Local community college students at Allan Hancock College and Cuesta College will soon be able to earn Cal Poly bachelor’s degrees without leaving their campuses.
This fall, 20 students at Allan Hancock College became the first cohort to start working towards their bachelor’s degrees in sociology through the Cal Poly’s new 2+2 Program.
2+2 allows qualified students at Allan Hancock College studying sociology to complete their final two years of undergrad on the Santa Maria campus.
“The concept was, how do we deliver a program that earns folks a Cal Poly degree without them having to leave their community at all,” said Terrance Harris, Cal Poly’s vice president for strategic enrollment management.
Cal Poly plans to expand the 2+2 Program to Cuesta College liberal studies students in fall 2025, according to a press release.
Students can apply for the 2+2 Program at the start of their second year at their respective campuses after consulting an advisor to ensure they meet the transfer requirements.
2+2 students at both campuses will pay Cal Poly tuition but are eligible to apply for financial aid, according to university communications.
In a video announcing the program, Cal Poly sociology professor Ryan Alaniz said 2+2 aims to serve students who live in northern Santa Barbara or southern San Luis Obispo counties.
“The program is targeted at students who may have certain obligations, whether it’s family that keeps them living in Santa Maria or the surrounding area, or work obligations,” Alaniz said.
2+2 classes are taught by Cal Poly faculty through an in-person or a hybrid format, according to the release.
“It’s a cohort style, so rather than you going out and registering for a variety of [classes], we [determine] the courses we deliver on campus that lead to your degree,” Harris said. “That’s the concept. It’s not a watered-down program or anything.”
2+2 also provides opportunities for students to come to San Luis Obispo for sporting games or student events.
“The goal is to ensure that students who are taking classes at the Hancock campus feel like Mustangs,” Alaniz said.
Program leadership looks forward to how 2+2 will develop in its inaugural year, Harris said.
“This is, again, a first step,” Harris said. “As with anything, you create programs and over time you learn from what you’ve done and continue to evolve programs to meet changing needs.”
