Need help with TESU CS degree plan

[protagonist]

Hello!

I gave up on finishing my computer science degree around 20 years ago.  I went to the University of Iowa and the Community College of Allegheny County.  I have a huge pile of credits.  I left school and went to work.  I have been a professional software engineer since then.

I have always wanted to finish my degree, but since I already have enough work experience, it hasn't really been a priority.  I recently started looking at things in earnest, and found this forum.

I have put together a degree plan: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1...1556724962.  I put a best guess as to what classes I have taken and what they will cover.  I've also started to fill out things that I think will cover what I have left, but I am not sure about a lot of them.  I've worked through a few courses on Sophia.

So now I am trying to figure out what else I should be doing.  Does anyone have suggestions for what I should do to plug the holes in my plan?  Any idea about how I can gain clarity on what my transcripts will for sure cover?  There is SO MUCH information here that I am struggling to make sure I am doing the right things.

Thanks!

[dfrecore]

1) Move Intro to Business & Business Law to Free Electives, those aren't GE. But you can just move Criminology & Mythology from Free Electives to GE Electives, so that's fine.

2) I show you took 2 CLEP exams, but they aren't the actual names of them, so you'd need to put the actual names of them from CLEP, not what your other school brought them in as.

3) More courses to take at Study.com:
- COMPSCI 105: Intro to Operating Systems
- COMPSCI 306: Computer Architecture (UL)
- BUS 303: Management Info Systems (UL)
- COMPSCI 303: Database Management (UL)

You'd need to insert your course numbers in so that we could see if you have enough UL courses. Need info on Comp Sci III, Computer Analysis, and Linear Algebra. 2 out of 3 need to be UL.

I think that's it. Other than some changes to make, and add'l info to give, you've done a good job planning.

[protagonist]

Thanks @dfrecore, that is super helpful.

1. Done.

2. This is a bummer. I emailed CLEP (College Board). They only keep transcripts on file for 20 years, so they have nothing for me. All I have is whatever shows up on my Iowa transcript. I'll email Iowa and see if they have the actual names of the tests.

3. Awesome, this is super helpful. I'll add this in to my plan.

(unnumbered). I went ahead and added the course numbers, but at the time it was never clear by course number what was an upper level course. Since it was decades ago, of course I don't remember either. I'll add that question into my email to Iowa.

I appreciate the help!

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Okay, I found this page that makes it maybe possibly seem that anything numbered between 100-199 would be considered upper level:

• Below 100 – for undergraduate;
  
• from 100 – 199 for undergraduates and graduates;
  
• 200 or above for graduates.
  

With that bit of info, I don't have much; only about 5 credits.  I'm not totally sure what to do with that.

[rachel83az]

I would highly suggest applying to TESU right now and sending in your transcript(s). If TESU is going to make any changes to their catalog, they'll announce it on January 1st; applying now would mean that you get the current catalog as it is at this moment. There are no anticipated changes, but one never knows.

I don't think TESU is going to accept CLEP exams if they can't get a transcript directly from College Board itself. If that's the case, Sophia and InstantCert are fast and inexpensive ways to fill in the credits that will be missed as a result.

TESU is almost certainly not going to accept 20-year-old credits in the AOS for a CS degree. I think they have a limit of 9 years for CS credits. Linear Algebra should still be okay but don't be surprised if TESU winds up not accepting it or a lot of your credits (possibly even the non-AOS credits) because they aren't able to verify the syllabus for each class. On the bright side, I started with essentially NOTHING in March and am now approaching the end of my own CS degree. Since you're already a computer professional, it should theoretically be at least as easy for you.

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By the way, if you want to move up to management levels, you might also be interested in getting a BSBA. The BSBA CIS at TESU can be obtained with a lot of the same credits you'd use for the CS degree.

[davewill]

Another good reason to go ahead and apply to TESU is that you'll get your transcript evaluated. That'll take the guesswork out of your degree planning.

[dfrecore]

I don't think TESU is going to accept CLEP exams if they can't get a transcript directly from College Board itself. If that's the case, Sophia and InstantCert are fast and inexpensive ways to fill in the credits that will be missed as a result.

TESU is almost certainly not going to accept 20-year-old credits in the AOS for a CS degree. I think they have a limit of 9 years for CS credits. Linear Algebra should still be okay but don't be surprised if TESU winds up not accepting it or a lot of your credits (possibly even the non-AOS credits) because they aren't able to verify the syllabus for each class. On the bright side, I started with essentially NOTHING in March and am now approaching the end of my own CS degree. Since you're already a computer professional, it should theoretically be at least as easy for you.

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TESU won't take 20+ years old CLEP exams because there won't be a transcript to send.  But I'd contact CLEP anyway to try to get one.  It won't matter what another school calls those exams, it only matters that CLEP sends a transcripts directly to TESU.

TESU will DEFINITELY accept old credits for the CS degree - there is no time limit on those courses that I've ever seen, probably because it's a BA degree (rather than a BSBA or from the School of Science & Technology which both have requirements of currency).  They will always take old GE credits, old math credits, and other things like that.  But there is nothing that says on the website that the AOS has to be current for that particular degree.  Hopefully that's still the case.

[protagonist]

I had sent an inquiry to TESU to ask about how likely it was they would accept my very old credits. They said that most of them would likely transfer, but there may be some recency requirements for some of them. No specifics, of course, since this was just informal chatting. That is for sure a big question mark on my plan.

I don't actually feel 'ready' to start taking the classes at TESU yet. I'd like to get a few more of these other credits wiped out first. Is there a way to apply but not actually start doing coursework?

[rachel83az]

Yes, you want to put in an application to TESU and send in your transcript(s). If you will be sending in more than one transcript, you're also going to want to PAY FOR (but not take) the Medical Terminology TECEP for $50. This will unlock full enrollment for a 1-year period. Full enrollment comes with unlimited transcript evaluations while application status only gives you 2 transcript evaluations. I have been a fully enrolled student since June. I have yet to take a TESU class even though I have a ton of courses on my TESU transcript now. Everything is from Sophia, SDC, etc.

[protagonist]

Oh, awesome.  @rachel83az thank you that is very helpful.

[doom]

Full enrollment comes with unlimited transcript evaluations while application status only gives you 2 transcript evaluations.

Mmmh, does this mean that sending in two transcripts (such as one from ASU and one from ACE, like I did when I applied one month ago) actually counts for 2 evaluations?