Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences—Allied Health

This degree is offered entirely online.

Respiratory Care Emphasis

Flexibility is a hallmark of this online bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences: Allied Health from Northern Arizona University (NAU) which offers all coursework online and accepts a significant amount of transfer credit.  To pursue this degree, students must have an associate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in an Allied Health discipline. Students may transfer up to 90 credits towards the Allied Health bachelor’s degree at NAU and must also complete a minimum of 30 credits of upper division classes at NAU. In order to graduate with the Allied Health bachelor’s degree, students must also have a current state or national license that matches their Allied Health associate degree. While students may begin coursework at NAU while their associate degree and license are still in progress, these must both be obtained prior to their enrollment in the final capstone course at NAU.

If you have completed or are currently pursuing an Associate’s degree in respiratory care at a regionally-accredited community college or university, you can complete your Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences through Northern Arizona University. This is an “upside down” 3+1 degree completion program. This means that all Allied Health clinical concepts and training are attained at the Associate degree level (students are able to transfer in up to 90 credits from a regionally-accredited program outside of Northern Arizona University [NAU]). More general health concepts are taught online through NAU to enhance Allied Health academic preparation at the Bachelor degree level. NAU does NOT offer any of these clinical disciplines but instead partners with students who have completed or are in the process of completing an Allied Health-related Associate degree from a regionally-accredited program.

What Can I Do with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences: Respiratory Care emphasis?

Do you have or are you pursuing an associate degree and license in Respiratory Care? Do you want to earn your bachelor’s degree while staying in your home community and continuing to work? Would you like to gain education that will qualify you for career advancement possibilities?

The Health Sciences–Allied Health: Respiratory Care (RC) emphasis at Northern Arizona University does not advance specific clinical knowledge or experience in your Respiratory Care discipline, but rather provides you with a broad overview of health and the healthcare environment and helps you to develop knowledge and skills for living a healthy personal lifestyle while working as an effective healthcare professional.  The Health Sciences: Respiratory Care emphasis at Northern Arizona University will provide you with knowledge to better understand the importance of disease prevention, interconnectedness of personal and societal health, stress management, and the ever-changing healthcare environment.  The capstone experience in the program focuses on leadership and interprofessional teamwork concepts to help prepare you for potential professional advancement.

Our program is a convenient and flexible way for you to complete your bachelor’s degree whether you are a current student or a working Allied Health professional in the Respiratory Care discipline. We offer a flexible degree plan that you can complete online, without leaving your community.

Note: In addition to applying and being admitted to NAU, students must also apply and be accepted to the Department of Health Sciences Allied Health program. To be eligible for this academic plan, students must be admitted to, enrolled in, or be graduates from an associate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the Respiratory Care discipline. In order to graduate with the bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences: Allied Health with a Respiratory Care emphasis, students must also have a current state or national license that matches their associate degree.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to this program, you must:

• have or be currently pursuing a respiratory care Associate’s degree through a regionally-accredited college
• secure state certification or licensure upon completion of your Associate’s degree
• GPA of 2.5 or higher

FAQs Have more questions?  Find out if they are answered in our FAQ section.