A Mosaic of College Options

Right here in Oregon, all seven public universities, most community colleges, as well as several private universities offer computer science degrees.

Before you make a choice on which college is right for you, you should know that there is a lot that you can do right now in high school to prepare you for your college success and broaden your opportunities.

High School Pre-requisites

High school courses in mathematics, to the highest level possible. Why? Because computer science students need to be comfortable with mathematical concepts and be good at problem solving. All computer science fields, including gaming, use math to a high degree. Take math now so you don't hit a wall later.

A year of chemistry and physics Why? To be able to translate back and forth between something very concrete and abstract, and approach mathematical concepts in a logical way.

Four years of English. Why? So that you have competence in written communication (the ability to express yourself clearly in writing and in an organized way), and in oral communication, as teamwork and communicating ideas are important components of work in the computer science field.

Click here for a list of out-of-school programs for high school and middle school students that offer computer science, science, math, engineering, and related classes that you can take to supplement your in-school course work. Another good option is your local community college; check its website for course offerings and other information.

Choosing a College Path

Computer science education can take many different pathways. You may go straight into a computer science major a 4-year public or private university, start with general education, a technical certificate, or a two-year degree at a community college and transfer to a university, see a large computer science or engineering program as key so that you can specialize, or decide a smaller department setting is best for you.

Click the links at the top of the page for:

Oregon University Campuses, Oregon's Community Colleges, Oregon's Private Colleges & Universities