The Master of Respiratory Care program has been designed specifically for respiratory therapists who desire to enhance their career options in clinical and/or leadership roles within the respiratory care profession. The many resources available to respiratory care practitioners through key professional organizations are also integrated throughout the program. The core of the program builds on skills related to clinical research, leadership development, and technology applications related to educational and administrative settings. The student is encouraged to further develop their skill base in education, management, leadership and research. The Master of Respiratory Care program is a thirty semester hour program offered in a 100% asynchronous online format.
The Master of Respiratory Care (CoARC #520019) at Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio is provisionally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care(CoARC), www.coarc.com
Current accreditation standing: CoARC granted Provisional accreditation for a maximum annual enrollment of up to 120 students.
Date of last campus visit: May 21, 2021
Date of next campus visit: To be determined
In addition to the minimum College of Graduate Studies admission requirements, applicants to the MRC program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and must meet the following requirements
- Regular admission requires a cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 to 2.99 may be admitted provisionally. Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of less than 2.7 will be required to submit an official report of the Graduate Record Examination (General Test) scores completed within the last five years for admission consideration.
- Current state license as a respiratory care practitioner
- National Board for Respiratory Care(NBRC) professional RRT (advanced practitioner) credential
- Membership in the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) in order to access data/projects that will be needed in academic coursework
- Students not meeting regular admission requirements may be provisionally admitted. See the Graduate Catalog under Provisional Admission.
Graduate Faculty
Kelly Colwell, Ed.D., Associate Professor
Distance learning; improving patient and family health literacy through education for management of chronic asthma in children; improving access to healthcare in undeserved areas; improving student awareness of the need for cultural competency to better understand, educate, and treat patients in a multi-diverse patient population
Amanda Roby, M.H.H.S., Associate Professor
Salvatore Sanders, Ph.D., Professor
Technology applications for health care, education and management; student and faculty attributes related to learning; instructional design; distance learning
Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care to Master of Respiratory Care - Advanced Placement Option
The advanced placement program allows prospective students of the Master of Respiratory Care an accelerated option after completing their undergraduate degree in respiratory therapy. Undergraduate students can apply for admission into the accelerated program after achieving junior status within the BSRC program with a GPA of 3.2 or higher. While in the accelerated BSRC program, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to continue in the advanced placement option. Students can take up to 9 semester hours of graduate courses in fulfillment of both the requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care (BSRC) degree and the Master of Respiratory Care degree. Upon completion of the BSRC, students must apply and be accepted into the School of Graduate Studies and the Master of Respiratory Care program.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the minimum College of Graduate Studies admission requirements, applicants to the MRC program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and must meet the following requirements
- Regular admission requires a cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 to 2.99 may be admitted provisionally. Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of less than 2.7 will be required to submit an official report of the Graduate Record Examination (General Test) scores completed within the last five years for admission consideration.
- Current state license as a respiratory care practitioner
- National Board for Respiratory Care(NBRC) professional RRT (advanced practitioner) credential
- Membership in the American Association for Respiratory Care(AARC)in order to access data/projects that will be needed in academic coursework
- Students not meeting regular admission requirements may be provisionally admitted. See the Graduate Catalog under Provisional Admission.
Degree requirements
The Master of Respiratory Care Program consists of nine (9) core courses and one directed elective. It is offered in a distance education format online. Students will be assigned an advisor that will offer guidance on choosing elective options and specific classes based on the student’s educational endeavor, career interests and goals. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher and complete 30 semester hours of study to complete the program.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| RESC 5820 | The Respiratory Care Profession | 3 |
| RESC 6950 | Respiratory Care Research | 3 |
| RESC 6906 | Respiratory Care Seminar | 3 |
| RESC 6908 | Leadership Development in Respiratory Care | 3 |
| RESC 5860 | Technology Applications for Health and Human Services | 3 |
| RESC 6910 | Competency Assessment in Respiratory Care | 3 |
| HAHS 5875 | Interprofessional Education for Health Professions | 3 |
| RESC 6915 | Education and Accreditation in Respiratory Care | 3 |
| CRJS 6945 | Research Methods in Health and Human Services | 3 |
| Recommended Electives (3sh Required) | ||
| RESC 5880 | Advanced Management of the Ventilator Patient | 3 |
| RESC 6922 | Special Topics in Respiratory Care | 3 |
| HHS 6962 | Health Care Reform | 3 |
| HHS 6958 | Health Services Issues | 3 |
| AHLT 5840 | Comparative Health Systems | 3 |
| AHLT 5807 | Epidemiology | 3 |
- Upon completion of the program, graduates will demonstrate the ability to comprehend, prepare, apply, and evaluate evidence based research related to respiratory care.
