Two California Campuses Join Initiative for Diversity in Tech Industry

A non-profit is partnering with two campuses to increase the presence of computer science graduates of color working in tech companies.

On Wednesday, CodePath.org launched an initiative with two California State University system campuses to align the computer science offerings with that of the growing needs of California employers.

Under the initiative, the CSU Monterey Bay and Dominguez Hills campuses as part of their core computer science programs will offer industry-aligned software engineering courses.

“By bringing recruiters, engineering departments, and higher ed to the table, we’re building a system that layers our faculty’s existing expertise with high-impact training in fast-growing fields like cybersecurity and iOS development,” said Sathya Narayanan, Professor of Computer Science at CSU Monterey Bay.

The Monterey Bay campus will offer credit courses in iOS development and cybersecurity, while Dominguez Hills will offer an iOS mobile development course.

Along with coding courses, CodePath extends various supports including one-on-one mentorship to make the path to tech industries seamless for students from underrepresented backgrounds.

“We saw an opportunity to complement our existing computer science curriculum with courses that teach the cutting-edge software engineering and app development skills employers want,” said Mohsen Beheshti, chair of the computer science department at CSU Dominguez Hills.

Beheshti further anticipates that the course will give its students leverage while competing for jobs in the tech marketplace.

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