BALS or BACS? What would you do?

[glancing7924]

Let me start by my goal first.

My goal is to get admitted into the OMSCS at Georgia Tech and get a Masters there. I am contemplating on whether I need a BACS to get into the program though. But I want the degree to stand on its own in case I decide against that in the future. Would you go for the CS or BALS yourself?

I am currently taking Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, and Operating Systems at TESU. 

Artificial Intelligence and Operating Systems is kicking my ass and regret taking them at TESU but I had few options from the classes I had left. I didn't leave any easy classes for TESU unfortunately. 

Most of it was paid through Pell Grants. I am planning on hopefully passing all 3. Next semester I plan to take the Capstone and the Cornerstone through mostly Pell Grants to complete the Residency requirement. From there I will be taking the remainder of the classes at Study.com. 

Would you go for the BALS or the BACS?

Classes I am current taking at TESU right now:
Software Engineering
Artificial Intelligence
Operating Systems

Classes I will need for BALS Computer Science Minor:
Capstone
Cornerstone
Public Speaking
Intro to Programming
Computer Architecture
Data Structures

Classes I will need for BACS:
Capstone
Cornerstone
Public Speaking
Intro to Programming
Data Structures
Discrete Mathematics
Computer Architecture
6 Credits of Upper Level AOS
3 Credits of LL

Here the classes I have completed:
Gen Ed completed at Sophia:
English Composition 1
Workplace Writing II (was taken as ENC-1020)
Principles of Statistics
Intro to Sociology
Intro to Ethics
American Government
Microeconomics
American History I
Art History I
Spanish I
Macroeconomics
Human Nutrition
Human Biology

Gen Ed Still Need to be Taken:
Public Speaking
Information Literacy Today

Liberal Studies Courses Completed at Sophia:
Ethics to Business
Anat and Phys I w/o Lab
Microbiology w/o Lab
Business Communication
Environmental Science
Art History II
Calculus I
Special Topics Communications

RA Electives Taken:
Government/Fund Accounting
Cost Accounting
Principles of Managerial Accounting
Intro to Business Information Software
Business Law II
Introduction to Music Theory
Intro to Modern Dance (2 Credits)
Beginning Voice ( 1 Credit)
Intermediate Voice (1 Credit)
Introduction to Concert Hour (1 Credit)
College Master Chorale (1 Credit)

25 RA Credits Taken

Other Equivalent Electives Taken at Sophia:
Principles of Finance
Introduction to Business
Self-Assmnt & Career Explorati (1 credit)
Human Biology Lab (1 credit)
Conflict Resolution (1 credit)
Leadership (1 credit)

[mcmctalk]

I'm not sure how much it matters but considering the admissions timeframe wouldn't matter much in terms of how quickly you can complete the work, I'd just go for the CS degree, more general utility for graduate admissions. Alternately, have you considered BSBA CIS? Additional math/science requirements could be looked upon positively.

[bjcheung77]

Basically, depending on your energy, money, time you're going to invest in your educational journey, you can do the BACS/BS CIS double degree program I usually recommend. There is a WIKI already in place for this degree plan, the main difference between the BACS vs the CIS is, 4-5 classes extra in degree major requirements.

[LevelUP]

If you are committed to the rigor of doing the OMSCS at Georgia Tech, then why be lazy and do the BALS at TESU?

Public Speaking  (do presentation skills in the workforce at SDC to save time.  You may be able to do this in one day)
Discrete Mathematics (take this before the other courses since those 3 courses blend together and need to be taken in a certain order)

Take these in this order:
Intro to Programming (Java)
Data Structures (assignment based on Java)
Computer Architecture (has bits of Java and data structures in it which is knowledge needed to pass the final exam)

I am currently taking Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, and Operating Systems at TESU. 

Artificial Intelligence and Operating Systems is kicking my ass and regret taking them at TESU but I had few options from the classes I had left. I didn't leave any easy classes for TESU unfortunately. 

