40+ Looking for Fast Level Up

[ercmxr]

After much consideration and research, I believe I've landed on UMPI's BLS in Management Information Systems. I did consider the Pierpont path, with the AAS to UMPI BAS degree, but thought maybe the UMPI degree chosen hits the IS and Business points with less hassle?

Question for those who know: Would the Coursera Google IT Support Professional Certificate apply to any CUs at UMPI as well?

I'm also peaked because I've read that UMPI is getting ready to introduce a YourPace Computer Science degree. Wish I knew more!

My plan for now is to knock out as much as I can on Sophia, Study.com, etc. If I'm able to do that in the next 2 months, I'll apply for the Fall 2 term.

Is there a link to see what courses fulfill the core requirements and electives at UMPI beyond the GEC requirements? I'd love to finish a degree plan!

This is what I've researched and planned for hitting GEC requirements:

English Comp I & II (6) Sophia (some say UMPI is easier?)
Comm 102 (3) Study.com
Art History I (3) Sophia
Intro to Stats (3) Sophia
Human Biology (3) Sophia
Human Biology Lab (1) Sophia
Environmental Science (3) Sophia
Student Success (1) Sophia
Intro to Ethics (3) Sophia
Intro to Sociology (3) Sophia
US History (3) Sophia
Spanish I (3) Sophia
US Government (3) Sophia
Ancient Greek Philosophers (3) Sophia

Am I missing something glaringly obvious? Any flaws in my plan?

I'm hoping that by completing the UMPI BLS in MIS and complementing with some IT certifications (recommendations welcome), I can scratch all the itches and have a well rounded, job ready resume in a few months.

This forum has been so helpful! Thank you all for the thoughts and advice.

Here's to success!

[allvia]

"English Comp I & II (6) Sophia (EVERYONE says UMPI is easier?)" - fixed that for you, take them at UMPI 

Also, Sophia is now offering French as of a few days ago, so if you'd prefer that over Spanish it is an option.

[ercmxr]

"English Comp I & II (6) Sophia (EVERYONE says UMPI is easier?)" - fixed that for you, take them at UMPI 

Also, Sophia is now offering French as of a few days ago, so if you'd prefer that over Spanish it is an option.

Got it! Any other GEC courses recommended to take at UMPI versus other providers?

[bjcheung77]

@ercmxr - Welcome to the board, as I mentioned earlier, your best bet is to follow our lead, you've got a couple of goals that can be done quickly!  An Associates at Pierpont, the BOG with an emphasis of your choice, is what you need to start with. When you've got the requirements for the BOG AAS complete, you can continue with your certs, experience, and also go for the Coursera/TADA offerings towards an UMPI BAS with a minor of your choice.  You need to create an action plan and stick to that goal, completing one cert/course or classes from one provider at a time.

Work on the trifecta!  You'll end up with certs, degree, experience you're asking about, looking for, and needing/wanting.  You need to work on courses that 'hit' multiple requirements, whatever you take towards the Pierpont BOG AAS automatically goes towards your UMPI BAS, these include Coursera/TADA offerings plus others, and in the links below will show you how to get those credits...  Essentially, there is going to be a lot of details/information to go through, I would complete courses from a provider at a time or select to do the freebies from Coursera/TADA, TEEX first and then a Sophia.org subscription, not all at the same time.

As again, I always tell people to work on 3 things, the trifecta of certs, degree, experience, it's best to follow the degree links I have below.  You'll have questions and most of them are answered already in the WIKI.  You want to do this in an orderly fashion to get them done cheap, easy, fast, work on the Sophia.org classes that will complete your BOG AAS and ladder to the Coursera/TADA, finish with UMPI.  Your last courses should be at UMPI, take the time to do your courses for max transfer first, you can apply but delay your entry for another session.

With the Coursera/TADA, you can get the certificates/experience you want in addition, you can actually get a Pierpont BOG AAS in Info Systems or another emphasis and ladder to the UMPI BAS with a minor in MIS, double minor, or even a triple minor in anything else that floats your boat.  To search the area of emphasis, you want to review post #6 of this sticky thread, I wouldn't put too much focus into it if you can just get the degree quickly, a General Business option would do, you do not need the exact classes, it just requires 15 credits in an emphasis: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...f-Emphasis

Pierpont BOG AAS Link: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Pierpont_C%26TC
Coursera/TADA ACE Link: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Coursera
Here's the UMPI BAS Link: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan

[ercmxr]

@ercmxr - Welcome to the board, as I mentioned earlier, your best bet is to follow our lead, you've got a couple of goals that can be done quickly!  An Associates at Pierpont, the BOG with an emphasis of your choice, is what you need to start with. When you've got the requirements for the BOG AAS complete, you can continue with your certs, experience, and also go for the Coursera/TADA offerings towards an UMPI BAS with a minor of your choice.  You need to create an action plan and stick to that goal, completing one cert/course or classes from one provider at a time.

