Racking up Sophia Credits - What's Next?

[Ljanelle]

First, I just want to say that you all have inspired me!   I signed up for Sophia.org last month and have been loving it!  A degree is starting to feel like it is in reach! 

Now I need to get serious and nail down a plan. Based on my research in this thread, I think I want to max out Sophia courses and then apply at UMPI.   Can you help me figure out which Sophia courses I need to take next (if I take 10 more - I should be at 90 credits)?   Any UMPI advice or if there is a better option that UMPI for me? 

Thank you in advance for your help!

Your Location: Phoenix, Az
Your Age: 43
What kind of degree do you want?: Open to ideas - I'm thinking about general business ... also interested in education.  
Current Regional Accredited Credits:  I recently obtained the Amazon Cloud Practitioner certification.   I also have some PM/PO Agile Safe 4.0 certs but they are expired.

Glendale Community College Total Credits: 4 (2002)
College Algebra, 4 - B

Northern Arizona University Total Credits: 14 (2018)
CIT 121, Foundations of Computer Information Technology,3 - B
Engl 106 Reading Eval & Composing Writing,4 - B
PHSI 102L Everyday Physical Science,4 - B
Stat 272 Applied business Statistics, 3 - B

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: 36 (+6 in progress)
Sophia Credits: 36 (+6 in progress)
Ancient Greek Philosophers, 3, 96% 
Art History I, 3, 87%
Developing Effective Teams, 3, 99%
Human Biology, 3, 97%
Human Biology Lab, 3 92%
Intro to Business, 3 93%
Intro to Ethics 3 92%
Intro to Nutrition, 3 94%
Project Management, 3 83%
Essentials of Managing, 3, 89%
US Government, 3 87%
Visual Communication 3, 94%
+Spanish 1 - in progress - 83% completed
+Principles of Finance in progress - 70% completed

Budget:  I'd like to go the cheapest route possible, but will consider spending more for easy and fast.  Willing to spend up to $5k
Commitments: Full time job in project management, teenagers, husband, dog.
Dedicated time to study: can spend 1-2 hrs weekdays and 5-8 hrs weekend.
Timeline: Would really like to finish this year but could go longer if less expensive
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: My company MIGHT reimburse a business degree.  Lots of red tape - I think I have a 50/50 shot for reimbursement.

[jg_nuy]

First, I just want to say that you all have inspired me!   I signed up for Sophia.org last month and have been loving it!  A degree is starting to feel like it is in reach! 

Now I need to get serious and nail down a plan. Based on my research in this thread, I think I want to max out Sophia courses and then apply at UMPI.   Can you help me figure out which Sophia courses I need to take next (if I take 10 more - I should be at 90 credits)?   Any UMPI advice or if there is a better option that UMPI for me? 

Thank you in advance for your help!

Your Location: Phoenix, Az
Your Age: 43
What kind of degree do you want?: Open to ideas - I'm thinking about general business ... also interested in education.  
Current Regional Accredited Credits:  I recently obtained the Amazon Cloud Practitioner certification.   I also have some PM/PO Agile Safe 4.0 certs but they are expired.

Glendale Community College Total Credits: 4 (2002)
College Algebra, 4 - B

Northern Arizona University Total Credits: 14 (2018)
CIT 121, Foundations of Computer Information Technology,3 - B
Engl 106 Reading Eval & Composing Writing,4 - B
PHSI 102L Everyday Physical Science,4 - B
Stat 272 Applied business Statistics, 3 - B

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: 36 (+6 in progress)
Sophia Credits: 36 (+6 in progress)
Ancient Greek Philosophers, 3, 96% 
Art History I, 3, 87%
Developing Effective Teams, 3, 99%
Human Biology, 3, 97%
Human Biology Lab, 3 92%
Intro to Business, 3 93%
Intro to Ethics 3 92%
Intro to Nutrition, 3 94%
Project Management, 3 83%
Essentials of Managing, 3, 89%
US Government, 3 87%
Visual Communication 3, 94%
+Spanish 1 - in progress - 83% completed
+Principles of Finance in progress - 70% completed

Budget:  I'd like to go the cheapest route possible, but will consider spending more for easy and fast.  Willing to spend up to $5k
Commitments: Full time job in project management, teenagers, husband, dog.
Dedicated time to study: can spend 1-2 hrs weekdays and 5-8 hrs weekend.
Timeline: Would really like to finish this year but could go longer if less expensive
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: My company MIGHT reimburse a business degree.  Lots of red tape - I think I have a 50/50 shot for reimbursement.

Congrats on the great progress with Sophia.

UMPI
UMPI does seem like the wise choice for both speed and affordability - you could do the BABA with a concentration in project management or management and leadership. You can likely be done in 2-3 sessions of 8 weeks each ($3k to $4.5k). 

Working with credits from Sophia/Study dot com and possibly adding something like the Google PM certificate on Coursera, you could even add a minor if you wish. UMPI has a 90-credit limit into the degree plan, but no overall max of transfer credits. You need to take a minimum of 10 classes at UMPI and you want to maximize your transfer credits - typically board members recommend concentrating on one provider at a time.

All links for UMPI: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:UMPI
General Education Requirements: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...quirements
BABA PM: hhttps://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UMPI_BABA_Project_Management_Degree_Plan
BABA Management and Leadership: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan
Coursera: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Coursera

If you are successful in getting tuition reimbursement, you could also look at getting the Masters of Organizational Leadership at UMPI, the MBA or MSML at WGU or the HAU MBA for $3K.

