AA degree to BS Psychology - advice needed

[StJackson]

Part 1
Location: CA 
Age: 35
Degree Desired: Psychology - starting with B.S., aiming for M.S. Love observing human behavior, especially in social settings. Worked with emotionally disturbed middle schooler, found it fulfilling but seek a less hands-on role in the future.

Examples:
A) School setting, I want to evaluate a student, and put plans in place that other people will carry out
B) BCBA - once again, not the person that does the hands-on therapies but understand I'll need hands on hours to start with (BCaBA)
C) Work in criminal justice / various roles

I am not interested in being a talk therapist / LMFT, etc

Current Regional Accredited Credits: 
Two A.A. degrees from De Anza CC (completed end of Mar 24) - A.A. English & A.A. Liberal Arts 

De Anza (QRT SYSTEM)
ANTH 2- CULTURAL ANTH, 4, C+
ASTR 04 - SOLAR SYSTEM ASTRONOMY, 5, C+
HIST 17C - HIST U.S. 1900-PRESENT, 4, B+
ELIT 11 - INTRO TO POETRY, 4, B+
EWRT 1A- COMP & READING, 5, B+
EWRT 30 - INTRO TO CREATIVE WRITING, 4, A
ICS 3A - WORLD HISTORY, 4, B
ELIT 22 - MYTHOLOGY AND FOLKLORE, 4, B
ELIT 46B - MAJOR BRITISH WRITERS: NEO, 4, A
ELIT 48B - MAJOR AMERICAN WRITERS: 1865-1914, 4, B+
NUTR 10 - CONTEM NUTRITION, 4, C
ELIT 46C - MAJOR BRIT WRITERS: VICTORIA/MOD, 5, A-
EWRT 2 - CRIT READ, WRITE & THINK, 5, A-
EWRT 40 - FICTION WRITING HONORS, 4, A
MUSI 53 - MUSIC BUSINESS, 3, A-
ADMJ 51 - WOMEN IN CRIME, 4, A+
EWRT 1B - READING, WRITING, RESEARCH, 5, A
MATH 10 - INTRO TO STATS, 5, - IN PROGRESS - WILL FINISH WITH: A / B+
WMST 21 - WOMEN IN LIT, 4, IN PROGRESS - WILL FINISH WITH: A

West Valley College
PSYC 1 - GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY, 3, C

Custa College
FAMST 18 - HUMAN SEXUALITY, 3, C
SPCH 10 - SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION 3, B

SNHU 
COM-126 - INTRO TO MASS COMMUNICATION, 3, A-
MAT-125 QUANT REASON & PROB SOLVING, 3, A
COM-230 GRAPHICS & LAYOUT PRINT MEDIA, 3, B+
PSY-257 - SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, 3, B

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: 
None

Any certifications or military experience? 
None

---

Part 2:
Looking at
WGU: 
Pro:
Program looks great, pricing looks great, might not feel as pressured /racing against the clock due to billing cycles compared to Capella
Cons:
Only offers B.S. Psychology

Capella: 
Pros: 
Has both BS & Masters - and AMP 
Has multiple options for B.S. Psychology, including ABA (but unsure if I should pigeonhole myself in with a niche degree)  

Cons: 
ABA is not on a FlexPath, only option is General Psychology

UMPI:
Pros: 
Classes look right up my alley

Cons:
Only offers (and newly so) B.A. Psychology - The program may be rocky to start
Rumors school is overwhelmed with applications

Overview: Unemployed in Silicon Valley Tech with experience in workplace services, events, and facilities. Ex-Coursera employee, excels in module-based learning and fast course completion. Applied to CSU/UC schools for Fall but prioritizing completing a degree sooner from anywhere due to age/experience. Emphasizing speed in this decision.

Budget: Being unemployed and having used up all general FAFSA aid, cost matters, but it's not the main factor for me in choosing a program. For instance, I'd consider paying $8k for an accelerated B.S. program if it provides quick benefits, but not $20k.

Commitments: Elementary school-aged kids, many soccer activities (I do homework while waiting), unemployed step-son causing stress, blue-collar husband, 2 huskies, extended family obligations, gatherings, etc. Only 1 friend - so I'm not concerned about my non-existent "social life" becoming a hindrance.

Dedicated time to study: When I got laid off in 2022, I was dedicating 6-8+ hours to school each day, 4-6 times a week. Current commitment, if I take an accelerated program, that means easing up on job seeking, thus I plan to channel that energy into completing my classes. I anticipate studying for at least 30 hours a week on weekdays and weekend nights. I'm currently taking 2 online classes community college classes and staying ahead, but I feel frustrated waiting for the class to catch up or for modules/quizzes to become available, leading to unnecessary downtime.

Timeline: As fast as humanly possible. 

Tuition assistance/reimbursement: None, will apply for grants and cross my fingers

Other info: Background - For a decade, I've been just one class away from finishing my AA degrees because I struggled with college-level Algebra. Last year, I found out I could replace it with Stats. Excelling in Stats now, thanks to its online format with many instructional videos. Back in October 2023, an advisor urged me to pursue my bachelor's degree, almost making me laugh as I thought it wasn't for me. Never considered going further for a BA degree due to doubts about passing math/science requirements or being smart enough for Psychology. But with the success I've found with online classes, and getting my ADHD under control, which had unknowingly hindered my focus on challenging subjects, I feel confident to pursue my passion. And yes, I'm that girl who is obsessed with true crime documentaries and podcasts.

