News Update

More baccalaureate programs coming to California Community Colleges

Three more baccalaureate programs have been approved at California community colleges, the college system announced.

Bachelor’s degrees in respiratory care at El Camino College, automotive technology management at De Anza College and research laboratory technology at Bakersfield College recently received full approval. Additionally, six other programs have received provisional approval but still must receive approval from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

The expansion of baccalaureate programs at California’s community colleges stems from Assembly Bill 927, a law signed in 2021 expanding a 2014 pilot program that created bachelor’s degrees at 15 community colleges. The new law allows the community college system to add up to 30 baccalaureate programs each year.

The six programs that have received provisional approval include: respiratory care programs at Crafton Hills and Foothill Colleges; histotechnology at Mt. San Antonio College; ecosystem restoration at Feather River College; cyber defense and analysis at San Diego City College; and biomanufacturing at Moorpark College. In addition to needing approval from the accrediting commission, the latter three programs also must still be approved by the University of California and California State University, which sign off on the degrees.

Once the programs are approved by UC, CSU and the accrediting commission, the community college system’s board president, currently Pamela Haynes, gives final approval. The full board previously delegated the board president the authority to give that approval.


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