CS, IT, or Cyber Security can I test out or go to school for?

[yb1]

So I guess my question is simple. I would like to find out my options about if I can test out of stuff like a+, network+, security + and so on? Or is it better to go to school for computer related certificates.

My friend tells me it is better to go to school but what would you guys recommend since you guys seem to be the masters of lifehacks?

Also if I can test out. How could I test out of a computer science, information technology or a cyber security degree.

The cc near my house has a great cyber security program but it would add a lot of time to my schooling if I were to pursue it. I am mainly interested in cyber security but cs and IT would be options.

also does anyone know how to get cheap certificates. Is there any free IT classes.

I currently have 37 credits mostly English, arts, humanities, health, history, psychology, everything but math and science so those are my next steps. I was going to start taking Alek for all my math courses and go from there.

[KittenMittens]

So I guess my question is simple. I would like to find out my options about if I can test out of stuff like a+, network+, security + and so on? Or is it better to go to school for computer related certificates.

My friend tells me it is better to go to school but what would you guys recommend since you guys seem to be the masters of lifehacks?

Also if I can test out. How could I test out of a computer science, information technology or a cyber security degree.

The cc near my house has a great cyber security program but it would add a lot of time to my schooling if I were to pursue it. I am mainly interested in cyber security but cs and IT would be options.

also does anyone know how to get cheap certificates. Is there any free IT classes.

I currently have 37 credits mostly English, arts, humanities, health, history, psychology, everything but math and science so those are my next steps. I was going to start taking Alek for all my math courses and go from there.

Anything where you actually have to learn something useful tends to not be easily tested out of. That said, you can look into the TEEX 6 credits of IT courses if it fulfills something. They're supposed to be pretty quicky, free, and easy to do: https://teex.org/Pages/Program.aspx?catID=231

COSC has a Cybersecurity Bachelor's program that you could do, but I can't think of any bachelor's degree where you can test 100% or close to 100% out of. You can at least apply the ALEKS, and other gen.ed credits towards the gen. ed requirements.

I'm in IT myself, but I have no idea what the market is like for "Cybersecurity" and what it exactly entails. CS is a great field in general, but you'll actually have to learn quite a bit. Network/system administrator kind of roles are always great career paths with high incomes as well.

[yb1]

Anything where you actually have to learn something useful tends to not be easily tested out of. That said, you can look into the TEEX 6 credits of IT courses if it fulfills something. They're supposed to be pretty quicky, free, and easy to do: https://teex.org/Pages/Program.aspx?catID=231

COSC has a Cybersecurity Bachelor's program that you could do, but I can't think of any bachelor's degree where you can test 100% or close to 100% out of. You can at least apply the ALEKS, and other gen.ed credits towards the gen. ed requirements.

I'm in IT myself, but I have no idea what the market is like for "Cybersecurity" and what it exactly entails. CS is a great field in general, but you'll actually have to learn quite a bit. Network/system administrator kind of roles are always great career paths with high incomes as well.

So no one 100% tests out of a bachelors does that mean that some of it is blended? Do i need to go to New Jersey and take a course at the cosc campus? or could I just online courses and go there for the final exams and such?

I am in MD so that would not be a huge pain.

I was going to show you the classes for the community college program. the site is down right now but when it is back i will show it. but it seems like the community college has the same type of classes as COSC upper levels for the bachelors.

I also don't mind taking classes in person I am just curious on my overall options. it would be nice to not have to deal with the GEN ed. but I don't know if say I did that and tested out of the rest of my credits and got an associates but needed to go to to a university to get the rest of my credits. well I don't know if the university of Maryland would accept my credits from one of the big threes.

[KittenMittens]

So no one 100% tests out of a bachelors does that mean that some of it is blended? Do i need to go to New Jersey and take a course at the cosc campus? or could I just online courses and go there for the final exams and such?

I am in MD so that would not be a huge pain.

I was going to show you the classes for the community college program. the site is down right now but when it is back i will show it. but it seems like the community college has the same type of classes as COSC upper levels for the bachelors.

I also don't mind taking classes in person I am just curious on my overall options. it would be nice to not have to deal with the GEN ed. but I don't know if say I did that and tested out of the rest of my credits and got an associates but needed to go to to a university to get the rest of my credits. well I don't know if the university of Maryland would accept my credits from one of the big threes.

Well, some degrees are just easier to test out i.e. business administration, social sciences, and other "softer" subjects. More people take them, and there's more demand for them, so it's offered more hence "100% tested out of. Harder subjects are not very good for testing out of A) you actually would want to go through a course to learn important technical skills B) there are barely any available.

