Computing has become pervasive, touching nearly every aspect of our lives. A degree in computer science can open up opportunities for employment in the software development industry, but also in many other areas including health care, business, science, medicine, graphics, utilities, and education.
Use your previous degree to your advantage. Recruiters seek well-rounded individuals with skills beyond programming, so they highly value past degrees and work experiences that complement computing skills.
The Program
The online postbaccalaureate computer science program at Oregon State University is uniquely flexible. You can start with a bachelor’s degree in any other field, with no previous computer science training required. You can start any term, and you control your pace through the program.
Courses are delivered by top-ranked Oregon State University Ecampus, so you can do your coursework any time of the day and from anywhere in the world. You can choose from a large and growing selection of electives that span cybersecurity, usability engineering, networking, ethics, open source engineering, parallel programming, mobile software development, cloud software development, and independent project work. The program can be tailored to your interests, your career goals, and your life's demands.
As a student of Oregon State University, you will have also access to other diverse career-building resources including student clubs, undergraduate research opportunities, financial support, and other career services.
Coursework
You will take 60 credits of computer science courses in order to graduate. No general education courses are required. With our flexible academic plans, you can choose how many courses you take each term. If you choose to take two courses per term, you could complete the entire degree in two years.
You must complete 12 credits of electives, which you may select from among the many CS 300 - 400 level courses offered online, excluding the required courses and CS 410.
Prerequisites
You must have a U.S. bachelor's degree or equivalent in any subject except computer science, and a prior undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 or equivalent. You may also be able to apply as an international student. However, if your bachelor's degree did not require English as the medium of instruction, you must receive a passing score on the TOEFL exam. In addition, obtaining your bachelor's degree must have involved completing minimum grades (of B or C) in introductory writing, communication, and mathematics courses. For full details about prerequisites, refer to the admissions process for the online CS postbacc degree.
If you have follow-up questions about transcripts and program prerequisites, contact the EECS Online Admissions Coordinator.
Applying for Admission
This is a postbaccalaureate program, meaning you will earn a second bachelor's degree after completing all degree requirements. Please review the application and admission information prior to applying, including the deadlines for submitting your application.
Career Showcase
The program includes a Career Showcase that introduces you to the culture of the computing industry through small group sessions, panel discussions with instructors, and networking activities with industry recruiters. The Showcase is held twice a year in Portland, Oregon, in June and December. A wide range of over 20 companies typically attend each event, which recently have included Daimler, eBay, Garmin, Google, HP, IBM, Intel, McAfee, Puppet Labs, Thompson Reuters, WebMD, and Xerox.
“I really appreciated the opportunity to do the technical interview because it gave me the confidence that I could do it.”
– Wing Yee Leung, New York, New York“I’m not from a tech-savvy part of the country and so it was great to get exposure to a lot of technical companies.”
– Emily Meeker, Jonesboro, Ark.“I really appreciate the Career Showcase events because they give me a chance to interact with potential employers in a low-pressure environment and learn firsthand what kind of qualities they are seeking in potential new hires.”
– Bryon Burleigh, Philomath, Ore.“I feel motivated, excited, and encouraged to see the graduates who have gotten jobs.”
– Sarah Thorup, Seattle, Wash.“This was my first quarter in the program and I wasn't sure what a Career Showcase could do for me this early on. It gave my studies a clear direction. There was a cross-section of tech companies who, in one-on-one interviews, made it clear what they were looking for in potential hires. This is great for me because it gives my classes real purpose and motivation. Early, or even new to this program? GO!”
– Ray Foote, Seattle, Wash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Admissions Requirements
Application Process
After Applying
International Students
Program Information
Money and Career
Course Policies
Nondegree Student Information
Other Services
Connect with Us
For questions about the program and the admission requirements, contact the Online Admissions Advisor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science:
Online Admissions Coordinator
PostBacCS-online@oregonstate.edu
For questions about online learning at Oregon State, contact OSU Ecampus at 800-667-1465 or at ecampus@oregonstate.edu.
For general questions about the online application and status of admission decisions contact the Office of Admissions at 541-737-4411 or osuadmit@oregonstate.edu.
For questions about international applications, contact International Admissions at 541-737-5719 or intladmit@oregonstate.edu.