ASNSM in CS vs. AAS in Applied Computer Studies

[mudball]

ASNSM in Computer Science vs. AAS in Applied Computer Studies

Is one of these degrees more prestigious than the other for someone looking to add a quick associate on the way to a BS in Software Development? I'm trying to boost the chance of getting an internship for my son and he is very close to both of these degrees. We need the financial help to continue to pay for his studies and he needs the experience even more. The competition for good internships is fierce.

Any help explaining the differences in the AOS and degree as a whole would be appreciated.

[davewill]

The ASNSM in CS is going to have more theory and more math and science, while the AAS will be more practical (applied) in nature. I would be more impressed with the CS degree. The same thing goes for the BS in Software Development being more applied than a Bachelor's in CS, but to a lesser degree. The difference is probably small after you have 5 years of experience under your belt, but some jobs (biotech, aerospace, artificial intelligence, etc...) might be permanently out of reach without the math and theory you would get with the CS degree.

Note: I was a successful software engineer for 30+ years without a degree at all before I got mine at TESU.

[dfrecore]

I would go for the ASNSM in CS, since those courses will fit better in your AOS for SWD. The applied courses may not fit int the CS AOS, and may even have to be moved to Free Electives once you get to that point.

[bjcheung77]

I haven't checked the requirements fully for individual courses required, but... I think...
The ASNSM CS is the clear winner in this bout. The reasons are four-fold.

1) Cheaper, associates capstone is not a required course, transfer everything in!
2) Easier, courses are similar to the Applied Comp Studies and "easier" to find using ACE/NCCRS or from the CC
3) Faster, can take several courses at the CC or complete them with CLEP/DSST/TECEP, Saylor/SL/Study.com
4) Better - I can ladder into the Bachelors and sounds better with a Science degree vs an Applied degree

[sanantone]

I haven't checked the requirements fully for individual courses required, but... I think...
The ASNSM CS is the clear winner in this bout.  The reasons are four-fold.

2) Easier, courses are similar to the Applied Comp Studies and "easier" to find using ACE/NCCRS or from the CC
3) Faster, can take several courses at the CC or complete them with CLEP/DSST/TECEP, Saylor/SL/Study.com

These two are not true. Applied computer studies is the more flexible degree; it accepts just about any computer-related course. Applied computer studies has no specific course requirements other than the capstone. The theory courses in the ASNSM are harder to find and will be more expensive. The advantage of the ASNSM is that it doesn't have an expensive capstone. Other than the capstone, the ASNSM has no advantage (unless you count computer science being a better title than applied computer studies). If the OP wanted to major in computer science, then the ASNSM would have another advantage since you'll be required to knock out some of the theory and math, but software development doesn't require most of those courses.

You can choose courses for the AAS that will transfer into whatever degree you're looking at. To be honest, some of the ASNSM courses that you have to take don't have a place in the software development program if WGU is the school the OP is looking at. WGU's software development program is very different from a computer science program. The math and theory courses might be helpful to you, but if you were to go straight into WGU's program, you wouldn't get any of that stuff. Apparently, WGU doesn't think those courses are necessary. The only math courses they require are college algebra and statistics. And, their science requirements are very basic. They're what you'll see in their non-IT programs.

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This is sort of unrelated, but TESU has a knack for long, unnecessary degree titles. The ASNSM degrees should just be AS degrees in mathematics, computer science, and biology. When I apply for jobs, I type out the whole degree title because no one is going to know what ASNSM means. The natural science and mathematics part is so unnecessary. This implies that it's a general natural science and mathematics degree with a concentration, but this isn't true. My biology degree required your normal general education requirements and biology courses. I didn't have to take any advanced math courses or any sciences other than biology.

The Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and Technology is another stupid and unnecessary degree title. Just call it a BS in IT and call it a day.

[mudball]

Thank you so much. this is all helpful. I didn't realize only one of them required the capstone. This is good news.
For some reason, I can't seem to find where it shows the specific classes needed for the AOS in the ASNSM in CS.
Does anyone know? The only thing I see is 16 credits needed for the AOS: Computer Science. For example is the AOS for the CS any CIS, COS, IT, CAP class? Are there other things in the AOS, like more math classes?

---

Would any of these fit into the AOS?
CSU: Basic Programming CBE, Programming I, Programming II.
Study.com: Info syst & comp app, Intro to computing, pre Calc
TEEX: CS for everyone, CS for business Prof
Hodges: Hardware support essentials, Computer applications, Hardware and operating systems

[davewill]

It looks like they changed ASNSM-CS from the last time I looked at it. It used to require Calc I and II, 9 credits of Theory, plus 9 of CS electives. Now for the 2017 catalog, it just says 16 credits of CS electives and just the regular 3 credits of math (could be college algebra) that the other degrees require.

CS Electives will come from COS and CIS only. You may wish to have an eye on the BACS requirements as you pick what to take. In particular, you may want to have some UL (300/400) choices in there, or you may find yourself with more LL courses than will fit in the BACS AOS later

[dfrecore]

CS Electives will come from COS and CIS only. You may wish to have an eye on the BACS requirements as you pick what to take. In particular, you may want to have some UL (300/400) choices in there, or you may find yourself with more LL courses than will fit in the BACS AOS later

Although CIS and COS courses are considered NatScience at TESU, so will fit into different areas of Gen Ed later on as well.

[sanantone]

It looks like they changed ASNSM-CS from the last time I looked at it. It used to require Calc I and II, 9 credits of Theory, plus 9 of CS electives. Now for the 2017 catalog, it just says 16 credits of CS electives and just the regular 3 credits of math (could be college algebra) that the other degrees require.

CS Electives will come from COS and CIS only. You may wish to have an eye on the BACS requirements as you pick what to take. In particular, you may want to have some UL (300/400) choices in there, or you may find yourself with more LL courses than will fit in the BACS AOS later

What does it say in OSS? The website isn't working right now, and I'm not sure if I can still log in now that I've graduated. What it says in OSS is what ultimately counts. With the ASNSM in Biology, I know that the catalog did not list the actual requirements. It made it appear that all you needed were 16 credits in anything labeled as biology, but that wasn't actually the case. You needed biology II with lab and a certain number of credits of biology courses that counted as "theory." If the OP doesn't have access to OSS, then he or she may not know the actual requirements.

To the OP, does he want a BA in Computer Science, or is his main goal a BS in Software Development? Is the plan to even complete a bachelor's at TESU?

[davewill]

Of course I checked in OSS. My old 2014 ASNSM-CS eval is still there with the extra math and theory, a freshly run eval has the 16 credits of CS. If he goes elsewhere for a bachelor's,, it's even more important to have an eye to whatever requirements he might be subject to. The TESU BACS at least has those 27 credits of free electives to put things into.