Mrayo84:

Steve, why do you like Baker College's CS program? If you are a graduate, what's it like?
I am currently enrolled in their AAS Computer Programming. Last year, I was at their BSCS-Database Technology. But I decided to switch. Baker costs $190 per credit hour. They're one of the cheapest.

do you mean that you left baker?.... why?, and why are the classes so short in time?... they're only about a month and a half

miatech:

SteveFoerster:

American Sentinel University is a nationally accredited (DETC) university that offers programs online.  I'm not sure when it was founded, but I think it's been in the last ten years.

Regis University is a regionally accredited Catholic university in Colorado founded in 1877 that also offers programs on campus.

Baker College is a regionally accredited non-profit private university in Michigan founded in 1911 that also offers programs on campus.

Ellis University is a regionally and nationally accredited university that offers programs online.  I'm not sure when it was founded, but I think it began life about ten years ago as a joint venture between the New York Institute of Technology and private educational company called Cardean Learning and was spun off as an independent entity last year.

When it comes to computer science, I really like Baker's program, but that's personal preference.  They're all legitimate.

-=Steve=-

 

 when you mean regionally accredited... does that mean their BS degrees are not recognize in other states? or that their credits are not transferable to other universities?

I was looking at the open classes for Baker College and their classes are only about one month and a half.... that does not seem like enough time to grasp all the materials

I'm in Miami, FL by the way

 

Thanks

-JV

 

 

doing a bit of google I was able to answer one of my questions....

The most recognized and accepted type of accreditation in the United States is regional accreditation. Generally, college credits or degrees received at a regionally accredited institution are accepted by other regionally accredited colleges or universities (non-regionally accredited programs are not as accepted). However, this acceptance is not guaranteed; it remains with each institution to establish its own policies based on the determination that the credits accepted meet educational objectives comparable to their own programs. 

 

miatech:

The most recognized and accepted type of accreditation in the United States is regional accreditation.

Yes, although your confusion is understandable.  A lot of people see the words "regional" and "national" and think that national that must be better.

-=Steve=-

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B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

miatech:

and why are the classes so short in time?... they're only about a month and a half

That's accelerated, sure, but not unusually so.  There are courses as short as four weeks.  Thing is, you only take one of them at a time.

Basically, the idea used to be that students would take five courses at a time, and the term would be sixteen weeks long.  Shorter courses that are more intense means the same amount of material, just in a way where you only focus on one or two things at a time.

-=Steve=-

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B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

Mrayo84:

MartyS:

If you want a true BSCS entirely online from a regionally accredited college, your choices are Regis University, Florida State University, the University of Illinois at Springfield, Mercy College, Franklin University, and Ellis University.  Baker College offers a BCS.  The Ellis degree requires a concentration in either Internet Engineering or Distributed Database Systems. In my opinion, the first 3 colleges offer the strongest programs, in no particular order (my assessment is based entirely on their course descriptions; I don't have any personal experience with any of them).

 I reviewed the Univ of IL at Springfield online BS Computer Science. One must have completed the following:

• 1 semester of Calculus or Business Calculus
• 1 semester of Statistics
• 1 semester of Discrete or Finite Mathematics
• 2 semester sequence in Java programming

Admission Policy for the Online Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree

     1.   Students will submit all application materials to the Office of Admissions and Records, who will evaluate the applications to determine whether the application is complete and whether the student has met the requirements for admission to UIS and the Computer Science program. The student’s file will then be forwarded to the Computer Science department which will determine admission into the online Computer Science enrollment option.

     2.   Students will be admitted in groups of 20 each fall and spring semester.

     3.   Review of applications for fall will begin on March 15. The admissions office will be notified of the program’s decision by April 1. For spring, application review will begin September 15, with notification to admissions by October 1. If the 20 slots are not filled in the initial review, the review of applications will continue until the class is full.

     4.   Admitted students will be required to register within two weeks of notification of admission to confirm their status. A wait list will be used to assure that full enrollment is maintained.

     5.   In order to apply, students will be required to submit the materials and fees required by the campus as well as:

          a)   A statement of purpose for the pursuing of this degree and a discussion of any related educational/work experiences (two page 10 point font maximum).

          b)   A sample of Java code that they have written for a prior course or related work project.

 

I keep vacillating between UIS and Regis (FSU is too expensive).  I've leaning now more toward UIS.  I sent an e-mail recently to one of their admissions counselors requesting more information on admission to the program.  I'll post the information when I receive it.

Check out the BS degree in Computer Science available at CollegeAmerica. It is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT), which is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education. Apart from the computer science degrees, the college also offers FastFlex accelerated degree programs that will allow you to graduate in as little as 36 months. A real boon if you want to hit the job market as soon as possible.

elidawood:

Check out the BS degree in Computer Science available at CollegeAmerica. It is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT), which is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education. Apart from the computer science degrees, the college also offers FastFlex accelerated degree programs that will allow you to graduate in as little as 36 months. A real boon if you want to hit the job market as soon as possible.

