Sep. 02, 2026
South College Dallas has launched an Associate of Science (AS) in Respiratory Therapy program with the first cohort starting this fall after being granted provisional accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
Angie Brunkhardt joined South College a year ago as the director of the Respiratory Therapy program after nearly three decades in educational and clinical settings. The provisional accreditation process, which permits students to enroll, graduate and take licensing exams, signals compliance with national standards and is the first step to full accreditation.
“Provisional accreditation from CoARC allows South College to welcome students to campus in October for our new Associate of Science in Respiratory Therapy program,” said Turner South, campus president of South College in Dallas. “Angie Brunkhardt brings an abundance of experience and has a strong vision to graduate skilled and compassionate professionals in a field with high demand from healthcare employers in the Dallas area.”
Brunkhardt’s clinical experience informs her approach to teaching, which involves empathy as much as academic excellence.
“I teach students that they are caring for patients and their families in vulnerable and sometimes frightening situations,” said Brunkhardt, whose previous experience included working with lung transplant patients and the American Lung Association. “Respiratory therapists who are both well-rounded professionals and highly skilled providers are needed in clinical settings, including intensive care, emergency rooms, cardiac catheterization labs, long-term care facilities, education and research.”
The two-year Respiratory Therapy program is held on campus with in-person instruction. . Essential skill development will include cardiopulmonary pharmacology; mechanical ventilation and airway management; emergency and critical respiratory care; neonatal and pediatric respiratory care; pulmonary rehabilitation and home care; and cardiopulmonary testing and sleep studies.
Students also will complete labs and clinical practice to gain practical experience with respiratory therapy equipment, procedures, imaging and lab data and patient care.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), careers as a respiratory therapist are expected to grow by 12% across the country from 2024 to 2034 with pay at $80,450 per year or $38.68 per hour for a two-year degree. In Texas, average annual wages are $79,541 with employment expected to increase by 23.86%.
Learn more about the Respiratory Therapy field and the demand for this role in healthcare on episode 16 of the LIVE From South College Podcast.
The Dallas campus, located at 1507 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, opened in 2025 and offers a range of healthcare-focused degree programs, including nursing, respiratory therapy and dental, with modern classrooms and labs. The campus offers student amenities including a walking trail, outdoor courtyard, on-site cafe, covered parking and nearby restaurants and stores.
The campus is minutes away from downtown Dallas, Las Colinas business district and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport with easy access to the LBJ Freeway/Interstate 635, Interstate 35E and the President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT) on State Highway 161.
For more information about South College Dallas and its programs, visit south.edu/dallas.
South College offers more than 150 academic programs and concentrations at multiple levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degree programs via campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Dallas, Texas; Orlando, Florida; and Columbus, Ohio, as well as Online and through Competency-Based Education (CBE). To learn more about South College, visit south.edu.
About South College
South College serves more than 20,000 students and is proud of its more than 25,000 graduates. South College focuses on ensuring high standards and quality educational offerings, maintaining multiple authorizations and accreditations.
South College’s programs span diverse fields such as business, criminal justice, dental hygiene/assisting, diagnostic medical sonography, nursing, occupational therapy, paralegal studies, physical therapy, radiography, respiratory therapy, physician assistant studies, pharmacy and surgical technology. The institution is dedicated to preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed for the professional opportunities ahead of them. For more information, visit south.edu.