Classes I am current taking at TESU right now:
Software Engineering
Artificial Intelligence
Operating Systems

For Software Engineering, you really don't need to read the book at all. You can complete the assignments without it. For me, the course took about 20 hours total, and I ended up with a 100% A.

I don't know too much about the other courses, aside from glancing at the textbooks, but they don't look easy. The exams at TESU are tough.  That's where the college shows its rigor.

[glancing7924]

The issue in my case with going with a two majors, one in Business and one in Computer Science, is that Business has less electives which is where most of my RA credits are at. I wouldn't just need to meet the requirements in coursework for Business, but I would need to look for additional RA credits within the Business Degree requirements. I am trying to keep cost as low as possible while getting a degree that will benefit me in the long run.

Operating Systems and Artificial Intelligence is kicking my butt and I am hoping I don't have to take any more classes than I need to at TESU to complete a useful degree.

Lastly, since the CIS degree is no longer listed as a Business Administration degree, I am not sure if it would be as beneficial for me at least from a Resume perspective. Any opinions on this?

[mcmctalk]

I think I understand the dilemma. I'm not as much of an expert in requirements for the updated CIS degree so can't speak to if it'll speed up or slow down your degree completion. With that said, as someone that work and hire in big tech, if your goal is to become SWE or something similar, BSCIS or a CS degree will get you through initial screening filters easier, especially given the current climate and continued difficulty in getting hired as developer.

I know you have your eyes set on GT OMCS, which is a highly rated and rigorous program. You should anticipate however a longer grind time in that program given the graduation rate is very low due to the difficulty of the program, even with qualified candidates. In case you're willing to consider alternate grad schools, having CS or BSCIS will also help you get into alternate schools easier since many requires some form of CS degree and/or upper level science/math courses from RA schools -- i.e. you'll likely need to take these classes anyway just to qualify so might as well do them now and get a more usable degree in the process.

[glancing7924]

I think I understand the dilemma.  I'm not as much of an expert in requirements for the updated CIS degree so can't speak to if it'll speed up or slow down your degree completion.  With that said, as someone that work and hire in big tech, if your goal is to become SWE or something similar, BSCIS or a CS degree will get you through initial screening filters easier, especially given the current climate and continued difficulty in getting hired as developer.  

I know you have your eyes set on GT OMCS, which is a highly rated and rigorous program.  You should anticipate however a longer grind time in that program given the graduation rate is very low due to the difficulty of the program, even with qualified candidates.  In case you're willing to consider alternate grad schools, having CS or BSCIS will also help you get into alternate schools easier since many requires some form of CS degree and/or upper level science/math courses from RA schools -- i.e. you'll likely need to take these classes anyway just to qualify so might as well do them now and get a more usable degree in the process.

Although it would be nice to keep the door opened, my main goal is to get a job in System Administration, and not Software Engineering. Perhaps in this case the CIS degree is a better option, but I've always assumed that the gold standard degree in IT is a Computer Science degree.

[LevelUP]

The issue in my case with going with a two majors, one in Business and one in Computer Science, is that Business has less electives which is where most of my RA credits are at. I wouldn't just need to meet the requirements in coursework for Business, but I would need to look for additional RA credits within the Business Degree requirements. 

You most likely will already have all the RA credits you need for the BSBA once your CS degree is done.

BSBA 30 RA Credits
15cr electives (anything works here)
3cr Cornerstone
3cr Capstone
6cr Science (I think OS, Software Engineering will work)
3cr Introduction to Music Theory (GE humanities)

Do you need a BSBA?  Probably not.  This is optional and quite a bit of extra work.

I think I understand the dilemma.  I'm not as much of an expert in requirements for the updated CIS degree so can't speak to if it'll speed up or slow down your degree completion.  With that said, as someone that work and hire in big tech, if your goal is to become SWE or something similar, BSCIS or a CS degree will get you through initial screening filters easier, especially given the current climate and continued difficulty in getting hired as developer.  

