Year-round Computer Science Courses

NEW COURSE:
Elementary Programming with Python + ACSL

    

Grades: Incoming 4–5 | No Prior Programming Required
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AlphaStar’s Year-round Computer Science Program is composed of fall and spring terms. A year-round course is composed of 2 hours per week for 16 weeks per term, in total 32 class hours in one semester. In addition, weekly 1 hour is required for homework on average (48 hours in total per term). The year-round course (Fall + Spring) is equivalent to the summer course.

Class Structure

The typical flow of a class session is as follows:

NOTE: In year-round courses, guided practice time is less than summer camps. Students need to continue to write codes for the solutions discussed in class as homework.

Overview

Dates and Registration

Curriculum

Levels and Courses

Diagnostic Exams

Faculty

Fees

Programming Courses:

  • Online Live: $785
    • Bundle (fall + spring): $1,375
  • In-person: $1,100
    • Bundle (fall + spring): $1,845

USACO Courses:

  • Online Live: $875
    • Bundle (fall + spring): $1,495
  • In-person: $1,200
  • Bundle (fall + spring): $2,045

⇒ Online Live/In-person Super Early Registration
by June 15, 2025
Discounts: Online live – $100, In-person – $150

⇒ Online Live/In-person Early Registration
by August 1, 2025
Discounts: Online live – $50, In-person – $75

Available Discounts

Course Schedule

Register Now

Dates

Fall: Aug 19, 2025 – Dec 14, 2025
Spring: Jan 6, 2026 – Apr 26, 2026

Academic Curriculum

The students will be equipped with necessary background in lectures and trained with different types of problems to master various problem solving techniques. The classes are problem solving-based and the curriculum is aligned with USA Computing Olympiad (USACO). Please check USACO Website for more information about USACO.

Levels and Courses

Below is a short description of each level. For more details and diagnostic exams, please

click for details.

Programming:

This level is for students with very little or no programming background. The aim is to teach the fundamentals of programming and to improve problem-solving skills. At this level, there are six different language courses.

– Programming with Python: CS21F-1 + CS21F-2
– Programming with C++: CS22F-1 + CS22F-2
– Programming with Java: CS23F-1 + CS23F-2

USACO Bronze:

This level is for students who have strong programming and Math background. This level is composed of two courses: CC25F-1 and CC25F-2.

USACO Silver:

This level is for students who compete in the USACO Silver division. This level is composed of four courses: CC31F-1, CC31F-2, CC31F-3, and CC31F-4.

USACO Gold:

This level is for students who compete in the USACO Gold division. This level is composed of four courses: CC41F-1, CC41F-2, CC41F-3, and CC41F-4.

USACO Platinum:

This level is for students who compete in the USACO Platinum division. CC51F-1 and CC51F-2.

Diagnostic Exams

If you have further questions about levels, please send us an email at info@alphastar.academy

Please click for diagnostic exam

Faculty

AlphaStar Academy mainly considers teaching, competition, and education background as well as passion and dedication for the subject when hiring full-time and part-time teachers.
We hire our instructors and TAs from a pool of High School, College, Ph.D. students, school teachers, and University Professors. Our faculty have teaching/coaching/tutoring experience and have expertise in the subject area, regardless of their age.
They have participation and/or training experience in national/international math competitions and Olympiads in Math, CS, and Physics such as USAMO, USACO, USAPhO, IMO, IOI, and IPhO.
They are role models and inspiration for students with their backgrounds and achievements.

AlphaStar Year-round CS Course Faculty and guest lecturers for upcoming online live/in-person camps and former camps are listed below with their most recent bios.

  • 2024-2025
    • /
  • Former
    • /

Fatih Gelgi, Ph.D..

  • AlphaStar Co-founder and Computer Science Director (since 2017)
  • Ph.D., Computer Science, Arizona State University (2007)
  • International Olympiad in Informatics (1999: Bronze Medal)
  • USA Computing Olympiad Coach (2006-2014)
  • Olympiad in Informatics Turkish National Team Coach (1999-2003)
  • Balkan Olympiad in Informatics (1998, 1999)

Osman Ay, M.S..

  • AlphaStar Computer Science Instructor (2021-present)
  • M.S. in Computer Education and Instructional Technology (2012)
  • Coach Assistant of USACO (2004-2009)
  • World Finals Judge, ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (since 2002)
  • Experience in Computing Olympiads as a teacher, coach, problem writer and judge (since 1997)
  • Authored several Computer Science and programming books.

Sal Tiryaki, M.S..

  • AlphaStar Computer Science Instructor (2018-present)
  • M.Ed., Leadership in Education, American College of Education (2016)
  • Computer Science / Robotics teacher (2010-present)
  • Many regional, state, interstate, and international awards in Robotics such as 2014 Tri-State (Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada) and Mexico Championship, 2017 First Global Zhang Heng Silver Engineering Design
  • Worked as an engineer, project leader, and tecnical manager in industry (2003-2010)
  • B.S. in Electrical Engineering (2002)

Salma Baig, M.A., M.S..

