Computer Science
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
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.
Degree Worksheet (PDF) Associate of Arts in Computer Science Degree
2022-2023 Distribution Course List (PDF)
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Basic Requirements (15 credits) ENGL& 101 ENGL& 235 or ENGL& 102 (ENGL& 235 is required by most programs) MATH&151 |
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Humanities (15 credits) |
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Select courses from the Humanities section of the Approved Distribution Course List. Courses must be selected from at least two disciplines with no more than 10 credits in any one discipline. No more than 5 credits in world language at the 100 level. No more than 5 credits in performance skills courses. |
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Social Sciences (15 credits) |
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Select courses from the Social Sciences section of the Approved Distribution Course List. Courses must be selected from at least two disciplines with no more than 10 credits in any one discipline. |
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Natural Sciences (16-17 credits) |
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PHYS& 221 PHYS& 222 – or if attending UW-T: any laboratory science course listed under Biological, Earth, and Physical Sciences on the Approved Distribution Course List. MATH& 152 |
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Major Requirements (10 credits) |
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CS 142 and CS 143 |
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University Specific Requirements (10-12 credits) |
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Select a minimum of two courses from this list, as appropriate for the intended bachelor’s institution. Non UW-T bound students MUST choose at least one Math course from the list below. 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 Any lab science course listed under Biological, Earth, and Physical Sciences on the Approved Distribution Course List (5-6 credits). |
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Other College-Level Electives (6-9 credits) |
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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.
Explore careers in:
Computer-related degrees overview
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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