Excelsior CIS Degree???

Did Excelsior change the CIS Degree to a degree in "Information Technology"? When I check their webpage everything that was CIS seems to be Information Technology ??

I'm planning on enrolling sometime later in the year and I preferred the "CIS" name. Do any current Excelsior students know anything about this?

Brandon

 

We don't have any current Excelsior CIS students on the forum?

Brandon

 

I'm not a current or former student but it does look like they've changed the name from BS/CIS to BS/IT.

They also no longer accept ICCP exams for credit since ACE no longer rates those exams. I suspect the same will be true for other schools that have accepted ICCP for credit.

 

I still see the Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems in their technology and Engineering catalog. I also received an invitation to enroll in the said degree this year

 

Hi Mcdowell, unfortunately the catalog which is available on their webpage is not up-to-date. For instance, you can see the discrepencies regarding the math requirements (in the catalog it says that Disc Math is not required).

Brandon

 

Yeah, I'd be very interested in the details...I counsel a lot of servicepeople and this may be of value to them.

 

They have partial information their web site. The current BSIT catalog is not available for download, you have to request it by mail. I requested it, but never received it.

One thing I noticed on the site it says the degree includes "four 3-credit courses followed by a 6-credit capstone project developed and implemented over two semesters under the supervision of a faculty mentor."
Doesn't sound like it can be completed by examination only anymore.

Has anyone received the complete requirements for the new program or enrolled in the new BS in Information Technology program?
Has the new program even started yet?

 

I emailed the enrollment staff - apparently you can enroll in the new program now but the "official" starting date is 31 March 2005. After that you will not be able to enroll in the older BSCIS program. Until then you can - if you feel the BSCIS is better suited to your needs.

 

I don't know which is better suited until I can compare them!
Do you know what all the changes are betwen the two degrees?
I'm hoping they send the info quickly since the deadline to enroll in the old program is near.
The description on the web site seem to imply it is going to be a more time-consuming program (2 semester capstone project etc.), so I'm inclined to enroll in the old program before it's too late, but I'd like to see the details of the BSIT first.

 

I know how you feel. I guess I have 2 weeks to enroll in the old program, but I don't know if I should. What is the difference? Do they still accept all the certificates? Will they still have the 8 core "CIS" requirements? What about Disc Math? I already planned my 120 credits .. if I need to do 2 capstone projects it will take longer and I'll have too many credits.

I really appreciate any info you all might be able to share.

Thanks,
Brandon

 

Now they offer six concentrations:
Info Sec
Network Man
OO SW Dev
Internet Tech for E-commerce
Mulitmedia & Web Dev
Video Game and Simulation Dev

"Each concentration includes 4 3-credit courses followed by a 6-credit capstone project developed and implemented over 2 semesters under the supervision of a faculty mentor."

-- hmm ... the project alone requires 2 semesters with Excelsior ... now what are the chances of finishing within 1 year so as to avoid the yearly enrollment fee ???

 

I'm wondering what facilities the student would need access to for, "independent research, learning emerging technologies, and gaining experience in the implementation of a large project."

 

A decent research library should be enough. Most of it could be done with just pen and paper.

 

received a reply from Excelsior ...

----------------------------

Thank you for your inquiry in Excelsior College. The new Information Technology degree program will be starting April 1, 2005. The new changes will be in the Technology Component. Unofortunately, degree requirements for the Information Security Concentration are not available as of yet. However, the most current information will be posted on our website. I have attached a link for the most current inormation we have available at this time. I would encourage you to stay updated with the website so that you can view more detailed information on the Information Security Concentration within the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Degree Program.

https://www.excelsior.edu/portal/page?_pageid=57,84867&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

I hope this information is helpful to you. If you need further assistance, please contact us again or call our toll free number at 1-888-647-2388 "

------------------

So you don't have that much time to sign up for the old program and you can't find anything out about the new program...

Brandon

 

This is interesting information.

I sent in an application and was accepted to enroll in the CIS program, in Jan-05. They said the offer was valid for 6 months. I was planning to wait until about the end of 5 months (with the hope that I will have a better chance of finishing in 1 year).

I am now wondering if I wait until after the 31-Mar-05 if I will still be able to register in the old program.

 

I spoke to Excelsior yesterday. They said I need to enroll by 31-Mar-2005

 

Since it looks like the new BSIT program would take longer to complete, no one has all the details on on the new BSIT program and the deadline to enroll in the CIS program is the end of this month, I think I'll enroll in the BSCIS program by the deadline.

I have an AA from a local community college and I need to complete about 60 units in less than 12 months to complete the BSCIS degree requirements. I quit working so I could devote all my time to focus on completing the requirements as quickly as possible, therefore every month it takes to complete the degree will be a month of lost income.
I'm in the process of getting IT certifications for MCSE 2003 Security Specialization and CCNA by mid August. I'm planning to enroll in the Discrete Math and Statistics online courses at Athabasca in the fall semester and hopefully I will be able to quickly complete the Technology Core requirements, any remaining CIS elective units not covered by the IT certifications, and any remaining required upper division units by completing 4 week online courses at Keiser College and a few examinations for credit.

 

Even though the new program will probably take longer ... I think I'm going to wait for it. My reasons:
1. I like the idea of having a concentration in Security
2. I think it's good to be able to say you have some project management courses/projects in your IT degree.

But if you're more interested in finishing ASAP ... I guess you should go for the CIS.

Brandon

 

I registered for the old program last week.

In my estimation I think I am going in with about 60 semister hours. I am going to push real hard to try and finish this year.

I have most of the core requirements outstanding. I am planning to take C programming, Database management, and Operating System from TECEP. Not sure about where I will do the rest yet.

I will also be doing Network+, Security+ and Ebiz+ from COMPTIA.

For the social sciences I think CLEP and DANTES will do me ok. I know I have the English requirement to do seperately.

 

I sent for information on the new IT degree, but they sent me info info on the old Technology degree programs. They are really behind getting the details out on the new IT program, but you can see the general idea of it on the website.
Since the deadline to enroll is the CIS program is so near, I'll just enroll in that program, since I can always change majors to the IT program later.