How to Apply

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Mayo Clinic respiratory therapy student placing a mask on a patient

Enrollment

The Respiratory Care Program is offered collaboratively by University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) and Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences. This program does not accept prior respiratory care education or work experience in lieu of the required respiratory care course.

To participate in the Respiratory Care Program, you must enroll in the Respiratory Care Track of the Bachelor of Science in Health Professions (BSHP) at UMR. You must successfully complete the required prerequisite college coursework for the Respiratory Care Program at Mayo Clinic. Prerequisite coursework must be completed with a C- or higher.

Applicants are selected based on grades, work and volunteer experiences, leadership qualities, and representation of personal qualities and skills in a personal letter and during an interview.

Early Assurance Program

The University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR), in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, offers an Early Assurance Program for students interested in obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Health Professions-Respiratory Care Track degree. Students begin the freshmen year at UMR in the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Program and complete two years of pre-requisites. Following the successful completion of pre-requisites, the students automatically transition to the Bachelor of Science in Health Professions- Respiratory Care Track. Admission is limited and competitive. Visit the UMR website to learn more about early assurance admission into the respiratory care program.

Application process

To apply to the Respiratory Care Program, complete an online application at University of Minnesota Rochester and select Bachelor of Science in Health Professions (BSHP). Submit your application by Jan. 15.

Selected applicants who meet University of Minnesota Rochester admission criteria will be invited to Rochester to interview with the admissions committee members on select dates in March (at their own expense) for a personal interview. All transferred coursework must be completed with a C- or higher.

Non-U.S. citizen applicants

Admission to Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences is open to U.S. workers in the four categories below. Therefore, visa sponsorship is not available.

U.S. citizens
U.S. nationals
Lawful permanent residents
Asylees and refugees

Applicants whose primary language is not English must submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT). Scores from the speaking portion of the exam are given particular consideration in admission decisions. Learn more about the exam and register online at the Educational Testing Service.

The Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences code for the TOEFL iBT is 5784.

Educational transcripts from schools outside the U.S. must be translated (if they are not already in English) and evaluated for U.S. equivalence by an accredited credential evaluation service company prior to submission. Please refer to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services for a list of qualified companies. The applicant pays for the examination and credential-evaluation services.

Prerequisites and technical standards

Prerequisites

Admission is offered only to students who meet qualifications for education and training in the art and science of the respective allied health profession. All transferred coursework must be completed with a C- or higher.

Course requirements

Anatomy & Physiology I or [Human] Anatomy, with lab*
Anatomy and Physiology II or [Human] Physiology, with lab*
College Algebra (or higher level math course)*
General Chemistry, with lab*
Physics, with lab*
Statistics*
English Composition
Ethics or Medical Ethics
Medical Terminology (2 credits)
Public Speaking

Overall GPA and any *STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) course attempts in the past five years are considered in the admission process.

Liberal Education (LE) requirements

Liberal Education (LE) requirements consist of a set of core areas and themes that must be completed in your lower division coursework. Prerequisite courses for the BSHP may overlap to fulfill LE requirements, however students will need to ensure they are meeting all areas and themes in elective courses. To find out what courses at other institutions meet LE requirements, please check the Liberal Education transfer guides.

Additional admission requirements

Fluency in written and spoken English is essential for success in the program and to ensure patient safety. Applicants must demonstrate objective competency in English through the admission interview and may be required to submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or equivalent examination.

Students seeking exceptions to these standards or reasonable accommodations should initiate their request with the program director. Failure to comply or to provide requested documentation is grounds for withdrawing an admission offer or terminating admission.

Technical standards

The MCSHS Respiratory Care Program is committed to diversity and educating students who will make the population of health care professionals a true representative of our diverse community.

The following technical standards are not intended to deter any candidate for whom reasonable accommodation will allow the fulfillment of the complete curriculum. Program applicants and admitted students with disabilities are confidentially reviewed to determine whether there are any reasonable accommodations that would permit the individual to satisfy the program standards. The following technical standards are required of all students enrolled in the Respiratory Care Program.

