Students in Pinal County have 14 new degree options to choose from, thanks to a partnership between the UA and Central Arizona College.

The agreement was announced last month at the community college’s Casa Grande campus and was approved under the Arizona Transfer Admissions Programs partnership. It will allow Central Arizona College students to pursue more fields, including Bachelor of Science degrees in agribusiness economics and management, family studies and human development, nutritional sciences and molecular and cellular biology. It also includes Bachelor of Arts degrees in anthropology, communications and English, among others.

“This new program creates a tremendous set of opportunities for Central Arizona College students to achieve their UA degree,” said Michael Proctor, vice president of regional development with the UA’s Outreach College. “Central Arizona College has been a tremendous partner in this effort.”

Now, Central Arizona College students will be able to complete their UA degrees in Pinal County through distance learning modules. They will also have the option of transferring to the UA’s main or south campus once enough credits are completed.

The agreement allows students in the college to complete their four-year degrees more easily and at a reduced cost, according to Steven Gonzales, the college’s acting associate vice president of academic affairs.

“We are pleased to join Central Arizona College in increasing access to higher education, improving the student experience at both institutions, and increasing the number of students who complete associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in Arizona,” said UA President Eugene Sander.

Administrators at the UA and Central Arizona College say that expanding degree options will benefit all different students at the college.

“These articulation agreements paint a very clear pathway from the community college to a bachelor’s degree, and it is so exciting to watch these students evolve through the program, from being freshmen at Central to being seniors at the UA,” said Reyna Pisano, a coordinator for academic outreach programs with the UA’s Outreach College.

The agreement shows the spirit of collaboration between colleges and universities in the state, Pisano said, and she cannot wait to develop even more in-county opportunities for these students.