Degree planning BA in CS and BS in homeland security

[Noelle67]

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Location: Minnesota, USA
Age: 39
Degree Goals:

• BA in Computer Science and Homeland Security, or
  
• BA in Computer Science and Associate Degree in Aviation Maintenance
  

Current Regionally Accredited Credits:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work from a foreign country (not yet evaluated course-by-course)
  
• Master’s degree in Social Work from a U.S. regionally accredited institution
  

ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: None at this time
Certifications / Military Experience: None
Budget: $5,000 or less
Time Commitment: 6 to 9 months
Study Availability: Very flexible job — can dedicate up to 8 hours per day to study
Funding Options: Self-funded (savings); employer offers tuition reimbursement but only for programs aligned with current major

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Goals and Background
I am interested in pursuing a Bachelor’s in Computer Science through Thomas Edison State University (TESU). I would also like to either:

• Complete a Bachelor’s in Homeland Security, or
  
• Earn an Associate Degree in Aviation Maintenance alongside the CS degree.
  

While my Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) from abroad is accredited, I have not yet completed a course-by-course evaluation. I plan to do that soon.
I understand that I’ll need to complete general education (Gen Ed) courses, and I’ve read that it’s possible to take the TESU capstone elsewhere. I would be interested in that option to save time and cost.
I’m currently applying for jobs with the Department of Defense (DoD) and do not want to use my social work background for these roles. These jobs require a relevant degree within one year, ideally sooner.

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My Question:
What is the fastest, most affordable path I can take to earn a Computer Science degree (and possibly Homeland Security or Aviation Maintenance) within 6–9 months, with a budget under $5,000?
I’m open to using alternative credit options (like Sophia, Study.com, CLEP, Saylor, etc.), and I’m willing to study full-time (up to 8 hours daily).

[Jonathan Whatley]

If your foreign bachelor is evaluated as the equivalent of a US bachelor, you'll be a second bachelor's student at TESU. That will mean you have no gen ed requirements and you will not need to take any further general electives to meet 120 credits total. Your foreign bachelor will also fulfill the requirement for regionally accredited or equivalent credit.

It's possible to take the TESU cornerstone (not capstone) on EdX only for a BA in Computer Science or AAS in Applied Computer Studies. It will not work toward any other TESU degree requiring a cornerstone.

TESU Aviation Maintenance degrees are only available to students with a large number of credits transferred in from certifications such as FAA Airframe and Powerplant ratings or prior military or college credits in aviation maintenance. Do you have this?

The TESU bachelor's in Homeland Security & Emergency Management is a BS, not a BA. The TESU bachelor's in Computer Science is a BA. This means you couldn't complete one degree with a double major in HSEM and CS. You could complete a separate BS in HSEM and BA in CS. Anyway, there are no known transfer options that are especially low-cost or accelerable for course requirements within the Homeland Security & Emergency Management major. HSEM is not an option for your budget and timeline. A Criminal Justice major (on a BA, so could be a double major with CS) might be within or a just a little beyond your budget and timeline though.

Could you go somewhat beyond the $5000 budget?

[Noelle67]

If your foreign bachelor is evaluated as the equivalent of a US bachelor, you'll be a second bachelor's student at TESU. That will mean you have no gen ed requirements and you will not need to take any further general electives to meet 120 credits total. Your foreign bachelor will also fulfill the requirement for regionally accredited or equivalent credit.

It's possible to take the TESU cornerstone (not capstone) on EdX only for a BA in Computer Science or AAS in Applied Computer Studies. It will not work toward any other TESU degree requiring a cornerstone.

TESU Aviation Maintenance degrees are only available to students with a large number of credits transferred in from certifications such as FAA Airframe and Powerplant ratings or prior military or college credits in aviation maintenance. Do you have this?

The TESU bachelor's in Homeland Security & Emergency Management is a BS, not a BA. The TESU bachelor's in Computer Science is a BA. This means you couldn't complete one degree with a double major in HSEM and CS. You could complete a separate BS in HSEM and BA in CS. Anyway, there are no known transfer options that are especially low-cost or accelerable for course requirements within the Homeland Security & Emergency Management major. HSEM is not an option for your budget and timeline. A Criminal Justice major (on a BA, so could be a double major with CS) might be within or a just a little beyond your budget and timeline though.

