As most degree-seekers know, computer science is one of the fastest growing types of employment in the country, and many accredited computer science degree programs in Oregon offer the chance to obtain a degree in this lucrative arena. Students who have an interest in becoming a computer game designer or at the helm of an information technology department at a business will find a computer science degree exceptionally valuable. Oregon’s colleges offer the perfect place to study for such a degree since the schools have nationally ranked and recognized programs in many areas of technology and computer science, as well as different types of schools from state schools to private.

Oregon State University

College of Engineering

OSU is the flagship school of the state university system in Oregon and has a large population of almost 28,000 students attending classes on campus and online. The school offers a wealth of degree programs with over 200 academic degree options. Top tier programs from OSU include nuclear engineering, forestry, public health, zoology, and biochemistry. The school receives an extraordinary amount of funding for research each year and is one of only two public schools in the country to obtain status as a sun-grant, sea-grant, land-grant, and space-grant universities. Established in 1856, the school began as a prep school and became a college as of 1858.

Computer Science BS Computer Systems Option

Students who wish to enter employment in computer science with an in-depth knowledge of computer science and how it impacts business today will find the program at Oregon State University to be an appropriate jumping-off point for a career developing computer software or designing embedded systems. Students who wish to move on to graduate school or an eventual doctoral program will also find the program offers suitable knowledge for further education goals. In addition to general core classes required of all students, computer science classes required include Introduction to Computer Science, Differential Calculus, and Data Structures. Objectives of the computer science major and its related options include the expectation that students will enter into successful careers after graduation and that graduates will also be able to learn and adapt to a swiftly changing industry. The school recommends that students complete four years fo math in high school, as well as four years in science and English.

Computer Science BA Computer Systems Option

Like the Bachelor of Science option, the Bachelor of Arts option also prepares students well for work in the industry, but the focus is a little different from that of the BS degree. Some of the topics covered in the program include algorithms and cryptography, machine learning and artificial intelligence, and various programming languages. Like other accredited computer science degree programs in Oregon, the program features classes on computer systems and networking, human-computer interaction, and software engineering. The program requires a variety of general education core classes, as well as computer science classes like Analysis of Algorithms and Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming. The mission of the College of Engineering is to ensure students will thrive in advanced studies, as well as become accomplished and successful in current computing topics. The school boasts that its programs are internationally recognized for their strength of research in several vital areas of computer science like human-computer interaction, multimedia nd networking, and computer graphics and vision.

Accreditations

  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
  • Computer Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET

Contact

Office of Admissions
108 Kerr Administration Building
Corvallis, OR 97331
Phone: (541) 737-2626
Email: osu@oregonstate.edu
http://www.osucascades.edu/academics/computer-science

Portland State University

Maseeh College of Engineering & Computer Science

Located in downtown Portland, Portland State University is the largest school in Oregon with almost 30,000 students. The school is part of the Oregon University System and sits in the top fifteen percentile of colleges in the United States on a list created by “The Princeton Review.” The school also cultivates partnerships with various local government and business entities to enhance the education of it students, like Portland General Electric and the Portland Public School system. The school was originally created as a place where veterans returning from World War II could obtain higher education and eventually grew into a large university serving all students.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Students who enroll in the Bachelor of Science program will usually take around four years to complete study. The program is designed to accommodate students who have just graduated from high school, but students who already have experience in the field or have a few years of community college under their belt are also encouraged to apply. The department will accommodate an incoming student’s personal level of knowledge in computer science so as to ensure he or she is offered the best entry into college-level study. The program features a standard core of classes that every student must take, as well as a series of electives that allow students to tailor the program to their interests. Seniors must complete a team project during a two-semester capstone course. Program objectives include a full understanding of the practices and core principles of computing, as well as the professional skills necessary to perform well in employment.

Minor in Computer Science

Students of all majors may benefit from a minor in computer science, and a student’s major doesn’t need to be in math or science to benefit from a minor in the field of computers. The computer science minor at PSU requires that students complete 36 credits, and students must maintain a grade of C or better in all classes required for the minor. Some of the classes students will take include Computer Systems Programming, Introduction to Computer Science, and Data Structures. Some of the majors who might benefit from a minor in computer science include artists who work with digital media, communications majors who wish to leverage technology for their future job goals, and anyone who feels that knowledge of computers will enhance a job application in the future. Students don’t need to be particularly technology-inclined to benefit from a computer science minor, but students should possess a mild interest in math or the ability to grasp advanced mathematical concepts.

