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Flexible and Customized Real-World Computer Science & Systems Applications
The Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science & Systems (CSS) offers a solid foundation in computer science alongside a minor in another discipline, allowing students to customize their education. This program is ideal for students who want flexibility in their coursework and seek to apply computing skills in fields such as health, science, medicine, or business. It provides an opportunity to combine computing with other areas, like Math, Communications, or Data Analytics. Students will build a portfolio of work for prospective employers, gain valuable communication skills, and work closely with faculty mentors to prepare for internships and careers in the rapidly growing tech industry.
Quick Facts
Autumn 2025 Applications are OPEN!Application opens: February 1, 2025 Students Notified: Rolling decisions until August 31st or program fills |
Research and Internship OpportunitiesSenior-level students can explore their areas of interest, complemented by the expertise of the faculty and industry, through research, directed reading, and internship opportunities.
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Employment OpportunitiesOur alumni have graduated and gone on to pursue fulfilling careers in many different fields. Visit their employer's websites:
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Bachelors of Science or Arts?
Similarities
- Computer Science & Systems degree
- Admission requirements
- Fundamentals of programming and software development principles (TCSS 305, 360)
- Discrete mathematics foundation (TCSS 321)
- Machine organization (TCSS 372)
- Data structures (TCSS 342)
- Computers, ethics, and society (TCSS 325)
- Opportunities to take 400-level CSS electives, including internship (TCSS 497), directed readings (TCSS 498) and directed research (TCSS 499).
Differences
- B.A. majors must minor in a field that is not computer science, which will encourage interdisciplinary thinking and problem solving.
- B.A. majors build a portfolio of all your coursework related to computing.
- This synthesizes the computer science knowledge you learned with the knowledge you learned in your minor.
- This also provides a narrative of your skills that will not only help you identify what you know and how you can apply it, but also as a way to explain to a prospective employer who you are and what you can do.
- B.S. majors have 4 additional class requirements.
- Computer architecture and operating systems (TCSS 372, 422)
- Algorithm design and analysis (TCSS 343)
- Programming language concepts (TCSS 380)
- Required to take at least one 400-level project course.
How to Apply
Admission Information
Admission to the major is competitive. Please review the following prerequisites and application process carefully.
Prerequisites
To qualify for admission, you must first be admitted to UWT and have completed the following prerequisites*:
- Calculus I (TMATH 124 or equivalent)
- Statistics (TMATH 110 or equivalent)
- TCSS 101 or TCSS 141 (or other introductory CS/programming course)
- Introduction to Programming (Java) (TCSS 142 or equivalent)
- Object-Oriented Programming (Java) (TCSS 143 or equivalent)
*All pre-requisite courses must be completed in the last seven years
GPA Requirements
- Required cumulative prerequisite GPA of at least 2.5, with a minimum grade of 2.0 in each individual prerequisite course.
- Required minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all college coursework.
Notes for transfer students:
- UW Seattle and UW Bothell students seeking to transfer to UW Tacoma also need to have a transfer application on file to be considered for admission.
- If you are not admitted to UWT, you cannot be admitted to a SET major, but you may hold off on accepting your offer of admission to UWT until you have your program admissions decision.
- Transfer students at Washington State community colleges are encouraged to pursue the Associate in Science - Transfer Track 2 to meet the admission requirements. Use the UW Course Equivalency Guide to determine the equivalent prerequisites at your school.
Before starting the application, make sure you're ready to apply:
- You've been admitted to UW Tacoma and met the requirements to apply to the major (previous tab).
- You have completed at least 45 college-level credits.
- You completed the prerequisite courses listed in the Admission Requirements tab.
- You've earned a minimum grade of 2.0 in each prerequisite course and maintain a minimum cumulative prerequisite GPA of 2.5
Ready to Apply?
Visit the SET application page and submit your application today!
Have Questions?
Have a question that isn't answered on this page? Send us an email to SetAcademics@uw.edu!
Curriculum Details
Curriculum Information
Foundational Courses
- TCSS 101 Computer Science Principles or TCSS 141 Programming for All
- TCSS 142 Programming Principles
- TCSS 143 Fundamentals of Object-Oriented Programming Theory and Application
Core Courses
All prerequisites must be completed before you can advance to the next academic level; advanced concentration courses build upon knowledge gained in the core courses.
- TCSS 305 Programming Practicum
- TCSS 321 Discrete Structures I
- TCSS 325 Computers, Ethics, and Society
- TCSS 342 Data Structures
- TCSS 360 Software Development and Quality Assurance Techniques
- TCSS 371 Machine Organization
- TCSS 496 Portfolio Based Learning
All courses within the major must be completed with a minimum grade of 2.0 (including TCSS 142 and 143). If you don't earn a 2.0 or higher, you can repeat a course once. Please refer to our Undergraduate Resources page for more information.
Note: the B.A. in CSS requires the completion of a minor in another discipline (students with a previous bachelor's degree can use this in place of the minor requirement).
The B.A. in CSS schedule planning grid shows a sample pathway to complete the Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science & Systems degree. Work with your advisor to make sure you are completing required courses for the program and electives for your area of interest.
The B.A. in CSS schedule planning grid shows a sample pathway to complete the Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science & Systems degree. Work with your advisor to make sure you are completing required courses for the program and electives for your area of interest.
- CSS Electives: complete 20 additional credits of 300-level or 400-level courses chosen from the Computer Science & Systems program (excluding TCSS 390); see extended course descriptions for more information on individual CSS Elective courses.
- Required Minor: Meet the requirements of your selected minor.
- Electives: Complete 15 credits of general electives of your choice.
All courses within the major must be completed with a minimum grade of 2.0 (including TCSS 142 and 143). If you don't earn a 2.0 or higher, you can repeat a course once. Please refer to our Undergraduate Resources page for more information.
Ready to Apply?
Visit the SET application page and submit your application today!
Have Questions?
Have a question that isn't answered on this page? Send us an email to SetAcademics@uw.edu!
Need Advising?
Need help planning your prerequisite courses? Not sure if your courses directly transfer to UWT? Connect with our Prospective Student Advisor, Noelle Wilson, for guidance!
