Is there any news or experience with the Excelsior BS degree in CIS? Looks like a good program at first glance?
Hi Veteran Just a couple of quick points and then perhaps someone with more experience can comment. The program is not very new. It has been around at least for several years. There are several members who have graduated. Ellis and Larry come to mind. I seriously looked it over but becasue it was a degree in CIS not CS, from a very unconventional college, and was from the other side of the U.S. I have continued looking. I especially like the programs at Troy State U., Tombstone C., Fort Hays S. U., and Touro University International. All that said, the Excelsior program has some very strong points also. Good luck.
Re: Re: Excelsior's new program Dave, I'm not sure if there is an "official" difference between CIS and CS (or IT) any more. Examples: 85-90% of my undergrad work was done in a C.S. program at a NJ State College. (Ramapo College of NJ). At Ramapo the CIS program fell under the business department and was really geared toward computer users while the CS program was in the science department and was geared toward the development/engineering folks. I had to leave Ramapo due to a relocation, and much to my surprise the Regents CIS program was identical to the Ramapo CS program in nearly every way. ALL of my credits transfered and I picked up where I left off, with one difference.... Regents (now Excelsior) required me to take 4 credits of a physical science. I satisfied this with a D.L. course from the University of Southern Colorado. But: My point being that Regents/Excelsior's CIS in my opinion *IS* a CS program. That said: Regents does seem to have a pretty heavy liberal arts component. (Which was fine with me since Ramapo was a Liberal Arts college so again it was a good match.) It's a good program. If you have any questions please ask or e-mail me and I'll see what I can do to help. - Ellis
Hi Ellis I like Excelsior and I like their CIS program. I also agree there is a lot of blurring between CS, CIS, IT, IS, and MIS. Degrees can, as you pointed out, have identical content but totally different titles. At least some jobs specificly require a CS degree over the others. Also, I believe that to some degree a CS is held in higher regard. For me the DL stigma, unconventional college name, CIS title led me to continue to look. While I like the Excelsior program I have a preference for the programs from Troy State, Touro I.U., and Tombstone College for myself. For others the Excelsior program may be better. Now watch me turn up in a year with the Excelsior degree.
Dave, I wasn't questioning your decision. You are correct in choosing a program that will best meet your needs. For myself I was far enough along in my program when I *began* Regents that it only made since to finish in a program whereas I had to repeat as little as possible. (Quite seriously, when I looked at local residential schools they wanted me to repeat as many as 50 credits .... I would have gone without a degree I think.) Also: I was far enough along in my career with documented experience, and even a publication at the time that where I went wasn't so much as important as the fact that I went at all. For the future: With an undergrad and a graduate degree in CIS and MIT, I can tell you this: My next degree is going to be in something totally different. (I'm leaning heavilly toward educaton at this point.) Time for a change.
Huh? Am I crazy, or is it nearly impossible to find a URL for Tombstone College on several search engines? Anybody have it?
