Maricopa Community Colleges continues its historic commencement season, celebrating up to 100 students from six of its 10 colleges who will earn bachelor’s degrees this spring.
“Last spring, we became the first community college system in Arizona to confer bachelor’s degrees to six students. Today, that number has grown significantly, a clear signal that students want, and more importantly, need accessible pathways to higher education,” said Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor. “Meeting students where they are is vital to their success, and our bachelor’s degree programs do just that.”
By the Numbers:
- 5 bachelor’s programs welcome graduates: Of the system’s eight bachelor’s degree offerings, five programs, including Behavioral Sciences, Early Childhood Education - Dual Language, Elementary Education and Special Education, Information Technology, and Public Safety Administration, will honor graduates.
- 5,400 students and counting: Less than two years after introducing its first bachelor’s degree offerings, the system has enrolled more than 5,400 students across eight programs. The industry-aligned programs help address workforce gaps in Arizona’s critical sectors.
- 3 new programs launching this fall: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, and two business-focused degrees will welcome students at three colleges. Early enrollment figures show interest from more than 600 students across the three programs.
Bachelor’s Degrees Made for the Real-World, Real People
Here are a few of this year’s bachelor’s degree recipients, each with a unique journey and perspective:
Meet Aryanaz Besharatlou. She is graduating from Phoenix College (PC) with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology. As one of the first bachelor’s degree recipients from PC, Besharatlou is passionate about technology and learning, and can't imagine doing anything else.
“I saw the opportunity that you can start with community colleges, save a lot of money, and be closer to home. So I took it,” said Besharatlou. “Getting my bachelor’s degree means that I now have the knowledge to expand my horizon, and have the career that I want.”
Click here to find out more about Besharatlou’s journey.
Meet Amber Hernandez. She’s a first-generation college student who is graduating from Mesa Community College with an associate degree and a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education - Dual Language. Hernandez pursued this degree pathway because Spanish is a highly spoken language in Arizona, and she wanted to have the skills needed to teach students from all backgrounds.
“Maricopa Community Colleges is helping me achieve this goal by giving me quality instructors, resources, and classes that I’m able to attend both virtually and in person,” said Hernandez. “Along with offering eight-week classes, it allowed me to take more credits per semester, which allowed me to get to my bachelor’s degree faster.”
Click here to view Hernandez’s story.
Meet Lindsay Martinez. She started college as a Dual Enrollment student in high school and is now graduating from South Mountain Community College with a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Sciences. With her degree, Martinez looks forward to helping inspire others as a mental health professional.
“I want to be someone they can rely on. A lot of the time, you can’t rely on someone, and I want to be someone’s pillar,” said Martinez. “When Maricopa started advertising bachelor’s degree opportunities, I decided to pursue my real passion, which is mental health.”
Click here to watch Martinez’s story.
Learn more about bachelor’s degrees at maricopa.edu.