The Regis Masters in Computer Information Technology degree on-line

Here are notes on the various universities offering on-line masters degrees in information/computer sciences, especially the Regis program, which I am in.

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The Regis Program

Regis University, located in Denver, Colorado is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), one of six US regional accrediting bodies officially recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation.
• Petersons guide
• US News article on the Regis e-learning program [registration required]
• part of a PONSI scheme?

• MSCIT Home

Regis uses WebCT learning software and Oracle Database software

Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) Internet Application Developer Rel. 6/6i Track consists of 4 exams (with promotional code"S36" to receive your OTN 20% discount from $125 to Prometric) taken after practicing with Self Tests for $99 each course and Software License for $200 a year or the Oracle Internet Developers Suite for $40.00 from the Oracle Store. Oracle 8i DBA exam and Oracle Internet Application Developer, Oracle Forms Developer Rel. 6/6i leading to Master Certificate program

Using Oracle8i Enterprise Edition Release 3 (8.1.7) for Windows 2000/NT

Get this book

Regis People

Among the MSCIT Contacts include:
• Lindsay Sprague, MSCIT Secretary 303-458-4350 lsprague at regis.edu
  
• Don Ina, my Faculty Advisor 303-458-4027 (dina at regis.edu)
  
• Doug Hart (dhart), E-Commerce lead faculty
• Nancy Birkenheuer x4141 (nbirkenh), lead faculty, MSCIT, for distance learning
  
• Jen Strahl, x4081 Admin. Manager does the hiring of faculty
• Don Archer, MSCIS Faculty Chair 303-458-4335 (darcher at regis.edu)
  
• Ellen K. Waterman, director of School for Professional Studies Distance Learning
  
• Dr. James Dorris, Associate Academic Dean at Regis
• Sam Conn, Primary Advisor for the DBA Practicum.
• Mike Prasad (mike.prasad at echostar.com) (303)723.2112 teaches OO and the Wireless practicum
• Trisha Litz (plitz) Professional Project Lead Graduate Faculty in the MSCIT program
• Tutor on Network, Internet, UNIX: Steve DePasse (sdepass at qwest.com)

The Regis Faculty web pages has goodies such as
• Lattina's Entity Relationship Diagrams and Data Dictionary
• Greg Butler's Intro to Java Arrays, a Powerpoint presentation with sound!
• Thomas Hanson's Object Oriented Analysis & Design & Programming

Course Access

As a student, I've experienced a lot of technical problems and down-time with the system.

On the other hand, it's improving. The technical team are effective at resolving problems. They respond quickly and pleasantly.

Distance Learning Department techsupport@regis.edu 1-800-805-1385 x4169 or 303-458-4169

Jamison Wise is the Online Project Manager jwise@regis.edu 1-877-526-1097 or 303-964-5428

• The online portion is not "courseware". Educational content is in books.

• Even though Regis is registered as a educational partner of Oracle, it does not use Oracle's official curriculum. Something to do with their certification as a degree-granting instution. Personally, I would prefer to use the official curriculum, plus additional work for the degree.

• Each instructor has been finding his/her own way to communicate student status (grades), such as MyGradeBook.com. Some don't even bother communicating progress.

• The "forum" is a crude message system. The focus is responding to each week's assignment. So you have to remember what topic goes with each week. Posters cannot change postings, so double check if you selected the correct week before pushing that "save" button.

• Quizzes are so dumb that most profs are ignoring ones developed. If you answer just one letter off, you are marked wrong.

• Home page: regis.edu/spsgrad/
• Academic Calendar
• Course Descriptions
• Use the WebAdvisor to search and register for classes from the Schedule of Courses

Registration 800.568-8932
Joan 303.964-5305
Student Accts 303.458-4126

• Textbooks for Online Courses
  by Jasmine Carletta x4274
• Bookstore (Follett.com)
  1-800-798-4153
• Online course access at worldclass.regis.edu uses WebCT software that was terrible, but is improving.
• Citrix server using ICA client

• Regis Libraries 1-800-388-2366 x4031
• Lumen - The Regis Library Web Catalog is where Masters Thesis are posted as PDF Electronic Documents.

• MLA Guidelines

My Project Selection Criteria

My selection of a project was based on these personal objectives:
1. Support my lifestyle goal to work remotely (over the internet) teaching (or getting paid to write about) internet business project management and software testing. I want the freedom to keep working while I move to a mountain cabin or travel around the world.

2. Create a product that is useful rather than a document that collects dust in a dungeon. I hope my project can be turned into a popular product or service.

3. Produce something that generates income or do some good helping the underpriviledged.

4. Support a Job Functions that I am familar with (such as a tool to help in quality assurance of databases accessible over the Internet).

5. Support Industries (target user group) that has enough volume.

6. Use readily available but upcoming technologies (such as MS dotNet web services and/or a wireless application) rather than legacy technologies (such as COBOL on a mainframe).

REA Staff. (1997). (Quick and Easy Guide to) Writing Your A+ Thesis: Everything You Need to Write Your Thesis. (1st ed.). Piscataway, NJ: Research & Education Association (REA). ISBN: 0-87891-787-X soft.

My Project Choices

Given the considerations above, here are my choices:
1. Use my PC to build a WAP app accessible on my Sprint Wireless Web phone that uses web services (such as Amazon's service that returns prices for a book's ISBN number or the USPS service that returns a validated street address).

2. A website to support self-managing team collaboration projects, such as a group decision making tool that interacts with software Microsoft's Project. I think that virtual teams will be recognized as one of the most important revolutions during the Network Age.

3. A website to coordinate business pros who volunteer various skills (IT, marketing, etc.) collaborating on a project to help a non-profit organization over the internet, as defined by Helping.org. This could start by building on the matching done by volunteermatch.org and idealist.org.
   • Kathleen Daly's OfficePlease Foundation (kmdaly@earthlink.net 707-935-8268, 2750 Trinity Road, Glen Ellen, CA 95442) * It's a npo that supports other npo's with technology resources, training and support. We provide an internet based unified business service that provides a single point of entry for staff or volunteers to access needed business tools and information. All that is needed is access to the internet and a browser.
   • SAB Services, Inc.
   • Pathways Community Network of Atlanta, GA develops Oracle, Silverstream & open-source Java applications for nonprofit social services organizations, local government agencies serving the working poor and homeless. Honored by PC WEEK magazine, Technology Managers Forum, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the global Ericsson Internet Community Awards. Tommy Phillips or Noah Swint (info@pathways-usa.org) is Project Manager - Virtual Development Team) 404-584-6591 (referred by Volunteer match)

My Curriculum

Here's my plan for finishing the 12 classes to complete this 36 unit program. They say it takes 20 hours per week per class. Some instructors think that's the minimum and assign busywork accordingly. The actual schedule may change.