Five new associate degrees also approved by Board of Trustees
Jan. 16, 2019- The Collin College board of trustees approved a new Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) in cybersecurity degree at the Dec. 11, 2018 board meeting. In the same meeting, the board approved five new associate of applied science degree programs as well as certificates and occupational skills awards. The new associate degrees include Automotive Service Technician, Biomedical Equipment Technology, Collision Repair, Industrial Automation, and Sport and Recreation Management.
All of the new degrees, including the previously board-approved Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) degree, are in development and pending approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
In the last legislative session, Collin College was given the authority to offer three baccalaureate degrees with the passage of Senate Bill 2118, which was signed into law by Gov. Gregg Abbott in 2017. The college’s first planned bachelor’s degree, the BSN, is currently being reviewed by the Texas Board of Nursing.
“Collin College is entering a new era with our bachelor’s degrees,” said Dr. J. Robert Collins, founding trustee and Collin College board chair. “While we remain committed to our mission as a community college, we can play a critical role in addressing the needs of high-growth, high-paying career fields by offering these selected bachelor’s degrees.”
According to District President Dr. Neil Matkin, community colleges like Collin College are able to respond quickly and efficiently to demands in the marketplace. “It is essential that we remain responsive to the needs of our community, and these baccalaureate programs represent an important step forward for higher education in Texas,” he said.
Designed to build on Collin College’s existing certificate and associate degree programs in cybersecurity, the new bachelor’s degree will include 120 semester credit hours, 42 general education credit hours and 78 credit hours dedicated to specific skills for industry professionals.
According to Collin College District Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Brenda Kihl, labor market analysis shows an increasing demand for employees in the information technology industry, especially those with a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity. “This degree program is based on applied skills, and it builds on what we offer with our current certificate and associate degree,” said Kihl.
One of the college’s current priorities is to expand career and technical programs in response to labor market demands. Like the cybersecurity BAT, the five new associate degrees have been endorsed by industry advisory committees.
“A major advantage of our credit certificate and associate degree programs is that they are ‘stackable,’ which means the courses within a level I certificate can be applied to a level II certificate, which in turn can be applied to an associate degree,” said Kihl. “Each milestone completed provides a student with a respected credential that can benefit his or her career path.”
For more information about Collin College degrees and programs, visit www.collin.edu.
Collin College serves more than 55,000 credit and continuing education students annually and offers more than 100 degrees and certificates. The only public college based in Collin County, Collin College is a partner to business, government and industry, providing customized training and work force development. In addition, the college operates the Collin Higher Education Center, which serves 3,500 additional students each year in partnership with The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Woman’s University, Texas A&M Commerce, Texas Tech and the University of North Texas.