Program: Respiratory Care, M.S. - University of North Carolina at Charlotte (2024)

Admission Requirements

In addition to The Graduate Schooladmission requirements, admission requirements for acceptance into the program include:

• Bachelor’s degree in Respiratory Therapy, related science, or social science from a college or university accredited by an accepted accrediting body
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). If an applicant has earned or attempted a post-baccalaureate degree (i.e., a master’s, doctoral, or other), grades in that program will also be taken into consideration.
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (achieving and maintaining the RRT Credential offered by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC))
• Current state license to practice Respiratory Therapy
• Professional experience consisting of at least 2 years of clinical Respiratory Therapy practice
• Written statement of the applicant’s educational goals and expectations of the program
• Evidence of knowledge in the field from academic or professional colleagues or supervisors in the form of 2 reference letters

Documents that applicants must provide for application review include:

• Associate and Bachelor’s degree transcripts
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT Credential)
• Copy of current state license
• Statement of Purpose: 500 to 1000 words describing the applicant’s educational goals and expectations of the program
• Two letters of recommendation from individuals with academic or professional knowledge of the applicant’s capabilities

Early Entry Program

Exceptional undergraduate students at UNC Charlotte may apply for the Early Entry Program and begin work toward the graduate degree before completion of the baccalaureate degree. See the Undergraduate Catalog for details and requirements. Also see the Degree Requirements and Academic Policiessection of the Graduate Catalog for more information about Early Entry Programs.

Degree Requirements

The program requires the completion of 30 credit hours in approved courses.

• RESP 5101 - Health Outcomes and Quality Assessment (3)
• RESP 6101 - Respiratory Care Leadership (3)
• RESP 6104 - Health Policy, Law, and Ethics in the Health Professions (3)
• RESP 6105 - Pulmonary Function Testing and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation (3)
• RESP 6106 - Ventilation Application and Monitoring (3)
• RESP 6110 - Cardiopulmonary Disease Management (3)
• RESP 6111 - Patient-Centered Care in Cardiopulmonary Disease (3)
• RESP 6115 - Research Methods for Respiratory Care (3)
• RESP 6804 - Respiratory Care Capstone Project (3)
• RESP 6601 - Emerging Issues in Respiratory Care Seminar (3)
• or NURS 6282 - Interprofessional Collaboration in Healthcare (3)

Degree Total = 30 Credit Hours

Student Learning Outcomes

Students are required to successfully complete all direct effectiveness measures for the four Student Learning Outcomes to complete the program:

1. Leadership: Students apply leadership theories and evidence-based practice concepts to plan and make collaborative and effective decisions relevant to respiratory care services or education.
   
2. Evidence-Based Practice: Students conduct scholarly activities using evidence-based practice concepts, research methodology, and statistical procedures relevant to study of or application to respiratory care.
   
3. Professional Communication: Students develop culturally competent and effective oral and written communication for professional interactions.
   
4. Cardiopulmonary Disease Management: Students develop evidence-based care plans in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with cardiopulmonary diseases.

Advanced Respiratory Care Practice Concentration

The UNC Charlotte Master of Science in Respiratory Care - Advanced Respiratory Care Practice (MSRC-ARCP) concentration is designed for registered respiratory therapists who desire to seek clinical leadership opportunities as an advanced practice provider. The concentration prepares registered respiratory therapists to provide evidence-based, diagnostic and therapeutic clinical practice and disease management under the supervision of licensed physician.