BS in Computer Science (BSCS)

Instructor lecturing to a group of students in front of a whiteboard

About the BS in Computer Science

The Computer Science department at Bellevue College offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – the first 4-year computer science degree available at a community or technical college in Washington State. Since its launch in 2017, the program has welcomed new cohorts annually and built a strong record of preparing students for careers at leading technology companies like Amazon, Microsoft, T-Mobile and more.

Program Highlights

  • Hands-On Learning – Complete a senior capstone project that integrates your skills and prepares you for real-world challenges.
  • Specializations – Choose between the standard track, data science concentration, or cybersecurity concentration to focus your studies.
  • Community – Build connections through small classes (maximum 28 students), a cohort-based learning experience, and dedicated student spaces like a lounge and makerspace.
  • Personalized Support – Receive support from faculty mentors and academic advisors, with opportunities to connect with industry professionals.
  • Affordability – Pay significantly lower tuition than many four-year universities in Washington, with financial aid available for eligible students.
  • Flexible Learning – Study full- or part-time, with most courses offered in a hybrid format and a few available fully online.

Senior Capstone Project Examples

As part of the program, students complete a Senior Capstone Project where they work in teams to plan, implement, and deliver a computing project that applies the technical skills they’ve gained across the curriculum.

View examples of senior capstone projects created by BSCS students.

Autonomous Garden Monitoring capstone poster
Be My Guest capstone poster
Socialscope capstone poster

Degree Information

The B.S. in Computer Science is a fully accredited, 180 quarter-credit program that prepares students to apply mathematical foundations, algorithmic principles, and computer science theory to design complex computer and software systems. Through a combination of theoretical foundations and practical skills, students learn in a supportive environment with dedicated faculty, small class sizes, and resources designed to support their academic and career goals.

For the most up-to-date information on degree requirements and course descriptions, refer to the Academic Catalog.

Admissions

Students are admitted twice per year for Fall and Winter entry, with Fall as the primary intake. Applications are typically due in mid-September for Fall entry and mid-December for Winter entry. For detailed application information, visit the Admissions tab.

Academic Resources

Three students face each other while sitting together at a table within a campus building. They have their laptops open and appear to be engaged in conversation. There is a view of campus through the large window behind them.

Advisors at Bellevue College are available to support students in planning their academic path, selecting courses, exploring transfer options, and connecting with campus resources to help them succeed.

Prospective Students: Work with the STEM Pathway Advisors in the Advising Center.

Current BSCS Students: Work with the CS Program Manager.

See when a particular CS course may be offered and a sample education plan for the BS in Computer Science degree.

100/200-Level CS Courses

For students completing introductory courses in computer science (e.g. CS 101, 209, 210, 211, 212, 250), students can use their own laptop or utilize Bellevue College’s Laptop Loan Program, which loans laptops to students quarterly on a first-come, first-served basis.

BSCS

All students enrolled in the BS in Computer Science program must have a laptop computer that meets the following operating system requirements:

  • For Windows PC: Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate, Windows 8 or 8.1, Windows 10 Home or Pro, Minimum Core i5 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 250 GB storage
  • For Apple Macintosh: Macintosh OS 10.14 or higher, Minimum Core i5 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 250 GB storage
  • (Optional) Recommended specifications for those who wish to enhance their experience: Core i7 Processor, 16 GB RAM, 500 GB or higher storage

Track your degree progress on ctcLink (see tutorial). In ctcLink, click on “Academics” and then “What If Report”. Follow instructions to select your major. For catalog year, select the quarter/year that matches your BS admission quarter (e.g. Fall 2024, Fall 2025). The What If Report will show your completed classes and the classes you have remaining for your major.

While helpful, these degree audit reports are not 100% accurate. Please review them carefully. If you have questions about your report and overall progress on the BSCS degree, contact an adviser

Upper division CS courses have unique prerequisites that are satisfied by specific courses. The prerequisite chain provides a visual of these requirements for each CS course.

CS Prerequisite Chain

Please visit the Bellevue College Catalog for the up to date information about CS curriculum and course prerequisites.

BSCS students can receive academic credits for participating in qualifying work experience related to the computer science field. Earning academic credit involve will involved completing a set of assignments related to the work experience.

Assistance with finding internships or work opportunities is available through Bellevue College’s Center for Career Connections.

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Last Updated August 7, 2026