HELP - finishing Bachelor's degree Computer Engineering / Information Technology

[tck2008]

I have been reading great information in this forum and motivated me to finish what I started years ago.

I graduated in 1996 and attended local university where I almost finished my Bachelors in Computer Engineering. Back then I had completed most of the core credits and was already getting to finish, but I couldn't continue for health related issues.

I also read about MOOC and investigating the options, but I would ready like to finish with accreditation. Now with the distance learning there are many options and all can be done online.

My goal is to find an university that can help me finish the bachelors taking my old transcript as well as other free courses for credit I have taken such as TEEX /FEMA Cybersecurity credits and other cheaper online alternatives that will get me to complete the bachelors. The main purpose is to then complete an MBA with concentration also on IT since In have been the IT business for a long time and have alot of knowledge in this area from a technical, management and leadership perspective.

I need someone that can help me understand what credits I'm missing and remaining needed to complete a Bachelors in Information Technology or similar degree the fastest, easiest and with minimal cost. Taking advantage of free/low cost credit courses that I can then transfer to a university and receive the Bachelors.

I thank everyone in this forum and look forward to receive some good feedback to get me going again with studies.

Thank you

TCK

[dfrecore]

Put your courses on here and we can help - course name, where you took it (it can be initials, but we need to know any CC credits vs. 4-yr college credits), course #, # of credits (and indicate if they're semesters or quarters), and your grade; for any computer/it courses, you should probably put the date since that might matter.

While you're waiting, take a look at the Big 3 to see what the different degrees look like:

TESU has the BSBA in CIS, CS, & BSAST in IT. All are different and will require different courses, and only the CIS is completely test-out-able: Online Degree Programs | Thomas Edison State University

Excelsior has a bunch of options (all require a capstone which can't be tested out of):

• Bachelor of Science in Business (Management Information Systems)
  

• Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations
  

• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology [Without Concentration]
  
• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (Cybersecurity)
  
• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (Information Security)
  
• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (Network Operations)
  

• Bachelor of Professional Studies in Technology Management (Information Technology)
  

Charter Oak has the BS in Cybersecurity: http://www.charteroak.edu/cybersecurity/...14-12.pdf; their capstone and cornerstones can't be tested out of.



Then take a look at some competency-based degree programs, like WGU, which has both a Business IT degree, as well as IT with several different concentrations (Online University | Online Degree Programs | WGU), and Northern Arizona Univ (| | CIT | NAU Extended Campuses).

I'm sure other people here will have some other ideas for you to check out, but that's a good start to begin your search.

[Leherself]

One thing you may want to look into is whether any of the big three have an age limit on science/technology courses for STEM majors. Some schools limit how old computer courses can be in technical majors because things have changed so much so quickly - if you're going to graduate in 2016/17/18 they want to make sure your knowledge is current and not 20 years old.

Another thing to look into is if you have any industry certifications, some schools will award credit for those. Your best bet may be applying to all of the Big Three schools and seeing who gives you the best evaluation.

Excelsior College | Admissions at Excelsior College: Time Limit on Transfer Credits

From charter oak: "Time Restriction: The 15 upper division credits in a computer related concentration, including the individualized concentration, must be less than seven (7) years old at the time of matriculation unless the student is employed in the computer field or has been actively pursuing formal or informal studies in the computer field. However, older courses may be used as free electives in the overall degree program." https://www.charteroak.edu/prospective/p...tudies.cfm

I don't immediately see a policy from TESU's website, but it's probably there somewhere.

[nyvrem]

don't think anyone has mention Computer Engineering, but if you are interested in specifically a CE degree and to complete it online,

Morgan State has a degree completion program for CE.

Electrical & Computer Engineering 2+2 Program

[tck2008]

I wanted to thank you all for the great information you have provided to me.

I just tried to download my transcript but since I have not used the site in years I now need to wait until Monday to call and get my ID/password to retrieve the unofficial transcript and I will post right away.

Industry Certifications, I have the following:

Transcript from Microsoft:

ACTIVE MICROSOFT CERTIFICATIONS:

Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist
Certification Number : A683-1526 Achievement Date : 06/05/2008 Certification/Version : Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration(*Charter)
Certification Number : A683-1528 Achievement Date : 06/05/2008 Certification/Version : Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuration(*Charter)
Certification Number : A683-1527 Achievement Date : 06/05/2008 Certification/Version : Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuration(*Charter)

Microsoft Certified Professional

Certification Number : E903-5133 Achievement Date : 04/16/2012 Certification/Version : Microsoft Certified Professional

LEGACY MICROSOFT CERTIFICATIONS:

Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
Certification Number : A683-1517 Achievement Date : 02/27/2008 Certification/Version : Windows Server 2003
Certification Number : A683-1508 Achievement Date : 09/23/2002 Certification/Version : Windows 2000

Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator
Certification Number : A683-1516 Achievement Date : 02/18/2008 Certification/Version : Windows Server 2003
Certification Number : A683-1512 Achievement Date : 09/23/2002 Certification/Version : Windows 2000

