Respiratory care is an exciting, fast-paced profession that combines advanced technology with compassionate care of people with breathing disorders. Our program prepares you to work as a respiratory therapist with patients of all ages, from premature infants to older adults, in this high-tech, high-touch career.
Full Time
Rolling AdmissionBachelor of Science
125
The University of Hartford offers the only entry-level bachelor’s degree program in New England. More hospitals are now requiring a bachelor’s degree for respiratory therapists, and it gives you an edge throughout your career, from landing your first job to advancing to leadership positions.
Our fully accredited four-year program provides graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree and eligibility for state licensing and credentialing by the National Board for Respiratory Care.
This program offers more than 750 hours of clinical experience and includes clinical training at some of the best medical facilities in New England, including Hartford Hospital, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Medical Center, and Boston Children’s Hospital.
Our state-of-the-art simulation center on campus gives students the opportunity to practice realistic patient care scenarios that challenge and develop their critical thinking and clinical skills.
Average salary for a respiratory therapist in CT (Source: Salary.com)
of our students are working in the field within six months of graduation.
In the Respiratory Care program, students learn the importance of teamwork to improve patient care and make a difference in the lives of others. Hear from one of our students and our director of clinical education in this short video.
Respiratory therapists care for patients with heart and lung problems. They often treat people who have asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis or sleep apnea. Their patients range from premature infants with underdeveloped lungs to elderly patients who have diseased lungs. They also have the skills to respond to emergency situations such as a heart attack or stroke.
Advances in technology make it possible to help patients get well in ways that were impossible years ago. Respiratory therapists work with sophisticated medical equipment like mechanical ventilators that can breathe for people who can’t breathe on their own and other devices such as ECMO that require a knowledge and love of technology. Respiratory therapists are considered the go-to experts for all high-tech respiratory equipment.
Respiratory therapists can work in various areas of hospitals as well as outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, doctor’s offices, asthma education programs, smoking cessation programs, sleep labs, and even air transport and ambulance programs.
If you’re looking for a profession that combines sophisticated technology and bedside patient care, respiratory therapy can be a great career path.
The job outlook for respiratory therapists is strong. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs for respiratory therapists will grow 23 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
More than 97 percent of our graduates are employed in the field of respiratory care within six months of graduation. Our graduates work at leading hospitals across the region, including:
The Respiratory Care program is a total of 125 credits. A sample of courses is listed below. View the full curriculum using the link to the course catalog.
Professional courses in the Respiratory Care program total 51 credits and include:
Respiratory PharmacologyScience courses total 37-38 credits and include:
Introductory BiologyGeneral education requirements total 37-38 credits and include:
Academic WritingIn order to perform the tasks required of a respiratory therapist, certain physical/behavioral capabilities are required. Students must demonstrate the ability to perform required functions, as a routine part of classroom, laboratory, or clinical education. Click here to read the full technical standards for the program.
Learning Outcomes:
Learning Outcome 1You will begin your clinical training in your sophomore year at one of our 13 clinical partners. Rotations include neonatal, pediatric, adult critical care, and long-term care, and give you a wide range of clinical experiences. Clinical study is integrated throughout the second, third, and fourth years of the program.
Our clinical sites include the following hospitals and healthcare organizations:
Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA
Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, CT
Danbury Hospital, Danbury, CT
Gaylord Hospital, Wallingford, CT
Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT
Hospital of Central Connecticut, New Britain, CT
Middlesex Hospital, Middletown, CT
Midstate Medical Center, Meriden, CT
Saint Francis Medical Center, Hartford, CT
University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT
Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
Our program is open to qualified full- and part-time students. Freshmen and transfer students from associate's degree, registered respiratory care programs may apply.
For admission into the Department of Health Sciences, 16 units of secondary subjects are expected, among which the following are strongly recommended:
Applicants for the Bachelor of Science degree programs, including Respiratory Care, must have three years of college preparatory mathematics. Trigonometry must be one of the courses.
Transfer Admissions
If you are applying as a transfer student, you will submit your application and documentation to our Office of Admission. Our staff are knowledgeable about credit articulation agreements that we have with other institutions and work closely with the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions to provide transfer students with the information they need to make a smooth transition.
Respiratory Care Program Effectiveness Data 2022-2024
Policy and Procedure Guide 2025-2026
Karen Griffiths
Respiratory Care Program Director
860.768.4823
griffiths@hartford.edu
Nikolaos Galiatsatos
Director of Clinical Education
860.768.5499
galiatsat@hartford.edu
The University of Hartford (CoARC 200305), Bachelor of Science, West Hartford, CT, Respiratory Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).
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. For program outcome data, visit this page on the CoARC website.
Please click here to read the professional licensure disclosure statement for the University of Hartford's Respiratory Therapy undergraduate major.
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