Transferring To A Bachelor’s Program From An Online Community College
Many students may wish to transfer into a bachelor’s program after they complete their community college studies. Getting an early start can help ensure your online associate degree credits transfer seamlessly into a relevant four-year program.
To transfer credits, you’ll work with a transfer counselor at the college or university you’d like to attend. This person informs you which credits will or will not transfer, and how transferred credits will cover various general education requirements. This process typically works best if you’ve planned ahead and attended a community college that has an established transfer arrangement with the four-year school in question.
Not all schools will accept your online associate degree program credits, and so it’s important to do some research and make sure the courses you’re taking will help you achieve your academic goals. In general, most transfer students find they can complete a bachelor’s degree in about two years if they get an associate degree first.
Mission Creep And Increasing Competition With Four
California Senate Bills 850 and 769 authorized the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, in consultation with the California State University and the University of California , to establish baccalaureate degree pilot programs. CSU and UC are protected from competition by virtue of the legislative requirements:
Thanks to the pilot, students can now earn baccalaureate degrees in airframe manufacturing technology, industrial automation, mortuary science, the equine industry, dental hygiene, health information management, biomanufacturing, respiratory care, occupational studies, automotive technology, interaction design, and biotechnology. These majors meet criteria #2 and #3 above and are areas in which CSU and UC have indicated no interest in investing their own resources. Without the community college programs, students would have to enroll in a private or for-profit institution, possibly even going out of state. Clearly, serving this population is not at the expense of CSU and UC.
Choose Your Career Path And Major
Before you begin looking at community colleges or trade school programs online, think about your long-term career goals and the vocations that interest you most. Your desired career path will inform your choice of a major and ensure you’re working toward a degree that will allow you to enter a specific field.
If your potential career requires a bachelor’s degree, choose an online community college program that will enable you to transfer your credits to a four-year program later. If you’re interested in a specific trade, vocational school offers an alternative education with a direct career path.
Think about your long-term career goals and the vocations that interest you most.
Also note that some schools don’t offer all types of majors, and so you’ll want to avoid enrolling at a college where you cannot pursue the career you want.
If you’re deciding whether to pursue an online trade certificate or associate’s degree, consider the limitations of being certified in one trade. While trade programs typically require less time to complete, associate programs provide you with a wide variety of skills that aren’t necessarily tied to one specific occupation.
Finally, consider your local economy and the industries and employers that seem to be doing the best in your state. Opting for a career in a high-demand field can help ensure you secure a job after graduation.
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Is A Community College Bachelors Degree A Smart Choice
Grace ChenDegree Programs Around the Nationpresent in all corners of the countryThe Advantagesdata from the College BoardMesa Community Collegesigned into lawdrive up black and Latino college enrollmentaverage community college class sizehost of benefitsThe DisadvantagesBellevue CollegeSanta Fe CollegeJackson Community Collegevehement opposition from state universitiesSt. Petersburg College
Bachelor Of Applied Science And Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Degrees
During the 2014 legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly determined that it is a priority in Colorado to afford citizens across the state greater access to higher education by allowing the community colleges to offer four-year bachelor of applied science degrees. During the 2018 legislative session, and in response to a statewide shortage of nursing professionals with Bachelors degrees, the Colorado General Assembly passed HB 18-1086 allowing CCCS Community Colleges to offer a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
BAS degrees continue to be of increasing importance in enabling individuals to qualify for and obtain jobs in specialized fields throughout Colorado. Offering BAS and BSN degrees has allowed the community colleges to provide an opportunity for underserved and first generation students to continue their educational pathway in a familiar community college setting, thus making it more likely these students will persist and complete their degrees while furthering statewide goals toward closing the attainment gap for historically underserved populations. CCCS colleges offer Bachelors degrees in a growing number of specific disciplines designed to enhance graduates employment opportunities.
Visit the Program Approval page for information on the BAS and BSN program approval processes.
- Health Information Management: Arapahoe Community College, Pueblo Community College
- Mortuary Science: Arapahoe Community College
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What Kind Of Degree Can You Obtain From A Community College
Community colleges are public schools that offer associate’s degrees, diplomas and certificates. Community colleges are designed for a variety of students, including those who want vocational training, a different career or enough credits to transfer to a 4-year college.
Do community colleges offer masters? Most community colleges do not have residential facilities for students. Four-year colleges and universities award bachelor’s degrees, and many award graduate and doctoral degrees as well most also have more selective admissions than most community colleges.