Master of Science in Computer Science

Students looking to learn beyond the parameters of an undergraduate degree in computer science will want to consider the Master of Science in Computer Science at PSU. The degree program usually takes students about a year and a half to complete as long as the student is enrolled full-time in the program. To enter the program, it’s expected that students have an undergraduate degree in the field of computer science; however, students who bring real-life experience to the table may also qualify for entry into the graduate program. If a student doesn’t have experience in computer science yet wishes to enter into the graduate program, the school also offers the opportunity to enter a post-bac program that will take around three years to complete. To obtain the degree, students must complete at least 45 credits at the graduate level. Some of the courses students must complete include Theory of Computation, Databases, and Intelligent and Adaptive Systems.

Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science

The school suggests that its doctoral program is particularly competitive and that the school offers only a limited number of openings each year. The program requires that students meet all of the minimum requirements for entry into the program, as well as whether a Ph.D. advisor is available and whether financial aid is available. The application materials required for the Ph.D. program are identical to the application materials for the master’s degree, but students must provide a statement of purpose with more detail. Students are also encouraged to describe their own, personal interests in the field when applying for entry into the Ph.D. program. Students who are able to secure a recommendation from one of the faculty at the school have an improved chance of acceptance. The school also provides students with a variety of research assistantship opportunities, as well as opportunities to teach in the program. New students traditionally enter the program with a teaching assistantship.

Accreditations

  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
  • Computer Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET

Contact

Portland State University
Maseeh College Computer Science Department
PO Box 751
Portland, OR 97207
Phone: (503) 725-3511
Email: admissions@pdx.edu
http://www.pdx.edu/computer-science/

University of Portland

Donald P. Shiley School of Engineering

The University of Portland is a private, Catholic university and has offered classes to students since 1901. The school’s founding group was also responsible for founding The University of Notre Dame. The school is not particularly large and has around 3,500 students studying at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Many alumni of the school remain in the Portland area, and the school counts around 13,000 alumni residing in close proximity to the school. The school was once known as Columbia University and was ranked as the 6th best university in the western United States by “U.S. News & World Report.”

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

The program at the University of Portland is designed with the expectation that software is at the center of many essential fields today. Business, education, medicine, government, and other fields depend upon the software created by today’s computer science experts. In the program, students will study the software engineering process, how to identify problems, figure out solutions, and build those systems from the ground up. However, students learn more than about software from the perspective of a computer science major. Students also learn about the hardware of a computer, as well as the fundamentals that impact computer science from the perspective of business and math. Some of the specialties in which students may concentrate include human computer interaction, game design, graphics, and artificial intelligence. Additionally, students may study programming languages, compilers, networks, and communication systems. Some of the careers available to graduates feature a wide range from the computer chipsets designed for the financial industry to software development for gaming.

Computer Science Minor

The university suggests that its computer science minor is an appropriate accompaniment to almost any major, and the school would be correct. Some of the classes available to students in the Computer Science Minor option include Computer Science Laboratory, Computer Organization, and Operating Systems. Computer science is a mathematically oriented field, and also contains subject common in the study of physics, so students are often meant to understand or enjoy mathematics if they wish to minor in computer science. However, students outside of engineering, science, and math fields can also benefit from enrolling in a minor in computer science. Whether a student is majoring in something that features a wholly artistic approach to school or whether a student is enrolled in something in the sciences, a computer science minor is particularly valuable to any student. Students may even choose to work toward an advanced degree in computer science if getting a minor turns out to be something that the student feels might be appropriate for future employment.

Accreditations

  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
  • Computer Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET

Contact

University of Portland
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.
Portland, OR 97203
Phone: (503) 943-7105
Email: staten@up.edu
http://up.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2014-2015/bulletin/Degrees-Conferred/May-5-2013/Donald-P-Shiley-School-of-Engineering

Although students who may be considering a degree in computer science should have an interest in math and science, a degree features much more than just a bunch of math classes. Students will find that their creative abilities are tested in the development of new software and in the problem-solving often required of the coding and development process. There are several highly sought-after accredited computer science degree programs in Oregon from which to choose.