Update on a bachelor’s degree for Saddleback College

The approved 15 colleges to develop bachelor’s degree programs in fields such as respiratory therapy, dental hygiene, automotive technology and aerospace manufacturing technology as part of a pilot program approved by the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown. 

Unfortunately, Saddleback College was not approved. The bachelor’s degree Saddleback was shooting for was applied science and sustainable environmental design. Dean of advanced tech and applied sciences, Anthony Teng informed us that there are still hurdles to face in order for a chance at a bachelor’s degree for Saddleback. 

“The CC Bachelors Degree initiative was a pilot program that limited the number of colleges approved to offer degrees.  The idea was that the program needed to fill a need that the 4 year universities did not offer.  It is my understanding that the maximum number of programs that would be accepted to offer bachelors degrees was originally 12.” said Teng, “Unfortunately, we were not accepted.  There really wasn’t an explanation why we did not get it but the Chancellor’s office did say that there may be opportunities in the future.” 

As well as keeping an eye on the look out for an opportunity, Teng mentioned that Saddleback will continue to improve the proposal presented for the major. 

Teng also shared that actually, not all approved programs have even been accepted or implemented yet. This may be because there needs to be acceptance from the four year universities as well as finding the financial and physical resources to offer the programs. 

“Going into a 4 year degree require more faculty, curriculum, and resources to support students working on a 4 year degree,” said Teng. “Some California community colleges opted not to propose a bachelors program because they were concerned about the drain on resources on the rest of their college.”