Question regarding Oral Communication req/ Study.com

[LevelUP]

I don't think that mashr needs any electives at all for an ASNSM Computer Science. There are already a looooooooooot of (currently unused) courses listed that should suffice for one or more elective slots.

I understand the idea of getting a degree quickly to have something to show for all your hard work in college.  I know plenty of people that got high-paying jobs with an associate's degree in the computer field.  You never stop learning in this field, you still need to learn whatever that is required for the job.  Once you know around 1/2 of what they ask for in a job description, you're ready to apply.

[rachel83az]

It's possible that mashr doesn't need any more math. There is an unused business math course that may work. Would need to see the "what if" for the ASNSM to confirm, though. mashr, go to the same place where you got the last PDF. But use the drop down menu to select the ASNSM Comp Sci instead of selecting the current Computer Studies plan.

[bjcheung77]

Great job!  Now that we have the AAS Computer Studies, I pretty much know what we have here for your Bachelors.  Just like the previous PC Age peeps who got their Bachelors from my advice, I will also recommend you to do one of three degrees, let's get the academic evaluations for all 3.  You can review the links below to some of my posts...

So go into your What If and get the screen captures for a BSBA CIS, BSIT, BS Tech Studies and a BALS (no concentration, you can change this to the Comp Sci or the Natural Science & Math).  If you want, you can also add the ASNSM Comp Sci evaluation as well...  Note: I highly advise taking the 16-18 credits for residency purposes and getting the required credits...

Last but not least, you can get the ASNSM Compute Science & the AAS Computer Studies FREE en route to the Bachelors of your choice, you may want to get the Pierpont BOG AAS if you need an associates right away, otherwise, I would graduate with the Associates/Bachelors at the same time instead!

Big 3 Costs Comparison: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...andman-WGU
PLA Credits: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...3-Compared
TESU Residency Waiver: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...ng-Courses
16-18 credit options: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Waiver-Fee
TESU Transfer Policy: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...-Explained
ACTFL/Foreign Credit: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...r-to-Big-3

[rachel83az]

Last but not least, you can get the ASNSM Compute Science & the AAS Computer Studies FREE en route to the Bachelors of your choice, you may want to get the Pierpont BOG AAS if you need an associates right away, otherwise, I would graduate with the Associates/Bachelors at the same time instead!

The AAS Computer Studies isn't free, though. It requires the capstone class and that's definitely not free.

[LevelUP]

So go into your What If and get the screen captures for a BSBA CIS, BSIT, BS Tech Studies and a BALS

You left out BA Computer Science.  After Mashr does there required courses for the BA Computer Science degree, he needs only 3 UL courses to complete the degree all of which can be done at Study.com.

The advantage of doing BA Computer Science over BS Information Technology is that you avoid the Chemistry/Physics requirements.  Other than that, they are very similar.

WGU's IT degree is one of the best IT degrees since it comes with a bunch of free certifications but you can get those certifications on your own.

[bjcheung77]

Last but not least, you can get the ASNSM Compute Science & the AAS Computer Studies FREE en route to the Bachelors of your choice, you may want to get the Pierpont BOG AAS if you need an associates right away, otherwise, I would graduate with the Associates/Bachelors at the same time instead!

The AAS Computer Studies isn't free, though. It requires the capstone class and that's definitely not free.

That's true, the Associates Capstone isn't free... However, having said that, if you read the link to my threads above, there is an option to incorporate that Associates Capstone into the 16-18 credits required to waive the residency fee. Since OP is looking for a Bachelors, just put that course in there and technically, it's FREE! He has to take any course, why not a course that will grant you an Associates!

Better yet, if OP wanted, by following through with only taking the Associates Cornerstone, Associates Capstone, and two more Bachelors Capstones, that's just 12 credits for the Double Associates and Double Bachelors - OP still has 6 credits to spare on "something". I've got recommendations already on the links I've attached above... it all depends on what they want, it's just a suggestion on my end.

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So go into your What If and get the screen captures for a BSBA CIS, BSIT, BS Tech Studies and a BALS

You left out BA Computer Science.  After Mashr does there required courses for the BA Computer Science degree, he needs only 3 UL courses to complete the degree all of which can be done at Study.com.

The advantage of doing BA Computer Science over BS Information Technology is that you avoid the Chemistry/Physics requirements.  Other than that, they are very similar.

WGU's IT degree is one of the best IT degrees since it comes with a bunch of free certifications but you can get those certifications on your own.

That's true, it really depends though, I think the BACS isn't really up OP's list as there are "math" requirements, many don't like calculus/math and steer clear from it... so, it depends on their evaluation currently, so if they are closer to one than the others... that's what I would recommend them to do, complete the easiest or the one closest to finishing.

[mashr]

I dont need a AAS degree right away, but it would be nice to have something I can show towards years of schooling. One of my biggest regrets as been not finishing a degree. With just 9 credits remaining it is very tempting, to just push forward with finish line in sight and get the AAS computer studies. But I also do understand it would be wiser to go towards a BA, while saving money. Discovering this forum and Sophia/Study.com makes me feel much better about going after the greater achievement.

