Please Help! My newb-itis is killing me...

[cypster]

Yeah. I wouldn't want to be doing Calculus IV anytime soon myself if I don't have to. You're welcome for the link, If you are interested in any more computer science courses that are offered for free you should check out this link: Computer Science: Free Courses | Open Culture
I've found almost every course I plan to take at TESC on that list lol.

I got started as an intern because I had a friend who put in a good word for me. I already had a pretty firm foundation in Java(My company programs primarily in Java) so that was a plus. I had also spent the year leading up to the internship going through web languages, making a crappy game site, hosting some proxy's, doing some mySQL stuff with PHP. Just playing around with anything I could get my hands on, you know? I also had some knowledge of C++, but it was limited. I'm currently in the process of teaching myself C++ again in preparation for my Data Structures course(as the course is taught in C++).

As far as what classes are necessary. That depends on what you want to do with your degree. I kind of hope to end up in a software engineering degree or a programmer analyst position. What I would tell you is necessary is based off of talking to my colleagues and my interest in software. If you were wanting to be a web developer or a database administrator, then you would have a very different opinion on what is necessary. And it would also depend on your programming background. If you are already familiar with a class there is little use in taking it.

@benjenkinsv95 Oh wow!! I'll never make it out of that site now! That is beyond awesome. Thanks so much for the link and tips. As soon as I finish these courses it'll be time to dive into some of those for sure! I'll also work on trying to narrow my selections in the field so my studies can be a bit more targeted.

[cypster]

You only need UL credits in the area of study. A philosophy course can't be used in the area of study for the natural science or computer science degree.

Yep. I saw that one. Thanks for the reminder though! I am just planning to use the SL course for the Ethics requirement not the AOS.

[cypster]

Finally got a reply from "the office" and here's what the folks in advising had to say about it...

"Your concentration requires at least 15 credits of upper level courses. If one of the Calculus courses is moved to the concentration there would not be enough room to accommodate the additional upper level credits.
Both the ALEKS course in College Algebra and Trigonometry should fit into the Intellectual and Practical Skills section of your degree and theoretically one of the Calculus courses could fit into the Concentration DEPENDING on the other courses that will be taken to fulfill the requirements in that area. It would take some adjustments to the evaluation to make it fit. Again this would depend on the other courses that you select for the concentration.
We would have to wait and see once you settle on additional courses for the concentration.
I hope that answers your question."

Looks like you guys were spot on! Thanks again everyone. Now for the hard part, starting! lol...

[Lindagerr]

I am more confused after reading TESC's reply. I guess I thought you were looking for the the route taking the least amount of new courses. Why are you so interested in moving that Calculus to area of study if it means you need to take more classes?

[AlbaTiVo]

I think what they are saying is one ALEKS 100 level course will bump one of the Calculus 200 level courses into the area of study, but the remaining 7 credits in the area of study will then all have to be 300 or 400 level. IMHO I think if you are planning on a CS masters then you should do the CS bachelors too.

[cypster]

I am more confused after reading TESC's reply. I guess I thought you were looking for the the route taking the least amount of new courses. Why are you so interested in moving that Calculus to area of study if it means you need to take more classes?

I would definitely love the path with least courses but since it sounds like I'll have to take Linear Algebra for CS and possibly even Calculus III, I was hoping my Math review would kill "two birds with one stone" and add to my degree plan at the same time. By taking the ALEKS math I get a little review that will actually move a Calculus up into my AOS so I can just focus on taking Linear Algebra and 1 other UL class. I can't really think of a 200 math class that would be as easy, fast, or inexpensive as a math review class via ALEKS. Without doing the ALEKS math I would have to take another 200 or higher course in addition to the two UL classes that I have left. This lets me finish things with just an easy ALEKS math course and two UL math courses. Hopefully that makes at least a bit of sense. I'm pretty horrid with explaining this for some reason. Sorry...

