I was hoping to do a 100% self-study and test my way to a BSCS. Unfortunately, COSC only has a BS in General studies with a concentration in CS, and TESC has a BACS. At this point, unless there is another option for BSCS, I need help in deciding between the BSGSCS and a BACS. I'm not sure which is considered most similar to a BSCS by employers. I have a lot of work expericence, so it's probably not as big of a deal for me. However, I would like to get some input and suggestions. P.S. Also would like clarification on whether or not requirements for CS (esp UL stuff) can be fulfilled completely by testing. Thanks Jeremy Ross
I'm not aware of any BSCS that can be completed entirely through testing, and for that matter I don't think that the TESC's BA in CS can be completed entirely through testing. It's possible that there is a school (maybe Ohio?) that does offer exams for courses that would satisfy the requirements for the CS major at TESC. If so then this would work for TESC, but every BSCS program that I know of will require you to take at least 30 credits directly from that school in order to satisfy "residency" (credit residency, not physical residency) requirements. One thing to consider is that work experience is not likely to match up very well with what you would learn in a CS program; it's more likely that it directly relates to an IT or CIS type program, though obviously there is some overlap. Conversely, an IT or CIS degree probably has direct relevance to more jobs, but I think that employers in general may actually prefer a CS major because it is perceived as being more difficult. This is just my own speculation though, so it may or may not be true. I chose the BA in CS from TESC because the requirements fit well with the coursework I'd already taken, it seemed as though it would satisfy any "bachelor's degree in CS" requirement, and I wanted a bachelor's in CS to bolster whatever master's degree I might later decide to go after. At the time I wasn't sure if I'd continue on to graduate work, so I wanted to make sure that my bachelor's would help me on its own. However, in retrospect I wish that I'd just picked up the quickest bachelor's degree that I could (it only took me a few days to knock out the 3 CLEP exams I needed to complete my BA in Psych) and then went straight on to grad school. Maybe the BA in CS will help bolster the MSCS I'm working on, but I suspect that once I have the MS it won't really matter much which majors I completed as an undergrad.
I was in the same position as you. I wanted a BSCS but decided to complete my BS from COSC with a concentration in Technology and Business. I don't know which one would be considered most like a BSCS by employers but when you have a lot of work experience , I think the degree is just the icing on the cake.
