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.