Curriculum and Experiential Learning
Butler’s Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy is a 126-credit-hour program designed to prepare you for a rewarding career in respiratory care. You’ll build a strong foundation in science, dive deep into advanced respiratory therapy skills, and complete a hands-on professional phase over six semesters and one seven-week summer session.
As a Respiratory Therapy student, you’ll complete over 1,000 hours of clinical practicums while working alongside registered respiratory therapists in real healthcare settings. You will then be required to take national examinations to begin your professional practice as a respiratory therapist.
Butler’s connections to prominent institutions in Indianapolis—the 16th largest city in the US and a major healthcare corridor—means students have plenty of options for clinical hours. Locations include Ascension St. Vincent and Peyton Manning’s Children’s Hospital, Community Health Network, Indiana University Health, Eskenazi Health, Franciscan Health, and Riley Children’s Hospital.
Pre-Respiratory Therapy Phase
If you are entering Butler after completing high school, entering Butler as a Health Sciences major with a Pre-Respiratory Therapy concentration will be considered your first year in the Respiratory Therapy program.
Students must complete all Butler University requirements in order to graduate, including the Core Curriculum. Additional Core courses may be required to graduate from the Pre-RT curriculum.
Fall Semester
- Chemistry for Respiratory Therapists with lab or equivalent
- Anatomy and Physiology 1 with lab or equivalent
- Medical Terminology or equivalent
- First Year Seminar (Core)
- Statistically Speaking or equivalent or Elementary Statistics (Core) or equivalent
- Well Being (Core) or equivalent
Spring Semester
- Microbiology with lab or equivalent
- Anatomy and Physiology 2 with lab or equivalent
- First Year Seminar (Core)
- Psychological Inquiry (Core) or equivalent
- Perspectives in the Creative Arts (Core)
Professional Phase of the Respiratory Therapy Program
Students must complete all Butler University requirements in order to graduate, including the Core Curriculum. Additional Core courses may be required to graduate from the Pre-RT curriculum.
Fall Semester
- Introduction to Respiratory Care
- Cardiopulmonary and Renal Anatomy & Physiology
- Physics 107 with lab—Elementary Physics
- Global and Historical Studies (Core)
- Texts and Ideas (Core)
Spring Semester
- Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology and Pharmacology
- Fundamentals of Respiratory Care with lab
- Assessment of a Respiratory Patient with lab AHA/BLS certification
- Diversity and Inclusivity in Healthcare or equivalent
- Global and Historical Studies (Core)
Fall Semester
- Mechanical Ventilation with lab
- Advanced Cardiopulmonary Diseases
- Cardiopulmonary Patient with lab
- Practicum for a Respiratory Patient
- Advanced Emergency Management ACLS certification and NRP Certification
- Diagnostics in Cardiopulmonary Hemodynamics
Spring Session A (7 Weeks)
- Ventilator and Adult Critical Care Concepts
- Cardiopulmonary Technology and Specialties
- Pediatric and Neonatal Advanced Critical Care PALS certification
Spring Session B (7 Weeks)
- Respiratory Care Home Health & Patient Education
- Indianapolis Community Requirement
- Advanced Practicum for a Respiratory Patient
Summer 1 or 2 Session (8 weeks)
- Practicum for Specials
Fall Semester
- Practicum for the Cardiopulmonary Patient
- Respiratory Care Research & Evidence Based Practice
- Healthcare Systems and Policy or equivalent
- Health Care Administration or equivalent
Spring Semester
- Professional Leadership and Interprofessional Health Education
- Practicum for the Critical Care Patient
- Comprehensive Review of Respiratory Care Capstone Course
- Clinical Practicum
- Capstone Project
Student Learning Outcomes
- Work collaboratively in inter-professional patient-centered teams, demonstrating ethical and professional standards expected of healthcare professionals, including conflict management, advocacy, and effective communication.
- Plan respiratory care services based on acquiring and evaluating clinical data to assess cardiopulmonary status of patients.
- Implement respiratory care services, including diagnostic studies and therapeutic procedures, troubleshooting equipment, and demonstrating appropriate application, using respiratory care principles in a variety of practice settings and with a variety of patient populations.
- Conduct case management of patients from wellness to cardiopulmonary and related diseases, including setting therapeutic goals for patients, development and modification of respiratory care plans, and providing patient, family, and community education.
- Demonstrate evidence-based practices using established clinical guidelines and evaluation of published research for relevance to patient care.
- Evaluate outcomes of respiratory care services, including management of healthcare expenditures, infection, quality control, disparities, and healthcare delivery systems, and advocacy.
Christy Kane, PhD, RRT, RRT-NPS, RRT-ACCS, AE-C, FAARC
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Butler is currently in the process of seeking CoARC accreditation for a respiratory care program. However, Butler can provide no assurance that accreditation will be granted by the CoARC.