Grossmont Launches Applied AI Degree
EDUCATION: State’s First of Kind Program Will Serve 250 Students
By Madison Geering, San Diego Business Journal
December 23, 2025
EL CAJON – AI is taking the world by storm – and Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (GCCCD) has noticed.
At Grossmont College, the district launched its Associate of Science Degree in Applied Artificial Intelligence this November. The degree is the first of its kind at a California community college.
“What makes this an important first is not simply that the degree exists, but that it is structured to be accessible, affordable and deeply applied across the whole pathway,” Grossmont CTE Dean Javier Ayala said.
Before launching the new degree, Grossmont’s focus on the topic was primarily drawn from its software development and computer information systems courses. In late 2022, after the release of ChatGPT, the college began exploratory work on developing an AI program.
“Faculty, workforce development staff, and industry partners identified AI literacy and applied machine learning skills as gaps for local employers,”
Grossmont Interim President Pamela Luster said. “Especially healthcare, biotech, cybersecurity and public sector agencies.”
After three years of development, Grossmont’s applied AI program includes new noncredit AI certificates that introduce students to generative AI, large language models, prompt design, cloud-based tools and AI ethics. These offerings are designed to prepare students for more advanced credit coursework in the degree, where they build skills in areas such as machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, cybersecurity and AI integration and ethics in technology.
Funding for the new program has been provided through a combination of Strong Workforce Program funds, existing instructional resources, and modest faculty reassigned time, Luster said.
Grossmont has kept early investment into the program relatively lean, focusing mainly on curriculum development, industry consultation and faculty training.
“We intentionally centered resources on curriculum and training rather than large upfront equipment purchases,” Luster said. “Additional funding for labs, equipment and faculty professional development is planned through a mix of Strong Workforce, Perkins and potential grant opportunities.”
Meeting Demand
Over 70 AI-focused companies operate in San Diego. According to Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis’s (CBRE) Scoring Tech Talent 2025 report, the city ranks among the top 20 U.S. markets for tech talent. As the workforce demand for AI-related jobs grow, Grossmont hopes to provide a strong pipeline for students and prepared talent base for employers.
To ensure that the new degree program was designed to meet those goals, Grossmont worked with the East County Economic Development Corporation, the East County Chamber, regional Career and Technical Education (CTE) deans, Ayala and gathered input from local business and industry leaders.
The program has the potential to serve 150 to 250 students annually across certificates, an associate degree and short-term upskilling modules for working adults.
“Grossmont College is committed to creating an accessible, inclusive entry point into one of the fastest-growing fields in the world,” Luster said. “The program is intentionally designed so students — whether they are brand-new to college, mid-career or exploring a career pivot — can gain skills that translate directly into jobs.”
This semester, Grossmont is also implementing its first dedicated AI server designed specifically for instruction, one of the first deployments of its kind in a San Diego community college. Through the server, students can directly access GPU power through a centralized, browser-based environment, enabling them to run real AI models without needing high end personal devices.
The California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) has announced the launch of the AI Fellows Program under its Vision 2030 initiative. The new program is a statewide initiative supporting the adoption of AI across all 116 community colleges. California community colleges are comprised of 2.1 million students and employ over 88,000 professionals, making the initiative one of the largest AI education efforts nationwide.
Accessibility First
When designing the new degree program, Grossmont wanted to eliminate as many barriers as possible to those entering the workforce pathway.
To that end, the college offers many courses that don’t require expensive hardware or software, zero-cost non-credit and low-cost credit courses and provides education that focuses on ethical considerations and real-world applications of AI.
“For our students, this practical focus makes the program accessible and relevant,” Ayala said. “Many of our learners are balancing work, family and school. They need skills that lead to real opportunities without requiring expensive equipment or a long transfer pipeline. By keeping the program hands on, affordable and flexible, we open the door for a wider range of students to pursue careers in a field that is growing quickly.”
Ali Jabbar is a computer science student in Grossmont’s AI program and the President of the college’s CS and Cyber Club. In 2013, Jabbar immigrated to the U.S. from the Middle East.
After settling in San Diego, Jabbar enrolled in Grossmont for its diversity and “outstanding programs,” and hopes to transfer to a 4-year university.
“I think it’s amazing that we are able to provide an AI degree and courses regarding AI,” Jabbar said. “I believe one of the biggest strengths we have is our availability of the AI courses and the fact that we are already taking strides in moving towards a new world with this new technology.”
Jabbar is particularly excited to build and run AI models using a powerful computer.
“I am proud of how this degree brings together innovation, equity and real-world learning,” Ayala said. “It gives students a chance to enter an important and rapidly growing field and it strengthens the economic future of East County and the greater San Diego region.”
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
FOUNDED: 1961 (as the Grossmont Junior College District)
CEO: Dr. Lynn Ceresino Neault
HEADQUARTERS: El Cajon, CA
BUSINESS: Higher Education
EMPLOYEES: 2,700+
BUDGET: District 2025-2026 Total Budget is nearly $600M; which includes bonds, as well as special and restricted funds.
WEBSITE: www.gcccd.edu
CONTACT: 619-644-7010
SOCIAL IMPACT: A 2023 economic impact report found that the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District had a $1.3 billion economic impact on San Diego County, enough to support almost 13,500 jobs, and the equivalent of hosting the World Series 193 times in San Diego.
NOTABLE: As of Fall 2025, both Cuyamaca and Grossmont colleges lead the region in transfers to San Diego State University; approximately 4 out of 5 District students who applied were admitted.