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De Anza College is officially licensed to offer baccalaureate degrees for the first time.
The California Community Colleges Board of Governors announced in late September that the Cupertino-based community college is set to offer a bachelor of science degree in automotive technology management beginning in the 2023-24 academic year.
De Anza was one of 10 community colleges that submitted proposals for baccalaureate programs to the state chancellor’s office earlier this year, six of which were forwarded to the board of governors.
The new Automotive Technology degree program has been developed by the Department of Business, Computer Science and Applied Technologies in conjunction with the Department of Automotive Technology. It includes general education courses and new upper-division classes, although those courses still need to go through a curriculum development process. De Anza hopes to offer subjects such as automotive marketing, supply chain management, sales forecasting and human resources through his degree.
“We are excited to expand the Auto Tech program with this new degree,” said Dave Capitolo, chair of De Anza’s Auto Tech Department.
Many De Anza students are working on their careers and looking for better opportunities, De Anza College officials said. The Auto Tech Department offers day and evening programs to accommodate students with work or other obligations. Awarding a bachelor’s degree extends academic and career paths for students, especially those from historically underrepresented populations who may not have the time or money to earn an advanced degree.
“The new BS is designed around the concept of overlapping credentials, which will allow individuals to pursue a career path that can improve their economic status,” said Dr. Moti Fike, dean of business, computer science and applied technologies at De Anza. “Students can complete a certificate, then an associate degree, and now students can earn a bachelor’s degree, all with a much smaller financial impact compared to universities.”
The automotive industry is an important California employment sector, according to De Anza officials, bolstered by advances in consumer automotive technology and expanding into markets such as autonomous vehicles. While preparing the proposal, the Auto Tech Department gathered information from auto suppliers, repair shops and automobile stores.
“Most retailers want managers with a four-year degree,” said Mitchell May, Western Regional Education Manager at Subaru University, a partnership between some of the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Education Foundation schools and Subaru of America. ASE is a non-profit organization that evaluates and accredits entry-level automotive technology education.
“Combining their undergraduate degree with experience in automotive technology makes them ideal candidates for managers in all departments within the dealership,” said May.
De Anza’s Automotive Technology Department enrolls more than 2,000 students each year. It currently offers associate degrees in automotive machine and engine maintenance technology, as well as advanced engine performance, automotive chassis and automotive powertrain technologies.
In addition, De Anza offers a Certificate of Achievement designed to prepare students to become entry-level technicians in a variety of automotive-related fields. No fees, placement tests, or prerequisites are required for non-credit classes.
Many of California’s community colleges offer bachelor’s degrees in fields such as industrial automation, dental hygiene and bio-manufacturing through a pilot program launched in 2014. The program was made permanent by Assembly Bill 927, which was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom October 2021. Currently, several community colleges in the Bay Area offer bachelor’s degrees, including San Bruno Skyline College, which offers a BS in Respiratory Sciences, and Foothill College in Los Altos, which offers a BS in Dental Hygiene.
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