UMPI MAOL
You could consider doing 3 classes in Business Administration towards the MAOL at UMPI. 

Undergrad classes that can be taken to speed the UMPI MAOL from 12 classes to 9 classes:

• OLS 550 Team Leadership and Collaboration is subbed by BUS 335 Organizational Behavior
  
• OLS 610 Leadership and Business Operations is subbed by BUS 440 Business Analytics
  
• OLS 620 Strategic Communications is subbed by BUS 469 Strategic Professional Communication
  

Additional Links
WGU: https://www.wgu.edu/resources/degree-com...-msml.html
HAU MBA: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...-3K-RA-MBA

[bjcheung77]

@Ljanelle, Welcome to the board, that's a great first post with addendum and template, it has pretty much all the info I would look for in an intro post.  Since you're using Sophia.org, continue until you have 90+ credits, I would recommend the same degree as jg_nuy, but the BABA PM & IS would be my second choice, my first choice remains the UMPI BAS MIS & PM minors plus 3-4 classes that can go towards the MAOL later.  

My recommendation is the Pierpont BOG AAS (apply, pay the $130 plus transcripts, graduate), all classes go towards the UMPI BAS, 3 classes from UMPI BAS go towards UMPI MAOL. Here's a thread, my exact recommendations for you are also the same as earlier in the month for this individual, please also review my post #8, with the link to another thread: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...PI-Pathway

[Ljanelle]

@Ljanelle, Welcome to the board, that's a great first post with addendum and template, it has pretty much all the info I would look for in an intro post.  Since you're using Sophia.org, continue until you have 90+ credits, I would recommend the same degree as jg_nuy, but the BABA PM & IS would be my second choice, my first choice remains the UMPI BAS MIS & PM minors plus 3-4 classes that can go towards the MAOL later.  

My recommendation is the Pierpont BOG AAS (apply, pay the $130 plus transcripts, graduate), all classes go towards the UMPI BAS, 3 classes from UMPI BAS go towards UMPI MAOL. Here's a thread, my exact recommendations for you are also the same as earlier in the month for this individual, please also review my post #8, with the link to another thread: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...PI-Pathway

Thanks for the info!  

This is the first time I've heard of the Pierpont BOG AAS.  Sounds interesting but it looks like I just missed their summer registration deadline (march 15th).   If my intention is a bachelor degree from UMPI, is there any benefit to obtaining the AAS first?

[bjcheung77]

For the last few months, I've been recommending the balanced mix/match trifecta of certs, degree, experience. By doing the UMPI BAS, you have more free electives to uses for ACE credits that are composed of Coursera/Google Certs, TEEX, Sophia.org classes, you have up to 60 credits, whereas BABA only allows 20.

It really depends on the student needs and wants, some may want a BABA PM & IS and call it a day. If you do the BAS you'll have more class/certs that deal with Business, IT, PM, etc and you can customize it the way you want by using the free electives for class that interest you more. You can follow plans on the WIKI...

Another thing you want to look at is, max transfer of credit and provider you want to get credits from.  If you go the UMPI BAS option, even though some think it may be an obstacle due to going for the Pierpont BOG AAS first and getting 40+ technical credits, you'll have an option for non-proctored from Sophia.org to UMPI.  With the BABA, you need Study.com - thus, it'll be slightly slower and more expensive as you have another subscription.  Here's a read from yesterday comparing UMPI and WGU: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid414945

Basically, if you're more self paced and like to do things individually without too much interaction except for drafts and revisions, etc, UMPI is better. Having said that, if you don't mind weekly or so follow up/meetings etc with a mentor, have exams that are proctored, and a more rigid experience where you need or have more interaction, WGU isn't a bad choice either. You need to look at all variables, if cost, ease, speed is a concern, UMPI is $1500/session about 2 months, WGU is roughly $4K/term of 6 months, you need to 'gauge' how well you work and estimate completion time.

ACE options such as Study.com work well with WGU requirements, people can get the bulk of their credits transferred in first before enrolling, as that will allow you to max the transfer credit. I would try to mix/match providers, such as Sophia.org & Study.com combo to get the max as some classes may not be offered by one, but offered by the other. Both Study.com and WGU classes have proctoring, so you'll be familiar with the proctoring process already, it should be too much of a hassle if any and you'll be familiar with it, either a live proctor in real time or a recorded session.

For those who do not wish to have a proctor because of anxiety or other issues, you can always exclusively go the Coursera, Sophia.org, TEEX, etc that doesn't have proctoring, and go the UMPI route as there are no exams now, you'll have to settle for assignments and written assessments. People need to evaluate what they need or want and see what is available out there, you can always mix/match to a balanced trifecta of certs, degree, experience, try to make the most ROI/Value with the combo you decide on getting for your Associates, Bachelors, Masters and beyond.

[rachel83az]

This is the first time I've heard of the Pierpont BOG AAS.  Sounds interesting but it looks like I just missed their summer registration deadline (march 15th).   If my intention is a bachelor degree from UMPI, is there any benefit to obtaining the AAS first?

One benefit of the BOG AAS is in case you have to put your studies on the backburner (again) for a while, you at least have an Associate degree in the meantime. An Associate degree can sometimes provide a boost in pay while waiting for the Bachelor's degree to confer. It depends on your employer. I wouldn't delay your Bachelor's degree to pursue the BOG AAS, but do both simultaneously.