2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog

Computer Science (AA-DTA) Course Map


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Created by Pierce faculty, this map outlines the initial coursework for this career field and for transfer to a four-year institution. It provides you a clear path to complete your degree by listing a specific set of courses relevant to your program and career. The map is designed with the appropriate number of credits and meets degree requirements. Courses are organized in a recommended sequence; please schedule accordingly. If a course is unavailable, select the next appropriate course within the sequence. If you want to change a course on this map you must speak with an advisor to assure you meet all degree requirements. For each course, a purpose statement explains how the content relates to your career field. On this map, there may be instances when you will be required to select a course from several options. Use these purpose statements and notes to choose the course that best aligns with your interests and needs. You will also find action items to complete to assure you progress and graduate on time. 

While this map is a great guide to courses required to complete an Associate in Arts - Direct Transfer Agreement (AA-DTA) Degree Requirements  Degree, you are responsible for fulfilling all degree requirements. Questions? Your Success Network is ready to help you!

Important note about transfer: colleges and universities may change their requirements at any time, so this map is not a guarantee of transfer. You will need to check transfer requirements with your intended four-year school. 

Total Credits: 91-102


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 English.
Placement at college level Math.
 

1. College Success


  • 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.

     

    Note:  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. If you have previously completed COLLG110 you will need 2 more general elective credits, you may enroll in INFO101, PE131, PE140 or similar. 

  • Note:

    • Successfully completing either COLLG 110 or COLLG 115 will fulfill the College Success requirement. 
    • 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. Quantitative Symbolic Reasoning Recommendation (10 credits)


Take one course per quarter until sequence is finished.

 

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

  • Transfer Note: MATH& 141 and MATH& 142, with a minimum 2.0 in each, are requirements for UWT’s Information Technology, B.S., and transfer as TMATH 115 and TMATH 116, respectively.

  • Transfer Note: MATH& 141 and MATH& 142, with a minimum 2.0 in each, are requirements for UWT’s Information Technology, B.S., and transfer as TMATH 115 and TMATH 116, respectively.

     

     

    Note: The math courses you are required to enroll in will depend on the transfer institution and degree 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. 

Action Item: Meet with CS Advisor


Meet with a faculty CS advisor to discuss the appropriate BA, BS transfer pathways and plan your transfer to a Bachelor program at a four-year institution (UW Tacoma, Bellevue College, and similar programs) and to confirm transfer requirements.  

Note: What is the difference between the BA degree and the BS degree? 

Both degrees are computer science degrees, the core computer science concepts and skills you learn in each degree program are the same. What is different is the emphasis on how those fundamental concepts are used later in the program. 

  • What do you do in the BS that you do not do in the BA degree? 

  • Computer architecture and operating systems 

  • Algorithm design and analysis  

  • Programming language concepts  

  • What do you do in the BA that you do not do in the BS degree?  

You minor in a field that is not computer science (such as Math, Philosophy), to encourage interdisciplinary thinking and problem solving.  

3. Communication and Writing Recommendation (10 credits)


Complete ENGL& 101 and then select one of the other options noted below.

 

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.

4. Humanities Recommendation (15 credits)


Work with your advisor to decide which courses to take based on the 4-year transfer institution/degree you choose.

 

Course purpose: Humanities study aspects of human society and culture. Fulfills the general education requirements for transfer to bachelor’s degrees. 

5. Social Sciences Recommendation (15 credits)


Choose THREE courses from a minimum of TWO disciplines.  Maximum of 10 credits allowed from any ONE discipline. 

 

Course purpose: Social science is the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within those societies. Fulfills the general education requirements for transfer to bachelor’s degrees.

6. Natural Sciences Recommendation (16-27 credits)


Course purpose: Natural science studies the description, understanding and prediction of natural phenomena, based on empirical evidence from observation and experimentation. Fulfills general education requirements for transfer to bachelor’s degrees. 

Action Item: Apply for Graduation


Way to go!  It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details.

7. Computer Science Recommendation (20 credits)


Computer Science requirements: 

Total Credits: 91-102


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