MCCCD has selected its first baccalaureate degrees for development, in accordance with the authority of Governor Doug Ducey and the Arizona State Legislature in Senate Bill 1453 (SB 1453).
"Our leadership teams have been working diligently on the strategic process of coordinating, adopting, and developing bachelor's degree offerings across our Colleges," said MCCCD Interim Chancellor, Dr. Steven R. Gonzales. "We are closely following the specific guidelines and requirements documented in SB 1453 that instruct how community colleges can offer bachelor's degrees in Arizona, including demonstrated workforce needs, student demand, and avoiding unnecessary duplication of degree programs of other higher education institutions in this state. I am thrilled to see their commitment and dedication pay off as these programs begin to take shape."
Pending the Higher Learning Commission (accrediting agency) and MCCCD Governing Board approval, Maricopa Community Colleges are planning to offer bachelor's degrees as soon as Fall of 2023 and include:
•BAS, Programming and Data Analytics: Mesa
•BAS, Information Technology: Estrella Mountain & Phoenix
•BAS, Public Safety Administration: Phoenix & Rio Salado
•BS, Behavioral Health Science: South Mountain
•BAS, Nuclear Medicine Technology and Computed Tomography: GateWay
•BA, Early Childhood Education - Dual Language: Mesa
•BA, Education, Dual Certification in Elementary/Special Education: Glendale, Paradise Valley, Rio Salado College
Maricopa teams collaborated to identify programs that meet the intention of the legislation. These programs will support many students that MCCCD serves, who would not typically transfer to a university after earning a two-year degree. Now, students in these programs will have the convenience and affordability to continue after their associate's degree with one of MCCCD's colleges.
Over the next year, the Maricopa Community Colleges will be creating the courses and requirements for each degree with the intent to seek approval from the MCCCD Governing Board and accrediting agency. The goal is to receive approval for new degree programs beginning Fall 2023 with enrollment in the new degrees starting in Spring 2023. MCCCD will also continue to work very closely with university partners throughout the state to support the continued transfer of students into quality education pathways.
The CCBA believes that a workforce focused baccalaureate degree, offered by the local community college is one of the great equalizers higher education has to offer," said Angela M. Kersenbrock, President of the Community College Baccalaureate Association (CCBA). "Data on graduation outcomes has been very positive and proves the CCB is contributing to closing the equity and access gaps in our country. The time for CCBs is now.“
MCCCD baccalaureate degrees will be similar to other MCCCD degrees and certificates:
•Designed to get students to their educational and career goals
•Affordable at less than a third of university tuition
•Taught by experienced, awarded, and recognized faculty
•Offered in state-of-the-art facilities with small class sizes and the hands-on experiences our students have come to expect
•Convenient to where our students live and offered in flexible ways.
MCCCD looks forward to continuing to offer additional baccalaureate degrees in high demand industry sectors in the years to come, such as nursing and respiratory care, as we build a 3-5 year plan to guide these efforts into the future. MCCCD first bachelor's degree offerings will be officially confirmed once the District receives approval from its Governing Board and accrediting agency.
