Fast Facts
Degree: Master of Respiratory Care (MRC)
Length: 21 months (5 semesters)
Program Start: Fall semester beginning in 2024
Class Size: 24 projected
Campus Location: Omaha and Kearney
A respiratory therapist is a healthcare professional who evaluates and treats people with heart and lung diseases ranging from acute respiratory tract infections and pneumonia to asthma, chronic lower respiratory disease, and cystic fibrosis. This professional works closely with physicians to create a treatment plan and determine the level of care through patient assessments and advanced diagnostic testing.
Our new Respiratory Care program will be an "entry-level" master’s degree program. UNMC plans to welcome its first cohort of 24 students in fall 2024 and offer the program on both the Omaha and Kearney campuses.
UNMC’s master’s degree program will consist of 82 credit hours delivered over five semesters (21 months) and over 1,000 clinical hours to award a Master of Respiratory Care (MRC) degree. The MRC program will be open to students who complete prerequisite coursework with or toward a bachelor’s degree with the core prerequisite coursework at an undergraduate accredited university but will not require prior competence in respiratory care.
Accreditation & Licensure
The Entry to Practice Master of Respiratory Care (MRC) degree
The Master of Respiratory Care Degree Advancement Option (MRC)(DAO)
The University of Nebraska Medical Center – College of Allied Health Professions is currently in the process of seeking CoARC accreditation for a respiratory care program. However, the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) can provide no assurance that accreditation will be granted by the CoARC.
Respiratory Care Programmatic Student Outcomes Data
The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care maintains the latest information on student outcomes from all accredited programs.
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.
Accreditation Information
Commission on Accreditation of Respiratory Care
264 Precision Blvd.
Telford, TN 37690
Telephone: 817.283.2835
Fax: 817.354.8519
Email: WEBMASTER@COARC.COM
Tuition & Fees
Tuition and fees are subject to change, as determined by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. Questions regarding residency status should be directed to UNMC Student Success. Cost of attendance for the Respiratory Care program is to be determined.
Program-Specific Policies & Procedures
There are no additional Master of Respiratory Care education policies or procedures outside of what is covered in the College of Allied Health Professions and UNMC policy handbooks.
Length of Program
The Master of Respiratory Care (MRC) Program at UNMC is 21 months in length. Upon successful completion of the program, UNMC awards the Master of Respiratory Care degree, making graduates eligible for national board exam and licensure.
Graduation Requirements
Graduation requirements include successful completion of the following:
- Pass, with an equal to or greater than 75% exam average on each Respiratory Care course, which aligns with the comprehensive written exams that focus on NBRC questions and knowledge for the entry to practice master’s degree. A 70% or higher overall grade for each (RESP) course., as well as clinical competencies and skills in the clinical setting are needed to be successful in the program.
- Complete thorough and comprehensive evaluations that support courses taught through the program as it relates to final assignments in each course.
- The Capstone will be a culmination of the synthesis of the courses throughout the program.