Theme	Essential functions	Example of required activities (Not all-inclusive)
Observation	Candidates must be able to observe, demonstrate, and participate in hands-on learning in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings. Candidates must be able to acquire information from written documents and computer systems. Candidates must be able to acquire information from written documents and computer systems. Candidates must be able to accurately observe patients and assess findings. They must be able to obtain a medical history and perform a complete physical examination in order to integrate findings based on these observations and to develop an appropriate treatment plan.	Reading small, fine print in all environments, including low-light conditions for accurate patient identification Acquire information from digital, analog, or graphic gauges, scales, and monitors Assess breath and heart sounds Recognize and assess patient changes in mood, activity, cognition, verbal, and non-verbal communication Acquire information from various equipment such as alarms and emergency signals Recognize patient's changing condition in regard to skin integrity and temperature
Communication	Candidates must be able to communicate effectively, sensitively, and efficiently with patients, families, health care professionals, and faculty. Candidates must be able to acquire the patient's medical history in a timely manner, interpret non-verbal information, and establish a therapeutic rapport with patients. Candidates are also required to record information accurately and clearly and communicate efficiently in English with other health care professionals.	Sufficiently communicate in English to retrieve information from literature, computerized databases, and lectures to communicate concepts on written exams and patient charts Communicate effectively and efficiently with patients, students, staff, faculty, and all members of the health care team during all learning experiences Interact with health care faculty, patients, and family in person and via the telephone Fluently read and comprehend the English language necessary to understand caregiver's written and/or electronic orders and understand any signage related to safety and patient care
Motor skill and mobility	Candidates must have sufficient motor functions that they are able to execute movements required to provide general care and treatment to patients in all health care settings within a specified amount of time. Perform physical examinations and diagnostics maneuvers. Respond to clinical situations in a timely and efficient manner while providing general and emergency care.	Full range of motion allowing for gross movements within confined spaces such as bending, stooping, squatting, lifting, and pushing Fine motor skills, steady hand function, and hand-eye coordination Perform basic life support, transfer, and position patients, and re-position self around patients Position and operate typical equipment found in the health care environment (including oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, and imaging equipment)
Interpersonal behavior and social skills	Candidates must exhibit the emotional stability required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, which includes, but is not limited to, the exercise of good judgment, and the prompt completion of responsibilities associated with the care of patients. Candidates are expected to exhibit integrity, honesty, professionalism, compassion, and display a spirit of cooperation and teamwork.	Tolerate physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of patients Express compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation when working with patients, staff, and faculty Manage apprehensive patients with a range of moods and behaviors in a tactful, culturally sensitive, congenial, personal matter so as not to alienate or antagonize them Accept feedback and respond by appropriate modification of behavior
Cognitive and intellectual	Candidates must be able to assimilate detailed and complex information presented in both didactic and clinical coursework. Candidates are expected to possess the ability to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, synthesize, and transmit information. Candidate must also command the ability to think critically, possess problem-solving and organizational skills necessary for the classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings.	Learn through a variety of methods including, but not limited to, classroom instruction, small group, problem-based learning groups, team, and collaborative activities, individual study, preparation, and presentation of report simulations, and using technology Organize time independently and manage multi-faceted demands and schedules Formulate and test hypotheses that enable effective and timely problem-solving in the treatment of patients in a variety of clinical settings
Environment	Candidate must have the sensory and physical well-being that will allow an individual to tolerate occasional distressing and/or disturbing conditions that may be present in a clinical setting. Candidate must have the ability to enter the static magnetic field without contraindication.	Tolerate odors associated with disease states and infections Tolerate sights such as open incisions, invasive procedures during code situations, and injuries/deformities Acclimate to various noises which may range from distractions to annoyances Emotional strength to understand patient and/or family disturbances, death, and dying Function effectively (by completing the given task) in emergent and stressful situations
Computer and technological skills	Candidate must be able to utilize electronic technology in didactic, laboratory, and clinical environment	Demonstrate basic computer functions such as data entry, printing, and ability to function in multiple screens simultaneously Learn and understand the software technology utilized in the health setting