[sanantone]

I'm getting a little lost here. Why is it so important for you to have calculus in the area of study? Your transcript will just show a list of courses broken down by source such as the name of the college, CLEP, ACE, etc. It won't say where the credits were used in your degree.

[cypster]

I'm getting a little lost here. Why is it so important for you to have calculus in the area of study? Your transcript will just show a list of courses broken down by source such as the name of the college, CLEP, ACE, etc. It won't say where the credits were used in your degree.

Here’s a look at my concentration area. The last 3 options are clear cut. I know I will need to get 7 more UL credits that consists of any classes in the Natural Sciences and Math degree category on this page, General Education Courses I currently already have 8 UL credits all in Organic Chemistry for my concentration. I also have 6 credits that consist of 2 classes that are at the 100 level and can’t take any more classes that are less than 200 due to a requirement for the degree. This brings my current total in the Area of Study to 14. This leaves a remainder of 10 credits that must be taken.

A: Concentration (24) (In Progress)
Semester Hours Completed: 14.00 Required: 24 Remaining: 10
__________________________________________________ ___________________ 3 credits-- can be 200 level (or above) could switch Anat & Phys. I to here and add 3 new free electives
__________________________________________________ ___________________ 3 credits must be upper level
__________________________________________________ ___________________ 3 credits must be upper level
__________________________________________________ ___________________ 1 credits must be upper level
The issue is with the first requirement in the requirements list shown above as Lindagerr pointed out previously. If one of my existing 200 level classes can fill this slot after it gets displaced from its current location in Intellectual and Practical skills or anywhere else for that matter when the ALEKS math course transfers in then I will not have to go through the hassles of another 200 or above class to fill this slot. Make sense?
In other words for my 7 UL credits I plan to take the following classes
1. Linear Algebra (3 credit UL class)
2. Calculus III or another 4 credit UL class like microbiology at Straighterline (4 credits)
For the last 3 credits of the 10 credits total that I am short in the major I must take a 200 or above level course unless another class is moved in from somewhere else after I have taken the ALEKS math course.
I think this grew confusing because I was not very good at explaining what I was looking for. With this plan I can finish out with just two classes and a fast day or two program in ALEKS for math that will end up bumping one of my other math classes up into my area of study to satisfy the requirement found on the first line of the requirements seen above. Without this, I would have to take a third 200 or higher level course in addition to the two I am planning to take for the major since I have already maxed out 100 level courses. In Math and Natural Sciences unlike some areas of study it seems to be a bit more difficult to find a 200 and above level class that can be done super quickly and one that does not require one or two prerequisite courses.

[sanantone]

I wouldn't say it's hard to find a 200-level test. The Environment and Humanity DSST is super easy. I would say it's the easiest science test. If you move A&P to the area of study, all you need to do is complete FEMA, TEEX, or NFA courses for free to replace it.
Sanantone's BA in Natural Sciences and Mathematics - Degree Forum Wiki

The easiest way to knock out some UL natural science credits is to either take the Management Information Systems DSST or the Network Technology TECEP.

[cypster]

I wouldn't say it's hard to find a 200-level test. The Environment and Humanity DSST is super easy. I would say it's the easiest science test. If you move A&P to the area of study, all you need to do is complete FEMA, TEEX, or NFA courses for free to replace it.
Sanantone's BA in Natural Sciences and Mathematics - Degree Forum Wiki

The easiest way to knock out some UL natural science credits is to either take the Management Information Systems DSST or the Network Technology TECEP.

Sanantone!!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!! You are amazing!!! This is why I love this forum!

This is really BIG news! This could move out of the way even faster than I thought! I didn't even think about the MIS DSST!!!! Didn't remember the Network Tech TECEP either and I had not even heard of The Environment and Humanity DSST! Bye bye Calculus III. Could you or anyone please point me in the right direction to find out what I can use to study for these three classes? I've only taken CLEP so far so I'm not familiar with DSST and TECEPS and the study materials for these three exams. I'll start my hunt by taking a peek at Education Portal now. Can't wait to hear back from someone.