A Bachelor of Science degree is awarded upon completion of the curriculum and comprehensive examinations. Graduates are eligible to apply for the National Board of Respiratory Care entry-level examination administered by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC). Successful candidates will be eligible to apply for the Advanced Practitioner Examinations administered by the NBRC.

The curriculum in the CPS is designed to prepare advanced respiratory care practitioners. Before applying to the program, candidates must first be admitted to the university. The curriculum is divided into two phases: a pre-professional curriculum and a professional curriculum. To apply for admission into the professional curriculum, a grade of "C" or better is required in all pre-requisite courses. Students must complete a Cardiopulmonary Science Program application to be considered and accepted for admission into the professional curriculum. Only one class is admitted annually (fall semester). The program begins accepting applications in the spring semester.

The professional phase consists of classroom, laboratory, and clinical experiences. Students must clear a criminal background check annually to be eligible to participate in courses involving patient/client contact and/or medical record information. Students must complete 16 hours (clock) of clinical observation of respiratory therapists at an approved clinical site as determined by a CPS program representative. The curriculum is structured to provide the necessary knowledge and clinical competence requisite to entry-level practice and eligibility to advanced practitioner credentials. All courses in the professional phase must be completed with a "C" grade or better. In addition, students must obtain passing scores for comprehensive exit examinations.