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

Missouri Western offers a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy.  Respiratory Therapy focuses on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, management and rehabilitation of patients across the lifespan experiencing breathing and/or other cardiopulmonary issues.  Respiratory Therapists work in hospitals, nursing homes, offices, sleep labs, rehabilitation facilities and even patients own homes.  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. 

The Respiratory Therapy (RT) program has a selective entrance policy.  Application to the program is made separately from application for admission to Missouri Western.  Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

• The applicant must have a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.5 (Contact Program Director if GPA is below a 2.5 and interested in becoming a respiratory therapist).
• 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 5837% or above.  The program may use the TEAS results when selecting students for admission; taking the TEAS could b advantageous in the selection process especially if other required criteria is absent.
  • ​TEAS sign up: https://www.missouriwestern.edu/mwsu-testing-centers/ati-teas/
  • Test results must have occurred within the past three years from the date of application to be valid and counted as part of your application materials.
• The applicant must have completed or currently enrolled in all general studies and respiratory therapy support courses (and earn a grade of C or higher in each support class, as well as MAT 110 Contemporary Problem Solving, MAT 110E Contemporary Problem Solving, MAT 112 Finite Mathematics, or MAT 116 College Algebra).  (Contact Program Director if lacking one of the required support courses.)
• The review of applications includes assessment of resume, letter of intent and personal statement and unofficial transcripts.  Deadlines for applications for preferred admittance is May 15th.  (Acceptance of applications after May 15th will occur until cohort is full or until one week prior to beginning of semester.)

Taking and passing prerequisite courses does not assure acceptance into the RT program.  A completed application and current transcript must be submitted to the Department of Health Professions by May 15th for a candidate to be considered for admission.  Instructions for the TEAS test can be found on the department webpage.

Program Graduation Requirements

1. Earn a grade of C or higher in all major coursework.
2. Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and a major GPA of at least 2.0.

University Graduation Requirements 

1. Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
2. Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in upper-division courses.  Lower-division transfer courses accepted as meeting upper-division departmental course requirements cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
3. Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
4. Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments. 
5. Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
6. Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam.