AURORA | Touted as an iconic change for Community College of Aurora, the school will begin offering students a bachelor’s degree after gaining approval from state higher education officials.
CCA will grant students who complete the new program with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Behavioral Health degree. The addition establishes CCA as a four-year-degree institution.
The 120-credit-hour program is aimed at addressing critical workforce needs in the behavioral health sector, school officials said in a statement. It is designed to prepare students for careers in areas such as mental health services, substance abuse counseling, and crisis intervention.
The program also provides a clear path forward for students seeking a bachelor’s degree who have previously earned associate degrees in human services, psychology or related fields.
“This approval marks a transformational step in our mission to serve Aurora and beyond,” said CCA President Mordecai Brownlee. “It strengthens our ability to be responsive to the needs of our community and employers, while creating affordable, accessible academic pathways that unlock opportunity and drive economic mobility.”
Bobby Pace, vice president of academic Success, emphasized the bigger picture behind the decision by the Higher Learning Commission to endorse the new bachelor’s degree program.
“CCA is now a bachelor’s degree granting institution, “Pace said. “We cannot underestimate the impact that offering affordable, high-value bachelor degrees will have for our students and our communities.
The launch of the new program comes at a time of increasing demand for mental health professionals, particularly in under-served communities.
By providing a local and affordable option for advanced education in this field, CCA hopes to better serve the needs of the Aurora region and contribute to building a stronger behavioral health workforce statewide.
The Higher Learning Commission, which oversees college accreditation across the central United States, approved the new program during its March meeting. The change allows CCA to join community colleges across the state in offering a bachelor degrees in a variety of fields.
For details about the new degree and other academic programs offered at the CCA, got to www.ccaurora.edu.