Hi guys, first time poster here, long time reader. I've been checking out these boards, on and off, for the past few years. I've learned a lot from reading your posts, and for that reason, out of all the message boards related to distance education, I decided that this was the place where I should ask my questions. I already have a BA, and I'm interested in getting a formal CS education. I know it's still a comparatively meritocratic field, and knowing what you're doing is more important than having a degree. So I'll certainly do some independent learning and look into getting some basic certifications, since that seems to be a common piece of advice for newcomers. But I'd still like to have a more rigorous understanding of computer science. So that brings me to my main question: Do I take just a few CS undergrad courses and try and get into a CS grad program? Or, do I take the full CS undergrad barrage of courses, essentially getting a second BS? I'm looking at the Oregon State second bachelor's at the moment. As far as I see it, the pros are: (1) Solid, respectable school (2) Pretty comprehensive curriculum (3) Can be completed very quickly; they streamlined it so that it can be finished in 1 calendar year The cons are: (1) Very expen$ive (2) Since I have a BA and this is a BS, it could be seen as a lateral move I'd like to ask you guys, then: (1) Do you know of any other online BS in Comp Sci (not IT) that is (a) significantly cheaper than the ~$27,000 the Oregon State BS will cost, and (b) can be completed in one calendar year, or only very slightly more? (2) Would you just skip the second BS and move right onto an MS? If so, do you think someone who only had maybe a handful of CS undergrad courses under their belt would be at a big disadvantage trying to keep up in graduate level courses? I'd like to make a note that whether or not I decide to see any of these BS programs through to their completion, I will have to sign up as a matriculated student for loan purposes. I can't afford to pay out of pocket. On the bright side, though, I have absolutely no education debt from my first degree. Sorry for the thesis length ramblings above, but I anxiously await your advice!
FSU has a MS CS and here are the required undergrad prereqs: CS@FSU: UG CS Prerequisites COP 4530 Data Structures (listed as: CGS 5425 - Object Oriented Programming with Data Structures) COP 4531 Algorithm Analysis (listed as: CGS 5427 - Algorithm Design and Analysis) CDA 3100 Computer Organization I (listed as: CGS 5267 - Principles of Computer Organization) CDA 3101 Computer Organization II (listed as: CGS 5268 - Principles of Computer Organization II) COP 4610 Operating Systems (listed as: CGS 5765 - Principles of Operating Systems) COT 4420 Theory of Computation (listed as CGS 5429 - Introduction to Computer Theory) MAC 2311 Calculus I MAC 2312 Calculus II MAD 2104 & 3105 Discrete Math STA 4442 Introductory Probability I
Thanks, ryoder, for that info. The thing is, that's 8 classes (since I took Calc I/II & Stats/Probability already), which is quite a few just to get into a degree program. Is a master's really worth it in CS? I.e., is it worth the extra couple of years it would take me to do pre-reqs + MS over just doing the BS?
