Does anyone have recommendations for community colleges in the Bay Area that offer strong computer science programs? I'm considering starting at a community college and then transferring. Quality of the courses and transfer opportunities are important to me.
There are several good community colleges in the Bay Area with strong computer science programs. Below are a few you might consider.
1. De Anza College (Cupertino): De Anza is known for its robust Computer Science program. They offer a wide range of extensive courses covering everything from introductory classes to more specialized topics such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. De Anza also has strong relationships with four-year universities and a high transfer rate.
2. Foothill College (Los Altos Hills): Like De Anza, Foothill offers a diverse Computer Science program and has a strong reputation for preparing students for transfer to 4-year institutions. Plus, Foothill is part of the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program with six UC campuses.
3. City College of San Francisco (San Francisco): CCSF has a strong Computer Science department, with numerous courses touching on various areas of Computer Science. Moreover, they have an Associate Degree for transfer in Computer Science which guarantees admission into a CSU.
4. College of San Mateo (San Mateo): CSM offers an Associate Degree in Computer Science. The curriculum is designed to serve students who desire a two-year degree or who plan to complete the first two years of preparation for a four-year degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Software Engineering.
Keep in mind that your best bet for a successful transfer is to maintain a strong GPA and seek out academic advising regularly, so you can ensure you're meeting all transfer requirements and deadlines. Also, in the process of getting your community college courses lined up, focus on fulfilling general ed requirements and lower-division prerequisites for your intended major, which in this case is Computer Science.
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