MiraCosta College learned Tuesday that it will be one of 15 community colleges in California tapped to host a pilot baccalaureate program.
“This is an historic moment not just for California’s community colleges, but also for MiraCosta College,” said Dr. Sunny Cooke, the college’s president and superintendent.
The program planned by MiraCoasta would prepare students for employment in the manufacturing sector of the biotechnology industry, which includes biotherapeutics, diagnostics, supplies and services, and industrial products.
“The biomanufacturing baccalaureate program will help fulfill an unmet workforce need for the greater San Diego region,” said Cooke. “Due to our location and our relationships with local biotechnology companies, MiraCosta College is uniquely positioned to meet this biotechnology workforce need.”
San Diego County is one of the top three life-science clusters in the country, with many biotech companies operating in the MiraCosta College district, which spans from Oceanside to Carmel Valley.
The new effort by community colleges to offer four-year degrees stems from legislation sponsored by Sen. Marty Block and signed by the governor last year.
