My Journey - TESU BA Computer Science

[Merlin]

Once you have the BSBA, have you considered just getting an undergrad (or grad) certificate in Computer Science instead of pursuing an additional bachelor's degree? It is effectively the same thing and less additional work.

I my case, I don't need a CS degree for my work, but I already have the experience of being a CS engineer for the last 30 years, so I figure I might as well get the credential. I'm considering the ASNSM-CS and/or BSBA-CIS concentration add-on to my BSBA, though I'm also considering just picking up a CS certificate instead. My ultimate goal is an MSML and/or MBA in IT Management since that is more my focus these days, but I like the idea of having the CS credential on there as well... particularly if I can get it quickly and cheaply.

I have the BSBA. I think that most grad certs would not be easier for me and not cheaper, because you don't have the ability to do Saylor, DSST, cheap community college, etc. Undergrad isn't enough. I already have the ASNSM-CS, which I'm glad I have, in case somehow I don't finish this, but I plan to someday, if not this year. There are some other plans which may delay the BA-CS

Do you have any CS credits done already? I think adding the CIS concentration would be easier and cheaper than the undergrad CS cert!

Yeah for the grad cert you couldn't use those options, but you could for the undergrad cert. Though given you already have the ASNSM-CS that might not be as valuable (or as easy to do since you've probably already used all the Saylor options, etc.) Though I would expect that the CS course requirements for the BACS are pretty close to the same as the undergrad CS cert, except it doesn't have the higher math or science prereqs.

As for me, for the CIS/COS course of study, the courses I have taken so far evaluate as CAP-295, CAP-385, COS-102, COS-107, CIS-301, and CIS-344. To get the BSBA-CIS (and probably the ASNSM-CS) I should just need to add the SL C++ course (COS-213), Saylor Software Engineering (CIS-351) and Shmoop/Study.com Introduction to E-Commerce (CIS-360) and then either PLA or take the CSU-Global CBE for Info Systems Design. The last course is the rub... while the PLA option seems the most straightforward, its the most expensive. The CSU-Global CBE seems like it might be a crap shoot since its just an exam and I don't know enough about it or where the questions are drawn from to know how close my personal experience is to the material in the test... plus its also on the pricey side.  I might just go with the ASNSM-CS since it only requires 16 CS credits and doesn't appear to require the Info Systems Design course. Though that point, I'd just need that Info Systems course to get the CIS concentration as well, so it seems like I might as well just do it.

I was also thinking about just trying to get an undergrad cert later on since I could come back to get that any time after I had the BSBA and I wouldn't have to worry about trying to get it all done in the same graduation cycle. Though it appears to require taking a number of courses that don't have cheap/easy online options, such as data structures and computer architecture. So maybe not such a good option after all.