Santa Monica College will begin accepting applications Oct. 1 for its bachelor's degree in cloud computing. The college estimates the four-year degree will cost California residents about $10,000 before financial aid.
The October application window is for students who want to enter the program as juniors. Classes will begin in fall 2027 and will be offered online, in person and in a hybrid format. Priority applications are due Jan. 15, 2027. The final deadline for remaining seats is March 1, 2027.
The degree is SMC's second bachelor's program. The first was the Bachelor of Science in Interaction Design, launched in 2015. SMC announced in April that it had received final approval from the California Community Colleges Board of Governors and the Accrediting Commission of Community & Junior Colleges.
A labor market study commissioned by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office projected 2,777 annual job openings for software developers and cloud-related occupations in the Los Angeles region, with 65% of workers in the field requiring a bachelor's degree. Median annual earnings in the field exceed $150,000.
The curriculum builds on lower-division cloud computing courses that SMC developed with Amazon Web Services. It also prepares students for industry certifications, including the AWS Certified Solutions Architect-Professional credential. The college said the program offers faculty with industry experience, small classes, hands-on labs, real-world case studies, and career and job placement support.
SMC will also partner with the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance, a coalition that connects higher education and industry. The partnership will add real-world projects to students' coursework.
International students who complete the program qualify for up to three years of Optional Practical Training after graduation.
"Cloud and AI expertise rank among the most sought-after skills in today's workforce. But technical skills alone aren't enough," Valerie Singer, general manager of global education at AWS, said in April.
SMC also offers a short-term department certificate, a certificate of achievement and an associate degree in cloud computing.
Course offerings, admission requirements and info session schedules are available at smc.edu/cloud. Questions can be sent to cloud@smc.edu.
Edited by SMDP Staff