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.
Key features of the program include:
- 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 or a data science emphasis to focus your studies.
- Community – Small classes (maximum 28 students), a cohort model that builds lasting connections, plus dedicated student spaces like a lounge and makerspace.
- Personalized Support – Access to faculty mentors, one-on-one advising, and industry mentorship opportunities.
- Affordability – Tuition is significantly lower than at four-year universities in Washington. Financial aid is available to eligible students.
- Flexible Learning – Study full- or part-time, with most courses offered in a hybrid format and some fully online.
The B.S. in Computer Science is a fully accredited, 4-year, 180 quarter-credit program that prepares students to apply mathematical foundations, algorithmic principles, and computer science theory in designing complex computer and software systems. With an emphasis on both theory and practical skills – supported by small classes, dedicated faculty, and tailored resources – the program fosters a supportive environment where students build the knowledge and skills to advance in their education and future careers.
For the most up-to-date information on degree requirements and course descriptions, refer to the Academic Catalog. A summary of the degree requirements for the 2025-2026 academic year have been included below:
General Education
- ENGL& 101 – English Composition I 5 CR
- ENGL 201 – The Research Paper 5 CR or ENGL& 235 – Technical Writing 5 CR
- Humanities courses 15 CR
- Social Science courses 15 CR
- Diversity Degree Requirement
- MATH& 151 – Calculus I 5 CR
- MATH& 152 – Calculus II 5 CR
- MATH& 153 – Calculus III 5 CR
- MATH 208 – Introduction to Linear Algebra 5 CR
- MATH 270 – Probability and Statistical Models 5 CR
- MATH 301 – Discrete Mathematics 5 CR
- PHYS 121 – General Engineering Physics I 6 CR
- PHYS 122 – General Engineering Physics II 6 CR
- Chemistry of Biology course with lab 5-6 CR
Core CS
- CS 210 – Fundamentals of Computer Science I 5 CR
- CS 211 – Fundamentals of Computer Science II 5 CR
- CS 300 – Data Structures 5 CR
- CS 320 – Programming Languages 5 CR
- CS 331 – Database Systems 5 CR
- CS 351 – Computer Architecture I 5 CR
- CS 360 – Operating Systems 5 CR
- CS 401 – Algorithms 5 CR
- CS 410 – Software Engineering 5 CR
- CS 481 – Senior Capstone I 3 CR
- CS 482 – Senior Capstone II 4 CR
- CS 483 – Senior Capstone III 3 CR
CS Electives
Choose 15 credits from the following:
- CS 310 – Python for Data Science 5 CR
- CS 311 – Software Patterns 5 CR
- CS 332 – Data Mining 5 CR
- CS 341 – Computer Networks 5 CR
- CS 350 – Systems Programming 5 CR
- CS 356 – Computer Security 5 CR
- CS 370 – Internet of Things 5 CR
- CS 380 – Web Programming 5 CR
- CS 390 – Introduction to Cryptography 5 CR
- CS 408 – Computer Graphics 5 CR
- CS 411 – Software Engineering Project Management 5 CR
- CS 412 – Advanced Java Programming 5 CR
- CS 420 – Theory of Computation 5 CR
- CS 430 – Image Processing 5 CR
- CS 440 – Human – Computer Interaction 5 CR
- CS 441 – Functional Programming 5 CR
- CS 450 – Distributed Systems 5 CR
- CS 455 – Cloud Computing 5 CR
- CS 460 – Machine Learning 5 CR
- CS 461 – Computational Linguistics 5 CR
- CS 462 – Big Data Systems 5 CR
- CS 465 – Deep Learning 5 CR
- CS 470 – Mobile Application Development 5 CR
- CS 473 – AI Principles and Techniques 5 CR
- CS 485 – Computer Science Co-Op/Practicum 1-5 CR
Free Electives
- Enough college-level credits to meet the degree total of 180 credits, typically 22 or more credits.
- Students have an opportunity to take additional computer science courses or any college-level credits of their interest (100-level or above) not used for any other degree requirement.
Credits & Grades
In addition to the specific course requirements, students must also meet the following criteria:
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
- Earn a numerical grade of 2.0 or higher in each CS core and upper-division elective courses.
- Complete a minimum of 45 credits in residence at Bellevue College, including at least 30 credits of upper-division coursework.
- Accumulate a total of 180 quarter credits.
Upon graduation from the B.S. in Computer Science, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate an awareness of the impact of computers on society as well as an understanding of the key ethical issues shaping the practice of Computer Science.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge of mathematics to develop and analyze computing systems.
- Demonstrate the conceptual knowledge to identify and analyze a problem, and then define the computing requirements to creatively solve it.
- Demonstrate the ability to design, implement, evaluate, trouble-shoot and test a computer-based system process, component, or program to meet desired results.
- Demonstrate the ability to use current techniques, skills, and tools for computing practice.
- Demonstrate success skills, including teamwork, leadership, communication, critical thinking, creative problem-solving, personal responsibility and management skills.
Through the Senior Capstone Project, students work in teams to plan, implement, and deliver a full-scale computing project, applying technical expertise from across the curriculum.
Admissions
The Fall 2026 Application is open now through September 16. Apply now (refer to Steps 1-5 on the Admissions tab)!
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program admits students once per year for Fall quarter entry. This year, we piloted a small Winter quarter cohort, an option we may continue in future years. Applications for Fall 2026 entry will open in April and close before the quarter begins in mid-September. Any future Winter quarter admission cycles will open in November and close in mid-December. For detailed application information, visit the Admissions tab.
Note: The BSCS is not a fully online program. Most courses include in-person or hybrid instruction, making the program eligible for F-1 visa sponsorship.
Academic Resources
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.
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 the CS Program Manager.
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.
Please visit the Bellevue College Catalog for the up to date information about CS curriculum and course prerequisites.
Current BSCS students requesting a CS course equivalency/substitution evaluation, a leave of absence, or internship for credit can do so using the petition form.
Internship for Credit
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 (e.g., personal reflections, updated resume and LinkedIn profile, supervisor evaluation, report detailing the work completed, etc.).
Assistance with finding internships or work opportunities is available through Bellevue College’s Center for Career Connections.
Bellevue College Computer Science • (425) 564-2744 • cs@bellevuecollege.edu • Latest Blog: STEM Magazine • Instagram • LinkedIn
Last Updated May 26, 2026