Degree Programs

While a wide array of community colleges across the country offer traditional music programs in musical practice, theory, and study, many new community college programs are offering more unique and specialized musical education courses. Today, students can enroll in programs to study historically-informed instruments, or they can even enroll in courses that teach students how to become employed in the field of music management and production.

Edmonds Community College offers a thorough and diverse array of music-oriented courses. Together, the Music Department of ECC established clear instruction goals, which include:

• Giving students a solid foundation in all facets of music
• Providing a range of performance and creative opportunities
• Offering diverse music theory and digital music courses
• Creating a dynamic, rich learning environment for students to pursue their passion for music and performing

To guide students towards achieving and engaging in these goals, ECC provides a variety of performance opportunities and events. Most notably, ECC fosters positive programs for musical enrichment through organizations such as the symphonic choir, the jazz band and choir, and the jazz workshop. These groups, along with many others, serve to enhance student learning and performance experiences.

Adding to these support systems, ECC’s Music Department also provides students with specialized acoustic fixtures in their music classrooms, various practice pianos and state of the art recording gear, in addition to ECC’s state of the art recording studio with a digital interface that students can interact with through hands-on opportunities.

Virginia Highlands Community College

While many community

In recent years, community colleges have been experimenting with bachelor's degree programs.

• With great success, many states are now encouraging community colleges to offer bachelor’s degree programs.
• The reason for this is they promote the acquisition of higher education for the greater public good.
• Community colleges also provide degree programs in an increasingly wide range of majors and subject areas.

The Growing Trend

Baccalaureate degrees have traditionally only been earned through a university or four-year institution.

• However, things began to change in the 1990s.
• The Community College Baccalaureate Association (CCBA) sought to change this tradition.

It devised a mission statement that it intended to: "promote the development and acceptance of the community college baccalaureate degree as a means of addressing the national problems of student access, demand, and cost.” In support, The American Association of Community Colleges has also recognized the community college baccalaureate as, “an emerging development in higher education.”

Reasons for Popularity

The reason community college baccalaureate degrees have become so popular is threefold.

• Community colleges are able to respond to increased workforce needs more quickly than four-year institutions. For example, increased demand in recent years for qualified healthcare workers, such as nurses, has led to the explosive growth of bachelor's degree programs in nursing at the community college level.
• Community colleges have been able to respond to economic pressures facing students and communities because, on average, community colleges are far less expensive than four-year institutions.
• Community colleges