5140 Department of Respiratory Therapy

1228 Urban Life Building
404-413-1225, 404-413-1220
rt.gsu.edu
Dr. Douglas S. Gardenhire, Department Chair
Robert Pettignano MD, Medical Director

Faculty: Batty-Muse, Brandenberger, Colquitt, Frederick, Gardenhire, D, Gardenhire,R, Goodfellow, Murray, Shan,
Zimmerman

The Department of Respiratory Therapy offers a Master of Science major in Health Sciences with a specialization in respiratory therapy. The purposes of the program are to 1) foster critical thinking, inquiry, and professional leadership in the health professions; 2) prepare health professionals who can formulate research questions, organize and test research problems, and evaluate research study results; 3) provide health practitioners with advanced study in professional specialty areas; 4) enhance career development in the health professions; and 5) provide the framework for advanced degree study.

The overall program objectives are to develop an understanding of the theoretical basis for the health professions; to gain proficiency in the processes, techniques, and practices that are currently being developed within the health professions; to enable the student to discover and utilize specialized knowledge in other disciplines that are related to the effective practice of the health professions; and to develop within the student the ability to see healthcare as a whole, to visualize the interrelationships of its components, and to recognize the influence of political, social, and economic milieu on the healthcare system.

There are a number of options in graduate study for Respiratory Therapy. One option is the Online or Traditional M.S. degree which is built on a common core of courses and allows for maximum flexibility to meet the needs of the students and their professions. Various specialty tracks or specialties in the Department of Respiratory Therapy are offered. In this way, each program may be individualized to meet the students’ professional goals in keeping with the overall objectives of the program. The curriculum includes core health sciences courses, specialty courses, elective courses, and either a thesis, non-thesis or advanced practice option. The Advanced Practice option is available for students who want more of a clinical master’s degree and allows the student to obtain two advanced credentials prior to graduation. An initial program of study is planned by the student in consultation with the Department Chair by the end of the first year or before 12 semester hours of coursework has been completed.

The Department of Respiratory Therapy also offers an Integrated Program (IP) for students who possess a bachelor’s degree and want to enter the profession without having to earn another bachelor’s degree. This program provides students with the opportunity to meet undergraduate and graduate pre-professional experiences required for eligibility to take the National Board for Respiratory Care credentialing exams. Admission to this option requires an undergraduate degree and completion of program prerequisites.

Application to this specialization option requires a completed application to the M.S. in Health Sciences and a supplemental application. This application must be received by the College of Nursing and Health Professions Office of Academic Assistance for review by January 15 for summer admission, May 15 for fall semester admission and September 15 for spring semester admission.

Program Academic Regulations

Students in the master’s program in health sciences are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 before registration for any capstone experience (thesis or non-thesis) will be permitted. Any grade below a C is not acceptable toward the master’s degree. No more than two C grades (maximum of six semester credits) in the health sciences core and/or major can be applied toward the degree. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to receive the master’s degree.

Program Financial Information

Students enrolled in the Integrated Program can expect to pay approximately $1400 for uniforms, stethoscopes, student liability insurance, books, clinical tracking system, clinical site onboarding and background check in the first professional year. In the second professional year expenses are estimated at approximately $1000. This includes books and expenses related clinical training, NBRC self-assessment exams.

All other graduate programs costs will vary, but generally books and specialty exams may cost $1500 for the entire program.

Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen

Your application for licensure may ask you to respond to questions regarding any violations of federal, state or local law. You may be required to provide documentation to the state licensing board explaining any such occurrence. The individual state licensing agencies have exclusive authority to issue a license and could decline to issue such a license based on an applicant’s prior criminal record.

Additionally, many of the clinical sites with which we have a clinical agreement require criminal background checks, finger printing and drug screen prior to allowing the student to be placed in the facility. The clinical facility has the right to deny the student an internship in the facility based on the findings of the criminal background check or drug screen.

Graduate/Thesis Committee

Students in the online, traditional and integrated program in health sciences will select, with assistance from the major adviser, a Graduate/Thesis Committee, consisting of a chairperson (usually the major advisor) and at least two additional members. The committee should be selected by the time 12 semester hours have been completed. The Committee should be selected in accordance with the following criteria:

1. The Committee Chairperson must hold a primary appointment in the student’s department and hold full or provisional Graduate Faculty Status in the College of Nursing and Health Professions.
2. A second member of the committee must be from the faculty at Georgia State University.
3. A third member must be selected from the faculty of Georgia State University or another institution of higher education or from a health-related agency.
4. All committee members must be selected in consultation with the chair of the Graduate/Thesis Committee and approved by the head of the department.
5. No committee may consist of fewer than three members; however, a student may elect to have more than three members.

Programs

• Health Science, M.S.
• Health Science, M.S. - Respiratory Therapy (Integrated)
• Health Science, M.S. - Respiratory Therapy (Online)
• Health Science, M.S. - Respiratory Therapy (Traditional)

• Health Sciences, Ph.D. - Cardiopulmonary Care Concentration

Courses

• RT 5011 - Application of Physical Principles in Healthcare
• RT 6005 - Clinical Cardiopulmonary Physiology
• RT 6020 - Basic Life Support Instructor Course
• RT 6025 - Patient Evaluation
• RT 6027 - Pulmonary Diseases
• RT 6030 - Pulmonary Function Diagnostics
• RT 6040 - Respiratory Care Pharmacology
• RT 6050 - Clinical Practice I
• RT 6051 - Clinical Practice II
• RT 6052 - Clinical Practice III
• RT 6111 - Respiratory Care Procedures I
• RT 6112 - Respiratory Care Procedures II
• RT 7010 - Teaching Practicum
• RT 7011 - Ventilatory Support I
• RT 7012 - Mechanical Ventilation II
• RT 7020 - Advanced Clinical Preceptorship
• RT 7030 - Advanced Mechanical Ventilation
• RT 7040 - Advanced Practice Monitoring
• RT 7050 - Statistical Research II
• RT 7051 - Clinical Practice IV
• RT 7052 - Clinical Practice V
• RT 7060 - Critical Care Therapeutics
• RT 7070 - Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• RT 7075 - Patient Care Management
• RT 7080 - Pediatric Respiratory Care
• RT 7081 - Neonatal Respiratory Care
• RT 7085 - Professional Practice: From Current Trends to Extended Care
• RT 7090 - Seminar in Respiratory Care
• RT 7095 - Special Problems in Respiratory Care
• RT 7096 - End of Life Issues
• RT 7950 - Directed Readings
• RT 7980 - Research Practicum
• RT 7990 - Special Topics
• RT 7995 - Directed Studies in Respiratory Care
• RT 7999 - Thesis Research