Course Overview!

Ball State University's Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy is a comprehensive program designed to prepare students for rewarding careers in respiratory care. The curriculum emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and hands-on clinical experience, equipping graduates with the skills to evaluate, treat, and educate patients with cardiopulmonary diseases. Students develop proficiency in various areas such as mechanical ventilation, pulmonary rehabilitation, airway management, and the analysis of arterial blood gas samples. The program's strong emphasis on clinical practice includes over 1000 patient contact hours in diverse healthcare settings, providing valuable real-world experience. Graduates achieve a high employment rate and pass rate on national certification examinations.

Course Structure

The Respiratory Therapy program is structured in two phases: a general studies phase completed at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and a professional studies phase at IU Health in Indianapolis. General studies cover the university core curriculum (64-66 credits), encompassing courses in English, speech, chemistry, psychology, mathematics, anatomy, physiology, ethics, physics, statistics, and microbiology. The professional studies phase (70 credits) includes specialized respiratory therapy courses at IU Health Methodist Hospital. This phase features extensive clinical rotations in various healthcare facilities across central Indiana, totaling over 1000 hours of patient contact. Students interact with multidisciplinary teams and can apply for internships in advanced adult care or pediatric intensive care.