I know you have your eyes set on GT OMCS, which is a highly rated and rigorous program.  You should anticipate however a longer grind time in that program given the graduation rate is very low due to the difficulty of the program, even with qualified candidates.  In case you're willing to consider alternate grad schools, having CS or BSCIS will also help you get into alternate schools easier since many requires some form of CS degree and/or upper level science/math courses from RA schools -- i.e. you'll likely need to take these classes anyway just to qualify so might as well do them now and get a more usable degree in the process.

Although it would be nice to keep the door opened, my main goal is to get a job in System Administration, and not Software Engineering. Perhaps in this case the CIS degree is a better option, but I've always assumed that the gold standard degree in IT is a Computer Science degree.

The gold standard is a Computer Science degree. In the CIS program, you take nearly all the same courses as the Computer Science degree at TESU. I wouldn't recommend getting both CS and CIS because CIS becomes redundant once you have the CS degree. It's better to pursue a BSBA degree and make sure it is clearly listed on your transcript.

In addition to becoming a Systems Administrator, you can also be a vibe coder no matter which path you choose. 

[mcmctalk]

Whichever path you go, get a few certs. Most of my coworkers in IT roles have more certs than degrees.

[glancing7924]

The issue in my case with going with a two majors, one in Business and one in Computer Science, is that Business has less electives which is where most of my RA credits are at. I wouldn't just need to meet the requirements in coursework for Business, but I would need to look for additional RA credits within the Business Degree requirements. 

You most likely will already have all the RA credits you need for the BSBA once your CS degree is done.

BSBA 30 RA Credits
15cr electives (anything works here)
3cr Cornerstone
3cr Capstone
6cr Science (I think OS, Software Engineering will work)
3cr Introduction to Music Theory (GE humanities)

Do you need a BSBA?  Probably not.  This is optional and quite a bit of extra work.

I think I understand the dilemma.  I'm not as much of an expert in requirements for the updated CIS degree so can't speak to if it'll speed up or slow down your degree completion.  With that said, as someone that work and hire in big tech, if your goal is to become SWE or something similar, BSCIS or a CS degree will get you through initial screening filters easier, especially given the current climate and continued difficulty in getting hired as developer.  

I know you have your eyes set on GT OMCS, which is a highly rated and rigorous program.  You should anticipate however a longer grind time in that program given the graduation rate is very low due to the difficulty of the program, even with qualified candidates.  In case you're willing to consider alternate grad schools, having CS or BSCIS will also help you get into alternate schools easier since many requires some form of CS degree and/or upper level science/math courses from RA schools -- i.e. you'll likely need to take these classes anyway just to qualify so might as well do them now and get a more usable degree in the process.

Although it would be nice to keep the door opened, my main goal is to get a job in System Administration, and not Software Engineering. Perhaps in this case the CIS degree is a better option, but I've always assumed that the gold standard degree in IT is a Computer Science degree.

The gold standard is a Computer Science degree. In the CIS program, you take nearly all the same courses as the Computer Science degree at TESU. I wouldn't recommend getting both CS and CIS because CIS becomes redundant once you have the CS degree. It's better to pursue a BSBA degree and make sure it is clearly listed on your transcript.

In addition to becoming a Systems Administrator, you can also be a vibe coder no matter which path you choose. 

I was initially taking a BABA Accounting at UMPI which is why I got a bunch of business classes, and some accounting classes completed. I completed 5 classes at UMPI and decided to pursue a CS degree at TESU instead.

I will probably get the CS at TESU and a BABA at UMPI since I only need 15 more credits to meet UMPI's residency requirements, and I could probably complete that in one term ::fingers crossed::. And then slowly hack away the other 4 courses I need to graduate there.

For those of you who have a ton of degrees, do you actually put them all on your resume? Your resume education section must be an entire page for some of you. lol