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+--- Thread: Need direction (/Thread-Need-direction--35171)
Need direction - electronicgenius - 06-24-2020
Hi all I am new here and would love some advice on the situation that I am in. I apologize in advance if this isn't the proper channel to post in. Recently I graduated from a bootcamp and realized that I need a computer science degree to really exceed in the field. I came across a program from coursera that offers a bachelors from the University of London in computer of science but have my reservations because it still new and doesn't have any graduates. I have also been looking into doing all my courses that I can on study.com and then transferring the little left to a better university but don't know how to do this or where to start. I need advice on making a degree plan and on potential best schools that would accept those courses. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated and if anyone has time to make a good degree plan that would be greatly appreciated as well!
RE: Need direction - Merlin - 06-24-2020
(06-24-2020, 12:40 AM)electronicgenius Wrote: Hi all I am new here and would love some advice on the situation that I am in. I apologize in advance if this isn't the proper channel to post in. Recently I graduated from a bootcamp and realized that I need a computer science degree to really exceed in the field. I came across a program from coursera that offers a bachelors from the University of London in computer of science but have my reservations because it still new and doesn't have any graduates. I have also been looking into doing all my courses that I can on study.com and then transferring the little left to a better university but don't know how to do this or where to start. I need advice on making a degree plan and on potential best schools that would accept those courses. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated and if anyone has time to make a good degree plan that would be greatly appreciated as well!
A good place to start is probably to discuss what credits you have and how you like to learn.
Keep in mind that if you're considering an earned-admission approach (like via Coursera or EdX, etc.), you may have trouble bringing in credits from places like Study.com. But it is a good (and less expensive) way to get into a more traditionally-focused CS program. Some of the earned admission degrees are at highly ranked schools as well, so if this is important to you, you may want to continue down that path. They aren't exactly cheap though, and you're still looking at 3+ years at most of these schools, but it's doable.
On the other hand, if you are a quick study and able to work on your own, you may want to consider looking TESU or WGU as your destination school for a BACS or BSCS. Depending on where you're starting from credits-wise, you can generally create a plan that will get you through a CS degree within a year or two and for under $10,000 depending on how aggressive you want to be on completing coursework. Both are legitimate, regionally accredited schools, though neither are particularly well-known. The caveat with WGU is that you need to be a US resident and you'll need to have completed precalculus or higher to qualify for admission, but you can just take Calculus at Study.com or Straighterline.
If you're more interested in writing software, WGU also has a BS in Software Development degree that is a drop-in replacement for a degree in CS for most hiring managers, particularly if you're focused on web or mobile app development. You don't need to know Calculus for that one.
If you're open to non-CS specific degrees then a lot more options open up for alternative schools. For example, COSC has a bachelor's degree in General Studies with a subject area concentration in Computer Science Studies. It's not quite a CS degree, but it walks and talks like one. NAU has a competency-based BS in Computer Information Technology that is CS-like and fairly well regarded. Several other schools have BSIT degrees that can be focused like a degree in CS as well.
So once you figure out where you are and where you want to go, it will be easier to help you figure out a plan to get there.
RE: Need direction - rachel83az - 06-24-2020
I'm currently going for a CS degree at TESU. With the Sophia.org courses that are free right now, I'm looking at spending under $6k for my degree. Most of that will be via the 6-credit requirement that TESU has.
Do you currently have any credits at all?
What field are you going into? Full-stack? Data science? Software development? Depending on what career you're wanting, a degree in cybersecurity might be a better option than CS.
RE: Need direction - Merlin - 06-24-2020
(06-24-2020, 03:08 AM)rachel83az Wrote: I'm currently going for a CS degree at TESU. With the Sophia.org courses that are free right now, I'm looking at spending under $6k for my degree. Most of that will be via the 6-credit requirement that TESU has.
Do you currently have any credits at all?
What field are you going into? Full-stack? Data science? Software development? Depending on what career you're wanting, a degree in cybersecurity might be a better option than CS.
I think of Cybersecurity as more IT than CS, but yeah there are tons of technology-oriented degrees out there beyond CS that could be great alternatives depending on where someone's interests lie. Looking at those would also add more options for destination schools.
I just assumed that when the OP mentioned that they just completed a bootcamp, that it was probably a software development focused bootcamp of some kind, particularly since they specifically mentioned CS degrees.
RE: Need direction - ctcarl - 06-24-2020
In addition to IT, Excelsior offers Bachelors in Technology Management, Cyber Security, and Electrical Engineering Technology.
