Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Testing out toward a degree but don't know where to start
#21
Thanks for your advice. I would like to find a career in a computer field. I just seen a description for software development and thought it might be interesting. The thing I want most is a degree that I can test out as much as possible if not totally and something fairly affordable. I would also like a degree field that will help me find a decent job in a computer field. This is all totally new to me so I am not sure which degree would be best in my situation but I thank you for your input. It is much appreciated.
#22
I'm not going to get into the debate on which degree will work for a career in software development, but I do want to point out that there are significant differences between the BA in CS and BSAST in IT at TESU. None of this is accounting for the courses Davewill recommends. Since the differences in math requirements have already been covered, I won't bring that up again.

1. The BSAST requires a lot more specific courses than the BA in CS. The BA in CS gives you more flexibility in choosing courses whether you're testing out, taking them at TESU, or transferring courses from another college.

2. The BSAST requires a lot more IT credits than the BA in CS requires CS credits.

3. Because the BA in CS requires less credits in the AOS (major), it has a lot more room for free electives. There is room for 27 credits in the CS program whereas the IT program only has room for 15.

4. The BA requires the liberal arts capstone in which you'll probably write a mini-thesis. The BSAST requires Current Trends and Applications in which you'll complete an applied project.
Graduate of Not VUL or ENEB
MS, MSS and Graduate Cert
AAS, AS, BA, and BS
CLEP
Intro Psych 70, US His I 64, Intro Soc 63, Intro Edu Psych 70, A&I Lit 64, Bio 68, Prin Man 69, Prin Mar 68
DSST
Life Dev Psych 62, Fund Coun 68, Intro Comp 469, Intro Astr 56, Env & Hum 70, HTYH 456, MIS 451, Prin Sup 453, HRM 62, Bus Eth 458
ALEKS
Int Alg, Coll Alg
TEEX
4 credits
TECEP
Fed Inc Tax, Sci of Nutr, Micro, Strat Man, Med Term, Pub Relations
CSU
Sys Analysis & Design, Programming, Cyber
SL
Intro to Comm, Microbio, Acc I
Uexcel
A&P
Davar
Macro, Intro to Fin, Man Acc
#23
Well, the "computer field" covers a wide area. As far as degrees go, there are basically three tracks:

- BA Business Administration with a CIS (computer information systems) concentration.

This degree is the least technical. You'll take accounting courses, and general business courses plus Information System courses. People who get this degree are more likely to be managers or others who work with technology, although people with this degree definitely do work in IT, and do write software for business information systems. People with this degree also sometimes work as analysts designing information systems.

- An IT degree like the BSAST in Information Technology like Bluebooger outlined. While it covers some of the same ground as the CS degree, the key word here is INFORMATION. People with this degree generally work in larger companies (or for companies that make software for them or consult for them) designing and implementing information systems (think databases). As Bluebooger pointed out, some people with this degree do write software for a living, some work in the IT department of a company, doing IT administration. Others work as analysts designing information systems.

- BA/BS in Computer Science. People with this degree primarily work as software developers or software engineers. The degree is much heavier on math and the theory of computing. Many people with this degree work primarily on computing rather than on information systems, although many CS grads do still specialize in Info Systems.

It is tempting to say one track is "better" or "harder" but I think it's more important to recognize that the track needs to match the person and their goals. If I had to write web interfaces for corporate information systems, write accounting software, or design and administer databases for a living, I'd go crazy. Other folks really like doing these things, and would consider computing theory snoresville. Also, there is a good bit of overlap, and people often migrate in one direction or another. There is no objective right or wrong answer, only a personal answer.

The BSBA is the most test friendly. It is possible to test out of practically the whole thing, and a lot of people here have experience doing exactly that. The BSAST if probably easier to "test out of", but I don't really know the details of that one very well. The BACS can't be completely tested out of, but it can be done online. Another thing to consider is that the people who "test out" usually have lots of experience, so they are basically taking tests on things they already know at least something about. If you have no computer experience, you may prefer to take courses that have projects to work on and teach you rather than just self-studying for tests.

Anyway, in your shoes, I'd think hard about WHAT I wanted to do rather than looking for the easiest or cheapest way to get there. Once you have a goal, which degree to pick will likely answer itself.

Note to other folks: Please feel free to chime in. IT/IS is not my field and others can probably say a lot more about it.
NanoDegree: Intro to Self-Driving Cars (2019)
Coursera: Stanford Machine Learning (2019)
TESU: BA in Comp Sci (2016)
TECEP:Env Ethics (2015); TESU PLA:Software Eng, Computer Arch, C++, Advanced C++, Data Struct (2015); TESU Courses:Capstone, Database Mngmnt Sys, Op Sys, Artificial Intel, Discrete Math, Intro to Portfolio Dev, Intro PLA (2014-16); DSST:Anthro, Pers Fin, Astronomy (2014); CLEP:Intro to Soc (2014); Saylor.org:Intro to Computers (2014); CC: 69 units (1980-88)

PLA Tips Thread - TESU: What is in a Portfolio?
#24
Java, C#, C++, Ruby, Pearl, HTML, UNIX, Python, all pretty mandatory languages to be a software developer at a large company...
TESU March 2020 Graduation
--ASNSM Mathematics
--BSBA Accounting 
--BA Computer Science

University of Alaska Fairbanks (December 2021 Graduation Goal)
--MBA (2/10 : 4.0)


I started this journey in the summer of 2016.  I hoped to be done sooner, but I am still proud of the rate at which I have gotten my schooling done with respect to the many months of military training and deployments I have undergone.  