Microsoft Certified Professional
Certification Number : A683-1503 Achievement Date : 06/29/2001 Certification/Version : Microsoft Certified Professional

MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION EXAMS COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY :

Exam ID Description Date Completed
647 Pro: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator Dec 31, 2008
649 TS: Upgrading Your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist
May 23, 2008
296 Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSE Certified on Windows 2000
Feb 27, 2008
292 Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000
Feb 18, 2008
218 Managing a Windows 2000 Network Environment Sep 23, 2002
028 Administering Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Sep 20, 2001
219 Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure Aug 28, 2001
217 Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure
Aug 17, 2001
216 Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure
Jul 23, 2001
215 Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Jul 12, 2001
210 Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Jun 29, 2001

VMWARE:

VCP4-DCV Exam 13-Nov-2009 ---- Passed
VCP on VMware Infrastructure 3 Exam 19-Dec-2008 ---- Passed

VMware Certified Professional 4 - Data Center Virtualization
VMware Certified Professional 3

SNIA:

SNIA Certified Storage Professional
SNIA Certified Storage Engineer
SNIA Certified Storage Architect
SNIA Certified Storage Networking Expert

EXIN:

ITIL Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management

CITRIX:

CCA - Citrix XenDesktop 4
CCA - Citrix Password Manager 4
CCA - Citrix Metaframe XP Presentation Server
CCA - Citrix XenApp Presentation Server 4

I have over 15 years of experience and currently the VP of Infrastructure for large global firm. Would it be possible to use all the real life experience and sit on test or create / provide to universities some sort of progress of achievements that are quantifiable?

Ill will post the transcript as soon as I can get my hands on it. I thank you all again for your support on helping me understand and pick what to do.

TCK

[dfrecore]

Unfortunately, I'm guessing no one will take your certs as they are too old (most of them). I think TESU requires 5 years or less.

BUT, with your current experience, I would definitely look into the TESU BSBA CIS (easy transition to an MBA later, plus easy to test out of), and doing some PLA's.

Also look to WGU or NAU for competency-based programs, as those are test-out as well (basically) - others on here have taken CB programs and have a lot to say about their experiences here on the forum. Especially if you want to move quickly through a program, this is a very good option for you, and may be equivalent in price (roughly). And no planning out your degree plan, you just go in with what you have and start taking courses and can get through very quickly if you already have the knowledge.

Just my 2c, others will have some info for you as well.

[Leherself]

So COSC's time limit for transfer credit says "unless the student has been employed in the computer field" which seems to say to me that they'd still accept your stuff. They've also got stuff on their website that seems to imply they'll give credit for industry certs even if they're a bit older, under certain circumstances.

TESU's BSBA is easy to test out of, but we don't know how much of what you've already done that they'd take.

Other than that, WGU has some competency based IT programs you might want to look into - at the graduate level as well as the undergrad.

[tck2008]

Hi friends,

I was a terrible student back in the days ;-), here goes my transcript attached

Please let me know your thoughts and what is the fastest, cheapest way to finish my Bachelors so I can proceed to get an MBA or something else that makes sense for my current management/leadership position.

Thank you

TCK

[dfrecore]

I'm going to give you the info for TESU since I know that school the best, maybe others who are more familiar with COSC and EC can help you there. I looked at the BSBA CIS, the BA-CS, and the BSAST-IT.

First, I think you only need 2 additional courses to have your GenEd completed for all 3 degrees:
Oral Comm can be completed by doing the Public Speaking DSST, the Public Speaking TCC course, or the SL Intro to Communications course.
The Ethics can be completed by the free online Insurance Ethics course: Preserve the trust on which insurance transactions are based with an understanding of ethics

I'm hoping that World Civilization will count as Diversity, and World Nutrition will count as Civic Engagement, but not 100% certain on those. If not, then you would have to get those 2 requirements done as well.

If you're going to want to get an MBA, then I would suggest the BSBA CIS:
You need the Business Core requirements plus 4 add'l UL CIS courses, all of which can be attained through testing and online courses. You will need to take 3 TECEP's in addition to the ones that can be planned for your degree (in order to meet the residency requirements - I would suggest Computers, Applied Math & College Algebra). The total cost would be $2275.

The BA-CS uses you credits more efficiently (you have more of the requirements), but would still cost more because of the courses you have to take: the capstone is $1560, and Data Structures will have to be taken somewhere (hopefully for less than $1560 at TESU), plus you'll need 3 UL CS electives, and I'm not sure if the courses we have for cheap can be used there (CSU-Global, TECEP & DSST). Then, you need to take 7 TECEP's, all of which can be planned into the degree. I show it being a minimum of $4000, but a lot depends on the cost of Data Structures, and if the cheaper CS courses can be used.

The BSAST-IT is going to be the most difficult to take, just because you don't have many of the required courses. They will be more expensive to take no matter what. Then, you still have to take 6 TECEP's for residency.

[tck2008]

Hi Dfrecore,

I cannot thank you enough for what you did. I'm really impressed with your assessment and I'm definitely looking at it to move forward.

I like the idea of doing BSBA CIS as you mentioned. The next step would be to contact TESU and send them my transcripts?

Thanks again