I attended a SUNY (State University of New York) for about three years studying computer science. I wasn't the best student but I tried really hard and did my own work. However, a couple of years ago I was distracted by a family problem and was dismissed academically. Luckily, I was able to find a job but it involves alot of traveling. Distance learning is probably the best option I have now to complete my degree. I also have been working for one year so I can get tuition reimbursement from my employer. My current job is decent, but it involves alot of physical labor which I can't see myself doing for too long. I actually have 133 out of 150 credit hours required for graduation. I only need about three more classes. Should I work for a couple years, quit and then go back to the SUNY school? Or should I get an online CS degree from TESC, FSU or NJIT? My job doesn't require a degree and my employer won't change my pay, but this is for myself and my future.
You could always review the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences/Mathematics at Thomas Edison State College (TESC). Review the requirements of the general BA plus explore the requirements for the Natural Sciences/Mathematics area (Computer Science, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences/Mathematics). Remember, you can have a maximum of 70 credit hours in the area of study, in this case Natural Sciences/Mathematics.
My suggestion would be to try to finish the degree at a distance from SUNY first. If that is not an option, then I would definitely try to find an ABET accredited program that you could finish from a distance. FSU would be a good option there. Though FSU is expensive for students that don't live in Florida, it is a nationally recognizable school. The benefits are that a prospective employer more than likely won't question the quality of the degree. The downside is that probably all of your credits won't transfer into FSU because there is a limit on transfer of credit. Also, there is probably a requirement for a certain number of credits to be taken at FSU before they'll confer a degree. If either situation occurs, you may end up taking 10 or more classes. If that doesn't work as an option, then try TESC or Excelsior. With these two, you could possibly only need to take a few tests and you would be done. Of course, that all depends on what gets transferred into the degree program. On the downside, a few employers may not recognize the schools and you may end up answering a few simple questions about them.
Re: Re: Need Advice Good information, thanks. Question, has anyone who has a degree from TESC or Excelsior found a job at a major company or been accepted to a well known graduate school? This is a major concern for me. It seems like many people here already have good careers and by getting a degree from an online school, they will get a raise or promotion. I have a job, but it's not a career. I want to get a degree now with my employer paying for it, then use it to help my career. Distance learning is pretty much my only option because of the traveling involved in my current job.
I went to Charter Oak State College, similar to TESC or Excelsior, and am doing a Master's at George Washington University, ranked 21st in my discipline. If Excelsior doesn't meet your needs, and TESC does, I'd say go with them. Once employers see that it's a state college they'll know it's a real school and that will be that. As for grad school, your GPA and GRE scores will be more important than which school you attended so long as it's regionally accredited. -=Steve=-
Re: Re: Re: Need Advice Morgan Stanley considers Thomas Edison State College, located in New Jersey, worthy enough as a school to have employed me.
Re: Re: Re: Need Advice Excelsior posts a list of grad schools attended by their alumni, which includes (among others) Georgetown, Duke, and Michigan. For some reason I can't seem to embed the link correctly in this post. Do a google search for "graduate school excelsior alumni" and click on the first link. Then go to page 3 of the resulting PDF.
A list of grad schools attended by Charter Oaks alumni is here. It includes Harvard, Yale, Columbia, MIT, and Johns Hopkins. Your mileage may vary.
Any other Big 3 alumni want to chime in? You would think that people who graduated from a distance learning school would find this forum and offer their thoughts - especially if they got into a top grad school.
There is absolutely no problem with a TESC or COSC degree in terms of acceptability for employment or grad school. The dean of the grad school (AACSB-accredited) I earned my doctorate from has a TESC diploma (among several others) hanging on his wall. If you are certain that you only need three more classes and you can complete them in a single semester, I would recommend that you go back to the SUNY school and finish your degree there. I say that because you will be able to participate in recruitment for jobs in your field. In my opinion, if there is one weakness in the Big 3, it is career placement. Most of their students, as you have already stated are currently employed in their field or a related field. Many firms do ALL of their entry-level recruiting at B&M schools. I don't know which SUNY campus we're talking about here, but if it is one of the ones out in the boonies that employers don't recruit at, by all means, complete a TESC or COSC degree.
If I must, I must . . . I'm surprised that the word portfolio hasn't come up in this thread. If you've got 133 credits (assuming semester-hour as opposed to quarter-hour), you have more than you need for a TESC bachelor's degree - the only concern is whether you cover the distribution requirements. But hell, forget testing. With your experience, you should be able to pull of your remaining credits by portfolio in fairly minimal time, even within your field. Disclosure: Everyone has their favorite methods, and most people seem to lean toward credit by examination. I'm pro-portfolio, having received 96 credits that way (in addition to 16 credits by examination and 6 credits that I transferred in). And, needless to say, as a TESC grad I favor TESC - Excelsior lost credibility with me when they ceased to be a state college. (Right. I'm prejudiced. Get over it. ) ________________ P.S. I applied for admission to four grad schools after TESC - and was admitted to all four. TESC was never an issue, and this was back in the late '80s. Alternative learning is even less an issue today.
I completed a B.S. from Excelsior and was accepted by the following graduate schools: Georgetown, Penn State, UMASS, Boston University, and the University of Virginia. Two years worth of credits completed via Excelsior exams, Cleps, and Dantes in 5 months.
Are you doing your MEd at the Northern Virginia Center? I looked at the EdD they offer there, but it's geared for K-12 educators, and I'm interested in higher ed. -=Steve=-
