Respiratory Therapy, BS

Respiratory therapists work in a wide variety of medical settings and use their expert knowledge of cardiopulmonary diseases to assess and treat patients with illnesses and injuries such as COPD, heart failure, trauma, asthma, sleep disorders, and cystic fibrosis.

What Does a Respiratory Therapist Do?

Respond to Code Blue and other medical emergencies in the hospital
Manage mechanical ventilators that give life support to critically ill patients
Administer supplemental oxygen, inhaled medications, and therapies for airway clearance
Analyze patient data from physical examination, lab results, and imaging
Test lung function, draw arterial blood samples, and collect sputum samples
Support the respiratory needs of neonatal and pediatric patients

Program Details

3 Ways to Apply

Upstate begins accepting applications on September 1st for the following fall semester for Early Assurance and Regular Admissions programs.

Early Assurance for High School Seniors

This Early Assurance Program is for high school seniors. It's designed to give those interested in pursuing a degree at SUNY Upstate Medical University an opportunity to apply early.

SUNY Upstate is an upper-division transfer college specializing in healthcare careers. Those accepted into the Early Assurance Program will take their prerequisite courses at the accredited college of their choice. Then, they'll complete their junior and senior years of study at Upstate to complete their degree.

For Fall 2027 Admissions, applications are due:

Mar 1, 2025

Early Assurance Program for High School Seniors

Early Assurance for College Freshmen

This Early Assurance Program is for college freshmen. It's designed to give those interested in pursuing their bachelor’s degree at SUNY Upstate Medical University an opportunity to apply early. Students receive a decision while in their freshman year of college.

For Fall 2026 Admissions, applications are due:

Mar 1, 2025

Early Assurance Program for College Freshmen

Regular Admissions & Transfer Students

This admissions method is for students who have completed an associate or bachelor's degree and wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree in health care at SUNY Upstate Medical University.

Students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree and are applying to a bachelor’s degree program at Upstate are considered transfer applicants.

Regular Admission for Fall 2025:

Admission is rolling until the program and alternate lists have filled, or June 1 – whichever happens first.

Regular Admission & Transfer Students Applicants

Why Choose Upstate for Respiratory Therapy?

6 Reasons To Choose the Respiratory Therapy Program at SUNY Upstate College of Health Professions:

Only regional program. Upstate offers the only Respiratory Therapy bachelor's degree program in Central New York.
Advanced opportunities. Students can extend scholarship to research, education and leadership.
20+ clinical affiliates. Our affiliates provide students with over 800 hours of hands-on clinical experience.
Supportive faculty. Our passionate faculty offers a wide range of clinical expertise.
Employer praise. Employers prize our graduates for their critical thinking skills and collaborative abilities.
Simulation facilities. Upstate students fine-tune their skills in a state-of-the-art simulation center.

Degree Outcomes

Graduates will receive the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy.

Graduates are eligible to take examinations administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc., passage of which is the basis for licensure in all 49 states, including New York, that regulate respiratory care practice. Information on licensure contacts for each state can be obtained at www.aarc.org/advocacy/state-society-resources/state-licensure-contacts/.

Career Opportunities

Respiratory therapists find careers in critical care hospitals (working with newborn, pediatric, and adult populations), pulmonary function testing laboratories, sleep testing centers, long-term acute care facilities, pulmonary rehabilitation programs, business (selling respiratory products), teaching, management, and research.

Prerequisites

Curriculum