TUI or Troy or Mountain State

I am between TUI University, Troy, or mountain state for a BS in CS.
I was wondering if you guys could comment on the credibility and academics of the schools? I like TUI most right now, their tuition includes books so that makes it on par with troy. I am wondering if you folks have had experience with these schools and how they would look on a resume.

I understand that TUI has no brick and mortar presence, Troy has a strong military presence, and mountain state is relatively unknown to me.

Thoughts?

 

All three are regionally accredited, so their utility will be equal. You can make an informed choice after considering:
1. tuition
2. length of courses
3. acceptance of prior coursework/credits towards a degree.

 

In my opinion TUI and Troy look like watered down versions of a real CS degree.

TUI offers a BS in CS but it lacks a lot of the courses you would find in a typically CS program (calculus for instance).

http://www.tuiu.edu/cis/bscs.html

Troy offers a BS in Applied CS, which is not a true BS in CS. Also, it too looks like a watered down version of a typical CS program. (And, no, I don't consider business calculus to be the same as regular calculus)

http://www.troy.edu/ecampus/programs/bscs.doc

Out of the three, Mountain State looks like the real thing as far as a real CS program goes.

http://www.mountainstate.edu/majors/whystudy/compscience/bs.aspx

If you want to get an idea of what is in a typical BSCS program, then use Florida State University as an example. You will see that the courses FSU require look a lot like those required by Mountain State.

http://www.cs.fsu.edu/current/undergrad/flowchart.pdf

Again...all of the above is In My Opinion.

 

Tui is a little deceptive.
For example Advanced mathmatics is actually calculus.
Introduction to OOP is data structures and algothrims. ETC
So TUI is much closer to a real BSCS than troy is, but it is also more web focused. That is not a bad thing.
Mountain state is the most like a BSCS but tuition wise it appears more expensive.
Even though you say books are included I still think Troy comes out cheaper and with the ability to minor in something it may give you more utility.

 

Good catch. I took a look at their "advanced math" class and it is actually a watered down version of calc I and calc II. Personally, I don't like the look of TUI's BSCS program. I just get the feeling that it is not a true BSCS program.

 

That depends on what you are looking for. A traditional program may not be the best bet. How many people actually need to study compiler construction? For many web services would be a better fit class. So No it isn't traditional, but is it a quality program. I think that is the question that is being asked.

 

I know what you are saying, but if a company hires someone with a CS degree, they are going to expect that person to have had certain courses. Those courses will more than likely be just like those of a traditional B&M college, so IMO it would be best to stick with what the traditional B&M colleges put in their CS programs.

 

I guess you could argue then that troy would be a better fit since it is an applied computer science degree and a company knows it is not getting a traditional degree, but one that would have more practical classes.

 

I am a graduate of TUI University (Computer Science program) and I personally did enjoy the program.

 

I agree with PhD2B here. Most of the Computer Science(CS) degrees out there, online, are really more closely aligned with Computer Information Systems(CIS) degrees. There is nothing wrong with a CIS degree but it is a little disingenuous to call it a CS degree. Even the degree I got from Baker is more of a CIS degree. The only thing that made mine it closer to a BSCS was the electives I was able to transfer in.

Old Dominion and CSU DH are two that I think are closest you will find to a true BSCS degree, online. Mountain State is the closest from the list you provided but it is missing the lab sciences that go along with a typical BSCS degree. Similarly, Regis University the math requirement but lacks the lab sciences.

All that said, my belief is that calculus is unnecessary for most applications one would need to work on with a CS degree. It fundamentally more important to learn discrete mathematics and linear algebra(to a less extent). The calculus requirement is to ensure one has the correct foundation for the science courses one needs to take(normally physics).

 

These are true but why not look into a different degree like Information Technology(programing track) or Computer Information Systems?

 

BTW, in case you haven't seen the University of Illinois at Springfiled BSCS program, their relatively low DL tuition rate is the same for in-state and out-of-state students:
http://www.online.uillinois.edu/catalog/ProgramDetail.asp?ProgramID=638

 

CIS degrees are few and far between that I have actually found. Especially decent ones. Infact Troy with a minor in Business would make an excellent CIS degree. I don't really think I would ever consider an IT degree if I wanted to code.

 

One possible way, then, to evaluate a potential degree program: Will it help me perform better at TopCoder?

 

I do not necessary disagree, the problem is that many job postings request a specific degree like a BSCS and do not include or related to widen the net. This is one reason I work toward a CS degree. I think it is just an issue around the education of the different types of degrees and their purpose. I have seen several job posting requesting a CS degree that, in reality, should request an IT or CIS degree.

 

I've seen that a lot, too. Just as crazy are the job postings with the title of "IT Specialist" that give a requirement of a BS in computer science as if CIS, MIS, IS, and IT degrees didn't exist.

In any case, a resume or cover letter can help clear up the matter unless the HR department is unusually bad. Also, I'm sure there are some people who hire who don't really know what they want and will "know it when they see it."

 

I graduated from Troy University with Bachelor of Science in Computer Science; which I enjoyed it. Yes, the degree is lacking in curriculum, but I don't intend to get a job in Programming. So, it didn't bother me. Just several months before I graduated, they changed the cirriculum into a much better and it looks more into Computer Science; however, they named it as Applied Computer Science. My version of Computer Science at Troy University didn't require Calculus. The only math I used for the degree was CLEP College Algebra.

If you're looking for a solid one, you sould use the University of Illinois URL: http://www.online.uillinois.edu/catalog/ProgramDetail.asp?ProgramID=638

 

If I were you, I will pick a public university first. Those state-funded public universities are more creditable than recently established private universities.

 

Not to change the topic of this thread...

Xarick,

What and where did you finally decide for your degree?

I know for while you were up in the air.

Thanks.