Program Overview

Program Overview

The Associate in Computer Science is intended for students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university and receive a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. This degree is designed to fulfill prerequisites for computer science majors at four-year universities in Washington state. The degree is also a Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) and will fulfill many of the general education requirements for most four-year degrees in arts and sciences.

Program Pathway

• Computer Science

Degree Requirements (Effective Fall 2025)

Overview of Course Requirements

• Basic Requirements – 15 credits
  • ENGL& 101, English Composition I – 5 credits
  • ENGL& 102 or ENGL& 235 or CMST& 220* – 5 credits
  • MATH& 151, Calculus I – 5 credits
• Area of Knowledge Distribution Requirements – 45 credits
  • Visual, Literary & Performing Arts (VLPA) – 15 credits
    • Minimum 2 different subjects. No more than 5 credits of a world language at the 100 level and no more than 5 credits of a studio/performance class may be used in this category.
  • Individuals, Cultures & Societies (ICS) – 15 credits
    • Minimum 2 different subjects
  • Natural World (NW) – 15 credits
    • Two lab sciences for science or engineering majors – 10 credits
    • Math& 152, Calculus II or additional lab science – 5 credits
• Major Requirements – 10 to 15 credits
  • CSC 110 or equivalent prerequisite – 0 to 5 credits
  • CSC 142 and 143, Computer Programming I and II – 10 credits
• University Specific Requirements & Electives – 20 to 35 credits
  • Select courses required for your major or university with your advisor.
  • ENGR 110 OR HDC 101 (required)** - 2 credits
  • Course options include ENGL& 235, MATH &141, &142, &146, &163, 220, 238 and PHYS& 223
• TOTAL Degree Credits: 95 to 110

Notes and Other Requirements

• To earn this degree, students must:
  • Complete at least 95 college-level credits (courses numbered 100 or above), including credits transferred in, with a minimum cumulative college level GPA of 2.0
  • Have a minimum college level cumulative GPA of 2.0 in courses at the degree-granting college
  • Earn at least 15 credits at the degree-granting college
  • Have a minimum passing grade of 1.0 in all courses
  • Apply to graduate
• Other Notes:
  • Courses may only be counted toward one requirement.
  • Sequences should be completed at the same institution.
  • Completion of degree does not guarantee admission to a university/major program nor that all university/major admission and general education requirements are met.
  • Check the equivalency guide of the four-year institution where you plan to transfer to ensure the NSC VLPA or ICS course transfers as VLPA (Humanities) or ICS (Social Sciences) at that institution.

University Elective Options

These notes based on the 2025 Statewide Agreement can be used to help select elective courses for the Associate in Computer Science Degree. Students are advised to consult the college where they plan to transfer for further assistance and up to date information.

• CWU – G: ENGL& 235, E: Math& 163, Math 224, Math 238, Math 220
• EWU – G: Math 220 (BSCS only), Lab Science must be a two-quarter sequence in BIOL, CHEM, GEOL or PHYS
• Evergreen – G: ENGL& 235, Lab Science, E: Math& 163, Math 220, 224, 238, Statistics (calculus-based)
• Gonzaga – Take CMST& 220 instead of Engl& 102; ICS: PHIL& 101 or Ethics and History, Anth, Psyc or Soc; VLPA: Engl& 111, Art or Music; NW: Complete one year of majors-level science (BIOL, CHEM or calc-based PHYS), and Math& 163.
• Heritage – Discrete Math and Statistics will be evaluated for comparability to Heritage’s SPSC 231 and Math 221 courses.
• Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) – Intro to CS, Data Structures, Statistics, and Discrete Structures will be evaluated for comparability to PLU’s, CSCE 144, 231, 270, and Math 242, 245 courses.
• Seattle Pacific University (SPU) – Prefers C++ but accepts Java or C# with SPU bridge course, one course must include data structures; check that Math& 163 is equivalent to SPU's Math 1236.
• Seattle U – Programming and Problem Solving 1 and 2 will be evaluated for comparability to CPSC 1420 and 1430 courses.
• UW (all campuses) – Diversity course: Contact the campus you wish to attend for courses that meet this requirement
• UW Bothell – G: Statistics (calculus-based)
• UW Seattle – EN: Math& 163, PHYS& 221 or CHEM& 161, G: Math 220
• UW Tacoma – EN: Lab Science, G: Math & 163, Math 220, Statistics (calculus-based), E: Math 224, 238, ENGL& 235
• Walla Walla University – At least one C++ course is preferred
• WSU (all campuses) – G: ENGL& 235 instead of 102, MATH&163, Math 220, Statistics (calculus-based), One year of Calc-based PHYS&2. E: Math 224, 238
• WSU Pullman – Recommended: PHIL& 120, ICS: ECON& 201 or 202, HIST& 128
• WSU Tri-Cities – EN: Two C++ courses, G: PHIL& 120. ICS: ECON& 201 or 202, HIST& 128
• WSU Vancouver – G: PHYS& 221, 222, 223 or courses approved by WSU advisor
• WWU – Recommended before enrollment One year lab science sequence in Calc-based PHYS, BIOL, CHEM or GEOL, EN: Computer Architecture, Data Structures, Discrete Math, Discrete Structures, G: ENGL& 235, Math& 220, Statistics (calculus-based)
• Whitworth – Take CMST& 220 instead of Engl& 102

Degree Worksheet

• New Associate in Computer Science (effective Fall 2025)
• Associate in Computer Science (through Summer 2025)
• Areas of Knowledge Distribution Requirements

Transfer Information

Find out more about how you can start your college journey. Learn how to enroll, explore program pathways and make use of our transfer resources.