Is A Community College Degree Worth Anything
But there is more to the value of a community college education than earnings. For many individuals, community colleges offer the only opportunity for a college education. Our tuition rates are significantly lower than public four-year colleges and universities and dramatically lower than for-profit colleges.
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We’re Not Producing Enough Graduates
Just 52% of Arizona’s 2018 high school graduates enrolled in higher education, according to the Board of Regents report released last year. Only 29% pursued a four-year degree, not even enough to replace degree holders who are retiring.
Certainly, not enough to support a growing state or a robust economy.
This bill should have passed decades ago but the research universities have killed it every time its come up, apparently uninterested in having to compete for students. The Board of Regents along with Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University opposed Senate Bill 1453.
Regents Executive Director John Arnold told a legislative panel in March that universities already partner with community colleges.
We dont need more capacity, we need more students to come through the existing pathways that are already there, Arnold told the House Education Committee.
Tell that to the kid who graduates with a shiny new baccalaureate degree and tens of thousands of dollars of debt.
The average tab for in-state tuition at the state’s three universities is about $11,900 a year, though many students qualify for financial aid. Full-time students at Maricopa Countys community colleges, meanwhile, pay $2,040 a year.
Some See Competition Others See Alternative To Transfer Hurdles
While proponents of community college baccalaureate pathways say the offerings increase affordability and create avenues to four-year degrees for underrepresented populations and far-flung communities, critics say the model could undermine public universities.
In Arizona, four-year institutions expressed concern that the new legislation does not require community colleges to collaborate with state universities in determining their baccalaureate offerings. Some two-year institutions such as Pima Community College have been vocal about their intent to continue their strong partnerships with state universities.
Experts say that competition is unlikely, given that community colleges and four-year universities tend to attract different types of students. California, for instance, says it has not experienced any detrimental competition since it launched a 15-school community college baccalaureate pilot program in 2014.
Similar programs in Washington state and Florida have shown that community college bachelors degree programs tend to attract adult learners, working learners, student parents, low-income students, first-generation students, and students of color.
The students who enroll in these programs are students who most likely would not have attended a four-year baccalaureate program, said Debra Bragg, a fellow at the think tank New America. Rather, they are students who need to stay local or students for whom transferring would have proven too burdensome.
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States Now Allow Community Colleges To Offer Bachelors Degrees
Arizona this week became the latest state to give community colleges the green light to offer four-year degrees. Twenty-four states now permit bachelors degree programs at community colleges, and others have expressed interest in the models potential to increase college access and help meet local workforce needs, Inside Higher Ed reports.
Common Areas Of Study For An Associate Degree
When you select a major for your online associate degree program, you make an important decision concerning the subject areas you will explore during your time in school. In fact, this decision could influence which bachelor’s programs you can transfer into once you’ve completed your two-year degree. And, of course, your major affects the jobs you may qualify for in the future.
Below are a few of the most common majors within community college online programs:
This major covers a range of topics related to the business world, including management, sales, marketing, accounting, and organizational structures. Students also learn how to apply their newly acquired skills in a practical setting, while preparing themselves to move seamlessly into a four-year business program.
These programs provide a comprehensive introduction to the healthcare sector for students who typically go on to engage in more focused health services bachelor’s degree programs. Students take courses across the sciences, along with those pertaining to research, clinical procedures, and various healthcare professions.
Students in these online associate degree programs learn about theories and practice in teaching and learning, along with basic educational psychology. They also learn how to plan lessons, contribute to the social and academic growth of students, and manage school health and safety issues. Many students later enroll in four-year elementary or secondary education programs.
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After 100 Years Phoenix College Will Begin Offering Bachelors Degrees
PHOENIX — Today, Arizonans received some truly groundbreaking news. Senate Bill 1453 , passed in the house and legislature, was signed into law by Governor Doug Ducey. This bill will allow two-year community colleges, such as Phoenix College, to offer baccalaureate degrees for the first time ever.
It goes without saying, but this is a historic moment for higher education in Arizona, said Dr. Clyne Namuo, the new interim President of Phoenix College. Students will now be able to benefit from earning a bachelor’s degree close to home, in their community, at Phoenix College. The bills passing will open so many doors for people who hadnt pursued their bachelors degrees until now.
As a Hispanic Serving Institution , our student diversity is a tremendous strength. Over 65% of students are first-generation. This opportunity will further enhance their access, opportunity, and affordability to higher education in Arizona. In fact, Phoenix College, as part of the Maricopa Community College District, will continue to be one of the most affordable higher education institutions in the state of Arizona.