- Upon completion of the program, graduates will demonstrate proficiency in the skills necessary to utilize current technologies such as, EMR/EHR computer and online charting and data collection systems/services and applications appropriate for respiratory management, respiratory education and research.
- Upon completion of the program, graduates will demonstrate leadership skills with applications within the healthcare delivery, education, management and research settings.
- Upon completion of the program, graduates will demonstrate the ability to comprehend, prepare, apply, and evaluate advanced clinical applications.
- Upon completion of the program graduates will be cognizant of cultural differences within diverse patient populations and have an awareness of how those differences may affect the delivery of healthcare and outcomes.
Graduate Courses
RESC 5820 The Respiratory Care Profession 3 s.h.
Study of origins, current role, and future directions of respiratory care profession within the framework of the current health care environment. Examination of professional resources is also included.
Prereq.: Active membership in American Association for Respiratory Care and acceptance in MRC program.
RESC 5860 Technology Applications for Health and Human Services 3 s.h.
Exploration of technology applications for education, presentations, communications and management in Health and Human Service disciplines. Creation of digital media such as audio and/or video files, spreadsheet macros, e-portfolios and Web-based applications of various technologies will be required. Application of technology to education, supervision or management will be evaluated through completion of a technology-enhanced project.
Prereq.: Acceptance in MRC program.
Prereq. or Coreq.: Permission from program director if outside of the respiratory care program.
RESC 5880 Advanced Management of the Ventilator Patient 3 s.h.
Course will present current classifications, evidence-based research and application of mechanical ventilator concepts in critical care areas. Technical capabilities of modes will be described along with optimal settings. Current protocols in RC will also be discussed.
Prereq.: Acceptance in the BSRC, BSRC degree advancement/completion program or Master of respiratory care program, junior standing, or permission of program director.
RESC 6906 Respiratory Care Seminar 3 s.h.
Development of a literature review on select current topics culminating in preparation of a scholarly paper consistent with Respiratory Care Journal Conference format and an accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
Prereq.: Acceptance in MRC program.
RESC 6908 Leadership Development in Respiratory Care 3 s.h.
Using an evidenced-based perspective, the course will examine nature of leadership in health care organizations with an emphasis on self-understanding and learning to achieve both a theoretical and practical understanding of leadership. Health care managers need to be able to create, foster and manage organizations in which people thrive and perform at their best to achieve organizational excellence.
Prereq.: Acceptance in MRC program.
RESC 6910 Competency Assessment in Respiratory Care 3 s.h.
Reviews how clinically-related competencies in respiratory care are measured including available tools. Evaluation of procedures performed by multiple health care practitioners including issues at state/national levels. Importance of assessing cultural competence also included.
Prereq.: Acceptance in MRC program.
RESC 6915 Education and Accreditation in Respiratory Care 3 s.h.
Comparison of institutional as well as programmatic accreditation requirements. Prepare students with up-to-date tools/approaches to address major educational accreditation concerns in hospital as well as in post-secondary settings. Students will also compare and contrast the role of accreditation in today's health care environment.
Prereq.: Acceptance in MRC program.
RESC 6922 Special Topics in Respiratory Care 1-3 s.h.
Special topics for a focused study on problems, issues, or concerns that relate to respiratory care leadership.
Prereq.: Acceptance in MRC program.
RESC 6950 Respiratory Care Research 3 s.h.
Provides rationale behind evidence-based medicine and presents key elements of scientific research for one study, lab investigation or clinical trial. Course will culminate in creation of abstract to be submitted for publication in Respiratory Care journal.
Prereq.: Acceptance in MRC program.