Best plan? Suggestions welcomed!

[KierstynCC]

Hello degreeforum!

I am somewhat new to the forum. I have been passively browsing this forum and the wiki for several weeks now. I have been gathering as much information as possible about each and every school recommended, including the ones that are pure competency-based. Right now, I am enrolled for UMPI's - Project Management and Information Systems. I was going to do the BAS at the recommendation of bjcheung77, but that doesn't seem plausible as I have an AA degree, not an AAS and pierpont won't allow you to earn a degree from them if you have an associate's already. UMPI accepted 62 credits from my AA (only rejected one class). At the moment, I believe UMPI is possibly the best school and I like the fact some of your undergraduate courses transfer to their master's program. However, I am open to suggestions. Below are a list of questions I have. If you can help any, it'll be greatly appreciated!

Questions:
1. What's the best double major for Project Management and Information Systems? I thought about the BA in Accounting but the other concentrations in BABA may be easier and perhaps better. I'm basically looking for good degrees with good career prospects and salaries. I know Project Management and Information Systems and Accounting would likely lead to many rewarding careers.
2. How many courses transfer over the MAOL program? I believe it is 3 or 4, right? Is that still true with the recent move to the new platform?
3. Do you recommend getting IT certificates to make up for the lack of IT classes in the program? I'm learning coding in my spare time and doing the Google IT support certificate right now. I thought about a few of the Comptia and CCNA later in life.
4. Besides UMPI, WGU and TESU seem to be the other two recommended universities. I thought about doing the BSCS/BSCIS double from TESU plus a free associate's degree, but I am not so sure. WGU BSCS looks interesting as well. Of course there are other programs at both universities, but if I am doing business, I may as well do it at UMPI since it's cheaper.


Thank you and if I need to provide any additional information, please let me know!

[Duneranger]

Hello degreeforum!

I am somewhat new to the forum. I have been passively browsing this forum and the wiki for several weeks now. I have been gathering as much information as possible about each and every school recommended, including the ones that are pure competency-based. Right now, I am enrolled for UMPI's - Project Management and Information Systems. I was going to do the BAS at the recommendation of bjcheung77, but that doesn't seem plausible as I have an AA degree, not an AAS and pierpont won't allow you to earn a degree from them if you have an associate's already. UMPI accepted 62 credits from my AA (only rejected one class). At the moment, I believe UMPI is possibly the best school and I like the fact some of your undergraduate courses transfer to their master's program. However, I am open to suggestions. Below are a list of questions I have. If you can help any, it'll be greatly appreciated!

Questions:
1. What's the best double major for Project Management and Information Systems? I thought about the BA in Accounting but the other concentrations in BABA may be easier and perhaps better. I'm basically looking for good degrees with good career prospects and salaries. I know Project Management and Information Systems and Accounting would likely lead to many rewarding careers.
2. How many courses transfer over the MAOL program? I believe it is 3 or 4, right? Is that still true with the recent move to the new platform?
3. Do you recommend getting IT certificates to make up for the lack of IT classes in the program? I'm learning coding in my spare time and doing the Google IT support certificate right now. I thought about a few of the Comptia and CCNA later in life.
4. Besides UMPI, WGU and TESU seem to be the other two recommended universities. I thought about doing the BSCS/BSCIS double from TESU plus a free associate's degree, but I am not so sure. WGU BSCS looks interesting as well. Of course there are other programs at both universities, but if I am doing business, I may as well do it at UMPI since it's cheaper.


Thank you and if I need to provide any additional information, please let me know!

Key point. UMPI is a check the box school. You make a "good" career and salary by experience and connections. UMPI is a competency based degree. Meaning you should already know a lot of the info before you walk into the the program. Its a  school that helps people who have experience clear those HR hurdles when applying for jobs. Its not a school that is suddenly going to pave the way for you.  In many ways the "degree" itself and whatever concentration or minor you choose is moot.

I got a HTY/POS degree at UMPI in one term. I have a masters in the field already and a robust baseline knowledge of history in most major eras. If I were new to history field and started at UMPI, I would find the classes EXTREMELY lacking in content, but since its a CBE degree it works I guess.  Its hard to balance CBE programs and robust content I suppose. You cant have it all. Just some perspective.

