Total Credits: 100

Action Item: Meet with Computer Science (CS) Faculty Advisor

Please work with the Computer Science (CS) Faculty Advisor to discuss pathway options in the information technology (IT) field.

Required Prerequisites

Placement at college level reading.
Placement at college level English.
Placement at college level math.
Placement at college level Computer Science.

1. College Success

• COLLG 110 College Success (3 credits)

• Course purpose:  A foundational course to explore and affirm a career choice and build upon the skills, knowledge, and resources that will support you at Pierce College and beyond.

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• Note: The College Success course you select will depend on the Career Pathway Map you are following. Your advisor will assist you in selecting either the 3- or 5- credit version of the course. Should you choose to repeat a College Success course you must enroll in a College Success course with the same credit amount as the original course; a COLLG 110 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 110 course and a COLLG 115 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 115 course. 

2. Introduction to Computer Information Systems

• CIS 121 Introduction to Computer Information Systems (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This course will assist you in making your IT pathway career choice. You will learn the fundamentals of a computer, including the information processing cycle.

3. Math Course Recommendation

Take one course per quarter until sequence is finished.

• MATH& 141 Precalculus I (5 credits)
• MATH& 142 Precalculus II (5 credits)
• MATH& 151 Calculus I (5 credits)
• MATH& 152 Calculus II (5 credits)
• MATH& 163 Calculus 3 (5 credits)

• Note: MATH& 153 may be used as a substitute for MATH& 163.  Please check with your transfer institution to determine how this substitution may impact your transfer-readiness.

• Course purpose: Enhances your problem solving, analysis, and logical thinking skills.

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• Note: The math course you select will depend on the Career Pathway Map you are following, the transfer institution/degree that you select, and your math placement guidance. Your advisor will assist you in selecting the relevant 5 or 7 credit course(s) based upon co-requisite options.

4. English Composition I

• ENGL& 101 English Composition I (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Clear and strategic communication with others is a central feature of all computer science careers. The skills learned in ENGL 101 are foundational for later course work and beyond.

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• Note: Your advisor will assist you in reviewing your Guided Self Placement and selecting either the 5-credit or the 7-credit co-requisite ENGL& 101 + ENGLC 101 course.

Action Item: Meet with CS Advisor

Use your Success Network!  In your first quarter, meet with your advisor to revisit your career and transfer path, make adjustments to your goals as needed, and plan for your next steps.  

5. Introduction to Sociology

• SOC& 101 Introduction to Sociology (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Since computer application development and the programs created have potential for world-wide and cross cultural impacts, foundation knowledge in social systems and cultures can provide the basis for better understanding for the creation of interaction between the user and computer software.

6. Introduction to Communications

• CMST& 101 Introduction to Communications (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Enhanced communications understanding and abilities can provide the foundation for the development of better interaction and creation of digital tools to facilitate a user in learning and working with applications programs.

7. Introduction to Statistics

• MATH& 146 Introduction to Stats (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This class is necessary to enable you to critically analyze, assess, collect, manipulate, and interpret data covering many aspects of system performance from program execution to throughput to efficiency, etc.

8. English Composition II

• ENGL& 102 Composition II: Argumentation and Research (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Computer science professionals need to be able to document, research, and communicate application program instructions and justifications in a clear, concise, and unambiguous style.

Action Item: Apply for Graduation

Way to go!  It is time to apply for graduation.  Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details.  https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/graduation

9. Survey of Economics

• ECON 110 Survey of Economics (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Computer science students will gain an appreciation of the role of information systems in economic issues. Computer science students will gain an appreciation for the fundamentals of economics and their role as a developer of software systems potentially affecting business or organizations. An understanding of economics can also facilitate an understanding of the necessity for creating efficient interactions and interfaces for potential users.

10. General Psychology

• PSYC& 100 General Psychology (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Having understanding of human behavior is essential for designing systems that people will want to use. 

11. Introduction to Philosophy

• PHIL& 101 Introduction to Philosophy (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Computer science students can benefit from the study of Philosophy as it provides the opportunity to develop logic, critical thinking, and problem solving strategies and potential multicultural impacts on interface and interaction design.

12. Critical Thinking

• PHIL& 115 Critical Thinking (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Enhances your problem solving, analysis, and logical thinking skills. 

13. Computer Science I

• CS& 141 Computer Science I (5 credits)

• The first in a two-quarter course focusing on structured and procedural programming. Topics include the basics of computer hardware, programming, loops, conditionals, methods, program design, debugging, flow charts, pseudo-code, and, object-oriented programming. No prior programming experience is required but is highly recommended. 

  Course purpose: Introduction to the concepts of computer program analysis, design and development using JAVA in modern structured programming methodologies and techniques. Involves structure charts, pseudocode and flowcharts. Common computer program techniques of documentation, testing and validation, and implementation using one or more software development life cycle methodologies, and lab assignments to allow you to interact with computer technology, hardware and concepts. This is a second-year course.

14. Computer Science II

• CS 202 Computer Science II (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Introduction to Object Oriented Programming (OOP). Application of the concepts of inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction and encapsulation. Addresses classes, objects, recursion, basic data structures and abstract data types. Utilize maintainability, and reusability techniques. Introduce effective object-oriented programming, code versioning and error handling.  This is a second-year course.

15. Physics Course Recommendation

Take one course per quarter until courses are finished.

• PHYS& 221 Engineering Physics I (6 credits)
• PHYS& 223 Engineering Physics III (6 credits)

• Course purpose: Enhances your problem solving, analysis, and critical thinking skills.

Total Credits: 100

16. Additional Recommended Course

• PHYS& 222 Engineering Physics II (6 credits)

• Course purpose: Enhances your problem solving, analysis, and critical thinking skills.

Adjusted Credit Total: 106