Plans people here followed to earn Computer Science degrees?

[SirTeacherGuy]

Could those who completed Computer Science degrees through the Big Three schools please consider sharing their plans of testing and coursework? Ideally, I would like help developing a plan for earning a Computer Science degree through Thomas Edison State College, but advice for any of the Big Three schools would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for any and all help.

[NAP]

Several members have mentioned this degree at TESC and it seems that many consider CIS, too. I know that Geezer's son finished CS a few years ago, so check for more posts about it by Geezer, and remember that some of the requirements (like Gen Ed) have changed.

[sanantone]

Like NAP said, some members have opted for the BSBA in CIS because it's more test friendly. Excelsior has the BSBA in MIS that's very similar. COSC offers the computer science studies concentration, but since COSC does not offer all of the required courses and it's not test friendly, it's not a popular choice. COSC's next best option would be the concentration in information systems studies. COSC will award 24 credits (9 of them upper level) for the computer science GRE. You only have to score in the 40th percentile, but this is a very difficult test. It's nearly impossible to get an answer out of COSC on how the GRE credits will be applied. For the programs with many concentration electives, that is where the GRE credits will mostly go. Their computer science studies concentration only has room for 3 concentration electives credits.

The general education options for TESC's program can be picked out from here.
Sanantone's General Education Options - Degree Forum Wiki

Now, for the area of study.

Intro to Computer Science: CLEP Information Systems and Computer Applications, DSST Intro to Computing, or Saylor Intro to Computer Science

Data Structures: No test out option. Consider completing the Saylor course and doing a PLA. Otherwise, you're going to have to take this at TESC or another college.

Discrete Math: You have to take the course at TESC or somewhere else. TESC does not allow PLAs for math courses in most cases.

Linear Algebra: Same as above.

Capstone: You have to take this at TESC.

21 credits in computer science (15 will have to be UL): DSST in Management Information Systems and TECEP in Networking Technology are both UL. You can earn 9 NCCRS-approved credits from Javaonline.org, but I don't know if TESC will count any of these as UL. Your other option will be to complete portfolio assessments based on Saylor courses or other MOOCs. I do not know if TESC will apply TEEX CIS-299 or CIS-344 to this area of study. The DSST for Fundamentals of Cybersecurity is also transcribed as CIS-344, but it's 3 credits instead of 2.
Thomas Edison State College: Computer Science

This is a plan for the more test friendly BSBA in CIS.
Sanantone's BSBA in Computer Information Systems - Degree Forum Wiki

TESC also offers the BSAST in Information Technology, but you would have to find even more computer-related courses.
BSAST Degree in Information Technology | Thomas Edison State College

[SirTeacherGuy]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Like NAP said, some members have opted for the BSBA in CIS because it's more test friendly.

This particular plan is being developed for a friend whose heart is set on a Computer Science degree. I will talk to him about earning a degree in Computer Information Systems, but I doubt he'll be that interested.

Discrete Math: You have to take the course at TESC or somewhere else. TESC does not allow PLAs for math courses in most cases.

Linear Algebra: Same as above.

Your other option will be to complete portfolio assessments based on Saylor courses or other MOOCs.

Could you please tell me more about the PLA/portfolio process, particularly with Saylor Academy courses? How likely is TESC to actually grant credit for portfolio assessments?

Thank you.

[sanantone]

Thanks for the replies so far.This particular plan is being developed for a friend whose heart is set on a Computer Science degree. I will talk to him about earning a degree in Computer Information Systems, but I doubt he'll be that interested.Could you please tell me more about the PLA/portfolio process, particularly with Saylor Academy courses? How likely is TESC to actually grant credit for portfolio assessments?

Thank you.

