Figuring all this stuff out ... Kinda!?! Best options for Computer Science? HELP!

[smartaleck]

Hi Everyone,

Just signed up tonight after looking around and learning about degrees by exam for the past week or so. I've been frustrated thinking back about not getting a degree, even though it seems that I've had more succesful and interesting employment versus my friends who do have that piece of paper. Still though, many foreign countries will want to see that BS for visa consideration if I want to improve my chances to work overseas, that's why I'm digging back into this degree stuff after quitting in 2000.

Here's how the story goes: I took some classes whilst in highschool at the local community college, it was only for half the year but I supposedly managed to rack up 13 credits. After graduating, I went to the University of Minnesota and they promptly told me none of those credits were worth a damn! I started from scratch on a computer science degree with them and barely made it through the first year before realizing I couldn't pay the insane costs (was paying 100% out-of-pocket), especially if I was failing Calculus twice. Anyways, I called back the community college just to get my record and they can't even find it! I was lucky to get an unofficial transcript from the UofM but my account still has a hold which I'm working on lifting so I can get an official transcript sent to .... someone.

So here's the 18 credits I may be able to get from the UofM (1998/1999):

Piano - 2cr : L : C
General Arts : 4cr : L : C
Precalculus II : 4cr : L : C-
Beginning Programming in C : 4cr : U : B+
Algorithms & Data Structures (C++) : 4cr : U : C


I also recently completed Open Water and Advanced Diver courses with Scuba Schools International ... which MAY count for 1 PE credit ... shoulda known and I'd have done PADI. I took French courses with Alliance Francais too, also not certified with ACE .. sheesh! (Hopefully will score good on French CLEP!!)


So I know there are some rules about computer science classes that are older than 10 years, but I've been working in the industry since then. I'm not really sure where I'm going with this though. On one hand, I want to get something knocked out quickly, this points to a business-type or liberal arts degree. I'm more of a techy-sciency type guy though and really want to have an IT BS and maybe do MBA later. Unfortunately I never earned any certifications which could get me some credits, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of computer courses to test out of. I've been considering all sorts of options just to tease my mind, like the Associates in Science at COSC looks like it would be doable all by exam but I'm not sure about their "General Studies" BS programs. Excelsior looks good but again, there I have no idea how much money it's going to cost to take all these auxilliary computer courses ... especially at $405/credit!

So I see these exams:

CLEP - Information Systems & Computer Applications
DSST - Introduction to Computing
DSST - Management Information Systems

I also understand that Straitliner has a course (looks like C++ though, which I've done ... maybe I can do Java when available?), Penn Foster looks like they have some courses too ... I'm kinda interested in the Electrical Circuits courses. I'm down for some free FEMA and NFA credits any time and there may be some credits I can mop up with ALEKS too. I'm on InstantCert so I can knock out some general CLEPs or DSSTs before enrolling, I kinda know which ones will be safe to do for any degree plan (as long as they don't change things up.)

The BIG question though, is what program to go with?!

Cost is definitely part of the equation at the moment and so is speed, I suppose I'm willing to go for a business or general science BS if I can add a master in computer science later or something. I also have read about the Prior Learning Assessment portfolios, which sounds like I can apply to some of my computer science courses if I can demonstrate what I've learned on my own. It just adds to the confusion since LearningCounts has a self directed method and a class but EC and COSC both have their own classes as well, and EC claims to be associated with LearningCounts somehow?? What if I did the class with LC first and have a portfolio assessed, will this all transfer in to EC? Which way is better/cheaper?

I'm sorry for so many questions, I'm just spewing out all my questions and frustrations into this post. Just looking for some good insight from others with similar circumstances.

Thanks,

Anthony

[UptonSinclair]

I am an Excelsior student who has been enrolled in the Technical program and the Liberal Arts program. If you want to do a degree that isn't going to require a bunch of actual courses the Technical program is out. There are far too many requirements that just can't be met by exam. Also, be aware that the Information systems CLEP and Intro to Computing duplicate at Excelsior. You can only get credit for one of the two. The time limit for the computer classes shouldn't be a problem with the Liberal Arts department, but it would be a hurdle in the Technical college.

I ended up going for a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies with an area of focus in Computer Information Systems. It seemed like a nice balance without all of the requirements of the Technical college.

I can't speak to TESC since I am an Excelsior student, but if you have any questions about Excelsior I will do my best to answer.

A good source for self paced computer classes is KCTCS Learn on Demand, but they run anywhere from $500 to $800 per course and are all lower level.

[sanantone]

I recommend TESC's BA in Computer Science. They offer the courses you can't test out of. You can almost test out of their BSBA in Computer Information Systems. This will give you the IT component for your degree and business prerequisites for the MBA. The BSBA won't require calculus. TESC's tuition rate is the lowest of the Big 3 and I think they also have a partnership with Learning Counts as well as their own PLA program.

TEEX offers free courses in cyber security that are ACE approved. Javaonline.org offers NCCRS approved courses. There is also a TECEP for networking technologies

[sanantone]

You might also want to check out WGU, but you have to test out of courses before you enroll. Once you enroll and your degree plan is solidified, you will not be allowed to take anymore tests or transfer anymore credits.
Online IT Degree | Information Technology Bachelor Degree | WGU College of Information Technology

[smartaleck]

Wow, thank you both for the great information!

I guess I had noticed the BSBA program on TESC and how it can be done entirely online, and now that you mention it I'm looking into it more. I see they charge $36 per exam credit and $213 per PLA credit, are there any cost savings tricks to transferring these credits in? With EC don't you just have to pay the multi-source option fee, which seems like it would be cheaper?

I like the BSBA because it appears many of the classes can be completed via CLEP, DSST and ALEKS exams. I also think Western Governors has a unique system which brings another boatload of questions along with it. With either option, it seems like the best route is to complete the exams before enrolling if I want to save money on annual enrollment fees.

It also appears that Governors accepts a wide array of computer certifications, is this the case with TESC too? If that's the case, it could be smart to brush up for some of the odd questions and give a few certs a go.

[UptonSinclair]

Just as a side note: If I were starting over, I would be enrolled in TESC rather than Excelsior. I believe the BSBA-CIS looks better than a BS Liberal Studies with a Focus in CIS.

[sanantone]

Wow, thank you both for the great information!

I guess I had noticed the BSBA program on TESC and how it can be done entirely online, and now that you mention it I'm looking into it more. I see they charge $36 per exam credit and $213 per PLA credit, are there any cost savings tricks to transferring these credits in? With EC don't you just have to pay the multi-source option fee, which seems like it would be cheaper?

I like the BSBA because it appears many of the classes can be completed via CLEP, DSST and ALEKS exams. I also think Western Governors has a unique system which brings another boatload of questions along with it. With either option, it seems like the best route is to complete the exams before enrolling if I want to save money on annual enrollment fees.

It also appears that Governors accepts a wide array of computer certifications, is this the case with TESC too? If that's the case, it could be smart to brush up for some of the odd questions and give a few certs a go.

TESC is not as liberal as WGU in giving credits for IT certifications. EC gives credit for a lot of different certifications, but I heard the credit limit is low.

[EI2HCB]

They gave me one credit each for the ECDL / ICDL modules which were fairly easy to do at the time. That's six credits for a single ICDL course which isn't bad it was my deciding factor when I went to Excelsior College although I had a hard time proving that I earned them by supplying them with a "transcript" from Ireland which doesn't do it like we do it in the United States.