134 Credits But No Degree! Please Help Me Make Something Useful Out All These Credits

[CreativeLearner]

Location: Ohio, USA
Age: 40
Degree Wanted?: BS Computer Science. Open to Suggestions
 
Regional Accredited Credits:


College 1 (4 Year University) 2002-2005


ART 1243 Drawing One, 3, A
BBL 1013 Old Testament Survey, 3, A-
COR 1001 Foundation Of Christian Scholarship, 1, A-
GSC 1023 Physical Science, 3, B
PSY 1013 Introductory Psychology, 3, A-
ART 2213 Color Studies, 3, A
ART 2223 History of Art & Design 3, B
ART 2253 Graphic Design One, 3, A
ECN 2002 Basic Economics, 2, B
GST 2111 Effective Student Leadership, 1, B
HST 1003 Survey of Western Civilization, 3, B
BBL 4043 Irish Perspectives on Christian Living, 3, A-
EGL 4043 Irish Literature, 3, B
MUS 3003 Visual & Aural Arts, 3, A
ART 1311 Computer Graphics: Vector, 1, A
ART 1321 Computer Graphics: Raster, 1, A
ART 2263 Graphic Design II, 3, B+
ART 3453 Illustration One, 3, A
CMN 3112 Outdoor Leadership: Horsemanship, 2, A-
DMA 1311 Computer Graphics: Animation, 1, B
HSP 1171 Racquetball, 1, A
ART 2453 Drawing Two, 3, 
ART 2503 Typography, 3, B-
ART 3323 Figure Drawing, 3, B+
ART 4403 Publication Design, 3, C
ART 3203 Advertising Design, 3, B
ART 3313 Corporate Identity, 3, B-
BST 1133 Mass Media / Mass Culture: Online, 3, C
POL 2003 Introduction To Political Thought, 3, C
ART 1331 Computer Graphics: Layout, 1, A
BBL 1022 New Testament Survey, 2, B
DMA 1321 Computer Graphics: Web, 1, S (Satisfactory)
DMA 2733 Foundations In Interactive Design, 3, C
EN 3002 Technology And Society, 2, A-
MTH 1003 Quantitative Literacy, 3, C
RPH 3002 Introduction to Philosophy, 2, B+
TOTAL CREDITS: 86


Community College 1 (2014-2016)


MGT 1115 Customer Relations, 2, A
ITS 1400 Web Design Essentials, 2, A
MTH 1060 Business Mathematics, 3, A
CSD 1100 CSD Program Orientation, 1, A
NTK 1110 PC Hardware Essentials 3, A
CSE 1110 Intro To Cybersecurity, 3, A
MGT 2000 Intro To Project Management, 3, A
CPE 0600 Algebra One, 4, A
ITS 1245 Beginning Database, 1, A
EBE 1000 Employability Skills 1, A
ITS 1500 HTML And CSS, 3, A
CSD 1500 Programming Fundamentals, 3 A
ENG 2211 Business Communication, 3, B
CSD 1400 Database Management Sys, 3, D
CSD 2540 C Programming, 4, C
TOTAL CREDITS: 39


Community College 2 (2023-2024)


ART 1101 2D Foundations, 3, A
ART 2230 Art History Ancient & Medieval, 3, A
COM 2211 Effective Public Speaking, 3, A
TOTAL CREDITS: 9




Combined total: 134 Credits!



Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: 


2002
AP ENG LANG / COMP - 4 (score)
AP ENG LIT / COMP - 4 (score)


Any certifications or military experience? None


Addendum:


Budget: Cheap!
Commitments: Stay at home parent, small children, spouse
Dedicated time to study: 1 hour a night
Timeline: As fast as possible.
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: No


I am a great test taker with excellent reading comprehension. I am a fast reader. I also have strong writing and research skills. I have decent potential for math


I have tried several times for a degree but life got in the way..this has put me in a position of acquiring a mountain of credits due to "losing" credits each time I transferred schools. I'm tired of it and I just want to see what I can do to turn all my hard work into something tangible. 


