This all online baccalaureate degree joins other online  B.A. offerings in in business and nursing; first rural community college to offer such a program in Arizona

At the March meeting of the Yavapai College District Governing Board, President Dr. Lisa Rhine announced that the Higher Learning Commission has approved the College’s third baccalaureate degree program: a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS).

Students may complete the degree in as little as 2.5 years with full-time enrollment, or take up to six years on a part-time basis. The program also allows for up to 60 credits of prior learning to be applied toward the degree, accelerating time to completion.

This marks the third baccalaureate degree offered by Yavapai Community College. The institution was the first rural community college in Arizona to offer baccalaureate degrees.

Dr. Rhine praised her team for the successful launch of the program, noting, “It really takes a village” to achieve such a result. A video clip of her announcement at the Governing Board meeting is available below.

According to the College, the fully online BSCS program is “designed to equip students with the technical knowledge and practical skills needed to thrive in today’s fast-evolving technology landscape. This fully online program is led by industry-expert faculty and aligns with key industry certifications, ensuring graduates are career-ready.”

National employment trends support the relevance of the degree. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 12% growth in computer and information technology occupations between 2023 and 2033—much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to generate approximately 356,700 job openings annually over the next decade.

The Phoenix Business Journal ran a story in its March 3 edition, written by Maricopa Community Colleges, promoting Scottsdale Community College’s newly created Bachelor of Business Administration in Management (BBA) degree. The article emphasized the program’s flexibility, offering both in-person and online classes.

It cited a report by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, which projects that the number of new jobs in Arizona requiring postsecondary education and training will grow by 372,000 between 2021 and 2031. The report also stated that by 2031, 39% of all jobs in the state will require a bachelor’s degree, highlighting the increasing demand for highly skilled business professionals.

The Scottsdale program appears to compete with Yavapai Community College’s  Bachelor of Science in Business degree. Unlike SCC’s in-person and online options, Yavapai’s program is entirely online. It offers flexibility by allowing students to enroll on a full-time or part-time basis.

You may read the full article by posting the following link in your browser:  https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2025/03/03/scottsdale-community-college-bachelor-business.html

In a press release, says it is the first and only college in the nation to collaborate with the USPTO on this eight  week  training program

On January 15, the Regional Economic Development Center (REDC) at Yavapai Community College announced a training partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO. It says in a press release that it is “the first and only college in the nation” to collaborate with the USPTO on such an eight week  training program.

The partnership training program has a goal of providing  participants with comprehensive knowledge and skills essential for navigating the intellectual property world. The eight week course hopes to instill in its participants a deep understanding of the patenting process, strategies for innovation protection, and the role of patents in fostering technological advancements. It will also  offers critical insights into brand protection, trademark registration, and enforcement.

March 7 announcement follows up on January 11 news conference where Dr. Diane Ryan  first announced it would offer the online degree in the fall 2023

In a March 7, 2023, press release Yavapai Community College announced it had received formal notice of accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer its Bachelor of Science in Business Degree.  According to the College, this means that the degree is now officially a part of the College’s curriculum. 

Registration for the fall 2023 classes will begin April 17. The program is described by the Community Collee as totally online.

The curriculum, according to Dr. Diane Ryan , Vice President of Academic Affairs for Yavapai Community College, who oversaw development of the four-year Bachelor’s degree and who announced the program earlier this year, will consist of  “120 applicable credits specifically designed to help students achieve career success.” She also said that the degree  is designed for new students, continuing students, or graduates. Those who are fresh out of high school, have no college, or already have an associate degree in any discipline can enroll.”

In the March 7 press release,  Dr. Lisa Rhine, President of Yavapai College said that “This is exciting news and means that Yavapai College is officially ready to begin offering a bachelor’s degree that is both convenient and affordable for our communities. This degree can instantly transform lives, help them reach a higher job level, increase their wages, start something new, grow something current, and most importantly, not be gouged with financial or travel burdens. We want our students to graduate from YC, and we want them to stay in Yavapai County.”

You may find many more details about the program by going to the January Blog post by clicking here. 

You may view the March 7 Yavapai Community College  press release authored Tyler Rumsey by clicking here.

New B.S. possible because of legislation passed by the Arizona House in February 2021 and approved by the Senate in May 2021 (Senate bill 1453)

Yavapai Community College announced at a news conference held on the Prescott Campus January 11, 2023,  that it will offer a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business online when the fall 2023 semester begins August 12, 2023.

The Yavapai College announcement follows one made in December by Maricopa Community College. Maricopa announced  that the Higher Learning Commission had accredited it for seven bachelor’s degree programs, which will be offered in the fall 2023.

Dr. Diane Ryan

Students who desire to register for  Yavapai’s Business classes can do so as early as April 17, 2023. They should visit  yc.edu/bsb for more information.

The curriculum, according to Dr. Diane Ryan, Vice President of Academic Affairs for Yavapai Community College, who oversaw development of the four-year Bachelor’s degree, will consist of  “120 applicable credits specifically designed to help students achieve career success.”   

