On the Horizon: Cloud Computing

SMC in Focus: This baccalaureate program has been years in the making—congratulations to you, and everyone involved! What went behind the choice of Cloud Computing as the proposal for Santa Monica College’s second four-year program? And, on a related note, how relevant is this field in the age of AI (gulp)? 

Howard Stahl: We have been teaching Cloud Computing at Santa Monica College for well over a decade.  We were the lead college in a state-funded, multi-year regional effort to develop similar cloud programs at 19 other community colleges in the Los Angeles area.  Well over 10,000 students in LA have participated in these cloud programs over the years.  So, it was only natural for SMC to continue leading the way.  The bachelor’s degree was also a response to requests from students who see a four-year degree as an important credential for obtaining a good job in tech. 

As far as AI goes—yes, there is no doubt it is having an effect in many different fields.  But the AI tools have to run somewhere and these days they are all running in the cloud using cloud infrastructure.  We think learning cloud skills and being proficient with AI tools is a good way for students to future-proof themselves for the job market and the economy of the future.  Our program teaches these skills because the cloud vendors offer great AI tools and services that customers are using to make new, innovative products we all use every day.

SMC in Focus: If you were stuck in an elevator with someone who had heard of this new program, and was perhaps considering it, how would you “sell” it? 

Howard Stahl: Cloud computing has revolutionized the tech sector.  A degree in Cloud Computing sets you up for landing a great, well-paying job in tech.  Our program aims to certify graduates with the most sought-after credential in the industry today.  The certification—it’s called AWS Solutions Architect – Professional—opens up tremendous job opportunities, as employers of all kinds seek to hire professionals with these kinds of skills.

SMC in Focus: One of the unique features of this program—the Bachelor’s degree, but also the Associate’s and certificate options that have preceded/lead up to it—is the industry connection, especially with Amazon Web Services. Can you walk us through that collaboration—what it entails, what else is on the horizon, and how do/will students benefit from it? 

Howard Stahl: Amazon Web Services has been such a great supporter of our efforts from the very beginning.  At one point along our journey, I was told Jeff Bezos was closely monitoring the progress of our efforts.  For many years, AWS was focused on higher ed because they had heard from their end-users how hard it was to find job candidates with the skills needed to succeed in these new cloud roles.  In response, AWS created a rich set of certification paths that validate the knowledge, skills and abilities of people working in the field or those seeking to gain entry into cloud job roles.  We chose to align our program with those certification pathways.  As a result, many of our Associate degree graduates have passed AWS certifications and landed great jobs in tech. 

Moving forward, AWS will be helping to spread the word for our new degree.  AWS is offering us the chance to participate in their AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance which connects higher education institutions with industry partners to bring applied learning opportunities right into our degree program.  They will also be helping us get our graduates hired in tech roles within their organization or at one of their partners or end-user customers.  AWS also participates through our Computer Science Advisory Board, has validated our curriculum, and has played a role in shaping our program priorities.  They are even considering sending their staff to enroll in our new degree! 

SMC in Focus: The faculty who will be/have been teaching Cloud Computing at SMC have a lot of industry experience represented amongst them. Tell us about the kind of real-world expertise students will be benefitting from in the classroom.  

Howard Stahl: We are hiring the best faculty to teach in our upper division program.  Some have worked at AWS for many years and are quite well qualified to teach in this space.  Some are actually quite famous in the Cloud/AWS/AI community and are recognized as thought-leaders.  All our faculty have years of industry experience so they know the kinds of skills employers are looking for.  The faculty bring a genuine level of excitement to their classroom and students definitely notice it! 

SMC in Focus: This program is being marketed as having flexible options for students, furthering Santa Monica College’s mission of access and equity. Tell us about the options—not just in modality/format, but also other options in the field of Cloud Computing (the Associate Degree, the certificate) and what opportunities lie on the other side of each. 

Howard Stahl: We want to support everyone: students who want to attend full-time, students who want to attend part-time, students who want the program fully online, students who want to attend in-person.  To me, as department chair, this is just a “scheduling problem” and I have been working with our faculty and our college administration to make all these different options open and available to our students.  While this is somewhat dependent on demand and the number of students who apply, our hope is to have a full-time, in-person cohort starting in Fall 2027 graduating in Spring 2029 and a second cohort starting in Spring 2028 that would attend remotely and part-time and graduate in Summer 2030. 

SMC in Focus: Other than the jaw-droppingly low cost of approximately $10,000 for California residents, what, in your opinion, sets this program apart from similar offerings available at other colleges and universities, both in the Los Angeles area and beyond? 

Howard Stahl: Well, actually, this degree is quite unique in its laser focus on developing in-demand job skills.  I am not aware of any other bachelor’s degree in Cloud Computing currently offered at any UC or CSU campus in California. 

SMC in Focus: What professional credentials will the Bachelor of Science in Cloud Computing prepare students for and what kinds of jobs will the degree qualify them for? If possible, share any relevant information or data regarding earnings. 

Howard Stahl: Our program is aiming for the certification named AWS Solutions Architect – Professional.  We will be paying the exam voucher fee for graduates to get certified in this way.  As I tell students, it is a difficult exam to pass.  For many years, it has been the most sought-after credential in the tech industry.  But the fact that it is hard—and you might not pass on the first try—speaks to its value.  Don’t just take my word for it.  Go over to LinkedIn or Monster and type in “AWS Solutions Architect” and see what comes bouncing back.  When I searched recently, I found more than 700 positions in the LA area.  The opportunities and salaries are quite impressive.   
 
The metric we care about most is job placement in the tech industry for all our graduates. In addition to earning a degree and acquiring a certification, our program will also assist graduates in creating a rich portfolio of work that demonstrates to a prospective employer the knowledge, skills and abilities these students developed in our program.  We think the combination of a degree, a certification and a portfolio as well as soft skills will differentiate our graduates in the job market.