Associate of Arts in Computer Science (DTA) Associate of Science - Computer Engineering Associate of Science - Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering
About
Computer Science focuses on managing and operating complex computer systems.
Computer science skills are needed in all areas of the economy: retailing, banking,
manufacturing, agriculture, service, education, and government, as well as computer
manufacturing and software development.This program provides students with the first two years of a four-year computer science
degree, and prepares them to enter a Bachelor of Computer Science program at the junior
level.
TCC offers courses that cover the first 2 years of a typical 4-year college computer
science program (college-level courses) as well as courses to develop skills needed
for college-level computer science courses. TCC offers three pathways of degree choices
for computer science students.
Associate of Arts in Computer Science
Your guided path toward earning your degree
Degree overview
Degree Requirements
Career Options
This degree, awarded by Tacoma Community College, is designed for students who intend
to transfer to a baccalaureate institution to major in Computer Science or some other
closely related field. Many classes required for this degree are offered only once
or twice a year. Students should work closely with faculty advisors to plan their
programs of study. The Associate of Arts in Computer Science degree satisfies the
General Education requirements of most Washington baccalaureate institutions (four-year
colleges and universities). Students who transfer with the Associate of Arts in Computer
Science degree may be required to complete some additional requirements during their
junior and senior years as required by individual institutions. Students should review
the requirements at their intended transfer institution to minimize the number of
such additional requirements
While in high school, students should prepare by pursuing all the available courses
in mathematics, chemistry, computer programming and physics.
Students must complete at least 90 credits for this degree.
Other requirements are:
At least 30 credits must be earned at TCC.
A GPA of 2.0 is required.
Students must take at least one course from the list of approved multicultural courses.
Basic Requirements (15 credits)
ENGL& 101
ENGL& 235 or ENGL& 102
MATH&151
Humanities and Social Sciences (15 credits)
Humanities course from approved class list
Social science course from approved class list
Humanities or Social Science credits from approved list
Required Specialization Courses (26-27 credits)
PHYS& 221
PHYS& 222 - or any laboratory science course in the Natural Sciences section of the
Approved Distribution Course List
MATH& 152
CS 142, CS 143
Additional Specialization Courses (10-12 credits)
Select a minimum of two courses from this list, as appropriate for the intended bachelor’s
institution. If greater than two courses are required by the bachelor’s institution,
the additional courses can be applied as Electives credits in the MRP.
MATH& 153
MATH& 254
MATH& 146
MATH 220
PHYS& 223
MATH 210
Physical, biological and/or earth sciences with lab
Electives (6-9 credits)
Additional elective courses required to reach a minimum of 90 total credits should
be selected in consultation with an advisor, as appropriate for the intended bachelor’s
institution.
No more than three Physical Education Activity credits may apply to this degree.
Computer science graduates are prepared to work in an ever-changing technological
world. Job opportunities with highly competitive salaries are open in computer system
architecture, programming, training, management, and operational specialties in all
areas of the economy: retailing, banking, manufacturing, agriculture, service, education,
and government, as well as computer manufacturing and software development.
If you are interested in computers, there are several different degrees depending
on your career goals. The diversity of degrees can cause confusion, so let’s talk
about the differences between the degrees. View the below descriptions or download
the document overview (pdf).
TCC’s Networking and Cyber Security program prepares the student for a career in network
administration and technical support with a focus on cyber security. The program includes
a series of technical core courses that provide hands-on knowledge and skills in systems,
data, networking, and security concepts. The program includes a series of non-technical
core courses related to business, project, and team communication skills. Advanced
course work includes training in PC hardware and operating systems, Windows servers,
networking, routing, security, and virtualization. Professional/Technical (Career
Training) degrees and certificates are designed for students who want to get back
out into the workforce quickly with high demand skills, rather than those who plan
to continue on to a university. As such, students are generally working with existing
systems.
If you want to be the person actually designing computer systems, you may be more
interested in a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering or electrical
engineering. Although an oversimplification, computer engineering focuses on programming
and developing hardware, while computer science focuses on the theoretical algorithms
that drive improvements in software. Electrical engineering is a closely related field
but more broadly works in the design of electronics as well as large scale power systems.
The freshman and sophomore level coursework required for a student to transfer at
the junior level to a university computer science, computer engineering or electrical
engineering program may generally be completed at Tacoma Community College. Entry
into many computer science, computer engineering and electrical engineering programs
is competitive. Completion of coursework or an associate’s degree does not guarantee
admission into a specific program.
Tacoma Community College offers three associate degree pathways for students who are
planning to transfer to a university in these areas:
1. Associate of Arts in Computer Science – DTA
This degree is usually the best choice for students who know that they are only interested
in computer science, and will not need the more rigorous math and science requirements
for computer engineering or electrical engineering. It also allows the student to
complete general education requirements. The Associate of Arts in Computer Science
degree is a Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) degree. This does not mean that degrees
that aren’t DTAs won’t transfer, instead, it guarantees some very specific benefits.
According to the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) website,
DTA degrees provide “completion of lower division general education requirements for
universities (in Washington state), credit for all courses completed within the DTA
up to and in some cases beyond 90 credits, and the opportunity to explore several
fields of study through the category of up to 30 credits of elective courses.” The
Associate of Arts in Computer Science is approved by the Joint Transfer Council (JTC)
for the state of Washington.
2. Computer Engineering – Associate of Science (Track 2)
This degree is usually the best choice for students who are planning major in computer
engineering or students who are planning to major in electrical engineering at the
University of Washington-Tacoma, Eastern Washington University or Western Washington
University. These programs require more math, science and engineering fundamentals,
so there is less room for the humanities and social science courses that are in a
DTA degree. Although the Computer Engineering – Associate of Science degree does have
some humanities and social science requirements (15 credits), you will still have
to take more classes in these areas after you transfer. Individual humanities and
social science courses in the degree receive the same transferability benefits as
they would in a DTA degree. Students should work with an academic advisor to select
appropriate courses. The Associate of Science track 2 degree is approved by the Joint
Transfer Council (JTC) for the state of Washington.
3. Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering – Associate of Science MRP
This degree is usually the best choice for students planning to major in electrical
engineering at the University of Washington- Seattle, Washington State University
and most other EE programs. This degree is a Major Related Program (MRP). MRP degrees
were developed on a statewide level by the Washington Council for Engineering and
Related Technology Education (WCERTE), an organization comprised of the community
colleges and universities in the state of Washington that offer engineering degrees,
and approved by the Joint Transfer Council (JTC) for the state of Washington. MRP
degrees were designed specifically to prepare students to transfer at the junior level
into the specific disciplines. Since electrical engineering programs have significant
math, science, computer science and engineering fundamentals coursework requirements,
the degree requires 103 credits.
Although the EE/CompE – AS- MRP degree does have some humanities and social science
requirements (15 credits), you will still have to take more classes in these areas
after you transfer. Individual humanities and social science courses in the degree
receive the same transferability benefits as they would in a DTA degree. Completion
of this degree would prepare students to transfer into computer science, computer
engineering or electrical engineering, but would require coursework that is only mandatory
for electrical engineering.
Although Tacoma Community College advisors make every effort to consult with various
colleges and universities regarding requirements, students are encouraged to consult
catalogs, websites and advisors at their chosen four-year institutions early in the
planning process.
Preparation: While in high school, students should pursue all the available courses
in mathematics, chemistry, computer programming and physics.
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