Certifications for IT

[sanantone]

BTW- when you say a hardware degree, what does that mean?  You need to specify which degree he wants to get (I'm assuming that TESU's BA in IT is NOT a hardware degree, at least, it doesn't sound like it to me).

I'm interested in this as well. Computer science degrees don't focus on hardware. Most IT degrees have a class or two covering hardware. Is he interested in computer engineering, networking, or computer repair?

[bjcheung77]

Basically, I think OP's looking for Certifications and to transfer them into the TESU IT degree, you can try but it's expensive and restrictive for a number of transfers. WGU includes the certifications in the tuition, so they are probably the best option. You can check their site for what degree/certificates are transferable if you want to transfer them into the degree, but I wouldn't want to "waste the $ obtaining certs beforehand".

For WGU - See here for their list: https://www.wgu.edu/admissions/it_certifications
BSIT Program (35 courses): https://www.wgu.edu/online-it-degrees/in...ogram.html

For Hodges BS CIT: 32 residency credits are required - 8 courses total
You can transfer in the remaining credits, 22 courses X 4 credits = 88 credits
Yup, if you counted that correctly, it's only 30 courses total! Go figure!
See link on courses: https://webadvisor.hodges.edu/aa_pdfs/pl...r-bcit.pdf

Hodges prepares the student for the following exams, I don't think the exam fees are included though.
A+, Network+ (Net+), Linux+
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Institute of Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP)
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP)
Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA)

For Brandman BSIT (39 courses): If you look under InfoTech Generalist Emphasis, you can transfer in 14 certs
https://www.brandman.edu/academic-progra...ogy-mypath

If you have additional college credits through alternative means, that'll drop a number of courses down as well.
In a perfectly dreamy world, I don't recall the residency requirements, but if you can take 2 years community college and 14 certs, that'll shave 34 courses, only 5 courses are required!

TLDR - Too Long, Didn't Read? Short Story, apply to WGU, email Brandman/Hodges for more questions. They all provide degrees that are in IT and Certs do transfer to the three of them. It's just picking the one that fits your tastes and needs.

[jsd]

Where are you seeing that Hodges accepts IT certs? The document you linked doesn't mention that.

[dfrecore]

Basically, I think OP's looking for Certifications and to transfer them into the TESU IT degree...

The OP specifically said that her son was looking at getting a degree in hardware.  I would like clarification from her directly, since I don't understand what that means TO HER (or her son).  Having someone else explain what he THINKS she means isn't helpful at all.

[sanantone]

Basically, I think OP's looking for Certifications and to transfer them into the TESU IT degree...

The OP specifically said that her son was looking at getting a degree in hardware.  I would like clarification from her directly, since I don't understand what that means TO HER (or her son).  Having someone else explain what he THINKS she means isn't helpful at all.

[bjcheung77]

LOL, Haha, I see what happened there, incorrect internet etiquette on my side. No wonder I got confused for a moment reading this. My mistake and I apologize profusely, I was actually responding to JSD's post #8 trying to validate these recommendations and geissingert's #9. I should have done so in quotes... so there would be no confusion. Anyways, my bad.

To continue where I left off, from Capella's website, it sounds as if they do accept transfers for IT Certs and they also provide free vouchers for IT certification exams as well. Too bad they're FOR Profit and they merged with another FOR profit (Strayer), but I have them on my PHD/Doctorate list as they accept 70% transfers into their Doctorate degrees.

Capella: https://www.capella.edu/online-informati...y-degrees/ - Earn Industry Certifications
Gain skills and knowledge in select IT specializations to take industry certification exams—and the vouchers to take them for free.
Capella: https://www.capella.edu/online-degrees/b...echnology/ - Save On Course Credit
Your industry certifications and prior knowledge could qualify you to save up to $13,590* on course credit.

NAU CIT: http://catalog.nau.edu/Catalog/details?p...gYear=1718
Seems there's no IT cert transfer, but strangely, they "prepare" you for IT certs as per their description!
"Parts of the curriculum are designed around highly valued certifications."

