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 healthcare 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 confidentiality 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.