CMP 354 - Course

[rachel83az]

Please let us know how it goes.  Most people on this board are philosophically opposed to taking an actual course so 'field reports' are quite valuable.  Especially now with the RA credit requirements.

Less "philosophically opposed" and more "financially opposed". There's no reason to spend $2k on a course (for books, fees, tuition, etc.) when you can get the same thing from somewhere else for a fraction of the price.

Indeed. Except you can't get this course in the upper level flavor besides the TECEP which is widely regarded as nigh impossible. So taking it from TESU is an option.

I agree $2k is a pile of money. Giving up on an IT degree for a no concentration BALS to save $2k is in my humble opinion, pennywise and pound foolish.

That's my main objection to the save money at all costs advice perennially given here. The difference between marketable degrees and box checking degrees is usually one or two hard to get (cheaply) courses. If all you need is a box checked then by all means go cheap. Otherwise perhaps it is wiser to go marketable. *Shrug*

I totally agree that a check-the-box degree is not always the best option. A BALS isn't the worst choice but there can be better options out there. Personally, I would rather have an English or a History degree than a BALS degree. Not that I'm knocking anyone who chooses to go for a BALS, because it is still a lot of work, but the truth is that a lot of employers probably don't see it that way.

If I were taking the "cheap" path, I'd already be done with a BALS. Instead, I'm still wading through computer science.