Any Bsc degrees in IT or Telecom related programs

Hi Everybody,

First of all let me introduce my self to you.
My name is JMC and I live in Somalie, a war torn country where anarchy exist for more than 15 years. Though live is better than half of African countries, but public service like Education and health don't exist anymore. Business is booming since there are no taxes and duties and everything is very cheap, it has one of the cheapest international calling with a rate of US$0.2 per minute anywhere in the world.
Anyway I work for the leading Telecom company in Somalie, and I work as a technician, I got this job as soon as I graduated from my high school two year ago, and know I am experienced in different field of telecom like transmission, switching, RF planning.
Me and my co-workers at the Technical department have no any academic telecom background, but we struggle to do our duties and we always succeed, some of my co-workers have more than 8 years of experience in Telecom and we work like real engineers with graduate degree in telecom, you can't imagine. and the company is happy with us.
But Sometimes we gatta problem, usually at summer time when Somalis came from overseas like UK and US, after they live there as refugees, and they got opportunities to study at highly respected universities in UK, USA or Canada. Most of them want to come back to their motherland but before that they have to get a secure employment, some of them come to our company and they show their degree in Telecom or IT. This was always a threat towards our employment, promotion as well as to earn more.
In order to avoid we have to achieve our own degrees from UK/US or Canada, there fore we where seeking for a low-cost, respected, accredited Bsc degree in IT/Computing or Telecom with a mode of study of 100% distance learning.
Please help me to find out before the next summer comes? If I start my degree I am freed from this damn square.

 

Welcome to DegreeInfo!

From what you wrote, it appears you are more in the telecom industry, and not so much in the IT industry. I'm not saying that you should not get an IT degree, but it sounds like what you want to be (and what you pretty much already are) is a telecommunications engineer. The following links are to both telecommunications and IT engineering programs... but, personally, I think you should concentrate on telecom stuff.

I'll be blunt: I fear that you will not be able to afford a US, Canadian, UK or Australian technology degree on a typical Somalie income. I could be wrong, but a typical degree from an institution on your continent costs a mere fraction of what similar degrees cost in the US, UK, Canada or Australia. For example, an entire distance learning masters degree which costs from $8,000(US) to $20,000(US) when obtained from an accredited institution in the US, UK, Canada or Australia may be obtained from one of the South African universites for $2,500(US) to $4,000(US). To say the difference in cost is "non-trivial" is an understatement.

So, for purely financial reasons, I believe that you should turn to University of South Africa (UNISA) and make sure, first, that you cannot get from it what you seek. It's accredited by its government; and it even has accreditation from an agency approved by the US Department of Education (USDE) and/or its Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). And it is, of course, a primarily distance learning institution. Getting answers from them via email before you've actually become a student can be difficult. The application process can also be daunting, frustrating and time-consuming. But once you get past that, I believe you'll find that UNISA's about as good as any distance learning institution you'll find out there.

If you exhaust your possibilities at UNISA, then perhaps the following links will help you at least get started looking in some of the right places...

• NOTE: Because some of the links, below, are merely Google search results, inappropriate links will be intermingled with appropriate ones. Obviously, you'll have to search through many pages of results, ignoring inappropriate results, in order to get a long list of interesting and appropriate results. Patience will be required. That said, the search results pages are above average and highly focused on what you're looking for because of the advanced search strings used to obtain them. All of the below links are supposed to be to distance learning programs, but some residential-only programs may have slipped-in, too.

First, for US telecom programs, you should most definitely become intimately familar with this web site.

• For some US telecom programs or related sites, click here.
  
• For some US IT engineering programs or related sites, click here.
  
• For some Australian telecom programs or related sites, click here.
  
• For some Australian IT engineering programs or related sites, click here.
  
• For some UK telecom programs or related sites, click here.
  
• For some UK IT engineering programs or related sites, click here.
  
• For some Canadian telecom programs or related sites, click here.
  
• For some Canadian IT engineering programs or related sites, click here.

Others, hopefully, will chime-in with more specific suggestions.

Good luck to you!

