Thanks for your reply!
My thoughts exactly. And, since posting this question, I actually found a few online CS degree programs (UMUC looks good, so far). Math is a very weak area for me and I am not sure if it would really be a deal breaker for a CS degree. My concern with the BS-IT is that potential employers may not find it very appealing for the simple fact it isn’t a BS-CS.
That said, where do your interests lay? Do you like diving into code, or do you like working with art and design?
Code, hands down. My strong suit is back-end programming, mostly with PHP, and I absolutely love absorbing new languages and practices. Right now I’m teaching myself Object Oriented Programming, Subversioning, and MVC frameworks.
Both are important for web development. However, if you’re more interested in programming, the BS-IT degree sounds like it will be closer to what you are aiming for. Graphic design by itself has little to do with web development directly. It tends to introduce you to graphic arts programs (photoshop, illustrator, indesign, flash, etc). It might be better taken as an elective in the BS-IT degree than as the entire focus of a degree.
I began to consider the BA in Graphics Design for several reasons. First, I am fairly strong in web programming but severely lacking in layout and presentation. If I decided to try the path of freelance Web Designer & Developer, having a stronger foothold in those areas would help attract new clients. Second, if things do not pan out as a developer, it would be something that I could fall back on. And lastly, I would be able to apply for a position as a developer with experience in all areas - years of programming and a degree in a design related area.
Having said all of that, my GOAL is that of a programmer, preferably working with a small firm (<20 employees). I’ve been going back and forth trying to make up my mind for over a month, I was accepted to Southern New Hampshire University just because I applied but they seem to be a fairly reputable institution, regionally accredited and not for profit.