The benefits to students who take the course follow:

• It is designed for new students, continuing students, or graduates. Those who are fresh out of high school, have no college, or already have an associate degree in any discipline can enroll.
• It is offered entirely online.
• It can be completed in the traditional pattern for a full-time student of 30 credits per year, which will take four years to complete.
• It can also be completed through 8-week classes, significantly reducing completion time. The 8-week classes will start in August, October, January, March, and June
• It is incredibly affordable when compared to other baccalaureate degree options. Students will pay $155 per credit for in-state tuition for upper-division courses.
• It will use Open Educational Resources for all classes, which means meaning that there are no textbook costs for students.
• It has no associated student fees.

It has a Credit breakdown of:

• 31 credits of general education requirements
• 44 credits of lower division requirements, which are introductory business courses
• 30 credits of upper division requirements in 300 and 400-level courses
• 15 credits for the organizational management and leadership concentration

Registration for classes begins on April 17, 2023, with the classes starting at the beginning of the fall semester on August 12.

Legislation allowing community colleges to start offering four-year degrees was approved in a bill signed by the Governor last year

The Higher Learning Commission has granted Maricopa County Community College District accreditation for seven bachelor’s degree programs.  This is a result of legislation signed last year that allows community colleges to begin offering four year degrees.

The newly accredited degrees and the campuses in the Maricopa Community College District offering them are:

• Data analytics and programming, Bachelor of Applied Science, Mesa.

• Information technology, Bachelor of Applied Science, Phoenix.

• Nuclear medicine technology and computed tomography, Bachelor of Applied Science, GateWay.

• Public safety administration, Bachelor of Applied Science, Phoenix and Rio Salado.

• Early childhood education – dual language, Bachelor of Arts, Mesa.

• Elementary education and special education, Bachelor of Arts, Glendale, Paradise Valley and Rio Salado.

• Behavioral sciences, Bachelor of Arts, South Mountain.

Program now encompasses students studying in such areas as mechanics, fire science and other trades who were not covered by the College’s 2017 free tuition plan

In a June 15 press release, Yavapai Community College announced that it was expanding student tuition free opportunities via a program it calls “Workforce Promise.” The new program expands free tuition to eligible students studying in many more areas than it did when it first began offering free tuition in its “YC Promise” program back in 2017.

Of significance, is that beginning in the fall 2022, the Community College will now offer students, of any age, the chance to earn a two-year degree in a variety of trades, tuition-free.

The Workforce Promise program covers students seeking degrees in the following fields:

Associate of Arts Elementary Ed.

Associate of Business

Associate of Science

Accounting

Agriculture Technology Mgmt.

Applied Pre-Engineering

Automotive Technology

Computer Networking Technology

Electrical & Instrumentation Tech.

Fire Science

Graphic Design

Management

Nursing

Paralegal Studies

Radiologic Technology

Viticulture and Enology

Among several requirements for the program is one that declares that  those in the tuition free program must complete their degree program in seven semesters. 

The College says that the Workforce Promise program is available for new students, enrolling for the Fall 2022 Semester, as well as qualifying first-year YC students. It also says that students must enroll through the Community College Promise Portal, meet regularly with advisors, maintain at least a 2.0 grade average and graduate within the stipulated time frame. The reimbursement covers direct tuition costs up to sixty-one credits. It will be awarded after degree completion, and cannot include any non-YC classes, transfer credits, developmental or re-taken courses. For a full list of eligibility requirements, please visit the YC Promise website.

There is a deadline for application to this program.  Students wishing to apply for the Workforce Promise must opt-in through the Community College  Promise Portal by Monday, August 1. Additional information can be obtained by visiting: yc.edu/promise

President announces a working group has been formed to establish a curriculum to meet state criterion

In a press release authored by Yavapai Community College reporter Tyler Rumsey on September 30, 2021, it was announced that the College has set up a process to bring four-year degrees to its campuses and centers. The release said  a formal  working group has been created and already established a tentative timeline for the first four-year degree to be available to Yavapai students by the fall of 2023.

According to the press release, the 2023  timeline provides the Community  College the time it needs to research, survey students and Yavapai County communities, develop a budget and infrastructure, develop a curriculum, and seek approval from the Yavapai College District Governing Board, the Higher Education Learning Commission, and the Department of Education.

“Yavapai College is committed to providing its communities with an accessible, affordable education that fits our students’ needs and prepares them for local job opportunities,” said President Rhine. “The process to launch four-year degrees will take time, but I am confident that the recommendations that stem from this working group will be data-driven, realistic, and impactful.”

In May, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed House Bill HB2523, allowing Arizona Community Colleges to offer four-year degrees  if they meet a specific criterion.

Classes are designed to be completed on an accelerated timeline, 50% shorter than normal classes

Yavapai Community College has announced that it will be offering over 130 eight-week classes beginning October 11.   All of the classes are eight weeks in length and designed to be completed on an accelerated timeline, 50% shorter than normal classes.

A variety of in-person classes are available at all six of  Community College  campuses and centers around the County while the majority of classes are on-line.   For a complete list of available classes, visit yc.edu/8week.

The Health and Wellness classes are one area where most of the classes are live.  However, there are no live Health and Wellness classes offered anywhere other than on the Prescott Campus.