ADDENDUM: If you find a program that you like, be sure to check with the department or ministry of higher education of the government in which the institution is located and verify that said institution is accredited, and is not merely some kind of worthless diploma mill.

 

Greetings Abdi, and welcome to the board!

Gregg makes a good point: the average U.S. undergrad degree may be out of the price range of most Somalis (heck, it's out of MY price range, and I live here!)

However, your timing for this question is very good because Somalia has just started participating in the African Virtual University, which makes it possible for Somalis to participate in distance learning. You can read more about it here: http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-11-30-voa43.cfm

You can learn more about the African Virtual University here: http://www.avu.org/default.asp

I noticed that the African Virtual Univeristy does offer degrees and diplomas in computer science.

I hope that helps! Good luck!

 

Hi, Abdi.

Fort Hays State University has some interesting and inexpensive programs that may serve your purpose. And the academic study combines with CCNA study.

Will you be starting from the beginning on your college degree or do you have some college credit to apply to a degree?

Can you give us the names of some of the schools your returning expatriates have attended? It's possible that some of those schools are not as respected or accredited as is assumed.

 

Re: Re: Any Bsc degrees in IT or Telecom related programs

Excellent point! I didn't think about that.

Abdi, what he's saying is that it's very common for those from your country (and many others) to obtain fake diplomas and degrees from diploma/degree mills where you can just buy a degree for a few hundred dollars; and then for those people who do such things to go back to employers in their countries and impress them with their big degrees. You said you're worried about your own employer being so impressed by these degrees that your, as decimon calls them, "returning expatriates" have that they they might take your jobs. To help combat this, take the time to first educate yourself about diploma mills and how easily some of those impressive credentials might be fake; and then educate your bosses... and those who work alongside you.

Some of the articles on this very web site are excellent places to begin.

 

Hello Guys, Thanks for your valuable advise and quick response, I never saw somebody who is helpfull as you. Thanks and Thanks. GOD BLESS U GUYS.
Yes u r right DesElms. Fake Degrees are widely spread in Somalia. most Somali students when they graduate from their high school they usually go for higher education to overseas. Most of them go to India, instead of working and studying hard, they enjoy living overseas and after a couple of years they come back with a fake degree. Here these fake degrees are well known but I don't know very much about fake UK/US or Australian degrees. The only thing I saw is these expatriates if you ask a question about the field they can't answer it,

I saw this university before, but I didn't like it , because their website looks like the unaccredited universities with fake degrees, even what makes me funny was the Tiger logo, have you ever seen a university with that kind of logo. I think this is respect less university. What do you think guys? Yes we are starting from scratch, we don't have any credits at all.

Yes U R right it may be out of the price range LOL

My priority factor is Finance. I contacted UNISA several weeks before, they were slow in response and their admission look too bureaucratic, and I don't know if it works but I will try my best. It is my number one choice a well known, respected and accredited University. but it is hard to be accepted. Though they don't provide any telecom programs but I will take Bsc in IT since it is related to telecom I don't have another choice, do I?

 

The tiger is the school mascot.

Didn't think of it before but the website is not as professional looking as it might be. But the school is legitimate and accredited.

 

Check out Mt Sierra, Great Telecommunications Technology degree. this is the degree program I am starting in July.

http://www.mtsierra.com/online_p_telecom.php

 

Mt. Sierra's program is not RA. The original poster has expressed concern about unaccredited programs.

 

Here is a great Engineering School, rochester institute of technology. Telecommunications Engineering degree:

http://www.rit.edu/~625www/online-program.php3?p=pt-telecom_eng.html

Telecommunications Engineering Technology BS
Program Overview
Degree Options
Curriculum Review
Career Outcomes
Related Links
Program Overview
The BS program in Telecommunications Engineering Technology is accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commision of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. It is one of several programs offered by the Electrical, Computer, and Telecommunications Engineering Technology department (ECTET) of the college of Applied Science and Technology (CAST). The ECTET also offers three certificate programs in telecommunications (Voice, Data, and Networking) available on campus or via online learning. Visit the ECTET department at www.rit.edu/ect.

