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Coastline College has received provisional approval from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to move forward with a new Bachelor of Science in Data Breach Operations — marking the college’s second proposed bachelor’s degree program to reach this milestone.
This latest approval follows the provisional approval granted on October 2, 2025, for Coastline College’s Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence in Cyber Operations.
Both programs have successfully passed the State Chancellor’s Office program quality and compliance review process and are now advancing to the next step known as intersegmental consultation. During this phase, institutions within the California State University, University of California, and private university systems review proposals for potential duplication.
In addition to meeting state review standards, Coastline College has secured the required substantive change approval from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), positioning the programs for final consideration once the remaining review steps are completed.
The proposed Bachelor of Science in Data Breach Operations is designed to prepare students for careers in cyber incident response, digital risk mitigation, and breach investigation. It complements the previously approved Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence in Cyber Operations, which focuses on the application of AI technologies in threat detection and cyber defense.
Coastline’s leadership in cyber education is already well established. The college is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency and is the first community college in the nation to have a validated CyberAI Program of Study recognized by the NSA.
Rather than simply expanding bachelor’s offerings, these programs represent a transformative step forward in access and affordability. As part of the California Community Colleges’ growing baccalaureate initiative, they will be among the first batch of cyber bachelor’s degrees offered within the state’s community college system — ushering in a new era of high-quality, workforce-aligned education at a significantly lower cost than traditional four-year institutions.
Pending successful completion of the intersegmental review process and final approval by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, these degrees will position Coastline College at the forefront of affordable, industry-responsive bachelor’s education in California.
For more information, visit coastline.edu/cybercenter or contact Dr. Tobi West at twest@coastline.edu.
