Students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science have a clear transfer pathway with Bay College and Lake Superior State University’s (LSSU) transfer agreement.
By using the newly signed transfer agreement to select appropriate coursework, students will earn an associate of arts degree at Bay College and transfer seamlessly to LSSU’s School of Computer Science and Mathematics in Sault Ste. Marie to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science in two additional years.
Recognizing the educational and economic development needs of the citizens of Delta County, Bay College and LSSU have partnered together since 1989, offering local bachelor degree programs and clear transfer paths to degrees in Sault Ste. Marie.
“Bay College is happy to expand our available articulation agreements with LSSU” states Mark Highum, Dean of Business and Technology. “The additional path to a Computer Science degree is especially important for providing area students with another opportunity to enter the ever-expanding area of computer careers.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the Computer Science bachelor’s degree positions graduates to enter the workforce as Computer Programmers (earning an average salary of $93,000), Computer Systems Analysts (average salary of $99,270), Database Administrators and Architects (average salary of $101,000), and Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers (average salary of $109,020).
While the Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections expect job growth rate from 2021-2031 to decline for Computer Programmers, there is an anticipated 9% growth rate (faster than the 5% average for all occupations) for Computer Systems Analysts and Database Administrators and Architects. Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers’ job outlook is a 25% growth rate, indicating opportunities for upcoming graduates as current workers exit the workforce or switch jobs.
“This new articulation agreement will make it easier for more students from Bay College to transition to LSSU,” adds LSSU professor Evan Schemm, Chair of the School of Computer Science and Mathematics. “We have previously set up an articulation agreement involving the two Institutions’ computer networking degree. This new agreement will allow students in the associate of arts program to seamlessly transfer to satisfy the requirements for LSSU’s four-year bachelor degree. Students will be able to concentrate on the requirements at each institution, with LSSU’s bachelor’s degree building upon coursework in Bay’s associate degree. Bay and LSSU offer hands-on coursework across a broad range of topics, which positions graduates to confidently begin their careers.”
Students desiring to remain local also have options of earning baccalaureates in accounting, business, criminal justice, general studies, nursing, and teacher education, without ever having to leave Bay’s Main Campus in Escanaba or West Campus in Iron Mountain. Students can contact Heidi Rife, LSSU’s regional center director, for transfer assistance. Rife serves as an on-site advisor at Bay College, assisting students to prepare to transfer and continue their education through LSSU.
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