John Bear in his book " Bears' guide to the best computer degrees..." the least expensive program under 10,000 dollars. What are the THREE least expensive COMPUTER programs ?
There are a lot of freeware computer programs available. Seriously though, you'll have to be more specific about what level (associate, diploma, bachelor, master, certificate, etc.) and what major (CS, CE, SE, IT/CIT, IS, MIS, CIS, ECT, etc.) you are looking for.
For the Bachelor level, Excelsior (cost and time well documented on this board) and the University of London (about $8500 CDN loonies) surely qualify. Both are computer and information degrees, not CS. Best of luck---Jim
Gary is correct that we could give much better help if you define what you are looking for. Assuming you are interested in Bachelor degrees, my vote would go to Fort Hays State University's degree in Computer Networking and Telecommunications. A likely second would be Troy State University's C.S. degree. There also is a wealth of information in the archives here and at Alt.Distance. Education usenet group. It is accessible from Google.com. Continue reading and asking questions. Good luck in seeking the right program.
Two quick points. The Excelsior CIS degree would cost at least 4,000 on up depending on how many actual courses you took and where you enrolled in them. The U of L degree is not RA which vnazaire requested.
Thank you Dave Hayden and the others; yes, I should have specified I am looking for a Bachelor degree in Computer Information Systems and or Network/Telecommunications. Yes, I would prefer RA and spend no more than 2500 U.S. dollars per year ( or 2 semesters). I will certainly follow up on the various URLs mentioned. Thanks everybody.
Just a few more questions: Do you have any college/university level credits to transfer? If so, how many and in what subjects (and where did you acquire them)? Do you have relevant work experience and/or industry certifications? Do you prefer to take courses, or would you rather gain credit through examination?
I have a general studies B.A. and a B.Education taken some years ago. I have decided though to start from scratch because the courses I took for the degrees mentioned above were in large part taken without any real interest but solely to earn a living. I do not have work experience or certifications in the Computer field but now I am preparing the CompTIA A+ certificate.
Have you thought about going straight to a master's, rather than getting a third bachelor's? There are quite a few master's degrees in this field that are targetted toward people who are changing careers, and would require few or no prerequisite courses. This seems especially popular at UK schools, but I've seen quite a few programs along these lines from US schools.
Gary, you are godsent; if it is possible at all to get a master degree from a good foreign school ( I got my baccalaureate degrees in Canada) or from a RA school I will go for it. Of course, there is the ongoing question of cost : I am not prepared right now to spend more than 3000 U.S. dollars a year to do so. Another potential problem : my average at the baccalaureate levels were not great, some Bs but more Cs. What is out there ?
It sounds as though cost will probably limit your options. There might be a few programs that you could finish in 2 years while staying within your annual budget, but finishing if you're willing to take 3-5 years to finish then there would be more options. Have you thought about taking out student loans and just making payments, rather than stretching out the time that you spend working on a degree? Even with interest, your career and your finances might be better served by finishing quicker and then making payments on the loans (especially given the fact that yearly tuition rate increases are generally quite a bit higher than current interest rates). This free guide is a good place to start looking: http://www.geteducated.com/bdlgs_tech.htm You can also find a lot of programs at the following site, but be cautious since they don't require accreditation for listing: http://distance.gradschools.com/ Another great resource is the Master's section of Lawrie Miller's site. One program that that comes to mind off the top of my head is the MLS with a concentration in Information Networking and Telecommunications from Fort Hays State University. You could finish it in 2 years while sticking to your budget, without loans. If you have questions about a program, and especially if you have questions about the legitimacy of a particular school, this board is a great place to check.
Gary, I cannot believe the wealth of information you have been able to provide me and the sea change you have provoked ( from thinking about a B.S. in Computer Telecommunications and Networking to possibly a Master degree ). You got me to dream bigger thoughts and to think in a non linear fashion with the solid argument that tuition rate increases are often larger than interest rate increases. I will definitely investigate all options before making a decision; it goes without saying that the Master degree proposition is more attractive and more in line with my past education and approach. One more question : what is your argument when it comes to training for Certification in the IT field ( like Cisco CCNA ) or going for the Master degree ? What is more practical in the job market dollar-wise ? Many thanks for a well thought out answer to my questions. Have you ever considered being a Consultant to career changers ?
No problem, I'm happy to help! I'm sure that I'd enjoy being a career consultant, but I'm not so sure that I'd have enough credibility to convince anyone to pay me for the service. Anyone's credible enough to offer free advice, though. As for industry certifications vs. a degree, my perspective is that in the current environment of IT you really should have both. A few years ago (when companies were desperate for warm bodies) I would have suggested just picking up a few certifications and going straight to a high paying job, but I don't think that really works anymore. It really does depend a lot upon the preferences of particular employers and hiring managers, but you can't go wrong with having both a degree and certifications. That's one thing that I'm struggling with myself: after I finish the MS that I'm working on I'd really like to start on a 2nd master's or a doctorate, but I know that I should probably pick up some key certifications instead. In the '90s I was able to do fine without either a degree or certifications, but things have changed a lot over the past few years. Who knows though, maybe (hopefully) there will be another hiring frenzy in a few years, but even then having a relevant degree and certifications should be advantageous. One thing to consider is that any degree you pick up will always look good on a resume, but certifications will eventually become obsolete, and also tend to have less general job applicability. Also, certifications may help you get hired, but a master's degree seems more likely to result in a higher salary. That is mainly why I decided to get my degrees first and then work on certifications. There is justification though for approaching it the other way.
Many thanks ,Gary, for your advice! Now, I have to follow up on the various research tools you suggested. Regards
Portsmouth - UK Hello, If you are currently working in the field check out the Combined Studies - Work Based Learning Graduate Program. Although a departure from your exact degree - your specialty would be included in your diploma title. (from everything I read) Here is the e-mail address info [email protected] (wonderful customer service) Gary has great ideas. This is just another option. Hille
