CS/SWE Degree - I need help making a game plan...

[diablo]

Your Location: Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Your Age: 30
What kind of degree do you want?: Computer Science or Software Engineering (Bachelor's or Master's)
Current Regional Accredited Credits: 49
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: 101
Any certifications or military experience?: N/A
Budget: $15,000
Commitments: Spouse + dog, Software Developer job (WFH, 40hrs/wk), Web Developer job (WFH, 4hrs/wk)
Dedicated time to study: 2+ hrs/day and flexible weekends ---> ~20hrs/wk max
Timeline: 2 years (arbitrary, flexible on this)
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: N/A
Additional Context: I have a Liberal Studies degree from UMPI. I want to formalize my education and career as a software developer. I have about 4 YOE and my current education has helped me get into the role I currently am in (my second software development job). I want to make sure that my education doesn't hold me back from getting an interview in the future. Filling in any gaps of knowledge in the CS/SWE space from academics would be a bonus, but I genuinely love reading through technical textbooks so I know I'll learn about a topic if I am curious. With all of this said, I am open to either a second Bachelor's degree or a Master's degree. I'm not sure what is the right choice. I started talking to WGU about their new Master's in Software Engineering, but I'm curious about a second Bachelor's in Computer Science from a school like TESU. Any feedback would be super welcomed!

I have attached my unofficial transcript if my course load is of any help when driving this decision.

[LevelUP]

Your Location: Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Your Age: 30
What kind of degree do you want?: Computer Science or Software Engineering (Bachelor's or Master's)
Current Regional Accredited Credits: 49
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: 101
Any certifications or military experience?: N/A
Budget: $15,000
Commitments: Spouse + dog, Software Developer job (WFH, 40hrs/wk), Web Developer job (WFH, 4hrs/wk)
Dedicated time to study: 2+ hrs/day and flexible weekends ---> ~20hrs/wk max
Timeline: 2 years (arbitrary, flexible on this)
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: N/A
Additional Context: I have a Liberal Studies degree from UMPI. I want to formalize my education and career as a software developer. I have about 4 YOE and my current education has helped me get into the role I currently am in (my second software development job). I want to make sure that my education doesn't hold me back from getting an interview in the future. Filling in any gaps of knowledge in the CS/SWE space from academics would be a bonus, but I genuinely love reading through technical textbooks so I know I'll learn about a topic if I am curious. With all of this said, I am open to either a second Bachelor's degree or a Master's degree. I'm not sure what is the right choice. I started talking to WGU about their new Master's in Software Engineering, but I'm curious about a second Bachelor's in Computer Science from a school like TESU. Any feedback would be super welcomed!

I have attached my unofficial transcript if my course load is of any help when driving this decision.

I hate to break out my I Told You So! hat, but I predicted this back in 2023. 

Since your career is software development, it does make sense to go with a CS degree.  TESU will waive your GE so all you have to do is take the capstone with them to graduate once you fulfill the AOS requirements.

TESU is the best and only choice for your situation IMO. 

A lot of hiring managers on DF might say a master's in CS doesn't add much value for a software developer. Maybe it helps a bit in salary negotiation.

[diablo]

That's totally fair. Part of me wishes I went that route, but I'm happy with the way things turned out due to financial reasons. My current degree did help me land my current job where I got a pretty good pay bump, which is why I'm definitely more comfortable re-investing a little more of that into my education.

With the AOS for TESU BACS, I'm seeing on the sample degree plan that I could take:
- Data Structures & Algorithms (SDC)
- Discrete Maths (SDC)
- Introduction to Operating Systems (SDC)
- Computer Architecture (SDC)

This would leave me with just the electives. The electives say 18 credits are required, but 15 credits + Capstone need to be UL. Is the 15 UL credits including the capstone, or in addition to (meaning that all 18 would be UL)? I have 3 LL credits from Sophia. I'm curious, if I decide to go this route, would I be able to accomplish all of this outside of TESU and then just do the capstone there?

[Jonathan Whatley]

UMPI is also expected to release a YourPace BSCS, hopefully this fall.

[davewill]

No, the capstone doesn't count towards the AOS 18cr UL requirement. You can indeed take just the corner and capstone at TESU, you just have to pay the residency waiver fee if you don't take at least 15cr at TESU.

[origamishuttle]

UMPI is also expected to release a YourPace BSCS, hopefully this fall.

I know it's expected at some point, but I haven't seen a realistic estimate for this fall. Did I miss an update?

[bjcheung77]

If the stars all align properly... With that budget and time frame, you can do the degree I recommended in your other post/thread, ladder that to the MAOL, then do one of the Applied CS Masters that are 1 year in length, thus within 2 years and within budget, you get a secondary Bachelors, and a double Masters to round our your educational journey of a lifetime... https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...I-BABA-M-L

[Jonathan Whatley]

UMPI is also expected to release a YourPace BSCS, hopefully this fall.

I know it's expected at some point, but I haven't seen a realistic estimate for this fall. Did I miss an update?

In December 2024 a member posted on the unofficial UMPI Discord that they received this email from UMPI:

The Computer Science program is being developed with the goal of it being available to students starting with the 2025 Fall 2 session. That session is slated to begin on October 27, 2025. The program should be added to the application in June of 2025 at the latest. Once it is on the application we will be admitting students and moving them to the enrollment team.

[bjcheung77]

If that's the case, I would apply for the October cohort, since you have some time right now, you can do some certs or something and continue gaining experience in the field. You may also want to take a look at MOOC Masters from Coursera, EdX, FutureLearn, etc, and see which ones fall within budget, ease, speed and timeline to finish... Create a shortlist and a backup option to select from.

[infradata.it@gmail.com]

You might be able to transfer in a large number of applicable "free" credits (only mentioned due to "free" ... but you might have already???)

Coursera, Education partner (free) >> IBM Professional Certs are a good grab.

A good set of credits is, as seen here https://www.acenet.edu/National-Guide/Pa...Active%22) :

• IBM Data Engineering Professional Certificate
  
• IBM DevOps and Software Engineering Professional Certificate 
  
• IBM Full Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate
  
• IBM Product Manager Professional Certificate
  
• IBM Product Manager Professional Certificate
  

I have been absent from forum... moving (done) and "sprinting" THESE EXACT IBM pro certs on Coursera as I await for 1st of month, for Sophia "sprint".

If you know subject, they are basically "give me's" of free credits