Some exciting news for Lower Columbia College: they have announced the addition of a new bachelor’s program. Starting in the fall of 2025, the college will offer a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

This new program follows the passage of a bill by the Washington State Legislature in April 2021, allowing community and technical colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees in computer science to meet the workforce needs of the state’s technology sector. LCC President Matt Seimears said in a press release, “I am thrilled about the launch of this important new program for LCC, which will help address the growing demand for skilled technology professionals in our region and beyond.”

The computer science degree will be the fourth bachelor’s program offered at LCC, and it is the first four-year program. The other bachelor’s degrees include the Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and the Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership and Technical Management.

The computer science program is also the first of these degrees that will allow students to enter as freshmen, rather than requiring them to hold an associate degree or equivalent credits first.