What is the Associate Degree in Computer Programming?
It is a foundational program designed to teach you the basics of programming and software development.
What is the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Cyber-physical Software Engineering?
This program focuses on advanced topics in computer science and the integration of software with physical systems.
Salary?
Our typical graduates with our AAT degree and no industry experience usually start between 40k and 75k. The median hourly wage for CPW grads is $23.51 (Most recent data is 2019 - 2022). Salary is wide ranging and depends on factors such as student programming skills, location of employment, and interviewing skills. Salaries go up after gaining industry experience. Our BS in Computer Science program starts Fall 2025 and our first graduates will be in Winter 2027
Cost?
The total cost for a Washington State resident for the AAT degree is about $13,000. This includes tuition, fees, and books. Check out the official CPTC fee list for up-to-date information. You will not need to purchase any software for our program. It can either be obtained for free or will be provided to you by the program faculty. Bachelor of Computer Science cost coming soon.
Program Length?
The associate degree takes 6 quarters of programming classes (3 classes each quarter) plus an additional 18 credits of general education courses which can be taken concurrently with programming courses. Our program also expects students to attend Summer quarter. The BS in Computer Science takes an additional 6 quarters. Check out the schedule
Course Delivery?
The CPW associate degree program teaches in a hybrid flexible format. Students have the choice of attending our scheduled classes and labs in person, or online via Zoom. We utilize the Canvas LMS (learning management system) to keep track of grades, assignments, resources, etc. We use tools like Zoom, Discord, and VS Code Live Share to create a great remote experience, and deliver curriculum and help students troubleshoot just as well as on campus. The BS in Computer Science will require some in-person time on campus.
Employment Opportunities?
For Computer Programming students there are many different opportunities in the industry. Our typical graduate usually starts out as a Web Developer using .NET technologies. Some job titles include:
- Software Developer (C# or Java)
- Software Developer in Test
- ASP.NET Developer
- .NET Developer
- Database Programmer
Graduates of the BS in Computer Science can get software-related jobs in traditional tech roles and in the manufacturing sector.
Curriculum?
Our associate degree program covers many topics including: building modern responsive websites, building desktop applications, software security, object-oriented programming, phone app development, and more, all while gaining hands-on experience using professional tools. The BS in Computer Science teaches traditional Computer Science topics while integrating hardware. Students may program robot arms, microcontrollers, work with PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers), gather and analyze data from software and machines, and help automate industrial processes.
Is this for me?
If you like technology and computers in general then software development is definitely an option to consider. You don't have to be a math whiz but students who do well in math typically grasp programming quicker. Our industry also changes frequently so this field is great for people who like to learn continuously. Programming is hard and does take quite a bit of effort to learn. That is why having an instructor to help you troubleshoot and ask questions is so critical to your success in this industry. If you put in the effort to learn programming and ask questions, you will be successful!
Who can I contact for more information?
Please feel free to email Joseph.Ortiz@cptc.edu