The online, post-professional Master of Science in Respiratory Care degree program offers respiratory therapists the opportunity to expand their knowledge in the evolving respiratory care discipline and specific concentration areas. The MSRC will prepare respiratory therapists seeking leadership roles, healthcare-based clinical educator positions, and/or academic educator positions in the discipline of respiratory care. The program will be administered through the Department of Respiratory Care at Texas State University. The 36-credit hour program consists of a required 24-credit hour core of Respiratory Care courses plus 12-credit hours in one of two concentrations, Leadership or Polysomnography. The core curriculum provides a focus on advanced concepts of cardiopulmonary physiology, clinical practice guidelines and protocols, respiratory care research methods and designs, cardiopulmonary disease patient education, respiratory care applied research, academic leadership in respiratory care, and advanced cardiopulmonary diagnostics and therapeutics. The research component is designed to develop investigative skills in the respiratory care discipline including: hypothesis testing, research methods, innovative project design, pragmatic implementation, and preparation of research results. The Polysomnography Concentration provides an advanced, comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology of a broad range of sleep disorders. The curriculum includes foundational content, sleep staging practice, diagnostics and therapeutics, and a polysomnography clinical rotation. The Leadership Concentration provides a conceptual foundation in leadership germane to respiratory care. The curriculum promotes the development of specific leadership skills required for success in healthcare industry roles in respiratory care and in academia. Leadership courses address healthcare financial theory, healthcare law, healthcare organizational behavior/theory, and financial management.