ASU, Pasadena City College celebrate transfer partnership

Students at Pasadena City College (PCC) in California will have a streamlined path to a four-year degree at one of the Southwest’s most prestigious universities, thanks to a partnership unveiled this week.

The MyPath2ASU partnership links PCC with Arizona State University, allowing students in the San Gabriel Valley the opportunity to pursue advanced study at any of ASU’s multiple campuses in Arizona or at ASU Local — the university's hybrid undergraduate program — at the ASU California Center in downtown Los Angeles.

The ASU-PCC collaboration bolsters the two institutions’ commitment to innovative, dynamic and high-quality learning environments that lead to bachelor’s degree attainment and help students in Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley thrive, grow and gain career-readiness experience.

Expanding PCC’s tradition of transfer

PCC is already recognized as a transfer leader and ranking first in California with transfers to the University of California and California State University systems for the past three years, and its agreement with ASU adds additional choices to an already healthy menu of options. Working with their transfer adviser, PCC students will be able to structure their community college studies to simplify and streamline their entry to ASU’s 350 bachelor’s degree programs across 17 schools.

“We know how important the benefits of a bachelor’s degree are to our students,” said PCC Superintendent/President Erika Endrijonas. “It’s more than just an increase in pay and an expansion of career opportunities. The intellectual and social development that comes with a college education only get broader and deeper the more time you spend pursuing your degree.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer these benefits to our students at a renowned institution such as Arizona State.”

The ceremony for ASU and PCC's partnership is celebrated with ASU staff and students and PCC board of trustees, president/superintendent, executive staff and students. Photo by Adrian Mahlstede/ASU

ASU California Center offers classes in person and through hybrid learning models

ASU California Center programs in downtown Los Angeles encourage its community of students, faculty and staff to come together for connection and support while having access to the extended Los Angeles community. The space is intended for small group interactions and study sessions with plenty of room for solo study sessions or one-on-one conversations between students.

ASU Local 

ASU Local is ASU’s hybrid undergraduate program that empowers students to thrive in college and in life while staying rooted in their communities. ASU Local students have access to 130-plus online bachelor’s degrees while they receive in-person support at the ASU California Center to foster an individualized college experience and career plan designed to harness the essence of the local community in Los Angeles.

“The best thing about being part of ASU Local is the way they support my academic, professional and personal goals. They see me as a whole person and provide me with a platform to show up authentically while giving me the space to be seen,” said Gigi Colcol, a transfer student at ASU Local in Los Angeles.

Students can transfer to ASU Local easily with the help of MyPath2ASU. Students can build a path to a major of their choice, minimizing loss of credits and saving precious time and resources.

Cheryl Boone Isaacs, founding director of the Sidney Poitier New American Film School, presents to Pasadena City College Board of Trustees, executive leadership and students about the film school and local degree offerings at the California Center at the historic Herald Examiner Building in downtown Los Angeles. Photo by Adrian Mahlstede/ASU

BA in filmmaking practices, Los Angeles

The Sidney Poitier New American Film School, part of ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, is one of the largest, most inclusive film schools in the country and operates across three cities. Pasadena City College transfer students studying in downtown Los Angeles will:

• Become educated by working with industry professionals.
• Receive hands-on experience through courses and intensives that will prepare them to be successful in their internships.
• Work on project-based coursework with review by industry professionals.
• Finish the program prepared to enter the industry workforce and launch successful careers.

PCC students are already completing the associate degree for transfer in increasing numbers each year. In addition, PCC has partnered with the Group Effort initiative, co-founded by Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, to help BIPOCAcronym for Black, Indigenous and people of color. and other students find careers in Hollywood.

Transferring made accessible

ASU offers transfer pathways built from PCC to the university with MyPath2ASU for on-campus, ASU Local and ASU Online programs. Students can use MyPath2ASU to map their bachelor’s degree pathway to one of ASU’s offerings. Together, the institutions will work collaboratively to promote educational degree pathways. These pathways will ensure their courses are applicable toward their degree in their chosen major and minimize credit loss.