics
Occupational Outlook Handbook

Employment of respiratory therapists is projected to grow 19 percent from 2019 to 2029. Respiratory conditions, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, are expected to increase due to the growth in the middle-aged and elderly population. Respiratory disorders can permanently damage the lungs and negatively impact lung function. Read about the occupational outlook on the BLS website: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Respiratory-therapists.htm

 

Job Opportunities

Interested in finding a job? Explore job openings by searching the marketplace.

Also, visit our Professional Links page. You can find job openings on the AARC, CoBGRTE, and TSRC webpages.