Online Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science

Total credit hours per program: 30* credit hours

Cost per credit hour: $355

Total cost with fees: $10,650

Admission Criteria: 

1. Earned associate degree from a CoARC-accredited program. 
2. Current RRT credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care.
3. Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale). 
4. Minimum 2.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for all required pre-requisite courses.
5. Prerequisite courses earned from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university by the first day of class. 

• • English Composition, 6 Hours 
  • Mathematics, 6 hours (College Algebra required; Trigonometry recommended)
  • General Chemistry / Lab, 4 Hours 
  • General Physics / Lab (> 200 level recommended), 4 Hours 
  • Microbiology / Lab, 4 Hours 
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology I / Lab, 4 Hours 
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology II / Lab, 4 Hours 
  • Fine Arts Requirement, 3 Hours* 
  • Humanities, 9 Hours**
  • Social/Behavioral Science, 6 hours*** 

*Fine Arts: Music, Visual Arts, Applied Arts, Theatre, Dance, Interdisciplinary

**Humanities (recommended): Literature, Foreign Languages, History, Classical Studies, Communications, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Interdisciplinary

***Social/Behavioral Sciences (recommended): Social: Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Economics, Geography, International Studies, Interdisciplinary, Political Science. Behavioral: Psychology, Sociology

All applicants must submit a copy of their official transcript, which reflects the earned associate degree from a CoARC-accredited institution, and provide verification of current RRT credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care. 

More information can be found here.

The CPS program is competitive, accepting up to 24 new students each calendar year, offering a tailored curriculum designed for the Respiratory Therapist.

Since the LSU Health Shreveport incoming students are already Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs), the online bachelor's degree in Cardiopulmonary Science empowers them to transcend their current roles and pursue exciting new career paths. This program equips them with the knowledge, skills, and leadership qualities to excel in the following areas:

• Respiratory Care Program Educator
• Supervisor, Manager, or Administrator
• Research Coordinator
• Graduate School (i.e., APRT Program) Candidate
• Clinical Educator 
• Enhanced Respiratory Care Practitioner 
• Case Manager or Liaison 
• Biomedical Company Clinical Specialist 
• Pharmaceutical Representative

Graduates of the online cardiopulmonary science degree program will gain the skills to become experts in patient care and respiratory therapy.

Students will learn to do the following:

• Management Skills: Develop and assess pertinent policies and/or procedures that affect patient care in the arenas of safety, quality, and productivity.
• Leadership Skills: Recognize essential roles of leadership pertinent to patient care and professional practice.
• Research Skills: Interpret core concepts of key research findings after critical appraisal of scientific literature (i.e., clinical practice guidelines, refereed journal publications).
• Instructional Skills: Utilize the concepts of learning styles to implement educational programs in a clinical, academic, or non-traditional setting.
• Clinical Skills: Formulate and/or appraise detailed treatment plans for patients with cardiopulmonary disease to enhance patient care and recovery. 

LSU Health Shreveport's online Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science equips you with the skills and knowledge to advance your career in respiratory therapy, all on a flexible schedule that fits your busy life. This program boasts a faculty of highly qualified Registered Respiratory Therapists with extensive clinical experience. Many hold advanced credentials in areas like neonatal/pediatric care, adult critical care, and pulmonary function testing, ensuring you receive the most up-to-date and specialized instruction.

This Degree Advancement program also offers students many educational opportunities and “seeks to provide graduates of entry into respiratory care professional practice degree programs with additional knowledge, skills, and attributes in leadership, management, education, research, and/or advanced clinical practice that will enable them to meet their current professional goals and prepare them for practice as advanced degree respiratory therapists.” (CoARC DA3.1)

Join LSU Health Shreveport in making a real difference in patients' lives. 

The Cardiopulmonary Science Degree Advancement program, CoARC #510035, Bachelor of Science degree awarded through LSU Health Shreveport at 1450 Claiborne Ave., Shreveport, LA 71103, hold Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).

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.