Los Angeles Community College District Expands Baccalaureate Degree Offerings, Delivering Six Programs

Five Campuses Offer New Baccalaureate Degree Programs

LOS ANGELES – Kicking off the Fall 2024 semester, five Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) campuses will offer six baccalaureate degree programs, with two of these programs coming online soon.

• Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC) is offering the school’s first BDP in Respiratory Therapy, preparing students for successful healthcare careers, including handling complex respiratory cases, conducting research, and leading care teams.
• Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC) is offering the school’s first BDP in Biomanufacturing, preparing students to excel in the biotechnology industry, which includes biotherapeutics, diagnostics, supplies and services, and industrial products.
• West Los Angeles College (WLAC) offers two BDPs. The first BDP in Aviation Maintenance Technology is meeting the critical demand for highly skilled technicians capable of troubleshooting complex aircraft, spacecraft and satellite systems. The second BDP in Dental Hygiene, offered since 2016, provides two pathways to dental health positions in teaching, research, administration, public health, private industry and other areas of hygiene practice.
• East Los Angeles College (ELAC) will soon offer the school’s first BDP in Respiratory Therapy after receiving approval from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office earlier this month.
• Los Angeles Pierce College (LAPC) will shortly offer the school’s first BDP in Biomanufacturing after receiving a $2 million Community Project Funding grant in April 2023.

Community college-based bachelor’s programs are addressing gaps in degree accessibility and affordability, preparing students for high-skill, high-paying jobs that meet workforce demands with applied, career-focused education. The four-year degrees cost just $10,560, significantly less than other colleges, and nearly three-quarters of graduates in the state report completing their education without any student debt.

"All students should have access to high-growth professions and career opportunities, like those accessible through the bachelor's degree programs offered by our nine colleges at a fraction of the cost of traditional 4-year institutions," said LACCD Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D. "By expanding our offerings, we are committed to providing affordable, high-quality education that prepares students for success in today's changing job market and helps lift them from poverty to prosperity."

"Through our baccalaureate programs, LACCD is making education more accessible, affordable, and equitable,” said LACCD Board Vice President Kelsey Iino. “Our District is diligently and thoughtfully working on building necessary bachelor’s degrees that will not only create jobs for students with livable competitive wages, but these degrees will also support the needs of the job market and community."

“Research has shown that community college BDPs excel at providing affordable, flexible higher education opportunities to students who are often nontraditional, low-income and place bound,” said Sonya Christian, California Community Colleges Chancellor. “By serving a racially diverse student population, community college BDPs also play a crucial role in closing equity gaps, which aligns with the goals of Vision 2030. East Los Angeles College’s program in Respiratory Therapy will help graduates qualify for high-wage positions in their region, bolster their upward mobility, and strengthen their communities.”