Could you go somewhat beyond the $5000 budget?

Thank you for the helpful information!
A quick follow up question: Since my foreign bachelor's degree BSW doesn't include the typical English or math prerequisites, would TESU still waive the general education requirements under the second bachelor's pathway?
Also, I'm open to going beyond the $5,000 budget as long as there's a payment plan available rather than needing to pay the full amount upfront. Criminal Justice or a leadership related degree would work.  

I don’t have any aviation or maintenance background. I was looking at associate degree in aviation not the bachelor’s degree 

[Jonathan Whatley]

A quick follow up question: Since my foreign bachelor's degree BSW doesn't include the typical English or math prerequisites, would TESU still waive the general education requirements under the second bachelor's pathway?

Good question, and the answer is in your favor: Yes!

Note that the Computer Science major area of study requires two math courses (Calculus I and Discrete Mathematics), and you might use an additional math or science course or two to fulfill in section C of the AOS.

I don’t have any aviation or maintenance background. I was looking at associate degree in aviation not the bachelor’s degree

That's not on the table, then. TESU's aviation maintenance degrees are exclusively for students with prior credit or credit-worthy training in aviation maintenance.

[Noelle67]

A quick follow up question: Since my foreign bachelor's degree BSW doesn't include the typical English or math prerequisites, would TESU still waive the general education requirements under the second bachelor's pathway?

Good question, and the answer is in your favor: Yes!

Note that the Computer Science major area of study requires two math courses (Calculus I and Discrete Mathematics), and you might use an additional math or science course or two to fulfill in section C of the AOS.

I don’t have any aviation or maintenance background. I was looking at associate degree in aviation not the bachelor’s degree

That's not on the table, then. TESU's aviation maintenance degrees are exclusively for students with prior credit or credit-worthy training in aviation maintenance.

Thank you for the clarification that's great news!
I have a few more questions. 
For the required math courses (Calculus I and Discrete Mathematics), do those need to be taken directly through TESU, or can I complete them through Study.com or Sophia prior to enrolling?
I’m also considering the Criminal Justice degree as second degree. Would it be smart to start taking AOS courses for that degree now through Study.com or Sophia, even before officially enrolling?
Regarding the residency waiver fee what's the best way to have that fee waived or reduced?
Lastly, is there an up to date degree plan or roadmap for the Computer Science degree that would fit my situation or what’s the best way to create one. I'd love to use that to make sure I'm taking the right steps early on.
Sorry for all the questions I just really want to get started as soon as possible. 

[Jonathan Whatley]

For the required math courses (Calculus I and Discrete Mathematics), do those need to be taken directly through TESU, or can I complete them through Study.com or Sophia prior to enrolling?

You can complete them through SDC, Sophia, or any transfer course. SDC has both Calculus and Discrete. Sophia has only Calculus, but I'd guess Sophia calculus will be faster than SDC's.

I’m also considering the Criminal Justice degree as second degree. Would it be smart to start taking AOS courses for that degree now through Study.com or Sophia, even before officially enrolling?

It's reasonable, though if Computer Science is your bigger want you might want to prioritize computer science courses. Use the transfer pages for each provider specific to TESU to see how each course is expected to transfer:
Sophia to TESU
SDC to TESU

If a course is not listed there, check the DegreeForum Wiki's Sophia equivalency list, or else ask here.

Regarding the residency waiver fee what's the best way to have that fee waived or reduced?

No one has ever reported it waived or reduced. Obviously it's not charged if you take 15 credits at TESU. Many students avoid both the fee and regular TESU per-credit tuition by taking 15 credits in one term under the flat-rate tuition, at $4561 for a non-resident of NJ or PA.

Lastly, is there an up to date degree plan or roadmap for the Computer Science degree that would fit my situation or what’s the best way to create one. I'd love to use that to make sure I'm taking the right steps early on.

