Cert in Computer Science

The Computer Science certificate gives students a thorough base in both the ideas and the practice of current programming. Following guidance from the Association for Computing Machinery, it prepares them for beginning programming jobs. Courses may or may not transfer to four-year colleges or universities, so students are asked to read the catalog's transfer information and consult a counselor about how courses apply at specific schools. The same coursework can also be used toward requirements for transfer into a computer science program. The sequence begins with an introductory programming or computer science course and moves to C++ programming and a mathematics elective, building the skills expected of a beginning programmer. Students are encouraged to meet with a counselor at Orange Coast College to review course selections and sequencing so the plan fits their academic and career goals. Full course requirements and the suggested plan of study appear in the 2026-2027 catalog entry.