Transfer Schools
Below are notes about the most popular transfer targets for Chemeketa students.
Western Oregon University
Western Oregon is a liberal arts focused school and the CS department is part of the general college of letters and sciences (as opposed to a school of engineering). Thus the CS program has more of a software focus and less emphasis on hardware and low-level computing. WOU also has the most flexible degree requirements - there are fewer credits specifically required to complete your degree. That means you have more credits to "spend" on exploring other interests and completing a minor or a double major.
It is a smaller university where you classes will be smaller and you are more likely to get to know professors and your fellow students since you will see many of the same people in multiple classes. However, when compared to a bigger school, there will be less variety of CS electives to chose from in junior and senior year.
For those who are mathematically inclined, WOU offers a double degree in CS and Math.
OSU
The OSU CS program is based in the engineering department. Since you are working in the same department as the Computer Engineers, expect more exposure to hardware and low-level computation. The degree is packed full of technical classes which will help you develop a strong CS skill set, but there is little room for exploration of other subjects.
OSU's CS department is very large. The class sizes are larger and it is going to be harder to get to know people. However, the size means they can offer a very wide variety of classes and ways to specialize your CS degree. They have two main degree options that are described below.
Applied Option
The Applied option allows students to develop a degree program that focuses on their area of interest. You have to design a "mini-minor" of related courses to take with your CS core. Sample applied programs include Business and Entrepreneurship, Bioinformatics, Game and Simulation, and Human Computer Interaction.
Systems Option
The systems option is essentially a mini-minor in electrical engineering. This requires physics based calculus and more math. If you want to work on hardware focused code or embedded systems this is the option you likely want:
Online Degree
OSU also offers a fully online CS degree.
OSU Cascades
The Bend campus of OSU offers a CS degree focusing in Software Engineering. You should prepare for it in the same way as the OSU Corvallis Applied CS degree.
Oregon Tech
Oregon Tech (OIT) offers a Software Engineering Bachelor's degree. This means the program is very focused on producing working software engineers - expect a significant number of classes that focus on practical software development. That said, it is an accredited engineering program that involves significant math and physics.
Oregon Tech Wilsonville offers a program that is more focused on non-traditional (working) students. It is a non-residential campus and many of the technical classes are offered at night or on weekends. The Klamath Falls campus offers a nearly identical program in a more traditional college environment (day classes, dorms, etc...).
PSU
PSU has a large CS program with many research/study areas. One of the key advantages it offers is access to industry. Because it is based in Portland, home of many tech companies, there are lots of local opportunities to do internships or start working while you finish your degree.
As a large, engineering based program it shares a lot in common with OSU. Expect a significant number of required technical courses. Courses will tend to be larger and there will be a wide variety of course options.
To take junior level classes at PSU, you must complete a core set of lower division classes and be admitted to the CS program. Until you are admitted you WILL NOT be able to take upper level CS classes.
One of the classes required for admission to the CS major at PSU is not offered at Chemeketa (CS202). Because CS202 must be taken after CS260, but before applying for program admission at PSU, you must plan to take it Winter term of your second year at PSU or PCC if you want to apply for Fall admission. If you take CS202 in summer, you can apply for Winter admission. If you wait and take CS202 after transferring, you will not be able to start the rest of the CS program until the following Fall.
University of Oregon
U of O's CS program is called Computer Information Science - but it is very much a CS program, not an Information Systems one. It is not part of an engineering school - although you will be exposed to engineering related topics, there is more of a focus on theoretical and applied computer science.
Like the other large schools (PSU and OSU), expect a good variety of classes to chose from in Jr/Sr year but expect those classes to be large and the experience to be less personal.
Eastern Oregon University Online
Eastern Oregon University offers a fully online CS degree. Compared to OSU's online CS degree, the EOU degree has fewer required technical courses which can make it easier to finish quickly or while working.