Need plan for CyberSecurity at COSC - Please!!

[newguy]

Hello, I am a younger person just starting out. I would like to pursue a career in CyberSecurity and already have many of the skills needed. However, I am lacking a degree.

After reviewing this site and the wikia, I have decided to enlist the help of the gracious people on this forum. I know there are many that routinely offer their time and assistance.

Hopefully, I will be so fortunate.

My interest is speed and minimizing cost. I know one of the first things often asked is..."post your transcript". Well, that is easy - I have only completed the following:


GED - Completed
Aleks - Intermediate Algebra - 3 Units
Teex - AWR-168 - 1.00 CEU
Teex - AWR-174 - 1.30 CEU
Teex - AWR-175 - 1.00 CEU

Yep, that's it!

I want to make sure I start this accelerated journey off correctly. Thanks in advance for any wisdom and guidance. I really appreciate it!eeya:

Regards,
Newguy

[jsd]

do you have any industry certifications, by any chance? this isn't really that much of a test friendly degree, if I recall. you'd have to do a lot of portfolio assesment, aside from your general ed stuff.

[newguy]

Hello jsd! I have seen many of your posts and appreciate you responding so quickly. Unfortunately, I don't have any certifications, but I am working on the CEH currently. Then, I plan on taking the CISSP.

I actually have fairly broad knowledge - which is why I don't want to spend a lot of time going over ground that I already know.

Thanks,
newguy

[jsd]

Have you seen this thread by JTP for his COSC CyberSecurity degree?

http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...pdate.html

It's not a particularly quick route.

You might want to consider the self-paced, competency model that WGU offers (they have a BS IT Security degree). It'd probably quicker and cheaper, and they'll accept a lot of ACE credit towards the general ed stuff. The big benefit there is that you get a bunch of IT certs included as part of your tuition (they use the certification exam as proof that you've passed the class)

[newguy]

Yes, thanks. I did learn a lot from JTP's thread. But, not enough to construct an efficient plan. I had looked at WGU a bit before, but not that thoroughly. I will shake the tree again to see what falls out. In the meantime, should I just plow through ALEKS and maybe continue the Teex?

[jsd]

But, not enough to construct an efficient plan

Honestly this is kind of my point. I don't think there's really an efficient way to do this through COSC unless you're comfortable doing a lot of PLA like JTP did. That worked for JTP, but he had an extensive background in the field as I recall.

In the meantime, should I just plow through ALEKS and maybe continue the Teex?

Cheap and free credit is generally a good option to pursue, but really you need to figure out what you're doing with it first. I'm not entirely sure if WGU accepts ALEKS, let alone TEEX. So your first step is to find out what you're going to do with any credit you want to accumulate.

[newguy]

You have good points. I appreciate them too. I am so fired up to do this right now! I still need to review WGU. Seems like all of the plans, other than JTP's that I saw for COSC, have mostly been BSBA. Perhaps, I should go that route and then proceed with a MS in CyberSecurity somewhere? So much research to do - so thankful this forum exists. It has saved me countless hours of research. I am traveling overseas this summer. So, I am hoping to complete a degree by then. I know it is a lofty goal, but I have seen plenty of examples here! Thanks!

[KayV]

Did you take the "new" (2014 edition) GED? You might have some credit from that.

Scores between 165-174 on any component of the GED are considered College Ready, which waives you from taking developmental-level classes in that subject.

Scores between 175-200 per component now offer college credit through ACE.

-Mathematical Reasoning gives 3 hours of College Algebra
-Reasoning Through Language Arts gives one hour of lower level Humanities
-Science gives 3 hours of lower level Intro to Physical Science, without lab
-Social Science gives "3 semester hours lower division credit in economic thinking, society and social arrangements or humanities."

[newguy]

Thanks KayV. 2012 on the GED. Thanks for raising that though, I hope it helps someone. I know I wasnt aware of that change.

[cookderosa]

well you can do all of your gen eds using a variety of resources, and the actual cyber courses are taken online via COSC. I have 2 sons doing their AS at COSC (which is the full gen ed package) and they are using Straighterline for those (plus TEEX).