BBCC to add second bachelor’s program
Graduates turn their tassels at the 2024 Big Bend Community College graduation ceremony, which included the first cohort to earn a bachelor’s degree at BBCC. The college will add another bachelor’s program, this one in Behavioral Health, next year.
FILE PHOTO
MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College will offer a new bachelor’s degree program next year, according to an announcement from the college.
On Dec. 3, BBCC received accreditation approval from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the last step needed to offer a Bachelor of Applied Science in Behavioral Health degree to area students, according to the announcement.
“There has been interest by BBCC students to pursue a degree like this for quite some time and we are happy to now provide that opportunity,” BBCC Vice President of Learning and Student Success Dr. Bryce Humpherys wrote in the announcement.
The BAS in Behavioral Health degree is designed to provide program graduates with the practical knowledge and skills necessary to enter the behavioral health workforce by establishing a strong understanding of human behavior, mental health disorders, and the principles of counseling, the college wrote. The program will be delivered in partnership with Wenatchee Valley College.
Graduates of the program can find employment delivering evidence-based interventions for common behavioral health conditions such as anxiety, depression and substance use disorders. They will work as part of an integrated care team at community health, rural health or hospital centers.
“The BAS in Behavioral Health will help to address the shortage of qualified behavioral health professionals across our service district,” Humpherys wrote.
The BAS in Behavioral Health program application opens Feb. 3, and the program’s first cohort will begin in Fall 2025, according to the announcement.
The program builds on most associate degrees, by adding junior and senior-level courses focused on behavioral health. Students graduating from associate degree programs in criminal justice, early childhood education, and medical assistance are encouraged to apply.
Upcoming information sessions will be held via Zoom on Dec. 11 and Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. and on Jan. 22 at noon. These sessions can be accessed at https://bit.ly/BASinfosession2025.
For more information about the program contact Melissa Husebye at melissahu@bigbend.edu, 509-793-2120 or visit the BAS-BH page athttps://bit.ly/BBCC-BAS-BH.