RE: Need direction - electronicgenius - 06-24-2020
(06-24-2020, 02:11 AM)Merlin Wrote:(06-24-2020, 12:40 AM)electronicgenius Wrote: Hi all I am new here and would love some advice on the situation that I am in. I apologize in advance if this isn't the proper channel to post in. Recently I graduated from a bootcamp and realized that I need a computer science degree to really exceed in the field. I came across a program from coursera that offers a bachelors from the University of London in computer of science but have my reservations because it still new and doesn't have any graduates. I have also been looking into doing all my courses that I can on study.com and then transferring the little left to a better university but don't know how to do this or where to start. I need advice on making a degree plan and on potential best schools that would accept those courses. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated and if anyone has time to make a good degree plan that would be greatly appreciated as well!
A good place to start is probably to discuss what credits you have and how you like to learn.
Keep in mind that if you're considering an earned-admission approach (like via Coursera or EdX, etc.), you may have trouble bringing in credits from places like Study.com. But it is a good (and less expensive) way to get into a more traditionally-focused CS program. Some of the earned admission degrees are at highly ranked schools as well, so if this is important to you, you may want to continue down that path. They aren't exactly cheap though, and you're still looking at 3+ years at most of these schools, but it's doable.
On the other hand, if you are a quick study and able to work on your own, you may want to consider looking TESU or WGU as your destination school for a BACS or BSCS. Depending on where you're starting from credits-wise, you can generally create a plan that will get you through a CS degree within a year or two and for under $10,000 depending on how aggressive you want to be on completing coursework. Both are legitimate, regionally accredited schools, though neither are particularly well-known. The caveat with WGU is that you need to be a US resident and you'll need to have completed precalculus or higher to qualify for admission, but you can just take Calculus at Study.com or Straighterline.
If you're more interested in writing software, WGU also has a BS in Software Development degree that is a drop-in replacement for a degree in CS for most hiring managers, particularly if you're focused on web or mobile app development. You don't need to know Calculus for that one.
If you're open to non-CS specific degrees then a lot more options open up for alternative schools. For example, COSC has a bachelor's degree in General Studies with a subject area concentration in Computer Science Studies. It's not quite a CS degree, but it walks and talks like one. NAU has a competency-based BS in Computer Information Technology that is CS-like and fairly well regarded. Several other schools have BSIT degrees that can be focused like a degree in CS as well.
So once you figure out where you are and where you want to go, it will be easier to help you figure out a plan to get there.
Thank you for the reply I can find a list of what I completed and post it here is that ok? Also I'm not fixated on any one path and kind of keeping my options open but I do want to find a day job as a software engineer and work on my degree at night, weekends, and when I have free time. I figured using study.com I can complete a majority of the classes then find a good university that will let me complete the rest online even if its a full time schedule I think I can make it work. I want to go to a good school to better my chances in the industry I heard mixed things about WGU but have never heard of TESU is it a good school? I will post the general courses I completed soon that way it will give more info on my situation. Thank you for helping out!
(06-24-2020, 03:08 AM)rachel83az Wrote: I'm currently going for a CS degree at TESU. With the Sophia.org courses that are free right now, I'm looking at spending under $6k for my degree. Most of that will be via the 6-credit requirement that TESU has.
Do you currently have any credits at all?
What field are you going into? Full-stack? Data science? Software development? Depending on what career you're wanting, a degree in cybersecurity might be a better option than CS.
Nice may I ask how you like it so far? I want to go into software development most likely.
RE: Need direction - rachel83az - 06-24-2020
(06-24-2020, 11:15 AM)electronicgenius Wrote:(06-24-2020, 03:08 AM)rachel83az Wrote: I'm currently going for a CS degree at TESU. With the Sophia.org courses that are free right now, I'm looking at spending under $6k for my degree. Most of that will be via the 6-credit requirement that TESU has.
Do you currently have any credits at all?
What field are you going into? Full-stack? Data science? Software development? Depending on what career you're wanting, a degree in cybersecurity might be a better option than CS.
Nice may I ask how you like it so far? I want to go into software development most likely.
It's okay. I'm still working on Sophia and a few other things right now (so many freebies!), so I haven't had much of a chance to do much in the way of things related to CS. I'm actually hoping to go into data analytics myself, but that particular degree from TESU costs a lot more than this route and most employers just want a CS or math degree anyway. It's definitely a degree geared more towards programmers than what I'm hoping to do: https://www.tesu.edu/heavin/ba/computer-science
Starting from almost 0 credits a couple of months ago, I've already completed about 1/4th of the credits necessary for a BA. I've got at least 12 more in the hopper at ASU, 3 at Coursera via the Google IT Support Professional certificate, and a couple free/almost free 1-credit classes elsewhere. Plus the remainder of Sophia. I'm hoping to be more or less done with everything by the end of the year.