#25
Zachcleigh Wrote:Java, C#, C++, Ruby, Pearl, HTML, UNIX, Python, all pretty mandatory languages to be a software developer at a large company...

I find it pretty rare that a company requires a developer to work in this many languages. Most developers have a couple of languages that they can really rock out (not counting things like JS/HTML/etc). It's extremely rare that I found developers that know non-complementary things like C# and Unix.
Currently studying for: Still deciding.

Done!
2020 - Harvard Extension School - ALM IT Management 
2019 - Harvard Extension School - Graduate Certificate Data Science
2018 - Harvard Extension School - Graduate Certificate Cyber Security
2016 - WGU - MBA Mgmt & Strategy
2015 - Thomas Edison State College - BSBA Marketing & CIS
#26
Unix isn't a language.
Northwestern California University School of Law
JD Law, 2027 (in progress, currently 2L)

Georgia Tech
MS Cybersecurity (Policy), 2021

Thomas Edison State University
BA Computer Science, 2023
BA Psychology, 2016
AS Business Administration, 2023
Certificate in Operations Management, 2023
Certificate in Computer Information Systems, 2023

Western Governors University
BS IT Security, 2018

Chaffey College
AA Sociology, 2015

Accumulated Credit: Undergrad: 258.50 | Graduate: 32

View all of my credit on my Omni Transcript!
Visit the DegreeForum Community Wiki!
#27
I don't think most companies expect a SW Dev to know ALL of those languages. They usually want 1 or 2, maybe some familiarity with others. Many companies are all switching to one platform and want experts in that. Some companies have legacy systems (think AT&T with some 30-year old programs) and need people to replace the old guys who are retiring. But to expect someone to know and write in 7 languages seems pretty extreme.
TESU BSBA/HR 2018 - WVNCC BOG AAS 2017 - GGU Cert in Mgmt 2000
EXAMS: TECEP Tech Wrtg, Comp II, LA Math, PR, Computers  DSST Computers, Pers Fin  CLEP Mgmt, Mktg
COURSES: TESU Capstone  Study.com Pers Fin, Microecon, Stats  Ed4Credit Acct 2  PF Fin Mgmt  ALEKS Int & Coll Alg  Sophia Proj Mgmt The Institutes - Ins Ethics  Kaplan PLA
#28
Honestly, being a software dev isn't really about "knowing languages" it's about knowing how to program and to design systems. A good dev learns whatever language he needs to get the job done. That's why the BACS doesn't require a bunch of language courses in the AOS.
NanoDegree: Intro to Self-Driving Cars (2019)
Coursera: Stanford Machine Learning (2019)
TESU: BA in Comp Sci (2016)
TECEP:Env Ethics (2015); TESU PLA:Software Eng, Computer Arch, C++, Advanced C++, Data Struct (2015); TESU Courses:Capstone, Database Mngmnt Sys, Op Sys, Artificial Intel, Discrete Math, Intro to Portfolio Dev, Intro PLA (2014-16); DSST:Anthro, Pers Fin, Astronomy (2014); CLEP:Intro to Soc (2014); Saylor.org:Intro to Computers (2014); CC: 69 units (1980-88)

PLA Tips Thread - TESU: What is in a Portfolio?
#29
bluebooger Wrote:"but his advice is pretty standard."
that there's no substitute for a CS degree if you want to be a software developer ??

Maybe a better way of phrasing my interpretation is that if you want a degree in computer science, then there is no substitute for a computer science degree.

Other posters have described pretty well the differences between degrees, I would hope anyone looking for advice on what path to take would do their due diligence.
#30
edwardfurlong Wrote:Maybe a better way of phrasing my interpretation is that if you want a degree in computer science, then there is no substitute for a computer science degree.

That just strikes me as a tautology... If you want a degree in basketweaving, there's no substitute for a basketweaving degree..

FWIW I don't really have a dog in this fight and I'm not "taking sides", I just thought this post didn't really make any sense.
TESU BSBA/GenMgmt, Graduation approved for March 2017
CR Sources: 75cr(StraighterLine), 15cr(Saylor), 6cr(ALEKS), 6cr(Kaplan, TESU), 12cr(PF), 6cr(CLEP)


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  What do i Do if an application asks for GPA with a degree from the Big 3? Crt 5 3,615 09-19-2018, 08:54 AM
Last Post: Johmford
  Transfer Credit towards degree @ TESU Supermind 2 3,280 09-14-2018, 03:30 PM
Last Post: dfrecore
  Help with figuring out TESU History Degree plan AJay5595 10 3,930 09-06-2018, 10:56 AM
Last Post: BAngieB
  Associates degree in Business - Options? allen3373 9 3,132 09-04-2018, 02:57 PM
Last Post: cookderosa
  My Technical Studies Degree Plan SRES 17 5,853 08-31-2018, 12:23 AM
Last Post: dfrecore
  BSBA in Finance Degree Plan from TESU UnbreakablyDetermined 2 3,076 08-30-2018, 11:22 PM
Last Post: Luiscastaneda25
  Has anyone been overlooked for a degree Crt 21 6,001 08-29-2018, 12:06 PM
Last Post: jsd
  Advice on Choosing a Degree Program UnbreakablyDetermined 3 2,265 08-26-2018, 08:06 PM
Last Post: dfrecore
  COSC 2nd Degree Plan mb232627 5 2,716 08-24-2018, 12:55 AM
Last Post: mb232627
  TESU math degree plan. Am I doing this right? jakepg 9 3,120 08-23-2018, 09:20 PM
Last Post: armstrongsubero

Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)