Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy

Are you passionate about helping people in their time of need? Do you want to launch a career in healthcare without necessarily becoming a nurse or doctor? If that sounds like you, Liberty’s Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) can help!

In our respiratory therapy bachelor’s program, you can explore topics in respiratory care and discover how to serve your patients with grace, empathy, and skill. Our goal is to help you become a respiratory therapist to make a difference in your community and beyond.

Are you ready to pursue your goal of working in respiratory rehabilitation and therapy? If so, apply today! We can help you gain credentials, experience, and training to help prepare you for a career in this booming field.

If you already have a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential, Liberty’s online BS in Respiratory Therapy – RRT to BSRT may be the best fit for you.

133

Credit Hours

View Courses

Next start date: Aug 18, 2025

Degree COARC

COARC Accredited

Industry-Relevant Skills

Discover how to operate many of the same tools used by industry professionals.

Hands-On Training

Gain hands-on experience by completing labs and clinical education courses.

Experienced Faculty Mentorship

Receive respiratory therapist training from faculty with years of experience in academia and the professional world.

Faith-Based Perspective

Analyze science from a biblical perspective and train to lead as a Champion for Christ in your future career.


Liberty University’s Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy can help prepare you to pursue the following occupations:

  • Adult critical care
  • Case manager
  • Clinical specialist
  • Director
  • Disease manager
  • Generalist care
  • Home care
  • Neonatal/pediatric care
  • Pulmonary/cardiac rehabilitation
  • Pulmonary function testing
  • Researcher
  • Sleep medicine
  • Supervisor
  • Transport
Bachelor's Respiratory Therapy

Our respiratory therapy courses cover topics like medical terminology, pharmacology, equipment and techniques, artificial ventilation, and pulmonary disease management. You will also discover how to treat various populations and provide proper care to your patients.

At Liberty, you’ll hear from the best. Your clinical training will take place under the supervision of a preceptor. Additionally, you’ll study under faculty who have years of experience in healthcare and respiratory therapy. You will also get to network with healthcare professionals as you train with therapists, physicians, and nurses.

Our respiratory therapist education program is designed to help you prepare to do the following:

  • Administer therapeutic inhaled gases like oxygen, nitric oxide, and helium
  • Analyze breath and blood specimens
  • Educate patients and families about lung disease
  • Help diagnose lung and breathing disorders
  • Manage ventilators and artificial airway devices
  • Perform airway clearance therapy
  • Perform physical exams
  • Provide inhalation medications
  • Respond to Code Blue and other urgent calls
Degree Information

Relevant, Hands-On Training

Liberty University’s respiratory therapy education degree helps you stay current with modern healthcare practices and trends. Our program blends theoretical knowledge with practical training through seminars, labs, and clinical courses – helping to equip you to address major challenges in respiratory care and apply your skills in real-world settings.

Faith-Based Approach

Our mission is to Train Champions for Christ. All courses are taught from a biblical perspective, helping you navigate moral issues and incorporate ethical principles alongside industry best practices. We’re committed to preparing you not just for a career, but for a meaningful life of service to God and others.

Campus Community and Student Life

We want your time on campus to be fulfilling both academically and socially. Take part in weekly convocations, campus church, and small groups to grow spiritually. With over 100 student-led clubs, you’ll have plenty of chances to connect with peers, explore your interests, and build lasting friendships.

Career Preparation and Outlook

Upon graduation, we want you to be well-prepared to sit for national board exams, become registered as a respiratory therapist, and take specialty exams in perinatal/pediatric care and pulmonary function technology. With a projected job growth rate of 14% from 2021 to 2031, respiratory therapy offers strong career opportunities in a rapidly expanding field.*

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, at Respiratory Therapists (viewed online Feb 8, 2023). Projections may not reflect local or short-term job conditions.

Knowing up-front what you’re paying for and why can go a long way toward making you feel comfortable about your investment. This overview of major college costs can give you an idea of what’s coming so you can create an accurate budget from the start.

All Tuition & Aid

Undergraduate Tuition

Full-time (12-18 Credits)

$12,325 / $24,650

Semester / Year

Part-time (<12 Credits) $845
Niche Best Colleges White

The BS Degree Entry into Respiratory Therapy Practice, CoARC program number 200640, BS in Respiratory Therapy, in Lynchburg, Virginia, the program holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

This status signifies that a program with an Approval of Intent has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the Standards (through submission of an acceptable Provisional Accreditation Self Study Report (PSSR) and any other documentation required by the CoARC, as well as satisfactory completion of an initial on-site visit, to be allowed to admit students. It is recognized as an accredited program by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which provides enrolled students who complete the program with eligibility for the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s). The program will remain on Provisional Accreditation until it achieves Continuing Accreditation.

The CoARC’s outcomes webpage can be found here.

CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an outcomes-based process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.


Every application is reviewed by the admission committee on a case-by-case basis, meaning there are no set minimums for acceptance. However, all applicants must submit the following documents* for admission:

  • Admission application
  • Official high school transcripts
  • Official college transcripts (if applicable)
  • Admission essay

Parents, do you have more questions? See our FAQs for additional information.