Hi Everyone,

I've been reading the forums for the last few months and as a result of all the great advice from everyone I've been able to amass 62 credits towards my degree since the beginning of May. Now that I'm halfway there I want to start focusing on some of the required technology courses and wanted to see if anyone had any workarounds to taking the following courses.

Business Programming Course

Database Management

Data Communications or Telecommunications or Networking

Systems Analysis and Design

I've heard of the ICCP test but I hear that they are difficult to prepare for because of a lack of material concerning those exams. Is there anyway to speed up the process for these courses or am I going to have to take them all online? Thanks in advance for your help.

I'm interested in this same question.
I'm considering heading down the BMI path as well.
I already have a programming language, and I see that TECEP has an exam for Database Management (though not 100% sure it is applicable).

I'll be looking at these requirements more seriously in the coming weeks, will update anything I find here...

Hi gsz,

I forwarded your post to a friend of mine who recently earned a degree in MIS from Excelsior, and he was nice enough to take the time to provide all of the following information:

******

I used ICCP exams to satisfy the required subjects of the MIS concentration at Excelsior. The following are the steps I used to pass the ICCP exams.

1) Purchase "ICCP's Complete Guide to Professional Computing". This will provide a DETAILED outline for each exam and can be purchased on CD for $55 + shipping. You don't need the printed version. It also has some sample questions.

2) Excelsior Requirement "Business Programming Language". I took the ICCP 'C' language exam. All ICCP exams are pretty tough and this one is very tough. I know 'C' fairly well, so I studied lightly for one week and barely passed with a 73%. Anything below 70% is a fail on any ICCP exam.

3) Excelsior Requirement "Data Communications". I took the ICCP Communications exam. I work in the telecommunications industry and knew about 1/3 of the information. I purchased the following:

a) 3rd edition of "Voice and Data Communications Handbook" by Regis Bates and Donald Gregory.
b) Practice exam from ICCP.
c) Q & A Drill - Data Communications from Bird Publications
d) Data Communications Computer Based Training from Bird Publications

I studied very hard for 2 weeks and passed with a 75%.

4) Excelsior Requirement "Database Management". I took the ICCP Data Administration exam. I have been working with databases for many years and knew about 1/2 of the information. I purchased the following:

a) 7th edition of "Modern Database Management" by Hoffer, Prescott & McFadden.
b) Q & A Drill - Data Resource Management from Bird Publications
c) Data Resource Management Computer Based Training from Bird Publications

I studied very hard for 2 weeks and passed with a 80%.

5) Excelsior Requirement "Systems Analysis and Design". I took the ICCP Systems Development exam. I have been developing software for many years and knew about 2/3 of the information. I purchased the following:

a) 3rd edition of "Modern Systems Analysis & Design" by Hoffer, George & Valacich.
b) Practice exam from ICCP.
c) Q & A Drill - Systems Development from Bird Publications
d) Systems Development Computer Based Training from Bird Publications

I studied very hard for 2 weeks and passed with a 84%.

The three books purchased above were very helpful. The two Hoffer books had online chapter tests that were quite helpful. The Bird Publications materials are very outdated (1980s) and NOT a good value, but they are the only study materials available for ICCP exams. I would be happy to sell my Bird materials at a fraction of what I paid.

*****

I hope this helps!

JoAnne

That was very considerate and helpful of you and your friend to take the time and write those tips out. I think I made the correct choice in shifting from the MIS to General Business degree!

__________________
Excelsior - BS Business


CLEP's: Macroeconomics 58, Microeconomics 51, Principles of Accounting 59, Intro to Marketing 71, Intro to Mgmt 70 Business Law 55, Humanities 61, Analyzing & Interpreting Literature 68, Social Sciences & History 62
DANTES: MIS 65, Intro to Business 68, Money & Banking 48 , Intro to Computing 61, Statistics 61, Ethics in America 67
ECE: Org. Behavior C, Ethics C
PENN F: Technical Math I C, Fin Mgmt. B, Info Lit A
TECEP: Ops Mgmt, Bus Policy

Kiwi thanks for the excellent reply. For now it seems like i'll keep knocking out Gen Ed and business courses while I decide if I'll stay in the MIS or switch over.

Kiwi,

Thanks too you and your friend for the great information. I've recently had a career path change and it appears that at the moment this may be a second degree for me (need to finish the first one). I was hoping to find some information about the MIS degree and you have provided it, thanks again....

__________________
WORKING TOWARDS B.S. OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE FROM EXCELSIOR COLLEGE.
UPDATED 1/13
COMPLETED 113.33 HRS.
NEED 14.67
RECENTLY TAKEN TEST: RISE & FALL - 12/12 - 46 (OUCH!)
NEXT TESTS: World Conflicts, Juvenile Delinquency, Ethics, College Writing
LAST TRADITIONAL CLASS: Social Science Research
CLEP/DSST - 51 HRS
TRADITIONAL - 53
MILITARY - 9

Actually, y'all need to be thanking "yutzyj" (Dawn) or at least her husband anyway! I saw the post, passed it onto Dawn to see if her hubby could help, and he was kind enough to type up that info. I just copied & pasted it into the forum!

I'm glad it's been so helpful to people.

JoAnne

I had read on another forum that the IT Core exam thru ICCP was awarded multiple credits and would satisfy multiple concentration requirements. I asked my advisor to confirm that this test would still satify multiple requirments. I was interested in only a few of the requirments. Two of them being the Database Management and System Analysis and Design.

Here is her respone:

This is very cool, you only need 50% to pass the IT Core Exam