Frequently Asked Questions

I am just starting CS, what should I do?

Start working on the AST-CS degree. Completing it guarantees that you are on track to start as a Junior in CS at any school that accepts that MTM.

Why are there two variants to the AST-CS? Which do I do?

Schools that have significant focuses on engineering and research tend to require more math and more rigorous science courses. The Systems track of the MTM contains the courses needed to be on track in those kinds of programs. For students going to a school that does not have these requirements, it is not necessary to take the extra math or specific science courses. The Standard track leaves these courses out.

Which you pursue will be determined largely by where you want to transfer:

OSU / PSU / UO : Systems
WOU / SOU / EOU : Standard

But I don't know where I want to transfer! What should I do?

The suggested schedules for first year of the two tracks are the same. So you don't have to decide until the second year (or when you are ready to take advanced math and your science courses).

If you are not sure at that point, the Systems track is recommended to keep your options open.

The Systems track has all of the courses that the Standard track does except for WR122. If you complete the Systems track, you at worst have to complete one extra writing course if you go to a school that wants the Standard track.

If you complete the try to transfer to a school that wants the Systems track and have done the Standard track, you will be missing multiple math courses, a CS course and likely will have to take new science courses. That will likely cost you an extra year in school.

I don't see class XXX listed as part of the CS degree at school Y. Why do I take it as part of the AST-CS?

The Major Transfer Map the AST-CS is built on is a statewide transfer agreement. Not every university has the exact same classes, but the MTM needed to be one package that they all accepted.

That means sometimes the course number here at Chemeketa does not match the course number at a particular school (CS205 here is CS271 at some schools). Other times a class you take as part of the AST-CS will be applied to some other degree requirement after transfer. However, every class listed in the AST-CS WILL work towards your degree. Examples:

OSU does not have MTH232. But you take it as part of the Systems track of the MTM. If you transfer to OSU, it counts as an Applied CS Elective that you need to graduate.
CS205 transfers as CS271 at OSU, CS201 at PSU, and counts for a required 300 level class at UO.

Do I have to earn the AST-CS? What happens if I transfer without it?

The guarantee provided by the Major Transfer Map (2-year path to finishing your degree) depends on completing the entire plan. If you transfer in without the complete package, you will need to transfer your individual courses to the university, then complete any remaining requirements.

Sometimes, this won't be too hard. If you are missing just one social science course you may just need to make up that course. However, if you transfer without some of the CS courses, or without the right science or math courses, things will likely be much more challenging. You will likely not be able to start Junior year until you have completed your missing courses.

The school I want to transfer to has options that are not listed in the AST-CS. How can I take advantage of those?

Sometimes a particular university may give you more options to fulfill a requirement than the AST-CS degree. For example, maybe there is another science sequence you would be able to take at that university instead of the ones specified in the AST-CS.

If you want to take advantage of those, you will have to plan on a course by course transfer instead of the getting the "package deal" offered by the AST-CS. If you want to pursue such a path we recommend you dual enroll at the university you are transferring to so you can work directly with their advisors to plan your schedule.

How does the AST-CS differ from an AAOT?

An AAOT degree satisfies all of the lower-division (1st/2nd year) general education courses at Oregon Universities. It does not however have the math/CS/science you will need to start Jr year.

The AST-CS satisfies most, but not necessarily all, lower-division general ed requirements. You often will need to take one or two more of them in your last two years.

If you have a lot of general education credits already, or the time to earn them while at Chemeketa, you might choose to earn the AAOT to get the bigger "package deal" for general education. As long as you also do the Math, CS, and appropriate science courses, you can do so and also be prepared for Jr year as a CS major.

Consult with an advisor or one of the CS faculty if you are interested in this path.

What is the ASOT-CS? Should I consider it?

The old ASOT-CS does not guarantee Junior standing in a CS department. It guarantees that your general ed courses are done, and that you have Junior standing in the university. But it does not guarantee that you have a 2-year/90-credit path to finishing up a CS degree.

If you carefully take all the recommended extra classes for the school you wish to transfer to, it is very possible to be on track to graduate in two more years after you transfer. But it requires careful planning and there are more "gotchas" that can prevent you from being on track. Also, completing the ASOT-CS, along with the recommended "extra" courses for some transfer targets ends up being 100+ credits and very difficult to do in two years.

The ASOT-CS is almost certainly not the right degree for any new student.