The Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS-RC) degree with a major in Respiratory Care prepares students to become respiratory care practitioners with advanced-level clinical skills. Respiratory care is an allied health specialty which provides a wide range of therapeutic and diagnostic services to patients with lung and heart disorders. The career is professionally and personally rewarding, with a balanced blend of technology and patient interaction. Respiratory care practitioners evaluate heart and lung function and provide treatment to patients with respiratory or cardiovascular system medical problems. Specific respiratory care services include measurement of lung function, administration of oxygen, management of mechanical ventilators, delivery of medications to the lungs, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and monitoring of the cardiopulmonary systems. Patients range from premature infants needing rescue breathing to seniors who require pulmonary rehabilitation to live with chronic lung disorders.
Specifically, the degree program:
- Develops respiratory care practitioners by providing them with advanced-level clinical skills
- Supports career advancement through professional coursework and clinical experiences that lead to a baccalaureate degree
- Prepares advanced practitioner respiratory care practitioners to serve as consultants to physicians and other medical staff
- Specialized clinical study opportunities in:
- Adult critical care
- Newborn and pediatric critical care
- Cardiopulmonary diagnostics-pulmonary function testing
- Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, case management in asthma and COPD, and smoking cessation and lung health counseling
This major is an academic partnership between the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and the University of Minnesota. Students admitted into the program have dual student status in the Mayo School of Health Sciences within the Mayo College of Medicine, and the University of Minnesota.
This unique academic partnership offers students an extensive range of opportunities and services. Mayo School of Health Sciences (MSHS) provides the clinical faculty, coursework and practicum experiences at Mayo Clinic-Rochester and other facilities within the Mayo Health System. In addition, MSHS offers students access to Mayo Clinic medical conferences, libraries, computer center, and financial aid. The University of Minnesota College of Continuing Education (CCE) awards the BAS degree, and provides program administration, academic oversight, academic coursework and faculty, services and support for curriculum, faculty and technology development, academic admissions and advising. The University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) provides career and program pre-advising, student services, administrative support and classroom facilities.
The following links send you to a central BAS-RC web page used by all three programmatic partners. To return to this page, either use the "back" key or click on the UMR logo in the right column.
The Bachelor of Applied Science in Respiratory Care is an academic partnership degree.
To learn more about the BAS in Respiratory Care, attend an upcoming information session at the University of Minnesota Rochester.
Contact Information
Holly Renn
University of Minnesota Rochester
300 University Square
111 South Broadway
Rochester, Minnesota 55904
Phone: 507-280-2834
Fax: 507-280-2820
E-mail: rennx005@umn.edu