Hi All, I purchased the guide to computer degrees via DL, and have checked through it but would like everyone else's opinion too. I have about 100 or so credits done already, originally started in business then went towards computers so MIS seemed like the best option for me, any suggestions from everyone as to what the best/fastest way to finish my BS in MIS would be? thanks, Daniel
If you have most of core business courses done then Thomas Edison State College (TESC) has a BSBA with a CIS major that you might be close to finishing. They have no residency requirements, so you can take courses from any (RA) school that you want and/or get credit by exam. Click here for the BSBA program page. There are links at the bottom of the page for the major requirements. I'm finishing the BA in CS this semester from TESC. You might want to check that as well, but it requires more math and more specific CS requirements vs. the business requirements for the BSBA in CIS. Excelsior might also have some options for you, but I'm more familiar with TESC since I'm enrolled with them. I do know that Excelsior offers a BS in MIS business oriented degree, and a BS in CIS technically oriented degree.
I was looking at the ones for Thomas Edison, seems a requirment is programming, which is understood for CS, but thats really not my bag. I'm much more into networking and stuff, should check more into the regents one I guess. thanks, Daniel
Well, the "programming requirement" for the CIS major at TESC is really just a single 3 sh course. It even lists PowerBuilder and HTML as possible courses that can be used to fulfill it, so you wouldn't *really* need to any programming. The rest is just a Systems Analysis and Design course and electives which could be networking or database related rather than programming. It seems very flexible, so I wouldn't discount it. I'm betting that you could use courses in your areas of interest to meet the requirements, and it is a BSBA, so you would also have a business degree. That's not to say that the Excelsior MIS degree might not be better for you, but I'd do a serious comparison between them. Also remember that Excelsior assigns a grade to proficiency exams, while TESC does not, so that could influence your decision depending on which you prefer. There are also other options out there, but I think that these two will probably allow you to make the most use of your transfer credits. I had 114 sh of transfer credit, and I'm going to be able to finish both a BA in CS and a BA in Psychology in about 5 months with TESC. Good luck!
Thanks a lot, I just glanced at it quickly and dismissed it cause I thought it would be full courses and exams on C++ or something. I'll check that out more tonight. Daniel
Also, Gary since you are in the program right now maybe you can shed some light on this for me too, can you explain that price structure a bit? I mean it has a comprehensive cost of the first year of 3950, then underneath it then there is the breakdown, but then there are credit costs, are they on top of the comp costs? thanks again. Daniel
Sure. I know that it's a bit confusing at first. Basically, there are two options. The first is the Comprehensive Tuition Plan, which includes all of your fees for the year, including up to 12 sh of courses per term (36 sh total) and unlimited TECEP (Thomas Edison equivalency) exams. The second option is the Enrolled Options Plan, which only includes one year of enrollment and advising at TESC. Under this plan TECEP exams and any courses you might take from TESC would be charged at the listed rate for enrolled students. So, you can decide how many TESC courses and TECEP exams you would want to take, and figure out which plan would be best for you. The Comprehensive Tuition Plan really is a good deal if you would take advantage of it. It happens that the CS courses I would have taken from TESC are being reworked this semester (thus unavailable), and I don't need any TECEP exams, so I went with the Enrolled Options Plan. I am already so close to completion that it wouldn't have been worth the extra $2400 for the Comprehensive Tuition Plan. The good thing is that you can take your courses from anywhere that you like, so I'm taking 6 courses (18 sh) from 3 different schools this semester, for a total of about $1400. I also need 4 CLEP exams, so my total will be around $3200 plus books, estimating on the high side, for both degrees (18 sh of coursework and 18 sh of CLEP credit). If I had needed more courses and/or needed many TECEP exams then I probably would have jumped on the Comprehensive Tuition Plan. You have a lot of credits too, so unless they won't all apply to your degree you might be in the same situation as me. You should look at what you're lacking and try to pick up as many CLEP or DANTES exams as you can to fill the gaps. I need 30 sh beyond the first degree in order to get the second degree (I'll already meet the major requirements for both degrees after this semester), so I'm taking some of the CLEP exams that are worth 6 sh just to get general elective credit. I figure that I already paid the enrollment fee, and TESC will just charge me another $165 graduation fee, so I may as well just take a few of the easy CLEP or DANTES exams and get both a CS and a Psych degree. Hell, maybe I should find another one that I could finish with just some extra exams. I would like to also get a business degree, but two of the courses that I'd need for a BSBA don't have equivalent exams, and a 3rd bachelors degree probably isn't worth the effort of actually taking more courses, especially since I want to start grad school ASAP. Sorry, I'm kind of rambling I guess. Let me know if you have any questions, I'm not sure if I explained that clearly. - Gary
Thanks for the clarification Gary, would make more sense if they added something like that to their own page. Do you know if they have a assesment type of thing so they could tell me how much everything I have is worth, and if so is there a charge like there is @ excelsior? thanks again, Daniel
No problem! If you haven't found it you should look at this page. They don't have it in a logical place on their site structure, so it can be hard to find. The evaluation is included in either enrollment plan. I'm not sure if they would do an evaluation before you enroll, which seems silly since that could affect your decision to enroll in the first place. If they would do it though then it is probably the same as "Change of Program" fee ($75) since that covers a new evaluation if you decide to switch to a different degree. I had to call them a few times for information before I enrolled. The administration takes too long to respond to email, but they are very helpful on the phone, so it's the quickest way to get answers. Their toll free # is 1-888-442-8372. There's also a lot of info in the pdf of their catalog, which is online here. I'd bookmark these URLs since they aren't real obvious on their site. Good luck, and let me know if I can help any more! - Gary
TESC does have an assessment program, but they do not promote it heavily, and I have not seen any mention of it on their Web site. You should call the Office of Admissions at 1-888-442-8372 and request the form for the Pre-enrollment Evaluation Program. According to Director of Admissions Gordon K. Holly, to participate in this program, you must be an applicant to the College and have paid the $75.00 non-refundable application fee. This program requires you to pay a $200.00 fee to have your transfer courses evaluated. The advantage of participating in this program is that once your transfer courses have been evaluated, and you decide that you want to enroll in Thomas Edison State College, you can have the fee applied towards your annual enrollment tuition. If you enroll into TESC, by paying the annual enrollment tuition within 45 days from the date of the transfer credit evaluation was completed, all $200.00 will be applied towards your annual enrollment tuition. After 45 days, if you have not enrolled, the $200.00 will be charged as an evaluation fee to TESC and $0.00 will be applied towards your annual enrollment tuition. Note: the program is for transfer credit evaluation only. To receive a program plan or academic advisement, you must enroll into the college. The process takes approximately 30-45 days. Gus Sainz
I called today to speak with a TESC admin person. She told me the pre-eval is now $300 but it still enables you to have it applied to your tuition if you choose to go with the school. She also said about the CIS programs and the one under business and one under technology, with the one under business I think she said I might be able to get 10 credits for my mcse too which would be nice. Also I would have to check into their profile accessment part because with everything from building to running and selling a restaurant over the last 5 years I've covered at least a course or two. Thanks so much for all the suggestions, you guys have been a big help. Daniel
