BA or BSIT - degree query

[ssmonk]

Hello,

Thanks to those who serve this forum as a volunteer. I have been reading on this forum for a while as guests and today decided to sign up to get some answers if possible. I have been in the IT field for quite a while, almost 16+ and now want to have a degree completed to move on to the next level. I would prefer BSIT as it will be suitable for my career progression.  I have one year of BA general from Asia and that's all. My whole education is from Asia and it's been almost 20 years now that I touched or looked at the college since my whole career progressed with IT experience and certifications. Please help me in determining what route is better at this point. BTW, I am US Citizen.


1.  Should I finish my BA and then go to BSIT?
2.  Should I simply start with BSIT and use one year of BA to get credit if any?


Is there any link or resource which can map the degree progression if not, then how I should start at this point? 



Thanks in advance for any help you are able to provide.


Regards,

[dfrecore]

Go straight BSIT, there is zero reason to get a BA first. The courses you already took should transfer over, assuming it was equivalent to our "Regionally Accredited college" level courses. You'd have to tell us what you took, and we can tell you how it would work here.

What school are you looking at going to? Do you have any certifications now?

[ssmonk]

Hello,

Thanks for the response!  Here is what I have so far.

1.  Three years of international degree is considered equivalent to 90 credits at WGU at least that's what I read from other users. 
2.  My first choice is WGU since I do not have to worry much about finding alternative courses from different websites.  

I am planning to submit what I have to WGU and get it evaluated to have a clear picture on what is required. The degree is a checkbox at this point in my career, but still important so I am trying to get it done inexpensively. I am feeling a little nervous if I could finish it since it's been a while I studied for the college. 

My inspiration:  https://www.reddit.com/r/WGU/comments/88...rse_notes/

Current certs:

AWS Cloud architect - associate
Security + 
Network +
RHCSA

Thanks

[nyvrem]

where did your degree come from? because in some countries, a 3 year BA is equivalent to a full degree in US (120 credit hours)

[bjcheung77]

where did your degree come from? because in some countries, a 3 year BA is equivalent to a full degree in US (120 credit hours)

That's true, however, the OP only has 1 year. I would just recommend transferring all the credits you currently have over to any school you prefer, be it the Big 3 or the competency based degree providers such as Brandman/WGU (yes, Brandman has an BSIT degree) and which ever school interests you. However, you shouldn't start enrolling at any of the schools until you reach 90 credits or more...

[nyvrem]

oh i misread. i thought he had a 3 year BA degree.

[ssmonk]

bjcheung77,


Can you please elaborate on getting at least 90 credits before enrolling?  I want to go for the easiest one from all of these so trying to decide between competency-based versus Big 3.

TESU: https://www.tesu.edu/ast/programs/bs/it
WGU: https://www.wgu.edu/online-it-degrees/in...ogram.html
Excelsior: https://www.excelsior.edu/program/bachel...echnology/

Thanks,

[rachel83az]

bjcheung77,


Can you please elaborate on getting at least 90 credits before enrolling?  I want to go for the easiest one from all of these so trying to decide between competency-based versus Big 3.  

TESU:  https://www.tesu.edu/ast/programs/bs/it
WGU:  https://www.wgu.edu/online-it-degrees/in...ogram.html
Excelsior: https://www.excelsior.edu/program/bachel...echnology/

Thanks,

Complete Sophia (it's free right now). That'll get you 75-83 credits or so (depending on the degree and the institution). Then complete all the other free sources of credit listed on the wiki. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Fr..._of_Credit That should get you to right around 90 credits. 

If you enroll first and then complete this stuff, you could wind up paying more in enrollment fees. Especially at WGU. There's no sense spending an entire term and money to complete stuff you could've done for free. IIRC, WGU doesn't let you bring in credits after you've started their program. So you want to get as many outside credits as you can.

[bjcheung77]

Further to that, you should look at your first choice of WGU, second would be Brandman as both of these are Competency Based degree providers that allow up to 90 credits towards their degree. You can transfer your current certs into both institutions. Just stick with all the possible ACE credits you can, then complete the remaining courses at the school of your choice. You need to find out what you really want in a degree and the school you want to complete it at...

The Big 3 allow up to 114 credits to be transferred in, but IT course requirements are not a cheap/easy/fast to complete at these three institutions and may cost more. If you're OK with a BGS with an ISS concentration, that may be the cheapest of the 3 at Charter Oak. If you're looking to get a Business degree with CIS, then BSBA CIS at TESU would be an option (it's also ACBSP), and if you're looking at ABET BSIT then Excelsior would be the one (Brandman/WGU nor COSC/TESU are ABET).

[ssmonk]

Thanks!  I read through Sophia over the weekend and looks like they have three months for the free offer.  There are many courses and I don't think I can finish them all in that time period.  I believe I will sign up and start taking their courses and try to finish as many as possible.  I am not set on any college yet since my ambition is to have an IT-related degree which is the easiest and cheapest.  I am not pro at it so leaning on the expertise of the members of this forum.