Computer Science - Best Option?

[sacko999]

Hi Everyone. I can't believe how awesome this forum is. However, I'm still stuck since there appears to be a lot of options.

I've been in the Computer Infrastructure field and I'm looking to move up. I took a year of college years ago. What I've found is you really have to have a CompSci degree to make that happen. I think only TESU offers that now?

I have sent my Academic eval into TESU. I'm qualified for 26 credits to be applied so I need another 94 credits. Where I'm lacking are:

57 Gen Ed Credits (3 applied)
30 CompSci Credits (6 applied)
3 Lib Art Capstone
4 Electives (17 applied)

Obviously I'm looking for the fastest way to complete these. So, any testing methods/recommendations are really welcome. Money isn't as big an issue since if I move up, I should be able to make up the difference. I'd even pay/donate for some personal help. If you can tell, I'm desperate..

[dfrecore]

Hi Everyone. I can't believe how awesome this forum is. However, I'm still stuck since there appears to be a lot of options.

I've been in the Computer Infrastructure field and I'm looking to move up. I took a year of college years ago. What I've found is you really have to have a CompSci degree to make that happen. I think only TESU offers that now?

I have sent my Academic eval into TESU. I'm qualified for 26 credits to be applied so I need another 94 credits. Where I'm lacking are:

57 Gen Ed Credits (3 applied)
30 CompSci Credits (6 applied)
3 Lib Art Capstone
4 Electives (17 applied)

Obviously I'm looking for the fastest way to complete these. So, any testing methods/recommendations are really welcome. Money isn't as big an issue since if I move up, I should be able to make up the difference. I'd even pay/donate for some personal help. If you can tell, I'm desperate..

You should actually copy/paste your eval on here (minus your personal info). Then we can see the best way to help.

Also, does it have to be a CompSci degree, or can an IT degree or BSBA in CIS work as well? Just trying to look at other options for you, not trying to sway you one way or another.

[davewill]

I'm just finishing my BACS at TESU. I'm on an older catalog, but my path is below. Unlike you I had gone to CC intending to pursue a BSCS, so I had very few GenEd to do...but testing and other ways to get the GenEd credits are well understood here and others will chime in. Unfortunately, there aren't many ways to test out of the CS area of study credits, that's why I did PLA.

[sacko999]

You should actually copy/paste your eval on here (minus your personal info). Then we can see the best way to help.

Also, does it have to be a CompSci degree, or can an IT degree or BSBA in CIS work as well? Just trying to look at other options for you, not trying to sway you one way or another.

I think it's flexible. Most jobs say Computer Science degree, or bachelor, or equivalent experience. So, I think it doesn't have to be a CompSci degree if there's an easier way to achieve it. I've also been in IT for a number or years so a CIS would probably be even easier.

[sacko999]

Here is my eval. Guys---really...thanks again for your help!


  Less than 1 minute ago">Edited.pdf (Size: 193.28 KB / Downloads: 0)

[dfrecore]

You should run your eval as a BSBA in CIS, to see what it comes up with. I'd like to see what they do with the courses they put as CAP-XXX. If they put them in the CIS area, then that's nice. If they don't, then you're going to have some of those courses not used in your degree plan at all, since only 6cr of Free Electives will be able to be used in this degree.

You might also run the BSAST in IT, to see what that looks like as well.

Log in to MyEdison|Academic Profile|Academic Evaluation| and then next to What if I changed my area of study? click on the bar and scroll down to:
BSBA in Computer Information Science - run it and copy it
BSAST in IT - run it and copy it

Paste both here so we can check it out.

In the meantime, since you have only 24cr, you are free to take all the gen ed courses you want!! No matter which degree path you take, they will all need roughly the same GE courses.

After you put the other 2 degree evals on here, we can better help you.

Also, include the names of the courses, since TESU didn't include those.

[sacko999]

Thanks again guys. Here's what I ran after I changed to a BSBA in Computer Information Science and BSAST in IT. I really appreciate your help on this.


  Less than 1 minute ago">bsastinIT.pdf (Size: 377.57 KB / Downloads: 0)

  Less than 1 minute ago">BSBAinCIS.pdf (Size: 304.27 KB / Downloads: 0)

[davewill]

Well, your credits certainly fit those much better. I would like to ask you exactly WHAT do you want to move up to? If you want to be a software developer you really shouldn't settle for anything but computer science or computer engineering. If you want to work in IS or IT, then you can do one of these.

[dfrecore]

It's so hard to tell what is what, with no course names on here. But, if I were you, and I didn't need the CS degree, I would definitely look at the BSBA CIS, because it's completely test-out-able, with BSAST in IT as my second choice. You might also consider the BSAST in Technical Studies, that's more flexible than the IT degree, but only if you think it doesn't matter what the name of the degree is.

Anyway, the best thing might be to take all of your GE courses, and any courses that will fit into all 3 degrees:
Take the free Insurance Ethics course (2cr): Preserve the trust on which insurance transactions are based with an understanding of ethics
Take the free Kaplan PLA course (3cr): https://openlearning.kaplan.com/kuopenlearning/LRC100/
Take the free TEEX courses if you have the time (6cr total for 10 modules in 3 courses)
Take the 4 ALEKS courses (Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, Precalculus, Statistics) for $20/mo
Take some TECEP's to start on getting your residency: English Comp I & II, Technical Writing, Sociology, Computer Concepts, Network Tech, Applied Math (these are all easy, or necessary to all 3 degrees)

At this point, you can then decide how to take the rest of your GE's: Saylor ($25/course), DSST/CLEP, SL, etc.

Once you've done all of those, you will have a really good idea of what you're good at, and you can then figure out which route to take!

Good luck

[sacko999]

Well, your credits certainly fit those much better. I would like to ask you exactly WHAT do you want to move up to? If you want to be a software developer you really shouldn't settle for anything but computer science or computer engineering. If you want to work in IS or IT, then you can do one of these.

I'm just looking for a degree at this point. Basically it's hard to move up from an infrastructure role without have a degree. I'm making decent money now but hate my current position. I'm thinking a degree now plus a possible mba later will open things up for me later.