AURORA, Colo. – The Community College of Aurora (CCA) is set to officially offer its first bachelor’s degree after receiving approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to launch the new Bachelor of Applied Science in Behavioral Health. This approval marks a major milestone in CCA’s commitment to meeting the needs of its students and the surrounding communities.
The HLC authorized the program at its March meeting, paving the way for the 120-credit-hour degree.
“The approval of our Bachelor of Applied Science in Behavioral Health marks a transformational step in our mission to serve Aurora and beyond,” said Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee, CCA President. “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 for those we serve.”
Dr. Bobby Pace, VP of Academic Success, added, “CCA is now a bachelor’s degree granting institution. We cannot underestimate the impact that offering affordable, high value bachelor degrees will have for our students and our communities. The behavioral health pathway itself is the embodiment of who we are as a college—industry aligned, value delivered, and community focused. We are excited to embark on this next era of mission advancement with all the partners, faculty, and staff who’ve gotten us to this incredible step today.”
The new degree is designed to prepare students for careers in mental health services, substance abuse counseling, crisis intervention, and related behavioral health professions. It also provides a streamlined pathway for students who earned degrees in Human Services, Psychology or similar programs.
The Higher Learning Commission is the accrediting body for the Community College of Aurora. The organization verifies that the college meets certain standards and also evaluates and approves substantial changes the college proposes, such as new degree programs.
The addition of this program will be published on the HLC website, which outlines the college’s accreditation standing.For more information about CCA’s programs and academic offerings, visit www.ccaurora.edu/programs.
About the Community College of Aurora:
The Community College of Aurora (CCA) provides high-quality instruction and student support services to Aurora and Denver, Colorado. With a vision to aspire to be a college where every student succeeds, CCA is the most diverse college in the State of Colorado. Focused on creating social and economic mobility for its students, the college offers courses on two (2) campuses, online, and through its high school concurrent-enrollment programs. For more information, visit www.ccaurora.edu.
Contact:
Courtney Butler
Director of Strategic Communications and Special Initiatives
Strategic Communications and Alumni Engagement
P: 303-340-7201 | E: [email protected]