I'm very, very glad that I got the ASNSM in CS.
It's crazy, but I'm actually thinking of not doing the BA-CS. I didn't think I would ever give up on Comp Sci, because it's been basically a dream for years and on my bucket list. However, I'm wondering about doing a Learner Designed Area of Study that is somewhat similar, yet different enough to get approved.
Fair warning: my posts are going to go all over the place regarding this decision. I'm only in the brainstorming stage, but I sometimes write a lot and come to conclusions quickly.
All input is very appreciated, but, yes I am crazy and have an unusual situation due to my health. So please keep in mind that I am basically unable to pursue traditional career paths.
First of all, the biggest reason to not do it, in my mind, is that CS degrees get a lot of respect and therefore open doors. I'm not sure what my LDAS would be, but it needs to be something that sounds great. Personally I feel that Information Science does not get enough respect as people confuse it with Information Systems.
Another reason to not switch off CS would be if it increases the costs by much, but if I PLA, then the costs might even be lower not higher. And with PLA I wouldn't have this hassle of trying to get into classes before they fill up, and doing 15-16 weeks of assignments, etc. Then again, I know PLA has plenty of difficulties.
I've posted before that the tech area I'm most personally interested in is Information Architecture, and it sounds a bit better than Information Science to me. I guess I wouldn't want it to be just IA, however, if they allowed. My other main areas of interest are Info Accessibility and Knowledge Management. I do have experience in those areas. But I feel those sound weaker, they sound kind of like Informatics. Also, I feel pretty sure that there are some other areas of CS/IT that I would like to study and that I'd like to work in, but that I don't exactly know what they are. It took me quite a while to realize that IA was the name for what I had already done and enjoyed. I feel like there may be some area of Data Science that is fairly related that would fit in.
Another big reason to not bother is... I'm not really sure I want to work in IA. Ok, this is a huge reason, and most people would stop right there, not consider pursuing a degree in something like this. Anyone who has been following my posts knows that I am partly doing this for personal satisfaction, partly to gain different kinds of freelance/contract work, etc. It is hard for me to decide if I would look back someday and think that the decision was crazy.
On the other hand, is it any more crazy than doing CS? In some ways, maybe doing a specific area that's related is more likely to lead to employment/contract work because it sets me apart? Then again, CS is considered kind of foundational and comes with flexibility to work in most CS/IT areas. Especially if someone adds a certification or undergrad certificate, that might be all they need. Maybe IA would pin me down too much.
I guess I imagine that maybe someday I find a great job listing which involves IA. Maybe that's not the entire job, but it's part. And maybe they don't even know they need IA. Then the degree would make me stand out among the other candidates who only have "Information Science", CIS, etc. I feel like if the job was truly IA, then that degree would be more considered than CS.
I'm assuming TESU wouldn't allow something like "Computer Sci & Info Architecture". I feel like "Computer and Information Science" isn't good because it's too much like Comp Info Systems.
One thing I like about this is I feel like there might be non-tech positions where it applies. For example, my primary direction is going to be creating educational materials, hopefully. With a tech slant. I am more interested in doing IA work in an educational field rather than for a tech company. Or, in other words, I feel like information goes along with education more than CS does.
I do feel I might regret it someday if I pass up CS, and then I feel like I'm not getting hired for what I apply for.
I'm very confused about this at this point. I actually wish that I had not gotten the BSBA, but I didn't know at the time that I would be ok with studying for more than a year.
It's crazy, but I'm actually thinking of not doing the BA-CS. I didn't think I would ever give up on Comp Sci, because it's been basically a dream for years and on my bucket list. However, I'm wondering about doing a Learner Designed Area of Study that is somewhat similar, yet different enough to get approved.
Fair warning: my posts are going to go all over the place regarding this decision. I'm only in the brainstorming stage, but I sometimes write a lot and come to conclusions quickly.
All input is very appreciated, but, yes I am crazy and have an unusual situation due to my health. So please keep in mind that I am basically unable to pursue traditional career paths.
First of all, the biggest reason to not do it, in my mind, is that CS degrees get a lot of respect and therefore open doors. I'm not sure what my LDAS would be, but it needs to be something that sounds great. Personally I feel that Information Science does not get enough respect as people confuse it with Information Systems.
Another reason to not switch off CS would be if it increases the costs by much, but if I PLA, then the costs might even be lower not higher. And with PLA I wouldn't have this hassle of trying to get into classes before they fill up, and doing 15-16 weeks of assignments, etc. Then again, I know PLA has plenty of difficulties.
I've posted before that the tech area I'm most personally interested in is Information Architecture, and it sounds a bit better than Information Science to me. I guess I wouldn't want it to be just IA, however, if they allowed. My other main areas of interest are Info Accessibility and Knowledge Management. I do have experience in those areas. But I feel those sound weaker, they sound kind of like Informatics. Also, I feel pretty sure that there are some other areas of CS/IT that I would like to study and that I'd like to work in, but that I don't exactly know what they are. It took me quite a while to realize that IA was the name for what I had already done and enjoyed. I feel like there may be some area of Data Science that is fairly related that would fit in.
Another big reason to not bother is... I'm not really sure I want to work in IA. Ok, this is a huge reason, and most people would stop right there, not consider pursuing a degree in something like this. Anyone who has been following my posts knows that I am partly doing this for personal satisfaction, partly to gain different kinds of freelance/contract work, etc. It is hard for me to decide if I would look back someday and think that the decision was crazy.
On the other hand, is it any more crazy than doing CS? In some ways, maybe doing a specific area that's related is more likely to lead to employment/contract work because it sets me apart? Then again, CS is considered kind of foundational and comes with flexibility to work in most CS/IT areas. Especially if someone adds a certification or undergrad certificate, that might be all they need. Maybe IA would pin me down too much.
I guess I imagine that maybe someday I find a great job listing which involves IA. Maybe that's not the entire job, but it's part. And maybe they don't even know they need IA. Then the degree would make me stand out among the other candidates who only have "Information Science", CIS, etc. I feel like if the job was truly IA, then that degree would be more considered than CS.
I'm assuming TESU wouldn't allow something like "Computer Sci & Info Architecture". I feel like "Computer and Information Science" isn't good because it's too much like Comp Info Systems.
One thing I like about this is I feel like there might be non-tech positions where it applies. For example, my primary direction is going to be creating educational materials, hopefully. With a tech slant. I am more interested in doing IA work in an educational field rather than for a tech company. Or, in other words, I feel like information goes along with education more than CS does.
I do feel I might regret it someday if I pass up CS, and then I feel like I'm not getting hired for what I apply for.
I'm very confused about this at this point. I actually wish that I had not gotten the BSBA, but I didn't know at the time that I would be ok with studying for more than a year.
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