  • AlphaStar Instructor (since 2018)
  • Computer Science teacher (15+ years)
  • MA in Education, University of London (1998)
  • MS in Computer Science, Georgia Tech (2021)

Sophia Moreira.

  • B.S, Stanford University (2020)
  • AoPS Associate Curriculum Developer and Upper Math Associate Director (2020-2021)
  • Tutors nationally competitive math and Latin students (2021-2022)
  • Stanford Probability for CS Contest: 2nd Place, Individual (2017)
  • AIME Qualifier (2015)

Alexander Moreira, M.S..

  • M.S. in Computer Science, Stanford (2023)
  • B.S. in Mathematics, Stanford (2022)
  • Mathematics and Computer Science instructor (5+ years)
  • George Polya Prize from Stanford University (2022)
  • Honorable mention for the Computing Research Association’s Undergraduate Researcher Award (2022)

Saahil Sundaresan.

  • Stanford University Class of 2026
  • AIME qualifier with distinction (2 times)
  • 3+ years of math teaching experience
  • USACO Gold
  • USAPhO Qualifier

Mete Bayram, M.Ed..

  • AlphaStar Instructor (since 2021)
  • Computer Science and Robotics Educator (since 2015)
  • M.Ed. in Science Education (2015)
  • B.S. in Electronic and Computer Education (2013)

Salma Baig, M.A., M.S..

  • AlphaStar Instructor (since 2018)
  • Computer Science teacher (15+ years)
  • MA in Education, University of London (1998)
  • MS in Computer Science, Georgia Tech (2021)

Avichal Goel.

  • A* Alumni
  • A* Computer Science Instructor (since 2016)
  • MIT Class of 2022
  • USACO Finalist (2016)
  • USACO Platinum Contestant (2015-present)
  • AIME Qualifier (2015-2017)
  • Stanford ProCo (2016: 3rd place)
  • Harker Programming Invitational (2016: 1st Place)
  • HP CodeWars (2015-2016: 1st Place)
  • Codeforces Division 1 (2016-Present)

Ethan Guo.

  • AlphaStar Alumni
  • AlphaStar Instructor (2017 – present)
  • UC Berkeley Class of 2023
  • USACO Finalist (2019)
  • Codeforces Division 1 (2018 – present)
  • Facebook Hacker Cup, 2nd Round T-Shirt Winner (2018)
  • Lockheed Martin Code Quest, Global First Place (2019)
  • Harker Programming Invitational, First Place (2019)
  • USAMO Qualifier (2019)
  • USAPhO Semifinalist, Honorable Mention (2018, 2019)
  • NACLO Semifinalist (2017, 2018)

Yibo Huang.

  • AlphaStar Alumni
  • AlphaStar Instructor (Since 2018)
  • Virginia Tech University Class of 2023
  • USACO Finalist (2018)
  • USACO Platinum Contestant (2016 – present)
  • Stanford ProCo (2018 Advanced: 1st place)
  • Lockheed Martin CodeQuest (2018 Advanced: 1st Place)

Bennett Liu.

  • AlphaStar Instructor (Since 2018)
  • UT Austin Class of 2024 (Turing Scholars Program)
  • USACO Platinum Contestant (2016-2020)
  • Harker Programming Club Lead Problem Writer (Since 2018)
  • AIME Qualifier (2019, 2020)

Walden Yan.

  • AlphaStar Instructor (since 2020)
  • Harvard Class of 2024
  • International Olympiad in Informatics (2020: Gold medal)
  • USACO Finalist (2018-2020)
  • MIT PRIMES Alumnus (2018-2020)
  • MIT Battlecode 2nd Place (2019)
  • Google Code Jam Round 3 Qualifier (2018-2020)

Justin Li.

  • USACO Platinum
  • ICPC North America Championship Qualifier
  • CodeForces Division 1
  • A* Alumni
  • UCLA Class of 2023

Muhyeddin Ercan, M.S..

  • AlphaStar Computer Science Instructor (2018-2022)
  • MS in Computer Science in UCA (2012)
  • Computer Science Teacher (2012-present)
  • Won 3rd Place in USA Microsoft Imagine Cup Software Design Competition

Neil Chowdhury.

  • MIT Class of 2026
  • USACO Platinum Contestant (since 2021)
  • USAJMO Qualifier
  • USAPhO Honorable Mention
  • USNCO Study Camp
  • Regeneron Science Talent Search 5th Place

Mete Bayram, M.Ed..

  • AlphaStar Instructor (since 2021)
  • Computer Science and Robotics Educator (since 2015)
  • M.Ed. in Science Education (2015)
  • B.S. in Electronic and Computer Education (2013)

Mehmet Uyman.

  • AlphaStar Instructor (since 2020)
  • B.S. in Software Engineering
  • Computer Science Teacher in public/private schools (since 2015)

Daniel Lee.

  • M. Ed., e-Learning and New Media, CalState LA (2019)
  • B.S in Computer Science, UC Riverside (2002)
  • Computer Science teacher at a public school
  • 10+ years of teaching experience in elementary and high school.

Connect With Us

100 Saratoga Ave Suite 100
Santa Clara, CA 95051 United
States +1 (650) 273-4089

Our programs & courses are now Fully Accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges