TUI or Troy or Mountain State

Still haven't decided. Sad I know, but I would like a tech degree, however, cost to obtain a degree seems daunting to me and as some in this thread have said none of the online degrees are really true degrees. mountain state is the closest, but would cost me over $25k and that is just too much. I do not consider UIS Springfield to be a decent degree at all myself. I know people keep suggesting it, but I have done extensive investigation into it and I would say the original posters thoughts are all better suggestions IMHO.


Troy is the best price, but as has been stated it is an applied computer science degree lacking harder core calculus. It is not however, lacking lab sciences. Nor is TUI. None of them however contain compiler design, analysis of algorithms or computer architecture (though tui has a class that is similar). Limestone if the original poster wants to look there has most of those classes, but also only allows for business calculus, and does not do discrete math. However it does have some interesting internet management degrees which are not CS degrees, but focus on things such as web development, and web databases. They are also rather inexpensive due to liberal electives.

I am debating just getting a business admin accouting degree right now since I cannot find a computer degree I am happy with. However, I have no love or passion for accounting, but at least it is a degree.

Long answer to a rather simple question. Sorry.

 

I wasn’t trying to discourage anyone from going with one of the choices listed in this thread. All of the colleges listed in this thread, to date, are real colleges and yield real degrees. More than likely, as stated earlier, any of the CS degrees would be counted as a CS degree by most employers out there today. However, I’m sure there are some employers that would look at the degree as a watered down version of a real CS degree. You just have to be careful not to sell yourself short. You may come across an HR person that is looking for certain courses and, if you don’t have them; your resume will not go any further. My job is a prime example of that. If your transcripts do not list [and I mean spell out] calculus [and not that advanced math crap TUI lists], your resume will not get sent to the hiring managers. And, to add insult to injury, no one in my department ever uses calculus.

If you like computers, then stick with a computer related field. If you want to program, make sure you go with a CS degree that will not sell you short. But, if you just want to work with computers in some way, don’t forget to look into IT, IS, CIS, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or math degrees. If you decide to go the engineering route, make sure the degree is ABET accredited. Again, don’t sell yourself short.

 

That is all well and good, but since I work an off schedule I have no choice but online education. Which at this point leaves me with few actual CS options.

 

Don't forget that if you wish to learn subjects like complier design or architecture you can do that at a different school and transfer them is as electives. This is what I did.

Here is Nova's CIS program and it has some more in depth courses:
http://undergrad.nova.edu/MST/cis/curriculum.cfm

Also, calculus can be taken elsewhere and substituted for your math requirements.

Broome Community College has some distance courses you may like to look into:
http://web.sunybroome.edu/~online/

If you wish to get the degree from Troy you could look at a syllabus from a program that is more to your liking and transfer those courses in. By discussing your plans with a Troy adviser you could steer their applied degree closer to a traditional degree you like.