SFCC plans to continue pursuing more four year degrees programs here at the Falls.
After the Bachelors of Applied Science becomes a degree in fall quarter, the list of potential degrees that may soon be offered expands to: Cyber security, Behavioral science, Interpreter training and Early child education development.
“What you see … are the ones that are in development right now,” said Jim Minkler, Vice President of Learning at the Falls. “The top one there, cyber security is very likely to go”.
The other three degrees “are still being researched,” said Minkler.
“When we started researching it, the questions we asked is: ‘is there a demand in the community? Are there jobs out there? Are they livable wage jobs?’ We look at what the current demand is. What it will be in five years and 10 years down the road.” said Minkler.
While it might be beneficial to students to have a four year degree, Minkler makes it clear that these degrees are not meant to replace a degree you might get elsewhere.
“We look at the current programs in the … universities to see if there’s something similar; if there is we still have to ask the question are they producing enough graduates to meet demand,” said Minkler. “If the answer is no then we might be justified in doing the program but what we do not want to do is create a program that is competition for the university.”
The goal is not to “flood the market with graduates, when there aren’t any jobs for them” said Minkler. “that is a waste of taxpayers money; that is unfair to students.”
The change might not sound like much at first. Each degree brings with it multiple additional courses to be taught at the falls and time spent to approve it.
“They will operating with 9 to 10 new classes,” said Craig Rickett, Development coordinator at SFCC. The new classes will also be high level courses in the 300 to 400 area.
“It takes two years for a degree program to be accepted,” said Rickett.