SB1453 will provide a pathway for current and future college students in the state of Arizona. This change will impact the Phoenix community for the better in a variety of ways. Phoenix College faculty and leadership will work collaboratively to identify the programs that will advance immediately for consideration as a four-year baccalaureate program.
Why Community Colleges Should Offer Bachelors Degrees
California community colleges have launched baccalaureate degree pilot programs that may allay some of the concerns regarding an increase in bachelor’s degree availability at two-year institutions.
In April 2019, Inside Higher Ed published an article entitled “Presidents Divided on Community College Bachelor’s Degrees.”1 On behalf of my California colleagues, in both two-year and four-year institutions, who believe that is it is essential for our community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees, I would like to address several concerns stated in the article. I believe there are reasonable responses that might allay some of the fears expressed not only in California but in other states as well.
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What Associate Degrees Can I Earn Online
If you wish to get an associate degree online, you should understand that there are several types of these degrees available. The option you choose may have a long-term impact on your academic career, as it will affect the majors available and the four-year programs into which you can transfer. It could even influence the careers available to you after graduation. Take some time to understand the types of associate degrees and find the best one for you.
These programs typically focus on general education classes, rather than those concentrated on a specific career or major. This can prepare you well for transferring to a bachelor’s of arts program in the future. Courses usually include English, mathematics, social sciences, and laboratory science.
This two-year degree can be a great option if you wish to enroll in a bachelor of science program in the future. In most cases, an AS degree provides a strong academic foundation rather than specific career training. Some AS programs offer concentrations in majors like biology, computer science, physics, and health science.
These programs are usually focused on preparing students to enter specific career fields upon graduation. They may require you to complete a few general education classes, but most of the coursework is concentrated on your chosen major. Examples of AAS programs include computer technology, healthcare systems technology, and hospitality management.
Stretching Community College Budgets Too Far
Except for $6 million that the state of California initially invested for start-up costs, including equipment and curriculum and professional development, baccalaureate programs are offered within existing budgets and are subject to the same enrollment management analyses that apply to any instructional decisions. Student demand, completion, and employability are among the factors that lead colleges to support certain programs over others. Community college resource reallocations are much more likely to result from enrollment shifts than from the presence of a baccalaureate program.
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What Is A Bachelors Degree
Students can earn a bachelors degree by completing approximately 120 to 130 college credits, usually through four or five years of full-time study. Bachelors degrees are awarded by a variety of colleges and universities, including private universities,public universities, liberal arts colleges, career colleges and online schools. These degrees can be completed through courses on a college campus or at an online school, or through a combination of classroom and online courses.
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Is Community College Free In California
California will now provide free tuition for the first two years of community college for first-time students who attend full-time. California governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to allow the California College Promise program to help cover 33,000 more students for a second year of tuition-free college.
Can I go back to community college? However, many community colleges are doing everything they can to make going back to school as easy as possible. The internet has made it easier than ever to go back to school on a flexible schedule, and most community colleges offer classes, if not entire programs, online for working students.
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Az Bill Prioritizes Labor Needs Affordability
Under Arizonas legislationwhich passed the state Senate 24-to-6 and was signed this week by Governor Doug Duceycommunity colleges must ensure that their baccalaureate programs reflect local labor needs and do not duplicate existing offerings at state universities.
For example, the 10-campus Maricopa Community College said it is considering offering a degree in respiratory therapy among its new bachelors programs. Arizona hospitals increasingly require respiratory therapists to have a four-year degree, but none of the states universities offer that training.
The new bill also requires community college to cap the price of baccalaureate-level courses at 150 percent or less than the cost of their associate-level courses. At Maricopa, that would work out to around $3,000 per semester, maximum, for a bachelors degree programaround one-fourth to half of the cost of attending a state university, according to Steven R. Gonzales, interim chancellor of the Maricopa Community College District.
With students leaving higher education with mounds of student debt, this would be an opportunity to have access to high-quality, affordable and hopefully leave community college with little to no debt and a bachelors degree in hand, Gonzales told Inside Higher Ed.
What Are The Best Online Community Colleges And Trade Schools Of 2021 Here Are Our Top :
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Thanks to credit transfer agreements, high-quality instruction, and the efficiency that comes with online learning, it’s no surprise that it has become such an attractive option for students across the country and around the world.
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