All those certs you mentioned are fine but everyone and their mother already has them. They might help you nab some more credits though.

[bjcheung77]

@KierstynCC, Welcome to the board, good initial post to get the ball rolling and the conversation started... but, you've missed the addendum and the template. It's best to provide a bigger overall picture of your scenario so we can see what may be missing or if there is a better option for you. You can keep it compact and concise similar to a short and simple addendum & template. Please fill us in with those extra details asked for from this Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

[KierstynCC]

@KierstynCC, Welcome to the board, good initial post to get the ball rolling and the conversation started... but, you've missed the addendum and the template.  It's best to provide a bigger overall picture of your scenario so we can see what may be missing or if there is a better option for you. You can keep it compact and concise similar to a short and simple addendum & template. Please fill us in with those extra details asked for from this Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

 I apologize! I hope this helps a little bit.

Location: North Carolina, United States.
Age: 30
What kind of degree do you want?: Something within Computer Science, Information Technology, or Business. My favorite degree program is the one that combines Business and IT together, which is called CIS/InfoSys/MIS depending on which school you go to. 

Current Regional Accredited Credits: 64 credits from a local community college. Graduated with an Associate in Arts with a Business Administration certificate. From what I can see from my umpi account, all of my gen eds are fulfilled along with three business classes.
Budget: >10k. I would like to keep it less than 10k if possible.
Commitments & time to study: I work for a family business, I will have my hours reduced so I can put more hours toward my studies. I can easily put in 32 or more hours per week. This is why I'm looking at competency-based programs since I think I can finish faster than doing sophia/study/etc for tesu or another institution.
Timeline: 12 - 18 months. If less than 12 months, wonderful!
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: N/A

[Duneranger]

@KierstynCC, Welcome to the board, good initial post to get the ball rolling and the conversation started... but, you've missed the addendum and the template.  It's best to provide a bigger overall picture of your scenario so we can see what may be missing or if there is a better option for you. You can keep it compact and concise similar to a short and simple addendum & template. Please fill us in with those extra details asked for from this Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

 I apologize! I hope this helps a little bit.

Location: North Carolina, United States.
Age: 30
What kind of degree do you want?: Something within Computer Science, Information Technology, or Business. My favorite degree program is the one that combines Business and IT together, which is called CIS/InfoSys/MIS depending on which school you go to. 

Current Regional Accredited Credits: 64 credits from a local community college. Graduated with an Associate in Arts with a Business Administration certificate. From what I can see from my umpi account, all of my gen eds are fulfilled along with three business classes.  
Budget: >10k. I would like to keep it less than 10k if possible.
Commitments & time to study: I work for a family business, I will have my hours reduced so I can put more hours toward my studies. I can easily put in 32 or more hours per week. This is why I'm looking at competency-based programs since I think I can finish faster than doing sophia/study/etc for tesu or another institution.
Timeline: 12 - 18 months. If less than 12 months, wonderful!
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: N/A

WGU seems to have more options for you based on your interests

[bjcheung77]

@KierstynCC, BABA PM & IS is a great option instead of the BAS you were referencing earlier since you have all your CC credits transferred, you're not needing to salvage any other credits.  I usually recommend the BAS for those who have the AAS, more than 90 credits and the majority are 'technical' credits as you need at minimum 40+ for entry into the UMPI BAS.  Since you wanted to major in PM & IS, the BABA is a BA major with that concentration.  

Your only recommendation, (from me, for now), is to get the max transfer of 90 credits, you should have 26+ credits that you can transfer in with Sophia.org/Study.com by following the WIKI, it also shows you the 4 classes for the MAOL: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Un...esque_Isle and then the degree of your choice from UMPI: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:UMPI

Having said that, you can still get the BAS if you wanted to, that may be an option if you really want to get a more balanced mix/match trifecta of certs, degree, experience, as you don't really need a specific degree to get into the non competitive MAOLs or MBAs available, you just need the prerequisite courses.  You can spend a little extra energy, money, time towards the Pierpont BOG AAS, with your alternative credits and put UMPI on hold for a session.