Nashville State Community College was ranked as the third best college or university in the state according to The Tennessean's 2009 readers' choice poll. NSCC was selected by the Tennessee Department of Labor to host adult basic education programs for the region. The college offers certificates and associate degrees in over 80 programs of study, including respiratory therapy. The associate degree in prerespiratory therapy is a transfer program designed for students planning a career as a respiratory therapist. This degree is part of NSCC's health career university parallel program, which requires students to complete 41 credits of general education course work and 19 credits of elective course work before transferring to a university to complete their education.
Nashville State Community College
120 White Bridge Rd.
Nashville, TN 37209
615-353-3333
nscc.edu
Tennessee State University in Nashville has appeared on the U.S. News and World Report's Guide to America's Best Colleges for the past thirteen years, as of 2010. TSU maintains a focus on ethnic diversity, as students come from 42 states and 45 countries. The College of Health Sciences sponsors two clinics open to the public, one centered on speech pathology and audiology and the other on dental hygiene. The college features eight departments, including the department of cardio-respiratory care sciences, which offers a baccalaureate degree in the field. The program prepares students to become registered respiratory therapists and provides a foundation for students intending to continue education through graduate school. The program incorporates course work and clinical education, offering students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the region's major hospitals.
Tennessee State University
3500 John A Merritt Blvd
Nashville, TN 37209
615-963-5000
tnstate.edu
As the nation's largest and independently historic African-American health center, Meharry Medical College is dedicated to educating health care professionals who plan to practice in underserved communities. The college is composed of schools in medicine, dentistry and graduate studies, offering two master's degree programs and four doctoral programs. The school of medicine consists of ten divisions, including the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine specializing in respiratory care. Students receive education and training in areas that include asthma, lung cancer, emphysema and tuberculosis. The division places an emphasis on the research and treatment of asthma, particularly in the African-American community.
Meharry Medical College
1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37208
615-327-6111
mmc.edu