Respiratory Therapy (Bachelor of Science, B.S.)

Missouri Western offers a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy. Respiratory Therapy students are trained to assess and treat people with breathing disorders, manage life support devices, maintain airways, deliver medication, draw and analyze blood, perform lung expansion and airway clearance and deliver therapeutic medical gasses. Registered Respiratory Therapists often work in hospitals, intensive care units including neonatal, pediatric, heart surgery and pulmonary ICUs. They also work in emergency departments, on rapid response and code blue teams, in labor and delivery and in operating rooms. The program is governed by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).  Visit the CoARC website to obtain more information about Respiratory Therapy.  CoARC, 264 Precision Blvd Telford, TN 37690 USA. 

Students desiring to enter the 4-year Respiratory Therapy Program should apply to the program through the MWSU Respiratory Therapy website and should declare a pre-major in Respiratory Therapy at the time of enrollment. The selection committee will review all applicants and determine those who will be admitted into the Respiratory Therapy Program. General admission to the College does not admit a student to the baccalaureate degree program in respiratory therapy. Admission is competitive. Applicants should meet the following minimum requirements:

 1.    An overall GPA of 2.5

Please contact the Respiratory Therapy Program Director through the Health Professions office at 816-271-4402 if your GPA is below 2.5 and you are interested in becoming a Registered Respiratory Therapist. 

2.    Completion of 8 hours of respiratory therapy shadow experience.

This may be scheduled through the Respiratory Therapy Director of Clinical Education at 816-271-4402.

3.    Being on track to complete all general studies and respiratory therapy support courses before beginning their last two years in the Respiratory Therapy Program.

4.    A test score on the ATI TEAS test of 58.7% or above. (Optional)

1.    The TEAS test, better known as the “Test of Essential Academic Skills,” is an entry-level exam which measures the current aptitude level of an individual seeking entry into the field of Health Sciences. The Respiratory Therapy program strongly encourages you to take this test in order to determine if you would have a high likelihood of academic success as indicated by a test result of 58.7% or above. The program may use the TEAS results when selecting students for admission.  

5.    High school seniors, transfer students and MWSU freshmen should contact the Respiratory Therapy Program at 816-271-4402 for information about early acceptance.

MWSU Respiratory Therapy Program admits 24 students per cohort. The deadline for priority status is March 1.  Applications may be accepted after that date until 24 students have been admitted to the program. Final application deadline is July 1st.

Students who choose this bachelor degree program will have no more than 6 years from admission or subsequent declaration to meet the requirements listed below. If certification, accreditation or statutory requirements change and additional requirements become effective during this time, the new requirements take precedence. 

Program Graduation Requirements