Your strongest authority will be the current Credit Distribution tab on the TESU CS program page. You only need to complete section II Area of Study. The DF Wiki Sample TESU BA Computer Science plan identifies many of the lower cost and more accelerable ways to meet each requirement.

[bjcheung77]

Basically, you've got the capstone mixed up with the cornerstone, the cornerstone can be transferred in for the Bachelors, the capstone can't be transferred in.  Associates capstone can be transferred in but for a specific degree, the AAS, you can add another AOS when you confer for each of the degrees. Decide on what you really need versus what you want, I'd get the 2 Associates, 2 Bachelors, and maybe a cert or two (up to max of 4)

1) AS Comp Sci & Math and AAS Applied Computer Studies & Environmental, Safety, and Security Technologies
2) BA Comp Sci & BSBA or BS with an AOS of your choice, all the classes you take go towards the Associates.
3) Any 4 undergraduate certificates as long as you can transfer in all the credits into the programs affordably.
The degrees you were looking for are not as transfer friendly, thus, you'll take many classes that can't be transferred.

[natshar]

I think your best bet based on ease of transferable, cost and time would be:

BA with a double major: Criminal Justice and Computer Science (you only get one BA in the end)
ASNM in math
2 certs: Operations Management and Computer Info Systems (you can't get certs that match major so CJ, CS are out.)

If CJ double major is too difficult to transfer in then go for AA in CJ and CJ certificate instead.

These are all easy to transfer in and doable. Anything else would be overkill and a lot more effort to transfer in. There is a BSBA but thats a lot more extra classes and more difficult to do via transfer now, plus 2 capstones and more time and money. An AAS would be fine but requires an extra capstone at TESU and more annoying to find classes to transfer to AAS. Given your timeframe and budget I think the homeland security and aviation stuff is off the table, so is what I'd reccomend instead.

[Noelle67]

For the required math courses (Calculus I and Discrete Mathematics), do those need to be taken directly through TESU, or can I complete them through Study.com or Sophia prior to enrolling?

You can complete them through SDC, Sophia, or any transfer course. SDC has both Calculus and Discrete. Sophia has only Calculus, but I'd guess Sophia calculus will be faster than SDC's.

I’m also considering the Criminal Justice degree as second degree. Would it be smart to start taking AOS courses for that degree now through Study.com or Sophia, even before officially enrolling?

It's reasonable, though if Computer Science is your bigger want you might want to prioritize computer science courses. Use the transfer pages for each provider specific to TESU to see how each course is expected to transfer:
Sophia to TESU
SDC to TESU

If a course is not listed there, check the DegreeForum Wiki's Sophia equivalency list, or else ask here.

Regarding the residency waiver fee what's the best way to have that fee waived or reduced?

No one has ever reported it waived or reduced. Obviously it's not charged if you take 15 credits at TESU. Many students avoid both the fee and regular TESU per-credit tuition by taking 15 credits in one term under the flat-rate tuition, at $4561 for a non-resident of NJ or PA.

Lastly, is there an up to date degree plan or roadmap for the Computer Science degree that would fit my situation or what’s the best way to create one. I'd love to use that to make sure I'm taking the right steps early on.

Your strongest authority will be the current Credit Distribution tab on the TESU CS program page. You only need to complete section II Area of Study. The DF Wiki Sample TESU BA Computer Science plan identifies many of the lower cost and more accelerable ways to meet each requirement.

Thank you. I have tried to get the course by course evaluation, but the agency doing the evaluation requested the transcript be sent in a sealed envelope from the issuing college. That college changed their process and there is no way I can get them to send my transcript. Would a certificate of evaluation of the degree be sufficient or does need to be course by course.

[Jonathan Whatley]

Thank you. I have tried to get the course by course evaluation, but the agency doing the evaluation requested the transcript be sent in a sealed envelope from the issuing college. That college changed their process and there is no way I can get them to send my transcript. Would a certificate of evaluation of the degree be sufficient or does need to be course by course.

Only TESU can tell you for sure how to deal with this.