Looks like WGU is finally rolling out their Comp Sci degree starting in June

josephandre

No real details beyond the date (June 1st) as of yet. Just confirmation on twitter etc.

Anxious to see what it entails

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Danielm7

Can you link their twitter confirmation I don't see it?

josephandre

Oops, sorry.

I got my streams crossed. The only twitter part were the original ones from last year stating the program was coming.

The confirmation is secondhand via mentors emailing students.

https://www.reddit.com/r/WGU/comments/7wfztr/computer_science_announced/

the_Grinch

Excellent! Been looking to get a degree in Computer Science looks like this might be the route for me!

JoJoCal19

the_Grinch wrote: »

Excellent! Been looking to get a degree in Computer Science looks like this might be the route for me!

Same. I want to see the curriculum before I consider it.

the_Grinch

Agreed! I need to focus on exploitation so might need to go the DSU route, but definitely interested to see what they come up with.

They are going to be ABET accredited though per their Twitter feed.

the_Grinch

https://m.wgu.edu/content/dam/western-governors/documents/programguides/2017-guides/it/BSCS.pdf <---Copy of their curriculum

shodown

I was hoping they would ditch Java and do C++, but since they already had so much java in the other problem I guess it was going to stay. I'm also glad to see they put an emphasis on math in the program. Glad you have to take Calc 1 and some discreet math classes.

the_Grinch

You take C++ and Java according to the link I posted:

Scripting and Programming - Applications
Scripting and Programming - Applications for undergraduates explores the various aspects of the C++ programming
language by examining its syntax, the development environment, and tools and techniques to solve some real-world
problems.

I agree about the math! Hoping someone with experience in their math courses might chime in with the difficulty of those courses.

JoJoCal19

Looks like they took down the curriculum. Can you post a different link?

mtgdope

https://www.reddit.com/r/WGU/comments/82ba3e/wgu_computer_science_leak/

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fSombR1w_0KjTJFOPa12jD8YzwUbvYHj/view

jdancer

I see it covers a traditional undergraduate computer science curriculum. Surprised to see no Python or anything else besides Java. (Hello Go?)

Should be a good basis for getting a master's in computer science in the future. (Hello GATech $7K MSCS?)

I believe they plan to be ABET accredited as well.

the_Grinch

jdancer wrote: »

I see it covers a traditional undergraduate computer science curriculum. Surprised to see no Python or anything else besides Java. (Hello Go?)

Should be a good basis for getting a master's in computer science in the future. (Hello GATech $7K MSCS?)

I believe they plan to be ABET accredited as well.

Data Structures and Algorithms I/II utilize Python

bjpeter

I prefer Java over C++, but that's just me.

shodown

Java and C++ are both gross. I would hate to be a Java dev for a living. I wish they would just do C++ and Python for the entire curriculum. Use C++ to teach the fundamentals of computer science, programming, and OOP. Then the rest of the work in a much easier language like python. You can use python to teach the web development, data science, AI and machine learning. No other language offers that type of flexibility. (I'm a javascript/nodeguy by the way), but I do recognize the flexibility in using python as a teaching/learning tool.

JoJoCal19

jdancer wrote: »

Should be a good basis for getting a master's in computer science in the future. (Hello GATech $7K MSCS?)

Exactly what I had in mind...

the_Grinch

I think ultimately Computer Science is meant to teach you Computer Science concepts so that you can pick up any language. I see too often people who decry their Computer Science education because they can't program in X, Y, or Z language. As an example, when I was working at Drexel a friend posted an article from a UPenn Computer Science student who complained they taught him a dead language and he was unable to get a job (PHP). If that is what he made of his education he wasted his time getting a degree because teaching you a language is not the focus of Computer Science.

I'll agree Python is definitely a great language and for learning Computer Science it's a great. But at the same time, once you pick up the basics you should be able to learn any language to get the job done. I see lots of job postings for Java and C# in my area though I don't know of any schools using C#. I've found I can pick up just about any language now that I devoted time to one language.

denis92

Hey guys, have a question- Is it possible to simply take some of the courses in the cs program and after apply to the omcs program at georgia tech? I already have a bachelor's and would like to just take some prereq courses to get accepted at georgia tech. Would my mentor force me to take courses in a specific order or can I actually choose what to take?

jdancer

denis92 wrote: »

Hey guys, have a question- Is it possible to simply take some of the courses in the cs program and after apply to the omcs program at georgia tech? I already have a bachelor's and would like to just take some prereq courses to get accepted at georgia tech. Would my mentor force me to take courses in a specific order or can I actually choose what to take?