Attached are the evaluations for the mentioned degrees. Its seems I need more credits towards a ASNSM CS than initially thought, I guess the credits from PC Age are only applicable to a select few programs. Out of all the BA degrees, Technical Studies is the one I have the most credits towards. 82 credits! I am leaning towards it or BS IT

[Flelm]

A few comments: If you want something now, for cheap, talk to Pierpont about their BOG AAS. At worst, I think you might need to do a few classes through Sophia, but you might be fine to just get it without any other issues. You would only get your CC credits (no PC AGE) but that should be enough.

The BS Tech Studies is actually a little further away than you might think. You need lab sciences for the Physical and Natural World section of your general education, and you need to have 12 credits of UL in your area of study (plus capstone and project management) while you only have 3, so you need to take 3 more courses/tests somewhere (Study.com).

I think you really need to decide what you want/need for your career before making decisions, especially if cost and time are important to you. If they're not, the path of least resistance right now is to just do the 3 classes at TESU and get your AAS with the residency waiver. If they are, you need to decide what the end goal is before deciding on the path imo.

[rachel83az]

So, the missing courses on the ASNSM Comp Sci is no big deal. From top to bottom:

• Public Speaking - Study.com "Presentation Skills in the Workplace"
  
• SOS-110 - TESU
  
• Ethical Leadership - Sophia.org "Introduction to Ethics" (Take Greek Philosophers first)
  
• Civic Engagement - InstantCert "American Government" ($45) 
  
• Understanding the Physical & Natural World - Sophia.org "Environmental Science" & "Human Biology" 
  
• Mathematics - Sophia.org "Algebra" (quick, does not overlap with the algebra you already have, might work) OR "Statistics" (definitely will work, is pretty easy for a stats class)
  
• Comp Sci electives - Sophia.org "Introduction to Information Technology" Study.com anything from the AOS here: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...cience_AOS I think that either "Programming in Python" or "Fundamentals of Information Technology" would probably be the easiest.
  

Study.com is $200 for 1 month and that includes 2 exams. Sophia.org is $89/mo and that includes as much as you can complete during that time. You have just a few Sophia courses and can easily finish those in under a month. InstantCert is $45. So you could get the ASNSM Comp Sci for under $350 + TESU fees. But Pierpont would be way faster and cheaper. No fees except Sophia to fill in a few missing requirements. 

I highly recommend heading over to Sophia and signing up for their free trial (no CC# required) to see for yourself what their courses are like. They'll be way faster and easier than the SOS-110 class at TESU, that's for sure. You'll still need SOS-110 for a Bachelor's degree at TESU but you could get a Pierpont degree (almost) immediately and for only $89 (one month of Sophia)!

[bjcheung77]

@mashr, do you have tuition assistance/reimbursement? If not, do you qualify for Pell Grant?  As I mentioned in my previous links to you, there are ways to get the credits you need for residency, it's better than paying the residency waiver as if you later go for a Bachelors and it takes you longer than a year, it'll be another residency waiver fee!  So, my suggestions are two-fold, take the 16 credits in 1 term to get both your AAS/ASNSM, when you get your Bachelors requirements completed, you will only need to do either one final capstone course or two to complete the requirements at TESU.

Residency Waiver Fee is $3,192 - https://www.tesu.edu/tuition/fees
Per-credit-tuition is $399/credit, 16 is $6,384 - 18 is $7,182: https://www.tesu.edu/tuition/per-credit
Flat-rate-tuition for in-state is $3,579/term : https://www.tesu.edu/tuition/flat-rate-tuition
List of epack courses available to take, take ones you need:  https://www2.tesu.edu/listallc.php?type=EP
You can get 16-18 credits for the in-state price of $3,579 and complete both Associates degrees

Option 1:  Cornerstone, Associates Capstone, PLA 100 OR PLA-200, 3 e-packs (final exams/tests that determine if you fail/pass the course), an e-pack is an overpriced TECEP exam but is self paced and can be used for residency requirement (some courses aren't offered by TECEP exam). Since you will need the following courses, do these e-packs: 1) CIS-107, POS-110, STA-201 - all courses combined will be 16-17 credits!

Option 2: Cornerstone, Associates Capstone, PLA 100+PLA 200, 1 e-pack (CIS-107), SOS-240 (or another easy course), and ENG 298, this will get you 16 credits to graduate the Associates & ASNSM.  I depends on what you want, either to test out more or take more courses, you need to decide if e-packs are right for you, they are non-graded quizzes that prepare you for the final graded exam.

Option 3: Take two courses a term and use Pell Grant/Financial Aid, take a total of 16-18 credits, this will take longer but you can go slowly and make sure you pass your courses with flying colors.  With tuition assistance/reimbursement or even just using the financial aid/grants, it'll be cheap!  I would recommend a mix and match of these options to get you to your goal cheaper/easier/faster.