Three Orange County Community College Districts have submitted letters of intent to offer bachelor’s degrees in some subjects, according to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
Coast Community College District in Costa Mesa, North Orange County CCD in Anaheim and South Orange County CCD in Mission Viejo are bidding to start programs in community corrections, mortuary science and sustainable environmental design, respectively.
One college each in up to 15 districts can launch baccalaureate programs under a bill signed this fall by Governor Jerry Brown. The new degrees can’t be in areas already covered by California State University or University of California system schools.
A bachelor’s degree may be obtainable for about $10,000 under the programs, the chancellor’s office said.
Degrees are intended to offer more training in fields where technological advances and other changes have made a two-year associate degree insufficient preparation for the work, according to a report.
The chancellor’s office also noted the state’s need for 1 million more 4-year graduates by 2025.
Thirty-six state community colleges or districts sent a letter of intent for the 15 spots, the office said.
