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Comment by aweb | Hacker News Reader

Apparently you can try to apply with another kind of BS : "Formal admission into the OMS CS program will require a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from an accredited institution, or a related Bachelor of Science degree with a possible need to take and pass remedial courses"

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I wonder if you can get in with just a BA.

I imagine that it comes down to demonstrated (or expressed) ability, acumen, motivation, and interest.

But it depends on how heavily they lean on their heuristics. If you're interested I wouldn't let your fear that they won't accept BA's stop you from applying. I have a BS in Economics and am currently enrolled in a Master's in Computer Science. I mention that because I know there are plenty of BA in Economics programs around...and I can't imagine they differ that much from the program I graduated in.

BS Econ to BS CS is exceedingly common, though. Not so much for, say, East Asian Arts.

I am starting an MS in CS program in the fall (not at GT) and I just have a BA. They let me in, however I have to take a full academic year of remedial courses first[1]. I would imagine they will do something like that.

[1]Calculus 1 and 2, Intro to Programming, Data Structures, Foundations of CS, Intro to Computer Systems, Intro to Computer Organization, Algorithms and Data Structures, Structures of Programming Languages, Introduction to Finite Automata, Introduction to Operating Systems.

P.S. Anybody know where I can learn any of the above online cheap or free? If I learn it elsewhere I can test out of the classes.

try http://class-central.com

Thanks, great link.

MIT OpenCourseWare.

http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm

Your local Community College might offer them online. I did most of my AS that way.

Most community colleges "CS" programs consist of IT courses, with a few CS courses mixed in. Which is a shame.

Indeed. Even within the same CC system it can vary. Mine had a lot that mapped directly to my university's (Intro to CS, Data Structures & Algorithms, Language/Topic specific courses - C# and MySQL for example). Meanwhile even the "technical" school in the same system had only two or three basic CS courses. My CC even has a real electronics program! (as opposed to the more common journeyman electrician and solar installer programs) Where theory and practice are taught!

Have a look at MIT Open Courseware.

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