Does anyone have feedback about Thomas Edison State College's computer science degree

Discussion in 'IT and Computer-Related Degrees' started by BillSimmons, Dec 7, 2012.

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  1. BillSimmons

    BillSimmons New Member

    Does anyone have feedback about Thomas Edison State College's computer science degree

    Easy? Hard? Good instructors? Fair work load? Heavy work load? etc?
     
  2. DanielC

    DanielC New Member

    I'm interested in any feedback on the TESC CS degree as well. For anyone that has completed the program, how long did it take you?
     
  3. ryoder

    ryoder New Member

    I completed a BSBA CIS at TESC and a BA Nat Sci/Math there.
    I took exactly one computer science course at TESC, Computer Architecture and I really liked the course.
    The great thing about TESC is that the school allows unlimited transfer credits and unlimited CLEP/DSST and ACE credits. If you don't know what that means then google it. Its important to understand this.

    The work load was appropriate, 50% of the grade was based on hw assignments so you can spend a lot of time on those and focus on getting a 100%. The tests were not that easy but since I spent so much time on the homework I was well prepared for the test. See how that works out? Its a great concept.

    Do you have any existing credit? If so then you should create a degree plan and fill in the existing credits. Then add in your testing options.

    CLEP - College-Level Exam Program
    DANTES
     
  4. DanielC

    DanielC New Member

    ryoder, I know you've posted about the two TESC bachelor degrees you earned there -- did you earn them one after another? I see that the requirements are basically 30+ new semester hours earned after you received the first bachelors. Is that how it works?

    I'm mostly interested in the CS degree to maybe pursue an MSCS later, and just mapping out options.
     
  5. Sanjuro

    Sanjuro New Member

    Another party interested in TESC's BA in CS here. Are there any other posters around who took CS courses there?
     
  6. ryoder

    ryoder New Member

    Its 24 new credit hours and yes, I had to wait until the BSBA was conferred prior to taking any courses or tests for the BA Nat Sci.
    If I were you I would map out a combined TESC BSBA CIS and BA CS degree plan. Take all of the courses that would satisfy both and then near the end, decide if it is worth your time to go for the BA CS. The reason is that the BA CS is not as easy to test out of and it requires more difficult math courses. So you could hedge your bet and pick up the BSBA CIS with your CIS courses being the core CS courses you need for a masters.
     
  7. DanielC

    DanielC New Member

    Ryoder, what prompted the decision to do CIS instead of CS? Was it just for sake of speed/expediency?

    I am a mid-career (at least age-wise) IT guy who returned to school for an associates a year ago and now currently working on my bachelors (BSBA) through a online program offered by a local B&M state school. As finishing my bachelors is closer to reality, I am looking into what to do next. I was a CS major when I went to college the first time and part of me wants to get back to studying CS but as I looked into it, most masters in computer science/engineer programs require a bachelors in computer science. I'm wondering whether I should consider the TESC B.S. CS program (as a second bachelors) and trying to figure out whether I'd be able to realistically finish the second bachelors in a year or not.
     
  8. jam937

    jam937 New Member

    I completed the CS degree at Thomas Edison this year. I have 18 years in IT and wanted to finally get a degree. I found most of the computer courses very interesting. I learned some things and refreshed some knowledge. The courses were fairly easy for me but again I have a lot of IT experience. Calculus and Discrete Math were definitely the hardest for me. Math 25 years after high school is tough. I used the Internet a lot for help with math. I am now enrolled in the Univ. of Illinois-Springfield master's in CS program.

    I got as many alternative credits as I could before I enrolled. I took DSST and CLEP exams. I took Aleks, Straighterline and FEMA courses. I also got credit for my Microsoft certifications. Half of my midterms used local proctors and half used ProctorU. Half of my finals used ProctorU and half were un-proctored. Weekly assignments were usually chapter exercises.

    If you plan to go on to any masters program (MBA, MSCS, MSIS, etc.), then you should start looking at prerequisites now. That way you can take them as part of your undergrad classes. Don't wait until you graduate or you might find out you have to take even more undergrad classes.

    My only regret is that I wish I had spent more than a few days taking the Aleks Statistics course. My data mining master's course is very statistics intensive.

    If you have any specific questions let me know.
     
  9. jam937

    jam937 New Member

    If you're not finished with your BSBA yet and want a BS/BA in CS then why not switch now? If you do finish your BSBA and then want a CS degree maybe go for a masters instead of a second BS/BA. If you have a lot of IT experience you will find most undergrad computer courses fairly easy.
     
  10. DanielC

    DanielC New Member

    Thanks. I've sent in my academic credentials to be evaluated and will decide what makes better sense (whether to continue with my current program or transfer to yet another college).
     

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