The BS program is offered on campus and also in an online learning format. However, all the courses required for degree completion are not available online. All upper level courses, in addition to the majority of the lower level courses, are available in an online learning format as well as delivered on campus. The lower level courses not available in the online format must be completed on campus or be fulfilled with transferable equivalents prior to acceptance for the online program.

The telecommunications Engineering Technology BS degree program also requires 196 quarter hours of academic course work. Online students are required to complete 194 credit hours due to the two credit First Year Enrichment course being waived.

The Telecommunications Engineering Technology also requires the completion of five academic quarters of full time engineering level cooperative educational experience. Qualified online learning students who are engaged in full-time employment may request a waiver of the cooperative education experience upon approval of documented equivalent experience in the telecommunications engineering field or they may choose to complete the cooperative education experiences. Non-technical or lower level technical experiences within the telecommunications field may not apply toward this requirement. It is suggested that perspective online students anticipating requesting a waiver contact the Telecommunications Engineering Technology Program Chair.

The list of required courses and course offerings by quarter can be found at the ECT department website (www.rit.edu/ect)

Back to Top

Degree Options
Bachelor's Degree
Online Learning Option Available (for technical option only)
Back to Top

Curriculum Review - Technical Option
Sample courses- General

Writing
Arts of Expression
Circuit Theory I
Circuit Theory II
Circuit Theory III
Electronics I
Electronics II
Electronics III
Electronics IV
Digital Fundamentals
Microcomputers
Calculus and Foundations I,II
College Physics I
College Physics II
College Physics III
College Physics I Laboratory
College Physics II Laboratory
College Physics III Laboratory
Sample Courses- Upper Division

Voice Telecommunications
Voice Telecommunications Lab
Microcomputers
Data Analysis I
Networking Technologies
Technical Electives
Concepts in Systems & Signals
Introduction to Telecom Policy
Telecommunications Transmission Systems
Telecom Transmission Systems Lab
Switching Technologies
Liberal Arts: Concentration
Network Management
Telecommunications Network Engineering
Telecom Network Engineering Lab
Communication Systems
Network Planning and Design
Management Topics for Engineers or
Ethics, Economics & Planning for Engineers

 

RIT is a good school, but it is also very expensive. The original poster said cost is a consideration.

 

Following are some accredited BS degrees IT and Telecomm listed in Bears' Guide.

American College of Computer and Information Sciences www.accis.edu (BG15, 96) IT
Athabasca University www.athabascau.ca (BG15, 98) IT
Baker College www.baker.edu (BG15, 99) IT
Caldwell College www.caldwell.edu (BG15, 156) IT
University of Calicut http://collegeskerala.com/calicut (BG15, 177) IT
Capella University www.capella.edu (BG15, 156) IT
Central Missouri State University www.cmsu.edu (BG15, 102) IT
Central Queensland University www.dtls.cqu.edu.au (BG15, 103) IT
Champlain College www.champlain.edu (BG15, 103) IT
Charter Oak State College www.cosc.edu (BG15, 104) IT
City University www.cityu.edu (BG15, 105) IT; Telecomm
Columbia Union College www.cuc.edu (BG15, 106) IT
Drexel University www.drexel.com (BG15, 108) Telecomm
East Carolina University www.sit.ecu.edu (BG15, 109) Telecomm
Excelsior College www.excelsior.edu (BG15, 110) IT
Golden Gate University www.ggu.edu (BG15, 113) Telecomm
Grantham College of Engineering www.grantham.edu (BG15, 114) IT
Jones International University www.international.edu (BG15, 117) IT
Kaplan College www.kaplancollege.com (BG15, 118) IT
University of London www.lon.ac.uk (BG15, 138) IT
Mary Baldwin College www.mbc.edu/adp (BG15, 162) IT
University of Maryland University College www.umuc.edu/gen/virtuniv.html (BG15, 140) IT
University of Massachusetts Lowell http://continuinged.uml.edu (BG15, 140) IT
University of Memphis www.tn.regentsdegrees.org/campus/Memphis (BG15, 141) IT
Monash University www.monash.edu.au (BG15, 122) IT
Murdoch University http://wwwonline.murdoch.edu.au (BG15, 123) IT
New Jersey Institute of Technology http://cpe.njit.edu (BG15, 124) IT
Old Dominion University www.odu.edu (BG15, 125) IT
Open University and Open College www.ola.bc.ca (BG15, 126) IT
Open University (England) www.open.ac.uk (BG15, 126) IT
Oscail-National Distance Education Centre (Ireland) www.dcu.ie/oscail/index.html (BG15, 127) IT
University of Phoenix http://online.uophx.edu (BG15, 143) IT
Queens University www.queensu.ca (BG15, 128) IT
Regis University www.regis.edu (BG15, 129) IT
Rochester Institute of Technology http://distancelearning.rit.edu (BG15, 129) IT; Telecomm
Saint Mary of the Woods College www.smwc.edu (BG15, 170) IT; Telecomm
University of South Africa www.unisa.ac.za (BG15, 144) IT
Southern Cross University www.scu.edu.au (BG15, 172) IT
Southern New Hampshire University www.snhu.edu (BG15, 130) IT
Strayer University www.strayer.edu (BG15, 132) IT
University of Sunderland www.sunderland.ac.uk (BG15, 180) IT
Technikon of South Africa www.tsa.ac.za (BG15, 132) IT
Thomas Edison State College www.tesc.edu (BG15, 133) IT
Touro University International www.tourou.edu (BG15, 134) IT
University of Victoria www.distance.uvic.ca (BG15, 147) IT

