SWEET!!! I'm a college graduate!

[ZepSinger]

As of Sunday, I became a college graduate; I've earned my Bachelor's in Computer Science from Capella University (capella.edu). And with the current state of the economy, I am DAMN glad I decided to take this step almost 3 years ago.

Is anyone else here currently or recently enrolled and working on a degree? I found it to be a great experience. It sounds like enrollment in online universities by working adults has skyrocketed over the last 6 months:

CNN link

Z

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by GoHuge39

I worked for about five years before I started back. I've continued to work full time while getting the MBA and it's kicking my ass!! Can't wait to be done. I just got tired of working for people that weren't as smart or as talented as me. The only way to get around them was to get a higher degree. It will also open up so many more opportunities and make me more marketable. I hope to never work in a place I'm not happy at again.

Know that feeling all to well.

[CoMoChief]

I worked as a customer serv rep for MBS books. I handled MANY MANY book orders for you and your classmates more than likely.

Most of the time you couldnt sell your books back either, because a lot of times Capella Univ would use a newer version of the book almost every yr.

Your school was contracted thru MBS. And you prob paid a shit load for your books. Capella and Strayer Univ were our biggest customers.

[tonyetony]

Congrats. Now go get a job related to the upgrade in medical record keeping, be happy, buy everything you want for the next 30 years and retire.

[Iowanian]

Congratulations.

Now a question.

How seriously do employers actually take these online degrees?

[ZepSinger]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Congratulations.

Now a question.

How seriously do employers actually take these online degrees?

What I hear alot is that getting a Bachelor's online is fine and well worth it, but a Master's online- not so much so. Not sure why the distinction, but this is according to the CNN link in the thread starter:

"For those considering a virtual classroom, a career expert advises against seeking an MBA or other graduate degrees as a way to jump-start a career during the economic slump, but says completing a bachelor's degree online may be helpful.

"If you haven't finished your undergraduate degree, that's a good idea, because it doesn't actually matter where you have your degree from, unless it's a top 20 school," said Penelope Trunk, author of 'Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success.' An undergraduate degree is kind of like a ticket to play in corporate America."

Z

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Congratulations.

Now a question.

How seriously do employers actually take these online degrees?

I think it depends on the field. Emporia State did a **** ASS TON of Masters' online. But AACSB doesn't like online business stuff.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by GoHuge39

I worked for about five years before I started back. I've continued to work full time while getting the MBA and it's kicking my ass!! Can't wait to be done. I just got tired of working for people that weren't as smart or as talented as me. The only way to get around them was to get a higher degree. It will also open up so many more opportunities and make me more marketable. I hope to never work in a place I'm not happy at again.

What was your undergrad degree in? I already have a graduate degree and have no interest in a PhD but might eventually go back for a MBA (preferably on the company dime). I know some others who have/are completed their MBA while maintaining their full time job and they said 35-40hrs a week are spent on the degree. Is that accurate for you?

[Mr. Kotter]

Congrats, ZepSinger

[KcFanInGA]

Just started this year myself. Congrats to you friend.

[FAX]

Congratulations, Mr. ZepSinger. I'm very happy for and proud of you. Well done.

Now, you should go for your Masters.

FAX

[CrazyPhuD]

Originally Posted by Lzen

I am interested in computer science. I guess that is what you would call it. I think networking or programming would be something that would be a good fit for me. I am pretty good (for just an average Joe) with computers. Pretty good with numbers. Also, I am good with Excel. Saul and I discussed this awhile back. He suggested .html, vb.net, or any .NET stuff.

I guess I don't know where would be the best place for me to take courses. Is there something that can be all online? Or do you have to attend actual classes regularly? With a full time job and kids, you can see how that might make things more difficult. And how much time do they give you to complete a course? Just trying to get an idea of the time investment.

Also, I was thinking of waiting until fall to enroll. Life seems to always get kind of busy for me in the summertime.

So the big question is what do you want to do? Do you want to develop software? System administrator? NEtwork admin etc? Each of these has a varying degree of college requirements. Some of require more experience than degrees.

