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Pre-Respiratory Care

Alyse Mikolas '14 shadows her mother, Sandra, a nurse practitioner, at Aurora Health Center in Kenosha. A new program designed by Sandra ...

The pre-respiratory care program prepares students for a career in respiratory therapy, specializing in evaluating, treating, and caring for patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders. They can work with patients of all ages, from premature infants with underdeveloped lungs to elderly individuals with chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Carthage has numerous faculty/staff members to support your journey to professional school. Make sure you are working closely with your assigned faculty advisor to address any questions relating to your major or minor requirements. For questions regarding respiratory care school requirements and preparation, please contact a pre-health coordinator.

See the pre-respiratory care timeline

To enter the 3 + 2 program with Rush University, students must complete the following prerequisites by the end of their junior year.

  • BIO 2010 Anatomy and Physiology for the Healthcare Professional I
  • BIO 2020 Anatomy and Physiology for the Healthcare Professional I
  • BIO 3340 Microbiology
  • CHM 1010 Chemistry I
  • EXS 2330 Statistics for Human Services
  • PHY 2100 Physics I
  • PYC 1500 Introduction to Psychology

The 3 + 2 respiratory care program with Rush University is for students who major in allied health science at Carthage. Learn more about the 3 + 2 program

School Applications
This is not a direct-entry program; students apply to the respiratory care program through our clinical partner, Rush University. Below is the list of application materials:

  • Shadowing hours
  • Personal statement
  • Resume/ CV 
  • Three or more references
  • Transcripts (official copy)

Shadowing and Volunteering
All students are encouraged to shadow a respiratory therapist in a variety of settings. There is not a specific amount of hours required for RC school, but students should have enough experience to understand the profession thoroughly.

Required Entrance Exams
None required.

Personal Statement
You may need to submit a personal statement with your application. To help craft your personal statement, attend our Personal Statement Workshop, typically held in the fall semester.

Letters of Recommendation
You will need several letters of recommendation for your application. You will need three references for the Rush University RC application. These individuals are then contacted to complete an evaluation of you. Students need to give at least three to four weeks of notice. This way, references have adequate time to reflect upon their experience and write the best possible letter. If you are participating in an experiential role, it is suggested that you ask for a letter a month or two before the close of that experience.

Respiratory therapists find rewarding careers in various settings, including the following:

  • Hospitals, clinics, and physicians’ offices
  • Critical care units and transport
  • Diagnostic laboratories and sleep centers
  • Colleges, universities, and research facilities