My Journey - TESU BA Computer Science

[ajs1976a]

I'm looking at taking Discrete Math and Data Structures at my local CC. OS and comp arch at TESU.

[Ideas]

Discrete Math is LL anyway, so might as well save by going to a CC. Comp Arch is UL at TESU.

Finding enough UL could be tricky. I'm not sure it's possible to find a UL Data Structures. So for OS, try to find a UL course?

[davewill]

If you decide to take courses at TESU, you should look at starting a comprehensive tuition year before the current Study.com discount changes, and getting 16 credits done to avoid the residency waiver.

[Yenisei]

For me personally, the endgame is getting into an MS Data Analysis/Data Science program. If I can get a Math and or Comp Sci degree without too much trouble, it may still be worth doing that, but the prerequisite knowledge is of greater importance. Of course, it isn't too much additional trouble to take, for example, a couple of DSSTs and some TEEX courses in addition to the core CS classes. 

A CC may not be the best option for me because I already have a lot of transcripts to request and I live outside of the US, and therefore can't benefit from in-state tutition.

[Ideas]

For me personally, the endgame is getting into an MS Data Analysis/Data Science program. If I can get a Math and or Comp Sci degree without too much trouble, it may still be worth doing that, but the prerequisite knowledge is of greater importance. Of course, it isn't too much additional trouble to take, for example, a couple of DSSTs and some TEEX courses in addition to the core CS classes. 

A CC may not be the best option for me because I already have a lot of transcripts to request and I live outside of the US, and therefore can't benefit from in-state tutition.

Some online CCs are nice and cheap. They don't usually have a lot of CS classes, but I suggest you check them out.

I've been seriously considering the MS Data Analytics at WGU. However, I might just do the TESU BA-CS instead (with a second major). 

I'd like input on what works best for my situation. I'm not looking to get a FT job, but want something that helps me stand out against other applicants for contract work. I think the BA-CS would be enough, right? I don't want to do coding work, but I feel like it gives the clients/employers a really good impression for just about all types of IT work.

On the other hand, I feel Data Analytics wouldn't be much harder for me than the BA-CS, and would cost around the same! So I like the idea of having a Masters. And we all know how much need there is for Analytics.

But I feel like Data Analytics remote contract work will be competitive, and that there will be a lot I don't know after graduation. So I feel I would be competing for the lower-end of contract jobs, unless I did a lot more studying on my own, and kept refreshing my knowledge. I'd like input on that too, if anyone knows about analytics contract work.

The third option, which I'm now leaning toward, is a Masters in IT, or similar. I feel this would be easier for me. I'm not enthusiastic about NAU's course descriptions and concentrations for their MCIT, but it's easier to find programs of this type.

[Ideas]

I guess my question is whether a client/employer would prefer their contract worker to have a Masters in IT, a BA-CS, or a Masters in Data Analytics, if their task does not involve Data Science.

[quigongene]

Experience is usually > than the degree major. I had a former CISO who had a bachelors in psychology.

[jsd]

Experience is usually > than the degree major.  I had a former CISO who had a bachelors in psychology.

Sounds like a good guy

[quigongene]

Experience is usually > than the degree major.  I had a former CISO who had a bachelors in psychology.

Sounds like a good guy

Unfortunately he was a bit of a putz.

[jsd]

Unfortunately he was a bit of a putz.

well now you're hitting even closer to home!