A traditional CS degree(I'm not sure if the online ones are the same), is more about writing good algorithms, data structures, and programming styles(ala object oriented, etc...). They will expose you to specific languages some of which are hot but the point is not generally to learn a language it's to learn how to write good code(i.e. fast, efficient, well designed). Additionally you will have the oppurtunity to understand how certain pieces of computer systems work, from networking protocols, to cpu architectures. The initial classes are generally relatively high level and are there to expose you to a topic and deeper classes go into more depth.

That said a good CS degree isn't going to train you for a specific job, what it will do is expose you to how the system works, teach you how to analyze it, and teach you how to develop well designed software. The rest you learn through experience once you get into the field. Education is great but it is also no substitute for actually developing systems. You shouldn't be too concerned about learning a specific language when you study. It's ideal to learn on the language you think you'll use, but what is critical is code/algorithm design and critical thinking. If you get that down you can pick up any language by learning the syntax. They are all fairly similar.

Questions for you to ask.

What is it that you want to do?
What programming language are most of the coding classes taught(i.e. do you want to learn that? C/C++/Java is always safe, everything else depends upon how useful it is to what you want to do.)
What are the core courses and what are the electives. Do they have a track in the specialty you want to learn? How deep is that track?

While not 100% required if you know what you want to do you'll be better off if you do. You can still change if you find something you like better but it's harder and can take more time.

If you have questions about the CS degree process feel free to ask either here or through PMs. I've been on both sides as a student and as a teacher in grad school(I have a PhD in CS/CE).

[CrazyPhuD]

And Congrats ZepSinger.

I've always been a bit skeptical about online degree but I will say I think CS is one of the ones that is the closest to in classroom teaching.

You definitely don't need to be in class. I just always wonder if the teaching is the same. I actually really enjoyed teaching and there are just some parts of it that don't 100% translate to a distance learning compared to an in person experience.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

What was your undergrad degree in? I already have a graduate degree and have no interest in a PhD but might eventually go back for a MBA (preferably on the company dime). I know some others who have/are completed their MBA while maintaining their full time job and they said 35-40hrs a week are spent on the degree. Is that accurate for you?

It depends on how many hours you take. I took mine while working full time. It wasn't terrible. If I were you I'd budget a couple hours per week per credit hour outside of class. My MBA program had night classes so I could work during the day. I pounded it pretty hard and got it done in a year and a half (36 hours). But at my university, the classes were applicable towards a degree for 7 years, so you can take your time if you want.

IIRC, your degree is in engineering? You may be required to take a few undergraduate prerequisite courses (Likely accounting and finance). So keep that in mind too.

If I were you I'd find someone that is in the program and ask them what the time requirements for each class are. In my experience, the time required varied greatly from class to class.
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[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

It depends on how many hours you take. I took mine while working full time. It wasn't terrible. If I were you I'd budget a couple hours per week per credit hour outside of class. My MBA program had night classes so I could work during the day. I pounded it pretty hard and got it done in a year and a half (36 hours). But at my university, the classes were applicable towards a degree for 7 years, so you can take your time if you want.

IIRC, your degree is in engineering? You may be required to take a few undergraduate prerequisite courses (Likely accounting and finance). So keep that in mind too.

If I were you I'd find someone that is in the program and ask them what the time requirements for each class are. In my experience, the time required varied greatly from class to class.
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I'd likely do the MBA program at Florida where they have a distance option. Classes/projects are online and you meet in Gainesville on weekends I think once or twice per month. Yes, engineering but I don't think there are any prereqs. I have a friend who's doing the program and she says it takes anywhere from 30-40 hours per week from her schedule. Just wondering if others have similar time commitments.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

I'd likely do the MBA program at Florida where they have a distance option. Classes/projects are online and you meet in Gainesville on weekends I think once or twice per month. Yes, engineering but I don't think there are any prereqs. I have a friend who's doing the program and she says it takes anywhere from 30-40 hours per week from her schedule. Just wondering if others have similar time commitments.

Well, if she's taking 9 hours, thatd put her at about 20 hours commitment outside of "class" so that would be consistent with what I suggested.

Some are more. I had a marketing class that could take 15-20 hours by itself. Others were more focused on lectures and tests, so there wasn't as much time commitment.
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