skip to main content

MENU

Mt. Hood Community College

View Disclaimer

Academics & Training
- Academics and Training
  At Mt. Hood Community College you'll find highly skilled faculty members providing you the best in educational opportunities. Offering over 120 professional programs, as well as a variety of university transfer possibilities, MHCC prepares you for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
  
  Program & Majors
  Not sure what career path you want to take? Search what MHCC has to offer to help you make a choice.
  
  Course Descriptions
  
  Looking for a course description? Use the our new search tool to find what your are looking for.
Registration & Financial Aid
- Registration Resources
  
  How to register for classes, add a class, add to a wait list and more.
  
  Financial Aid
  Financial aid is money provided to help bridge the gap between your own resources and the amount needed to pay for the cost of attending college.
  
  Student Financial Services
  Student Financial Services provides information on college policies, procedures and student responsibilities related to charges and payments posted on student accounts.
College Services
- HUB
  Stop by if you have questions about or need help with: applying for admission to the college, filing the FAFSA, completing necessary Financial Aid steps, registering for classes, setting up your student email or Higher One account, and applying for graduation.
  
  Academic Advising
  
  Academic Advising and Transfer Center
  
  Career Planning
  
  Career Planning and Counseling Center
Student Life
- Student Life
  
  Purpose Statement
  To support and advocate for the interest of students by creating engaging opportunities which empowers and connect them to Mt. Hood Community College.
  
  Vision
  To lead the campus with diverse, equitable, and dynamic personal, cultural, educational, and professional growth opportunities and services for students pursuing their educational goals.
Community
- Business Services
  Business Services helps small businesses start and grow successfully, partner with local companies to train their workforce and help community members, job seekers and professionals advance in their career or learn a new skill.
  
  Workforce Training
  MHCC provides corporate training and continuing education to support professional development, licensure, and assist businesses with their workforce needs.
  
  Aquatics
  Whether you’re looking for a place to swim laps, take a water exercise class, swim lesson or enjoy our open recreation swim there’s something for everyone.
Athletics
- Athletics
  Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) is committed to working with student athletes as they pursue excellence in athletics and academics. We will establish within our students an ethical foundation that supports and encourages competitive success, intellectual growth and social development.
About
- Office of the President
  Whether you are a new student or continuing your education, we want you to know we are here to help you reach your educational goals.
  
  Foundation and Alumni
  A campaign for STUDENT SUCCESS. Through donations like yours, the MHCC Foundation supports the success of our students through scholarships and classroom equipment.
GIVE NOW

New Computer Science Program Helps Students Earn 4-Year Degrees

The field of computer science is a rapidly growing sector offering high salary potential and jobs in a variety of different industries and roles. According to 2018 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for software developers can vary from $108,000 to $118,000, depending on the industry that they work in (i.e. manufacturing, engineering services, finance, insurance, etc.). The BLS also projects that the need for software developers will grow 31 percent, from 2016 – 2026, resulting in a much faster growth rate than the average for all occupations.

Software development represents only one occupational option for computer science graduates. Other jobs with similar or higher pay include computer and information systems managers, computer programmers, database administrators, computer systems analysts – all jobs that typically require a bachelor’s degree to enter.

This fall, Mt. Hood Community College will launch a new two-year program aimed at helping students to graduate with an Associate of Science in Computer Science before transferring to a four-year computer science degree program at a college or university. Computer Science Success (CSS) will offer a variety of wraparound support, ensuring that enrolled students achieve their educational goals before transferring. While enrolled, CSS students will become proficient in several different programming languages, including C++, Java, and SQL, and they’ll build skill sets in developing applications for databases, games, business software, and other uses.

Historically, earning a degree in computer science has been difficult. In 2018, the U.K.’s Higher Education Statistics Agency listed computer science as the program with the highest dropout rate (10.7 percent) among U.K. colleges and universities. Students in computer science programs must possess strong skills in problem solving and analytical, creative, and critical thinking. CSS will help students succeed by providing them with tutoring and study groups, by offering them priority registration, and by connecting them to critical internships after their second year of study.

“Research conducted by the Association for Computing Machinery identified two major barriers to completion for computer science students,” described Pam Wiese, director of the CSS program. “They include financial limitations and a lack of student support. This unique program will ensure that students are well connected to both support services, in the form of tutoring, peer-led learning opportunities, and more, and to financial support, such as scholarships.”

Ultimately, CSS will prepare students to transfer to a college or university Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science program. It will achieve that through field trips to institutions with computer science degree programs, as well as to organizations serving and operating within the industry, allowing students to explore their career options.

Enrollment for CSS and MHCC’s Associate of Science in Computer Science program is now open for fall 2019. Students interested in enrolling in CSS must be eligible to take MTH 112 and WR 121 during the fall of their first academic year. Applicants must submit an application letter and two letters of reference, and complete an interview with the selection committee.

Interested in enrolling or learning more? Contact computer science instructor Pam Wiese at Pamela.Wiese@mhcc.edu or 503-491-7198.