Transferring Computer Science Credits from Portland Community College

I'm considering starting at Portland Community College and then transferring to a university for computer science. How do I ensure my credits will transfer smoothly? Has anyone successfully transferred from PCC to a four-year school for CS?

It's great that you're making plans to pave your way to a four-year university from Portland Community College (PCC). I can provide some insights that should be helpful.

First, it's wise to work with an academic advisor at PCC from the beginning. They are an excellent resource for helping you navigate your class selection with your goal university in mind and can often provide insight into articulation agreements PCC has with other institutions. An articulation agreement ensures that certain courses you take at PCC will directly transfer to general education, or even major-specific requirements at your goal university.

Additionally, you'll want to research the specific transfer requirements of universities you're interested in. Check their transfer policy on computer science credits. Some schools have a transfer credit database where you can check which PCC courses are equivalent to courses at their institution.

Keep in mind, the more selective the university, the more closely the content of the course needs to align for it to grant transfer credit. Despite this, even if your credits don’t cover a requirement in the computer science curriculum, it will most likely at least cover some elective or general education requirements – saving you money and time in the long run.

Finally, it's crucial to try and maintain a good GPA at PCC – aim for a 3.5 or above, especially for competitive programs like computer science. Grades matter in transferring because four-year institutions want to see that you have the academic capability to succeed.

Hope this helps! Best of luck in your academic journey towards a computer science degree!