The General Ed stuff is pretty much standard, there isn't typically any great advantage to enrolling before you have all of those done. Most around here will get within a few courses of completion before applying. This is somewhat dependent on your goals and needs of course. For example if you intend to tap financial aid such as a PELL grant, you will need to apply and be accepted to access those funds.
COSC will generally talk to you (a little) prior to enrollment, they will evaluate your credits on application and then assign an advisor once you enroll. Not enrolling isn't really risky as the path is well worn, folks in hereknow the system and COSC publishes lists and details to help you make sure you're on the right path. Every semester you are enrolled costs money, this can add up, and that is the best argument for only enrolling once you have the bulk of the work done.
Generally speaking, especially if saving money is a priority, you will want to take as many courses as possible elsewhere and transfer them back to COSC. Every course you take at COSC will cost around $1200 (3 credit courses). The problem you are likely to encounter is the Upper Level Cybersecurity core. I've no idea where else you can get those, it will be about 9 courses
https://www.charteroak.edu/catalog/curre...curity.cfm Other than these, you should be able to find the rest cheaper and quicker elsewhere (CBE, FEMA, etc...).
General Ed requirements are here:
https://www.charteroak.edu/catalog/curre...ements.cfm You've probably already vistied the page in my signature, those are good places to find these specific classes. in addition, COSC accepts FEMA free of charge.
https://training.fema.gov/is/crslist.aspx essentially anything listed as "college credit" in the far right column will count as indicated.
Think lossely in this manner...30 or so credits General Ed plus the 3 credit LL cornerstone, 30-36 in the Major (30 at the UL including the 3 credit Capstone which must be taken at COSC), the balance could be almost anything, credit by exam, fema, cheap classes from a CC or independent study school (like CSU-Pueblo, or U of Idaho). It's the gen eds and and other credits up to 90 that offer the most flexibility.
COSC follows a pretty standard academic calander, most, though not all, of their courses are canned. Meaning pre recorded content that you watch and complete on a regular assigned pace. Usually there is an instructor in the wings to contact for help and to administer the coursework. Classes are not self paced. They do run 5, 8, and 18 week groups of courses.
I would suggest you complete your gen eds and addition course up to about 60-90 credits then apply, complete the cornerstone and earn your AA/AS degreee...that would allow you to complete half or more of your total requirements and allow you to check the rest of your plan as an enrolled student.
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