UW Wisconsin Flex: https://flex.wisconsin.edu/degrees-progr...echnology/
Seems very similar to NAU CIT, This Self-Paced Program Is Ideally Suited For Students Who:
Working IT professionals who have completed some college, technical school, or previous certification

For geissingert, I suggest emailing several of them asking various questions about their program and certification transfers.
I would go for the non-profit or public universities as first choice, and also email the for profits just in case as well.
There are no fees involved when you're trying to get more info, and the schools should be able to assist if needed.

Where are you seeing that Hodges accepts IT certs? The document you linked doesn't mention that.

Link: https://www.hodges.edu/academicprograms/...ology.aspx
Hodges has a pretty transparent webpage on their programs. When you click onto the program of choice, choose Curriculum.
The link I sent earlier was the Program Guide/Sequence, the link beneath it is the detailed University Catalog.
See page 22 - Undergraduate Validated Learning - up to 24 credits from IT Certs.

geissingert, good luck! There are so many ways of getting your son through an IT/Hardware degree, most IT programs have "hardware competencies" they have to know, you may want talk it over with him and see what he thinks would be a good program for him.
Examples are going for Non Profits such as WGU or Hodges for undergrad and continuing with them for graduate studies. Someone chose Brandman over WGU when they had a "cheaper" tuition promotion for their BSIT and may go with Patten MBA IT afterwards.

[sanantone]

Capella tells you which certifications you'll earn in the General Information Technology program: COMPTIA A+, Network+, Security+, and Project+.

https://www.capella.edu/online-degrees/b...echnology/

It appears that they'll award a lot of credits for the CISSP in the Information Assurance and Cybersecurity specialization, but this isn't hardware. There might be other certifications that will apply to the other specializations. 

https://www.capella.edu/online-degrees/b...rsecurity/

[jsd]

Link: https://www.hodges.edu/academicprograms/...ology.aspx
Hodges has a pretty transparent webpage on their programs.  When you click onto the program of choice, choose Curriculum.
The link I sent earlier was the Program Guide/Sequence, the link beneath it is the detailed University Catalog.
See page 22 - Undergraduate Validated Learning - up to 24 credits from IT Certs.

Thanks!

[Berzerker]

Hodges' catalog does say you can transfer-in "approved" IT certs for credit (24 credits max for a BS and 15 credits max for AS) but it doesn't tell you which certs they accept or which classes they replace.

Also, you have to take an exam (free) to prove you actually know what you learned on the cert tests in order for them to take-in the certs as credit.  So they want you to certify your certification test score with an exam  LOL.  I guess they don't trust the cert tests or the score transcripts?

From the Hodges Catalog:

Technology students enrolling in traditional degree programs who have passed Fisher School of Technology approved IT related certifications are eligible to have those certifications translated into college credit.  These certifications must be completed prior to enrolling in Hodges University.  A maximum of 24 college credits toward a bachelor’s degree (15  credits  toward  an  associate  degree)  can  be  awarded  for  approved  IT  related  certifications  upon  successful completion  of  a  departmental  exam,  with  a  minimum  score  of  70  percent,  to  validate  content  knowledge  and  the submission of certification attainment documentation. There are no fees attached for testing or to award this credit.

BTW:  I have never seen an IT degree with an emphasis on hardware (not saying it doesn't exist, but I never heard of it).  If you mean your son wants to build or engineer the hardware, then a degree in Electronics Technology or Electronics Engineering is what he's looking for.  Otherwise, if all he wants to do is work with hardware, a general IT degree is what he'll have to get but it will include classes in software and programming (usually).

[jsd]

Hodges' catalog does say you can transfer-in "approved" IT certs for credit (24 credits max for a BS and 15 credits max for AS) but it doesn't tell you which certs they accept or which classes they replace.

Also, you have to take an exam (free) to prove you actually know what you learned on the cert tests in order for them to take-in the certs as credit.  So they want you to certify your certification test score with an exam  LOL.  I guess they don't trust the cert tests or the score transcripts?

I guess they have to make money somehow, but this is beyond silly. And on top of that they charge you for books? Bogus.