If that's the case, I'd just get the bachelor's from COSC then. A bachelor's degree looks better than an associate's for one and you might as well get it out of the way at some point, and COSC will accept those 6 TEEX credits as IT ones.

Gen eds are not too hard to complete, and the link posted beforehand show some good options for quickly, cheaply, and easily getting them.

COSC is in Connecticut not NJ, that one is TESC, and I don't think they have a Cybersecurity one.

Out of curiosity, what can/could you do with a cybersecurity degree? What types of jobs will it lead you to?

The thing with COSC, btw, is that you don't need to take those courses through them - you can take them through different colleges and it may be easier, and cheaper that way too.

You can read info about COSC here: COSC Degree Plans - Degree Forum Wiki and here Charter Oak State College - Degree Forum Wiki which will help you get a better idea.

[KittenMittens]

Also read this thread: http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...-cosc.html

Seems like the TEEX classes will satisfy the ITE 145 class. Actually, I don't know it's for 2 credits, but COSC requires 3. You'll have to ask the registrar at COSC about that.

[sanantone]

Cybersecurity programs seem fun, and the federal government seems to be really getting behind them, but you don't need a cybersecurity degree to work in cybersecurity. The same goes for similar degrees i.e. information assurance and information security. A bachelor's in computer science will give you the most flexibility. A degree information technology would be the next best option.

CompTIA A+, network +, security +, etc. are tests. They are certifications you earn by passing tests. I usually only see these as courses at 2-year schools, but there might be some exceptions. They are courses meant to prepare you for the tests. WGU is the best school, in my opinion, for awarding credits for certifications already earned, but you need to have earned them before enrolling in order to get credit. Otherwise, they are a great way to earn certifications cheaply because they are included in the curriculum and covered by their low tuition rate. Excelsior and COSC would probably be the next best options for getting college credit for certifications. TESC only awards credits for certifications that have been ACE-evaluated such as the Microsoft certifications.

You can test out of 100% of TESC's BSBA in Computer Information Systems. It's what I'm doing right now. It won't look as good as a degree in CS or IT, but it should do in most cases as long as you have the certifications employers are looking for. If you don't have any IT experience, then start out with the CompTIA Security+ exam. I plan on taking the CISSP exam, but I have the required experience in two of the domains.

[yb1]

What's the difference between computer information systems and information technology?

And excuse my ignorance but what is wgu and they include certs?

Will Cosc or wgu accept fafsa and financial aid?

did any of you find the comp Tia a+, network + and security + tests hard?

Oh and kitten I have no idea. I just keep hearing go into cyber security.

[ajs1976]

For CIS vs. IT degrees, you have to look at the course requirements. They can be very similar or different.

WGU is Western Governors University and is an RA school. It uses competency units and a lot of the final course assessments are certification exams. If you are interested in certs and a bachelors degree, I would look into it.

Both COSC and WGU will accept FAFSA. For COSC, I would spend some time here and plan and complete some CBE before applying for and using student loans at COSC.

A+ and Net+ are considered easier cert exams compared to others. I never bothered with A+. Net+ was easy based on my experience. Sec+ took some work, but I liked the material so it was easy for me to study for.

[sanantone]

What's the difference between computer information systems and information technology?

It varies by school widely, but IS is broader than IT. IS looks at how people and organizations interact with technology. IT is narrower and more technical. However, one school's IT program might look a lot like another school's IS program. There is a lot of overlap, but TESC's program is, first and foremost, a business administration program. The CIS part is just a concentration.

And excuse my ignorance but what is wgu and they include certs?

Western Governors University. Yes, you earn certs while completing the program. If you're using financial aid to pay for tuition, this will save you a lot of money because the certs are included. They have an IT program with an emphasis on security. Scroll down to the bottom to see the certs included.

Online IT Security Degree | Information Security Degree | WGU College of Information Technology

Will Cosc or wgu accept fafsa and financial aid?

WGU and all of the Big 3 accept financial aid, but you cannot receive financial aid for tests. You have to take a minimum number of credits as courses in order to receive financial aid (6 credits per semester or 6 months). You have to take 12 credits per semester and 24 credits per year in order to receive the full award. If you have any money left, you will receive a refund check, and that can be used to pay for tests. However, at WGU, you can only transfer in credits right at the beginning. You can't transfer in credits as you go.

[ajs1976]

I plan on taking the CISSP exam, but I have the required experience in two of the domains.

Let me know when you start prepping for the CISSP. I was planning to take it this spring, but when ISC2 announced the new CIB I switched to SSCP which I passed a few weeks ago. Working on the endorsement process now. Hoping to take the CISSP in the fall or next spring.