Ok, I'm convinced. One thing that has me concerned is this disclaimer from the wiki:

As of the time of creating this guide, Pierpont only requires a single graded RA credit and everything else can come from Sophia.org or other alternate sources. This is something that could change at any time, however, and students should be advised that they may be required to obtain 12 graded RA credits before being granted a Pierpont degree. Proceed with caution if you don't have 12 RA credits already.

I don't currently have any credits.

[bjcheung77]

Ok, I'm convinced. One thing that has me concerned is this disclaimer from the wiki:

Proceed with caution if you don't have 12 RA credits already.

I don't currently have any credits.

Hmm... Intriguing, I believe you're overthinking each and every step... it's good to be cautious, but don't let a caution sign stop you unless it's really unsafe to do something. Here's the thing, *sticks caution sign in front of your favorite restaurant* *splashes water onto ground* it's unsafe!  Would that stop you from getting your 'binge food'?  There are other entrances, online orders where they'll deliver, or do the curb-side-pickup!

If you read the 'other' link I provided, the first one in regards to Pierpont BOG AAS, you'll noticed in the Pre-Application area, another disclaimer has been crossed off.  No one knows if/when there will be a change, why worry about the change if it's not happening?  Even if it did happen, that's just one obstacle in life, you'll still get there by skipping the Pierpont BOG, you can get the UMPI AALS for FREE on route to the BLS, voila!

[rachel83az]

The Google IT Support Processional Certificate at UMPI is worth 12 (or 15?) elective credits; it doesn't meet any GEC or major/minor requirements.

For Pierpont, you need exactly ONE graded RA (or NA) credit right now - this can come from the $25 1-credit ASU class. Everything else can come from Sophia. You'll need more than 60 credits to enroll at UMPI anyway, so you might as well pick up the Pierpont degree along the way. Especially if you're easily able to get the Area of Emphasis you want.

[dfrecore]

@ercmxr - Welcome to the board, as I mentioned earlier, your best bet is to follow our lead, you've got a couple of goals that can be done quickly!  An Associates at Pierpont, the BOG with an emphasis of your choice, is what you need to start with. When you've got the requirements for the BOG AAS complete, you can continue with your certs, experience, and also go for the Coursera/TADA offerings towards an UMPI BAS with a minor of your choice.  You need to create an action plan and stick to that goal, completing one cert/course or classes from one provider at a time.

Ok, I'm convinced. One thing that has me concerned is this disclaimer from the wiki:

As of the time of creating this guide, Pierpont only requires a single graded RA credit and everything else can come from Sophia.org or other alternate sources. This is something that could change at any time, however, and students should be advised that they may be required to obtain 12 graded RA credits before being granted a Pierpont degree. Proceed with caution if you don't have 12 RA credits already.

I don't currently have any credits.

Don't bother with Pierpont if you don't need to - people here are obsessed with collecting degrees, but honestly, if you just need a bachelor's degree and have figured that out, don't get distracted by things like Pierpont.  Just go ahead and plan out UMPI, get your credits, and then get in there and finish your degree.

If at some point, you decide you REALLY want an AAS, by all means, go back and do it - but you could be done with a bachelor's at UMPI instead, and skip it entirely and not notice.  I don't think it's worth the time/effort for most people.

[rachel83az]

Note: you cannot get the BOG AAS later. If you want a specific BOG AAS with an area of emphasis to add to your resume for keyword purposes, it's now or never. Getting an AAS later will likely be ridiculously expensive compared to getting one right now.

[dfrecore]

Note: you cannot get the BOG AAS later. If you want a specific BOG AAS with an area of emphasis to add to your resume for keyword purposes, it's now or never. Getting an AAS later will likely be ridiculously expensive compared to getting one right now.

I meant as some point along the way to the BA, not after the BA.  There would be zero point in doing that.