RE: Need direction - electronicgenius - 06-24-2020
(06-24-2020, 11:43 AM)rachel83az Wrote:(06-24-2020, 11:15 AM)electronicgenius Wrote:(06-24-2020, 03:08 AM)rachel83az Wrote: I'm currently going for a CS degree at TESU. With the Sophia.org courses that are free right now, I'm looking at spending under $6k for my degree. Most of that will be via the 6-credit requirement that TESU has.
Do you currently have any credits at all?
What field are you going into? Full-stack? Data science? Software development? Depending on what career you're wanting, a degree in cybersecurity might be a better option than CS.
Nice may I ask how you like it so far? I want to go into software development most likely.
It's okay. I'm still working on Sophia and a few other things right now (so many freebies!), so I haven't had much of a chance to do much in the way of things related to CS. I'm actually hoping to go into data analytics myself, but that particular degree from TESU costs a lot more than this route and most employers just want a CS or math degree anyway. It's definitely a degree geared more towards programmers than what I'm hoping to do: https://www.tesu.edu/heavin/ba/computer-science
Starting from almost 0 credits a couple of months ago, I've already completed about 1/4th of the credits necessary for a BA. I've got at least 12 more in the hopper at ASU, 3 at Coursera via the Google IT Support Professional certificate, and a couple free/almost free 1-credit classes elsewhere. Plus the remainder of Sophia. I'm hoping to be more or less done with everything by the end of the year.
Nice how much would the whole degree cost you doing that way? Also how long do you need to finish you think? The TESU route seems very good but I am a little worried on how potential employers view this degree any insight on that?
RE: Need direction - Merlin - 06-24-2020
(06-24-2020, 11:15 AM)electronicgenius Wrote: Thank you for the reply I can find a list of what I completed and post it here is that ok?
That is perfectly fine. Many people post up copies of their transcripts or their college evaluation. Just make sure to redact any personal information, particularly things like address or social security numbers, just in case.
Alternatively, you can just manually type in the courses. The sticky outlines the recommended format, but it for colleges it basically comes down to listing all pass/CR credits and any graded credits that come in with a D or higher along with the credits each earned and whether those credits are quarter or semester credits. For ACE credits and exams like CLEP/DSST you can just list the courses, credits earned and where they came from. If you have any technology-related credits, you should also list when they were earned since some schools require them to have recency. 5 years is common for tech credits.
(06-24-2020, 11:15 AM)electronicgenius Wrote: Also I'm not fixated on any one path and kind of keeping my options open but I do want to find a day job as a software engineer and work on my degree at night, weekends, and when I have free time. I figured using study.com I can complete a majority of the classes then find a good university that will let me complete the rest online even if its a full time schedule I think I can make it work. I want to go to a good school to better my chances in the industry I heard mixed things about WGU but have never heard of TESU is it a good school? I will post the general courses I completed soon that way it will give more info on my situation. Thank you for helping out!
Technically you don't need a degree at all to be a successful software engineer. Many of my best engineers were self-educated and never earned a college degree, or they earned a degree in some discipline unrelated to software development. Heck, I've got more than 20 years of experience in software development and engineering management and I didn't earn my first degree until last year. Having a strong development portfolio is better than a degree any day. Show a company the websites you've built, or the mobile apps you have in the play store or on iTunes, and you're likely at least get an interview. That said, having a CS or Software Development degree will open doors in some places that require all candidates to at least have a bachelor's degree in order to consider your application. Your alma mater is particularly valuable if you manage to earn a degree from a well-known college or a school with a top-20 CS program. Though that value fades quickly... your school is really only important when you're a new graduate with no real-world experience. The more experience you have the less the college matters beyond things like alumni connections, etc.
As for TESU vs WGU, they are pretty much equivalent. TESU (Thomas Edison State University) is just a small state college in New Jersey. So unless you're from NJ and applying to jobs in NJ, chances are nobody will have heard of TESU. WGU is a huge school and is a bit better well known. Their IT and CS programs have a positive reputation (at least in some circles) but they are not a ranked CS school.
If you want a degree from a top-ranked CS school or a school with a lot of name recognition, that is cool, but those are highly competitive and generally pretty expensive. Unless you have great grades and amazing references you're going to have a tough time getting in. Your best bet is to look for a ranked school with an earned admission provision. You can find a few of them on places like EdX or Coursera.
RE: Need direction - dfrecore - 06-24-2020
(06-24-2020, 08:16 AM)ctcarl Wrote: In addition to IT, Excelsior offers Bachelors in Technology Management, Cyber Security, and Electrical Engineering Technology.
None of those are able to be tested out of, or gotten cheaply.