GRE Subject Exam: Computer Science

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by PatrickG, Feb 18, 2001.

Loading...
  1. PatrickG

    PatrickG New Member

    I am in the US Navy, working in I.T. I am on sea duty and would like to complete my BS in CIS. I have been thinking about Excelsior's program since I have my AS from Regents. My question is: "How many credits can I earn by passing the GRE Subject Exam in Computer Science?" (I know credit awarded would depend on my score.) Also, how would the credits be distributed? Any help would be appreciated.
     
  2. Jeff Walker

    Jeff Walker New Member

    None.

    While credits can normally be earned at Excelsior for appropriate scores on the GRE (I think 80th percentile will normally get you 30 credits), the Comp Sci GRE is specifically excluded for their BSCIS program. From the literature that I have seen, you probably can take the Comp Sci GRE and get the credit, you just have to be in a different degree program (like their vanilla BS).

    I was hoping to get a quickie BSCIS by taking the GRE and while I haven't explicitly asked Excelsior if the GRE will work, in at least 2 different places in literature I have received from them, it indicates that the GRE is unacceptable for the BSCIS.

    Hope this helps.

    Jeff Walker
    Current Excelsior BSCIS student
     
  3. PatrickG

    PatrickG New Member

    Thanks, Jeff. Not quite what I wanted to hear. But it did make me dig through some Excelsior literature. I found the following paragraph in the Technology Degree Program 1999-2000 Catalog:

    p. 55 "Use of GRE Subject Tests"

    ..."For the GRE Subject Test in computer science, you must score in the 80th percentile to receive credit. In such cases, 30 credits will be awarded. For more information about how the GRE applies to technology degrees, contact your advisor."

    I guess Excelsior told you that it wouldn't count toward the BSCIS, which is the direction I'm leaning toward. 8>(

    However, it does sound like it may apply to other Technology degrees(BCT or BEE), though. I'm going to give them a call and see...

    I think I would be willing to go in any of the 3 directions. I have a pretty strong background with lots of service schools that are recommended for credit by ACE.

    Pat

     
  4. Jeff Walker

    Jeff Walker New Member

    You may be right about applicability towards the BCT or BEE programs. For what it's worth, if you have a solid understanding of computer applications at an analysis and design level, the ICCP tests don't seem that hard. But I'd much rather take a couple tests than 10 which is the situation I'm now in.
     
  5. PatrickG

    PatrickG New Member

    I finally got the chance to call Excelsior about the applicability of the GRE Computer Science Subject Exam. They [(888)647-2388] told me that passing the exam with a high enough score can earn credits that fulfill the following core requirements:

    Introduction to Computers
    High-Level Structured Language
    Operating Systems
    Data Structures
    Assembly Language

    So...With a little luck and some hard work (a couple of months of study with a few DSSTs and CLEPs thrown in for progress checks) maybe ...just maybe...

    (I can take the DSSTs and CLEPs at no charge due to active duty military status...I'm not so sure that I could do the same with the ICCP exams...)
     
  6. katzchen

    katzchen New Member

    I've seen this possibility of earning credit for the GRE subject exams mentioned in several places, including the Bears' _Get Your IT Degree & Get Ahead_, but I have yet to find a comprehensive list of colleges which accept the GRE subject exams (Computer Science, specifically) for credit. The two I know of are Excelsior and Charter Oak. I am worried about the lack of ABET accreditation of their programs, however. Are the two (GRE and ABET) mutually exclusive? I have completed my general
    education at a traditional college, but do not have any CS credits to speak of, and would like to get a degree with a
    minimum of fuss (and boredom / time in class), so Excelsior and other nontraditional schools are attractive to me.

    Does anyone know of any other schools (more traditionally accredited, perhaps?) which award credit for the GRE subject exams?

    I have read on this forum that Excelsior doesn't accept the GRE toward a BS/CIS degree, but that's not what one of the advisors (I believe her name is Jennifer) told me.
     

Share This Page