Planning BS/BA in IT field... leaning toward Information Systems conc. at COSC

[sanantone]

Has anyone confirmed that COSC accepts CSU-Global CBEs?

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

[dfrecore]

Can I ask why WGU is not on your list? I think they might be cheaper for this type of degree than the Big 3. And after you transfer in all Gen Ed's and some additional courses, all of your major courses are included. They also accept certs, and give certs (for free) in the program.

If there's a reason that I missed, I apologize, but I think they are the go-to school for IT at this point on this forum.

[Ideas]

Can I ask why WGU is not on your list? I think they might be cheaper for this type of degree than the Big 3. And after you transfer in all Gen Ed's and some additional courses, all of your major courses are included. They also accept certs, and give certs (for free) in the program.

I was starting with the Big Three and had not considered WGU until I saw jsd's thread today. I'm very interested in WGU's Information Technology (without concentration). It seems more suited to me. I'll have to read a lot more about it.

[Ideas]

Now I feel that WGU will take me too long. One reason I feel that way is I found a post by someone about the Security+ certification. He studied for 3 months for the one. I think I prefer COSC's Cyber Security degree to the WGU degree, although I am hoping to find something more suited to me. Information Technology may still be good, but it seems like it would take a while at TESU/Excelsior/WGU. I am still considering those programs, but I want to do some searching.

I am more interested in Information Systems, Computer Systems, or Information Management or similar. (Maybe Information Science but that may be too much like CS with too much math and programming.) From what I see, none of the Big Three or WGU have one of those degrees. COSC has a concentration in Information Systems but I'm iffy on that.

Edit: I am already finding that Computer Information Systems usually has a lot of programming.

So my goal maybe be impossible in the time frame I was thinking, without having prior certifications.

I am also considering TESU's BSBA in Computer Information Systems. It's currently at the top of my list.

[TrailRunr]

WGU's IT degrees are good for folks who are already in the industry. They don't need the certs anymore, but they can pass those CompTIA exams with little to no study. Those who do not have jobs in IT are going to take longer to pass. But the IT certs can be helpful in getting that first job.

TESU's BSBA in CIS is a business degree with a little bit of tech in it. TESU is a great option for techies who already have knowledge/experience in IT that just need the checkbox and nothing more. But I think TESU a pretty poor option vs. WGU for those that don't have knowledge/experience in IT.

[icampy]

Thanks for all the information.


Can anyone rule out any of the "probably not accepted/may be accepted" courses, so that we can have a more definitive guide?

[icampy]

WGU's IT degrees are good for folks who are already in the industry. But I think TESU a pretty poor option vs. WGU for those that don't have knowledge/experience in IT.

So you are saying WGU IT is better for someone with zero experience (starting from scratch), or lots of experience? And can you transfer everything but the IT courses?

[TrailRunr]

So you are saying WGU IT is better for someone with zero experience (starting from scratch), or lots of experience? And can you transfer everything but the IT courses?

WGU is best for those who have lots of IT experience and just need a checkbox degree.

WGU is pretty good for older folks with zero IT experience (eg. career changers or folks who worked in retail jobs and want to move up) and need the IT certs just to get their first job. These folks usually have a record of online courses or online SL courses plus a single IT cert to gain admissions.

You can't really start from zero credits and zero experience because you will not qualify for admissions to WGU's IT college.

I don't think it's great for teens who are better off going to a cheap B&M school right after high school even if the teen could earn an IT cert.

Transferring is limited. There are no free electives in the program. GE courses can be transferred in pretty easily with a lot of leeway. SL is a good way to meet the GE requirements. The rest of the courses are in the major, and you might have very few courses that fit. The rest of the credits are simply thrown away. You also need somewhere around 34 credits remaining in the program or WGU won't take you.

WGU IT's advantages are the free IT certs and a lot of courses with relevant IT knowledge. TESU BSBA:CIS is mostly a business degree with very few IT courses. It's fine for an experienced IT person just seeking a checkbox. But it's a bad option for someone who has nearly zero IT experience.

[Ideas]

I'm interested in figuring out a plan for the Excelsior BS in Technology (Computer Technologies).

Requires 48 credits in the AoS:
24 credits in area of focus with 9 UL
24 in I.T. electives with 6 UL