I don't need this for a current job or career, I just want to satisfy a life dream of finally getting a bachelor's degree (or two, if that's an option). And if I can learn something about topics that interest me, all the better. I would love to learn more about underlying concepts related to running own business, programming own website and building own app, training pre-existing "base" AI Models to work with your own art.

Thank you so much for your help and thoughts!

[allvia]

Since cheap is a priority, and you're open to suggestions, I'd recommend you apply ASAP for the Pierpont BOS AAS in Graphics Technology. You should already have plenty of credits to meet that AOS. Then I'd recommend UMPI for a BAS in MIS, maybe add marketing as a minor (as that aligns with the graphics/web you already have shown interest in). You can pick up any of the Gen Eds you're missing through Sophia (Bio and Lab, and either Spanish I or French I jump out at me for UMPI), there are wiki pages for the Gen Eds for both Pierpont and UMPI.  Here is the wiki page for the a UMPI Bachelor of Applied Science, BAS Degree Plan (includes Pierpont AAS info) https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan

[bjcheung77]

@CreativeLearner, Welcome to the board, that's a very good introduction post with the addendum, template, and additional details. Do you have an associates already? If not, you can do one of two options, as nowadays my suggestion is to do a balanced mix/match trifecta of certs, degree, experience. Your best choices are TESU and UMPI for max transfer of credits and to get the associates/bachelors combo.

First Choice: UMPI (shorter route), you can get the Pierpont BOG AAS with Info System emphasis, UMPI AALS for your general arts/sciences, UMPI BAS with a minor or two (PM/MIS) along with the 3-4 classes that go towards the UMPI MAOL, you'll be well versed in Business, IT, Organizational Leadership... You can get from an Associates to Masters within a year, or if you go slowly, a year and a half.

Second as a backup option: TESU (longer route), you can get two associates, two bachelors if you wanted, it depends what you want and the energy, money, time you have to spend on this journey. This would be a year at least for the lot, you can add certs as well. Just like the UMPI option, I would still focus on the main goal of the Bachelors, you can add the certs, associates and leave them.

[mohelena02]

Like everyone is mentioning Pierpont ASAP then UMPI or you can consider WGU since you're good with testing.

[CreativeLearner]

Thank you so much for the advice and help! To answer a previous question, no...I do not have an associates yet.

[allvia]

Like everyone is mentioning Pierpont ASAP then UMPI or you can consider WGU since you're good with testing.

The problem with WGU as an option is that they are picky about age of credit transfers, and often those they do take have to align almost perfectly to count. In this OPs case it seems WGU would not be a good fit for what they have indicated as priority as far as cost, time or ease. TESU could be good, but would cost far more than UMPI (even if they needed 3 or 4 sessions, which is unlikely). 

Also, as a side note to the OP - UMPI would be financial aid friendly (TESU generally isn't that for most).

[CreativeLearner]

Like everyone is mentioning Pierpont ASAP then UMPI or you can consider WGU since you're good with testing.

The problem with WGU as an option is that they are picky about age of credit transfers, and often those they do take have to align almost perfectly to count. In this OPs case it seems WGU would not be a good fit for what they have indicated as priority as far as cost, time or ease. TESU could be good, but would cost far more than UMPI (even if they needed 3 or 4 sessions, which is unlikely). 

Also, as a side note to the OP - UMPI would be financial aid friendly (TESU generally isn't that for most).

Thankyou! I do not qualify for financial aid, so everything is out of pocket for me.

[bjcheung77]

Got some time? Here are three threads you may want to review, from a few months ago: 
In short, for ROI/Value, I recommended UMPI Bachelors $3K, Masters $4300, Total $7300+

My post #3 & #10: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...-Plan-Help
My posts, especially #14: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...n-Business
My posts, #2 and so on: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...for-advice

[ss20ts]

As a 2 time UMPI alumni, I don't see anyone completing more than 2-3 courses per term if they only have 1 hour a day to dedicate to studies. That's just not going to work. The Milestones alone would likely take a few days each and the papers will take several weeks with only an hour to work on it a day. That 1 hour a day to study is going to be tricky. TESU might just be a better option because of that time limit.

[degreeseeker9]

With so many credits, why not try sending all your transcripts to Athabasca and having them evaluate it for a BGS in Arts and Science?