Before you can submit a portfolio for review, you need to take an introductory course. TESC offers PLA-100 (1 credit) and PLA-200 (2 credits). You have to take both of those if you want to earn more than 3 credits through portfolios. The PLA courses cost the same as other online/guided study courses. TESC will accept a PLA course from another school or LearningCounts. Kaplan offers a free, ACE-approved course, and LearningCounts charges $149 for their self-directed course. The first 12 credits earned will cost $350. Every 6 credits after that will cost $200. Yet another option will be to complete the open versions of TESC's PLA courses. They won't count for credit, but they are free. As far as I can tell, you just notify TESC's PLA advisor that you completed the courses so that you can start on your portfolios. The links to the open versions are on the Saylor website.
Open Course Option for ASBA « Saylor Academy

Completing Saylor courses (just to be clear that I am not talking about the NCCRS courses that are worth credit on their own) will do two things.

1. Give you the knowledge to complete the portfolio.

2. Provide proof of the learning through a certificate of completion. Saylor grants a certificate when you pass the final exam. I think they also have a transcript.

You can also do this with Coursera, edX, etc.

Oops. I have more. You want to build a portfolio based on what's in the PLA database.
http://www2.tesc.edu/plasearch.php

You can also build a portfolio based on a course offered at another regionally accredited college/university.

[SirTeacherGuy]

^Thanks again for the reply.

So, based on the experiences of people on this forum, is it practically a given that TESC will award credit/requirement fulfillment for PLAs/portfolios?

[bluebooger]

I'm not sure the the Computer Science GRE is offered anymore

[sanantone]

It isn't, so that's out.
https://www.ets.org/gre/subject/about

[bricabrac]

SirTeacherGuy,

As requested, here are my comments on this degree plan:

The student could combine available tests and alternate ACE courses Straighterline/Penn Foster/etc to quickly fill general education and free elective sections. For the area of study, other than the few exams mentioned, you would need actual B&M courses.

Personally, as NAP mentions, I think Geezer would be considered the resident specialist in this area. His posts would be the best to follow in this case. Testing only is not possible for this degree, nor should it be. Although, due to the nature of the material the student should be able to take all coursework online. To earn the needed CS credits, I would seek out a local university (cost effective) or take advantage of TESCs comprehensive tuition plan (includes up to 36cr onlne/guided study/epack courses, and TECEPs CIS107, CMP354). Remember you can use TECEPs in other areas as well. I used the comprehensive tuition plan for my first year and for me it was quite affordable; per credit cost was less than my community college. You might want to also research the cheaper online colleges mentioned on the forums.[INDENT]TESC offers quite a few online computer science and computer information courses Thomas Edison State College: Course Offerings and TECEPs Thomas Edison State College: Course Offerings
[/INDENT]

I consider myself in the minority on this forum; especially in regards to the specialty area degrees, I think it best to take at minimum one year of B&M courses either online or in seat (200-400 level). It provides a more indepth approach to the subject matter vs a one size fits all generalized final exam.
I use specialty area to describe anything outside the scope of the check a box, liberal arts/test out, degrees.


Here are a few links to Geezer's previous posts:
http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...-tesc.html
http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...egree.html

Also take a look at AlbaTIVO's AAS computer studies and NS/M degree plans for computer course titles. He took many B&M courses that transferred to TESC:
AlbaTiVo's AAS in Applied Computer Studies - Degree Forum Wiki
AlbaTiVo's BA in Natural Sciences/Mathematics - Degree Forum Wiki

Although older posts, another source for online schools: cklapka @ online.degree.net
Online degree forum - View Single Post - RA computer science

[sanantone]

Warning: The general education requirements on those plans are different now. The applied computer studies plan also does not have the now required capstone. There should always be this disclaimer when posting old plans. I see that AlbaTivo or (someone else) posted a disclaimer on the Wiki. Another disclaimer is that there are more ACE/NCCRS options now, PLAs are cheaper than they used to be and there are MOOCs to help you complete them, I believe TESC no longer gives credit for COMPTIA exams, and that some of the old plans used community college courses to fulfill the upper level requirements. TESC no longer gives UL credit for CC courses. I don't see how AlbaTivo's use of brick and mortar credits helps someone trying to complete a degree online.