Vista USD & Cal State San Marcos Launch innovative Dual-Enrollment Course
On Friday, September 6th, Cal State San Marcos President Ellen Neufeldt joined Vista Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Matt Doyle and VUSD Board Trustee Cipriano Vargas in celebrating the first-ever class of students in an innovative dual-enrollment class.
22 students at Rancho Buena Vista High School were welcomed to CSUSM as enrolled students with CSUSM hoodies and pennants as a welcome gift from the university. The dual enrollment opportunity is part of a unique program in the College of Education, Health and Human Services at CSUSM – Scholars in Wellness and Innovation Fast-Track (SWIFT) Health.
The program enables students to take college courses, earning credits toward two new undergraduate degrees at CSUSM, providing an early start toward a bachelor’s degree. The pathway is designed for students to obtain a degree in as little as three years. One is in public health and the other is in human development with a concentration in counseling.
“I am thrilled to welcome these students to the Cougar family,” Neufeldt said. “With social mobility a part of everything we do, this program is our mission in action. We want students to know they have a path to college and into a career that can transform their lives, their families, and their communities.”
Degrees Meeting Need For In-Demand Careers
The degrees are focused on in-demand careers in mental and behavioral health and preparing students for the health and wellness workforce. In addition to a degree, students will graduate with the requirements to obtain professional certification. Public health students will complete the requirements for a Community Health Education Specialist (CHES) certificate to work as community health educators in various settings.
Human development students will complete the requirements to become wellness coaches. These requirements qualify graduates in California to provide mental health and wellness support for children and young adults. The certificates set graduates up for advanced work and higher salaries after graduation.
“I hope that these students have the opportunity to reach their potential and thrive to go into a career that not only pays them a living wage but that they are able to live comfortably here in San Diego,” said Cipriano Vargas, a Board Trustee of the Vista Unified School District and a CSUSM alumnus. “The County of San Diego needs mental behavior health workers, and this program is helping to accomplish that.”
Academic and Career Support For Students
The degrees are designed to be highly supportive of students. For example, students can receive funding in the summer to complete internships that prepare them for careers in health and wellness when they graduate. Students also progress through their courses with a cohort of fellow students, within a supportive community of expert faculty.
As part of this program, CSUSM also offers specialized career advising, employer networking, and guest speakers to help students find a position and start their careers upon graduation.
"We are thrilled to partner with Cal State San Marcos to expand educational pathways for students so that they reach for our vision to become resilient, agile learners and creative problem-solvers who navigate the world with confidence and kindness and eagerly embrace local and global challenges,” said Dr. Matt Doyle, superintendent of Vista Unified.
The Need For Behavioral Health Professionals
According to a recent San Diego Workforce Partnership report, the San Diego region needs an additional 18,500 behavioral health professionals to meet industry demands. The dual enrollment program will provide a direct pipeline to support the much-needed workforce.