 

It is hard to not post a school based on cost considering there are 4 entire schools in america that have a telecommunications bachelors that is not a management degree. 2 of them are High level Engineering degrees.

I think there are 3 Associates degrees in Non Management Telecommunications!

Cheapest IT/Telecommunications Degree in the US that is Regionally acreddited and actually a good school is Fort Hays State University. Bachelors and masters, 100% distance learning, Cheap per credit rates, Regional Accredation.

If you are looking for a good price, Good Accredation, then Fort Hays is the ONLY choice for a degree with the word Telecommunications in it.

 

Any luck abdi?

 

Hi firstmode4c,

"Any luck?" not yet firstmode4c, You can read it from this posthttp://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24408&highlight=I+got+stuck
But I am starting this months to gain some cheap credits from Louisana State University(LSU), it is incredibly cheap you can't imagine US$73 per credit, this credits are for general education requirement at Fort Hays State University. I want to study this year for 60 credits and then I wanna start my first core courses in mid 2007. That is the best way I can do,considering both time and $. so what do you think Firstmode4c? do you think it is the best way I can go through? Anyway your advice is welcome.

Regards

 

Fort Hays is a great school, Good Choice.

wow, 73$ a credit hour!! Sounds like you are making the right decision.

I am going for a Bachelors of Science in Telecommunications Technology at Mt. Sierra College online. It is expensive, but I have 100% tuition reimbursement.

I really want to pursue a CCNA and CCNP along with my bachelors, Also will be going after a masters after that. I just want to solidify my professional credentials as well as work for experience.

 

Hey Abdi, How is everything going with school?

 

@firstmode4c, @abdi, @ Ted heiks, @DesElms

Hello guys,
I really appreciate your discussions up there, it's highly enlightening. However, I'll appreciate if you guys can help me out here. First let me explain myself.

Am a Nigerian with a National Diploma certificate in Electrical Electronics Engineering technology, but currently I work in in a IT unit of a bank. However, I'll like to enrol for an online program in telecommunication or IT field. But honestly, I need a school that will be affordable and also whose course will be okay but I don't know which one to turn to. I'll appreciate your quick response because i really need to start planning for it now.

Thanks in anticipation for your response.

 

Welcome, KingT.

I can't answer you're question but will suggest you begin a new thread if you get no response in this one. Some of the people in this thread are probably now old and slow. :smile:

 

Fort Hays State University: Information Networking & Telecommunications (Computer Networking) - Fort Hays State University (Information Networking and Telecommunications - it is what I majored in) and Information Networking & Telecommunication (Web Development) - Fort Hays State University for web development. FHSU is Regionally Accredited and also quite affordable.