Eligible Bachelors – Students Diana Cortes, Princess Narvasa and Roberto Contreras answered many questions about SWC’s Bachelor’s degree partnership with Point Loma Nazarene University. PHOTO BY Viandy Gonzalez/Staff
Southwestern College and Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) have entered into a partnership that will make it possible to earn a four-year Bachelor’s degree on the Chula Vista campus. In fact, students who apply after earning 60 credits could actually complete a BA in three years.
Degrees offered through the program include Management and Relational Development, Child and Adolescent Development, and Criminal Justice, which are $485 per unit and $17,460 tuition for the two years.
Science of Nursing (RN to BSN) is $450 per unit and $16,200 tuition for two years.
SWC Public Information Officer Lillian Leopold said the agreement was historic because while all the community colleges in San Diego County offer the RN to BSN degree from PLNU, SWC is the first college to test the other three degrees.
“It really is a remarkable opportunity for students who choose to complete their upper division classes at SWC,” Leopold said. “There will be classes in person, online and a hybrid to meet students needs.”
The California Community College Chancellors office approved the SWC proposal about a year ago.
PLNU program advisor Yvette Miranda counsels students in the program from admissions through graduation. She said the schedules are ideal for students looking to advance in their professions.
“A PLNU professor will come to the students here at Southwestern Monday through Thursday for six to ten weeks,” she said. “We want to make it a personal experience by limiting class sizes, therefore we will only have 10 students in each class.”
Students in the program will receive the same level of education as PLNU students, said Miranda.
“The only thing students pay for is tuition,” she said. “This covers books, parking and material fees. We take care of the rest.”
Khlahan Veth, a 27-year-old nursing major, is a returning student who said she hopes to be accepted into the Bachelor’s Degree Completion program.
“The program was the main reason I came here,” she said. “For me it would be convenient. Usually I wouldn’t be able to take my nursing classes during a regular school week.”
Veth attended a Welcome Back Day Leopold organized in order to learn more about the program and to meet with Miranda.
“Once I saw that the Point Loma program was here, I knew I had to come and learn more. It is amazing SWC will allow me to earn a Bachelor’s degree while I continue to work.”