Type of learner: I'm a type A person who excels at organizing classes, schedules, and planning for deadlines. I take detailed notes and am a visual learner. Writing papers is not an issue for me, although I'm a bit worried about burnout. However, I'm determined to push through it. Proctored tests are fine as long as the format and requirements are reasonable. I'm not willing to fail due to factors beyond my control, like unexpected interruptions.

[bjcheung77]

@StJackson, Welcome to the board and congrats on your pending graduation for your double associates degrees! That's a great addendum and template with additional details. Have you taken a look at other institutions such as TESU as well, or just the ones mentioned above? Are you only interested in competency based degree options? TESU allows a max of 114 credits transferred from many sources, you can take the flat rate to finish off the degree if you want to remove the residency waiver fee. Here's a degree plan: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:TESU

[StJackson]

@StJackson, Welcome to the board and congrats on your pending graduation for your double associates degrees!  That's a great addendum and template with additional details.  Have you taken a look at other institutions such as TESU as well, or just the ones mentioned above? Are you only interested in competency based degree options?  TESU allows a max of 114 credits transferred from many sources, you can take the flat rate to finish off the degree if you want to remove the residency waiver fee. Here's a degree plan: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:TESU

Thank you for the reply, I have not looked at TESU. I will do that now, do you have other recommendations or do you think this is a solid option?

[davewill]

I wouldn't consider a school not having a master's program to be a con. You're going to want to be pickier about where you get the master's as that's the degree that employers are really going to look at. The B.S. is just a necessary step on that path. I'd evaluate the B.S. on how much money and time you can save that can be applied to the right master's degree.

[StJackson]

I wouldn't consider a school not having a master's program to be a con. You're going to want to be pickier about where you get the master's as that's the degree that employers are really going to look at. The B.S. is just a necessary step on that path. I'd evaluate the B.S. on how much money and time you can save that can be applied to the right master's degree.

That's amazing insight and really appreciated, I didn't look at it that way - more felt it was the past of least rejection when trying to get into a program.

[Jonathan Whatley]

WGU, UMPI, and TESU all look like great options for your bachelor's.

TESU isn't set up as a competency-based program per se as the others are. But you can meet most of the remaining requirements towards a TESU degree with "alt-credit" sources, particularly for the BA in Psychology study.com and maybe Coopersmith. Those alt-credit sources operate similarly to competency-based degree programs.

At WGU, in addition to the BS in Psychology, you might also consider the BA in Educational Studies (non-licensure) either in Mild to Moderate Exceptionalities Special Education or in Elementary and Special Education [combined]. The BAES is a non-licensure program that does not include an in-class practicum. WGU also offers corresponding bachelor's licensure programs in education which do include in-class practica. Different categorically from the goals you've identified, but you might give them a look.

The WGU BS in Psychology is even newer than the YourPace option for the UMPI BA in Psychology. I'd expect a slightly greater chance of institutional growing pains with that WGU degree than with that UMPI degree in the near term.

But I doubt any such institutional growing pains are likely to be major impediments to your success in either program.

UMPI offers the brand-new options of picking up a Human Services Certification and a Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician Community Certificate along the way with coursework that would apply towards your BA.

UMPI YourPace offers the options of additionally minoring in Educational Studies and minoring or double-majoring in Criminal Justice. TESU offers the option of additionally double-majoring or completing an undergraduate certificate or BA in Liberal Studies concentration in Criminal Justice (but it's somewhat harder to shop around to meet some of TESU's requirements in CJ from a low-cost provider).

Keep WGU, Capella, Walden, and the University of Phoenix (which might become a non-profit affiliate of the University of Idaho later this year) on your radar for their competency-based master's variously in education, psychology, early childhood, or criminal justice.

[StJackson]

WGU, UMPI, and TESU all look like great options for your bachelor's.

TESU isn't set up as a competency-based program per se as the others are. But you can meet most of the remaining requirements towards a TESU degree with "alt-credit" sources, particularly for the BA in Psychology study.com and maybe Coopersmith. Those alt-credit sources operate similarly to competency-based degree programs.

At WGU, in addition to the BS in Psychology, you might also consider the BA in Educational Studies (non-licensure) either in Mild to Moderate Exceptionalities Special Education or in Elementary and Special Education [combined]. The BAES is a non-licensure program that does not include an in-class practicum. WGU also offers corresponding bachelor's licensure programs in education which do include in-class practica. Different categorically from the goals you've identified, but you might give them a look.

The WGU BS in Psychology is even newer than the YourPace option for the UMPI BA in Psychology. I'd expect a slightly greater chance of institutional growing pains with that WGU degree than with that UMPI degree in the near term.

But I doubt any such institutional growing pains are likely to be major impediments to your success in either program.

UMPI offers the brand-new options of picking up a Human Services Certification and a Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician Community Certificate along the way with coursework that would apply towards your BA.

UMPI YourPace offers the options of additionally minoring in Educational Studies and minoring or double-majoring in Criminal Justice. TESU offers the option of additionally double-majoring or completing an undergraduate certificate or BA in Liberal Studies concentration in Criminal Justice (but it's somewhat harder to shop around to meet some of TESU's requirements in CJ from a low-cost provider).

Keep WGU, Capella, Walden, and the University of Phoenix (which might become a non-profit affiliate of the University of Idaho later this year) on your radar for their competency-based master's variously in education, psychology, early childhood, or criminal justice.

Thank you SO much for this information - I had no idea I could do a double-major in Criminal Justice as well from TESU, this is right up my alley!

[Jonathan Whatley]

Thank you SO much for this information - I had no idea I could do a double-major in Criminal Justice as well from TESU, this is right up my alley!

At UMPI too! (Criminal Justice major, minor.)