May want to ask your question in https://www.reddit.com/r/OMSCS/

I would think GA Tech is looking at minimum traditional undergrad CS courses from applicants.

In other news, it looks like GA Tech may be rolling out a MSCS in Cybersecurity. Cool beans.

JoJoCal19

denis92 wrote: »

Hey guys, have a question- Is it possible to simply take some of the courses in the cs program and after apply to the omcs program at georgia tech? I already have a bachelor's and would like to just take some prereq courses to get accepted at georgia tech. Would my mentor force me to take courses in a specific order or can I actually choose what to take?

The answer is Yes*. I've seen plenty of people on the OMSCS reddit that have taken individual CS and math courses to get in, although it still depends on your overall application profile.

*In the individual classes you take, you have to show GATech admissions that you excelled in them. Since WGU only shows pass/fail and not individual grades, how will you show the GATech admissions team how you did in the classes?

the_Grinch

I'd be interested to see how many classes those with an bachelor's in IT would need to complete to earn their CS degree. I had it begged at about 20 courses, which I think would be doable in one year. As I was doing the math often certificates in CS or even taking the four to six courses that would be required equals to about $8000 dollars which is what you would pay for a bachelors at WGU (if you could do it in a year).

DatabaseHead

Honestly the best offering they have had thus far. A true STEM degree, which companies are requiring more and more......

I wish I would of made the right decision to begin with and just got the dang CS bachelors out of the way. You literally don't need another degree after that...... Still the case to this day.

the_Grinch

DatabaseHead wrote: »

Honestly the best offering they have had thus far. A true STEM degree, which companies are requiring more and more......

I wish I would of made the right decision to begin with and just got the dang CS bachelors out of the way. You literally don't need another degree after that...... Still the case to this day.

Agree 100%! Biggest mistake in my career was not getting a CS degree and I'm reminded of that on a daily basis haha

JoJoCal19

DatabaseHead wrote: »

Honestly the best offering they have had thus far. A true STEM degree, which companies are requiring more and more......

I wish I would of made the right decision to begin with and just got the dang CS bachelors out of the way. You literally don't need another degree after that...... Still the case to this day.

the_Grinch wrote: »

Agree 100%! Biggest mistake in my career was not getting a CS degree and I'm reminded of that on a daily basis haha

Same lol. I want the GATech OMSCS. One degree to rule them all. I'm looking at moving more towards dev/appsec/pentesting for my career, but wouldn't mind a full dev job.

I looked at UF's online BSCS but I am loathe to take 3 calc classes and 2 physics classes when I can teach myself everything in them and more, for free, and in far less time. Most other brick and mortar schools require the same too. So I'm going to submit my transcripts to WGU and see if I can get all the gen ed stuff transferred in and just do the bachelors level CS stuff.

denis92

Is the computing systems specialization meant to be like a general specialization? I would like to get a general degree since I am young and don't know what ill end up doing in the far future. I don't want to pigeon hole myself with something like cybersecurity.

the_Grinch

JoJoCal19 wrote: »

Same lol. I want the GATech OMSCS. One degree to rule them all. I'm looking at moving more towards dev/appsec/pentesting for my career, but wouldn't mind a full dev job.

I looked at UF's online BSCS but I am loathe to take 3 calc classes and 2 physics classes when I can teach myself everything in them and more, for free, and in far less time. Most other brick and mortar schools require the same too. So I'm going to submit my transcripts to WGU and see if I can get all the gen ed stuff transferred in and just do the bachelors level CS stuff.

Let me know how you make out. Considering applying, but won't be able to start till January.

McxRisley

So are you wanting the classes just for the degree or to learn how to code? There are numerous cheaper and better ways to learn coding if that is your ultimate end goal.

the_Grinch

I'd like the degree and the knowledge that comes with it. A lot more to Computer Science than learning to code and for my aims the knowledge gained from a Computer Science degree is essential. I could purchase a bunch of courses from Udemy if coding were my only goal.