Hi, Elida.  I've never heard of CollegeAmerica before.  Are you one of their students, or do you teach or work for them?

-=Steve=-

---

B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

miatech:

Mrayo84:

Steve, why do you like Baker College's CS program? If you are a graduate, what's it like?
I am currently enrolled in their AAS Computer Programming. Last year, I was at their BSCS-Database Technology. But I decided to switch. Baker costs $190 per credit hour. They're one of the cheapest.

do you mean that you left baker?.... why?, and why are the classes so short in time?... they're only about a month and a half

 

Miatech, I'm still with Baker. Classes at Baker are 6 weeks long. Their participation policy is strict. You must log in and post at least 2 times in  the discussion forum 5 days a week. Classes start every Thursday and end the following Wednesday. I have taken about 6 classes already and I can say it takes a lot of hard work and TIME MANAGEMENT.  I am currently taking 2 classses at the same time. Cost is $190 per hour. I have weekly quizzes and assignments. Final is usually a paper and/or project (like my Visual Basic class). Professors are MA or PhD holders. I am taking 2 of my general ed courses at my local community college and they will transfer to Baker. The registrar told me they will transfer. One of those general ed courses (Gen Psychology) is actually in online format with my community college. At my community college, it is 12 weeks but there is no strict participation policy. It says that you must devote at least an hour a week to post in the discussion forums. They do not require that you log in and post to the discussion forums at least 5 days.

At Regis University, I read from their website that their format is 5 and 8 weeks. I think this is for the online programs. Maybe their campus-based differs. I'm not sure. Regis University is LEGIT. They are a Jesuit university. I perused Regis' CS department. Regis University looks very good.

Peru State College is also cheap. $180 or $185 per hour. Whether you live in Nebraska or not, you pay that amount. 

My co-worker is enrolled at University of Phoenix. Their tuition is ridiculous IMHO. 

Miatech: I keep vacillating between UIS and Regis (FSU is too expensive).  I've leaning now more toward UIS.  I sent an e-mail recently to one of their admissions counselors requesting more information on admission to the program.  I'll post the information when I receive it.

 

Do you have college credits? It looks like you have since UIS has strict admission requirements. For their online BS ComSci prgoram, it says students must have taken Statistics and Calculus prior admission to UIS.

SteveFoerster:

elidawood:

Check out the BS degree in Computer Science available at CollegeAmerica. It is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT), which is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education. Apart from the computer science degrees, the college also offers FastFlex accelerated degree programs that will allow you to graduate in as little as 36 months. A real boon if you want to hit the job market as soon as possible.

Hi, Elida.  I've never heard of CollegeAmerica before.  Are you one of their students, or do you teach or work for them?

-=Steve=-

 

I read at CollegeAmerica's website that they provide laptops to their students and that students will own the laptops once they graduate. 

Mrayo84:

Miatech: I keep vacillating between UIS and Regis (FSU is too expensive).  I've leaning now more toward UIS.  I sent an e-mail recently to one of their admissions counselors requesting more information on admission to the program.  I'll post the information when I receive it.

 

Do you have college credits? It looks like you have since UIS has strict admission requirements. For their online BS ComSci prgoram, it says students must have taken Statistics and Calculus prior admission to UIS.

Yes, I'm currently attending a local community college (both online and on campus).   I'm not ready to transfer yet.  In order to keep costs down, I'm going take the maximum number of transferable hours at the CC. 

Incidentally, both my initial e-mail to the admissions counselor at UIS and a follow-up message were ignored. I'm going to try again with another counselor, but I'm concerned about this.  In contrast, my experience with an admissions counselor at Regis was excellent.

Also, I found two other regionally accredited online BSCS Programs - Mountain State University and Lamar University.  Both programs look okay, but according to stateuniversity.com, MSU had only 1 graduate from the CS program (I'm not sure which year this was for), and Lamar's online class schedule did not include all of the required classes, even though they say that the degree can be earned entirely online.  I may contact Lamar about this in the next few days.

think you know that you can't base your decision on one thing alone. If i were you I would look at the following
- reputation and rank. However when you look at the ranks, remember that a univ ranked highly for finance may not be the best for computer science, and vice-versa. Look for your course within the university ranks.
- what's the ratio of international students in the university? It always helps to know if the university is open to accepting international students

MartyS:

Incidentally, both my initial e-mail to the admissions counselor at UIS and a follow-up message were ignored. I'm going to try again with another counselor, but I'm concerned about this.  In contrast, my experience with an admissions counselor at Regis was excellent.

It never ceases to amaze me how incredibly bad some schools are at communicating through email.  You'd think that for a school that offers programs online that this would be a no-brainer, and yet it comes up again and again.  Especially for those who are trying to marrow down a long list of possible schools, it's not a terrible way to start.

-=Steve=-

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B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress