The Bachelor of Science in land stewardship and sustainability, built on West Valley\u2019s Park Management Program, offers students a pathway to careers in conservation, sustainability and public land management. At the same time, Mission College offers a Bachelor of Science in emergency services administration for jobs in emergency management, public safety administration and disaster response coordination.<\/p>\n
Bradley Davis, chancellor of the community college district, said providing this opportunity for students is crucial.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAt a time when it\u2019s becoming increasingly expensive to live here \u2026 having educational debt on top of that makes it difficult to navigate your long-term financial future,\u201d he told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cMy long-term hope is that this is just the tip of the iceberg. I\u2019d make bachelor\u2019s programs available in 20 disciplines at our colleges. That would make our entire community stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n
The California State University system has been against expanding community colleges offering bachelor\u2019s degree programs, claiming it would compete with its offerings. But Davis doesn\u2019t see it that way.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the Legislature which needs to make this decision,\u201d he said. \u201cOne of the things we\u2019re trying to do is incentivize the hiring of faculty with more Ph.D.s, so when we can offer upper division courses in chemistry or biology, we\u2019re ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bachelor\u2019s program at West Valley College<\/a> offers instruction in natural resource management, ecology, environmental law, cultural resource management and sustainable land practices.<\/p>\n San Jose Park Ranger Assistant Nick Verdi, who graduated in 2024 from West Valley College\u2019s park management program, said he and many students have grown and taken on leadership positions through the experience. In addition, he said the district removing financial barriers<\/a>\u00a0provides opportunities for struggling students.<\/p>\n \u201cNontraditional students have an equal playing field when they have a bachelor\u2019s degree offered at a community college,\u201d he told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight.<\/p>\n Verdi wants to advance his career and give back to the community. He\u2019s excited to be able to do so at West Valley College and get his degree.<\/p>\n From forest to fire<\/p>\n Mission College\u2019s degree provides students with leadership, management and strategic decision-making skills to oversee complex emergency operations. The curriculum was designed by firefighters, EMS personnel and law enforcement. Mission College will launch its bachelor\u2019s program in spring 2027 with about 30 students.<\/p>\n Calogero Monachino, a former battalion chief with the Santa Clara Fire Department and chair of the fire protection technology department at Mission College, said Mission College is the second community college in the state to offer a bachelor\u2019s degree in emergency services administration.<\/p>\n He said wildfires are a significant threat in Santa Clara County and battling large blazes requires emergency management. As people progress in their careers with the fire department, they\u2019ll need to have a bachelor\u2019s degree, he said. It\u2019s required to become a company officer, captain or battalion chief.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s definitely a need for it,\u201d he told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cWe\u2019ve already had 61 people complete an interest form online that they want to enroll.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Mission College President Seher Awan said many community college students have to juggle several jobs to provide for themselves and their families while living in one of the most expensive places in the nation<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cOur students don\u2019t have the luxury of stopping work to go to school full-time,\u201d Awan told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cThis is an opportunity to provide our most underrepresented and at-risk populations with the opportunity to pursue an education both at an undergraduate level and a bachelor\u2019s level for free.\u201d<\/p>\n Students will be able to step into jobs in management, emergency services administration, law enforcement, EMS and fire as emergency management coordinators, public safety administrators, firefighters and nursing administrators.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a huge shortage of not only healthcare, but law enforcement professionals in our areas,\u201d Awan said. \u201cWe hope that being able to train them \u2026 they will want to give back to their communities. This is a wonderful opportunity to obtain a very talented workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Mission-College-16-1024x768.jpg\")
Mission College plans to offer a Bachelor of Science in emergency services administration. It includes emergency management, public safety administration and disaster response coordination. File photo.<\/p>\n
![\"In-line](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/interactive-321838904008.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n