06-27-2026, 11:54 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-27-2026, 11:55 PM by RejuvenationOclock.)
This is a follow-up to a thread I made awhile back, wherein I your advice led me to get my PP AAS and gave me some good direction beyond that. I come to you again seeking advice on finishing a bachelor's.
Your Location: Virginia, USA
Your Age: 31
What kind of degree do you want?: Bachelors in Business and/or bachelors in CS
Current Regional Accredited Credits:
Virginia Commonwealth University, 34 Credits
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Going-back-to-school-at-29-for-CS-with-only-freshman-year-of-college-completed
I listed them out in my first thread, had to cut them here for the character limit.
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits:
50
34 RA + 50 ACE =84 Current Total Credits
Budget: Cheaper is better, I expect I'll have to spend a few grand. Would also prefer knowing costs upfront (like if a course is advertised $500, it’s $500, not $500 plus a $200 homework website account and $250 book)
Commitments: I work full time M-F.
Dedicated time to study: I can study during the week after work and on the weekends.
Timeline: Would like to finish before next summer
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: I probably make too much to be offered assistance, but I'd take whatever may be available.
Introduction: Hello, I started with biochemical engineering at VCU in Fall 2013. The first year went pretty well (other than I had to retake one class (Chem II) over the summer). I had to take out some big loans for the first year, but thought I’d sorted things out for my second year to where my expenses would be mostly covered. Unfortunately, I misunderstood my loan/grants situation, and had to come up with over $10K that semester. I tried not buying the textbooks, skipping classes trying to work, but the end result was I got the money but didn’t pass the classes. I decided I’d get a job and save up a year or two, then come back.
Well, 10 years later, I'd worked my way up to a decent job, but had not gone back to school. I posted on this forum and was told that getting the Pierpont AAS was a good way to get an associate's, and then I could look at TESU following that. So I got the Pierpont degree 9.5 years late, but then got a bit lazy and have slowly chipped away at a couple more Sophia courses.
So when I initially posted, I was advised to look at the 'Computer Science BSBA CIS Double Degree Plan' https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan
When the guide was written, the plan was that you would get a 'Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science', and a 'Bachelor of Science in Business Administration In Computer Information Systems'. However, TESU has since changed it so the second degree is now a 'Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems'; the 'Business Administration' part is no longer mentioned.
I'm really liking the idea of having one degree that is ostensibly for computer science and one that is for business (even though the second one still has business classes, the name doesn't state it), instead of having a BA and a BS that both say they are for computer stuff.
So, I'm thinking I'd like to keep the BA in CS, and switch the BSBA to be in Operations Management instead, as it's a bit related to my work, so some stuff might come easily, and I'd learn a good bit that could be directly applicable to moving up at work.
Awhile back, I'd scheduled a call with an academic advisor to discuss this, and was told I can't have more than 9 credits apply to 2 areas of study, so I'd need 42 extra credits to complete a second degree. Unfortunately I had to get off the phone a little early before we could get into the math, but I wasn't sure how only being able to have 9 credits apply to 2 areas of study meant i needed 42 extra credits. So I checked the guide, which says:
"Once you meet the requirements for a BA Computer Science degree, you would only need 4 more courses + the business capstone to have a degree in BSBA CIS.(Now BS CIS)."
and
"Once you have a Computer Science degree, a Business Administration degree becomes much more valuable than any technology-related degree. You need 7 more courses, plus the business capstone, to earn a BSBA degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing or Operations Management. Sample double degree plans for Finance and Marketing are included in this degree program.".
So here it's saying I'd need 4 or 7 more courses plus a capstone to get the second degree, which doesn't add up to 42 credits, so I'm a little perplexed still as to what exactly I need to complete for 2 degrees.
So right now, my plan is to focus on getting all the non-TESU classes complete for the BSBA in Ops MGMT, since i have a fairly straightforward path on that. At the same time, assuming I figure out I can indeed get the BA in CS as well without too much extra time/money, I'll do the CS non-TESU classes. Then I'll do the 15 credit TESU term to finish both the BSBA and BA.
Questions-
1. How many extra courses does the second degree require? The advisor said 42 credits, but I didn't understand his math, and the guide says 8 courses, but maybe that's just for those specific degrees?
2. I saw someone mention UMPI when I asked about this, how does what they have compare with this?
3. Any other suggestions/issues/thoughts on the plan? Should I alter the 2 degrees I've picked?
4. If I'm now wealthy enough that I can pay for this upfront, is there any reason to bother looking at financial aid stuff? I wouldn't need loans so I assume there's no benefit.
Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!
Your Location: Virginia, USA
Your Age: 31
What kind of degree do you want?: Bachelors in Business and/or bachelors in CS
Current Regional Accredited Credits:
Virginia Commonwealth University, 34 Credits
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Going-back-to-school-at-29-for-CS-with-only-freshman-year-of-college-completed
I listed them out in my first thread, had to cut them here for the character limit.
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits:
50
34 RA + 50 ACE =84 Current Total Credits
Budget: Cheaper is better, I expect I'll have to spend a few grand. Would also prefer knowing costs upfront (like if a course is advertised $500, it’s $500, not $500 plus a $200 homework website account and $250 book)
Commitments: I work full time M-F.
Dedicated time to study: I can study during the week after work and on the weekends.
Timeline: Would like to finish before next summer
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: I probably make too much to be offered assistance, but I'd take whatever may be available.
Introduction: Hello, I started with biochemical engineering at VCU in Fall 2013. The first year went pretty well (other than I had to retake one class (Chem II) over the summer). I had to take out some big loans for the first year, but thought I’d sorted things out for my second year to where my expenses would be mostly covered. Unfortunately, I misunderstood my loan/grants situation, and had to come up with over $10K that semester. I tried not buying the textbooks, skipping classes trying to work, but the end result was I got the money but didn’t pass the classes. I decided I’d get a job and save up a year or two, then come back.
Well, 10 years later, I'd worked my way up to a decent job, but had not gone back to school. I posted on this forum and was told that getting the Pierpont AAS was a good way to get an associate's, and then I could look at TESU following that. So I got the Pierpont degree 9.5 years late, but then got a bit lazy and have slowly chipped away at a couple more Sophia courses.
So when I initially posted, I was advised to look at the 'Computer Science BSBA CIS Double Degree Plan' https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan
When the guide was written, the plan was that you would get a 'Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science', and a 'Bachelor of Science in Business Administration In Computer Information Systems'. However, TESU has since changed it so the second degree is now a 'Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems'; the 'Business Administration' part is no longer mentioned.
I'm really liking the idea of having one degree that is ostensibly for computer science and one that is for business (even though the second one still has business classes, the name doesn't state it), instead of having a BA and a BS that both say they are for computer stuff.
So, I'm thinking I'd like to keep the BA in CS, and switch the BSBA to be in Operations Management instead, as it's a bit related to my work, so some stuff might come easily, and I'd learn a good bit that could be directly applicable to moving up at work.
Awhile back, I'd scheduled a call with an academic advisor to discuss this, and was told I can't have more than 9 credits apply to 2 areas of study, so I'd need 42 extra credits to complete a second degree. Unfortunately I had to get off the phone a little early before we could get into the math, but I wasn't sure how only being able to have 9 credits apply to 2 areas of study meant i needed 42 extra credits. So I checked the guide, which says:
"Once you meet the requirements for a BA Computer Science degree, you would only need 4 more courses + the business capstone to have a degree in BSBA CIS.(Now BS CIS)."
and
"Once you have a Computer Science degree, a Business Administration degree becomes much more valuable than any technology-related degree. You need 7 more courses, plus the business capstone, to earn a BSBA degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing or Operations Management. Sample double degree plans for Finance and Marketing are included in this degree program.".
So here it's saying I'd need 4 or 7 more courses plus a capstone to get the second degree, which doesn't add up to 42 credits, so I'm a little perplexed still as to what exactly I need to complete for 2 degrees.
So right now, my plan is to focus on getting all the non-TESU classes complete for the BSBA in Ops MGMT, since i have a fairly straightforward path on that. At the same time, assuming I figure out I can indeed get the BA in CS as well without too much extra time/money, I'll do the CS non-TESU classes. Then I'll do the 15 credit TESU term to finish both the BSBA and BA.
Questions-
1. How many extra courses does the second degree require? The advisor said 42 credits, but I didn't understand his math, and the guide says 8 courses, but maybe that's just for those specific degrees?
2. I saw someone mention UMPI when I asked about this, how does what they have compare with this?
3. Any other suggestions/issues/thoughts on the plan? Should I alter the 2 degrees I've picked?
4. If I'm now wealthy enough that I can pay for this upfront, is there any reason to bother looking at financial aid stuff? I wouldn't need loans so I assume there's no benefit.
Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!
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