Complete Bachelors Degree - Advice

[glaxx]

Good Morning, 

I work for the Federal Government as a Contracting Officer. I've completed my Associates but have topped out my grade level for my career field. I need to finish my bachelors to continue to progress in grade level. I had my EOY yesterday and was told if I had a degree I would be put in for my next grade level, I've been putting this off for years, but now I've hit the wall.  

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Your Location: Annapolis, MD
Your Age: 39
What kind of degree do you want?: Fastest degree possible, I've already completed the required 24 hours of business for my career field. 
Current Regional Accredited Credits: 

Anne Arundel CC (RA): 61


PHL 111, Introduction to Philosophy
PSY 111, Introduction to Psychology 
MAT 135, Elementary Statistics 
MAT 131, College Algebra 
HEA 114, Components Personal Fitness 
BIO 108 Ecosystems and the Environment
CAT 111, Media Math & Process 
CSI 227, Program Analysis & Design   
CJS 111, Introduction to Criminal Justice
CSI 113, Introduction to Computers 
COM 111, Fundamentals of Oral

ECO 211, Principles of Economics I 
ECO 212, Principles of Economics II 

BPA 138, Business & Professional Ethics
BPA 142, Principles of Management 
BPA 162, Business Communications 
BPA 253, Business Law 
BPA 256, Financial Management 
BPA 211, Principles of Accounting I 
BPA 212, Principles of Accounting II 


Davis & Elkins: 17

BUS 101, Introduction to Business


HIS 103, US History I
HIS 104, US History II
THR 115, Introduction to Theatre 
ART 123, Weaving 
ENG 102, English Composition II 


UMGC: 13

LIBS 150, Introduction to Research 
ENGL 102, Composition and literature 
BIOL 101, Concepts of Biology  

BMGT 339, Intro to Federal Contracting 
HRMN 300, Human Resource Management 


Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits:  None currently 

Any certifications or military experience? FAC-C I and COR III (DAU Classes)

[rachel83az]

Are you comfortable with writing papers? If so, UMPI is going to be the fastest, hands down. If you'd prefer exams, Excelsior or TESU would be the fastest/easiest way to go.

For UMPI, you'd need a science-with-a-lab; is your BIO108 3 credits or 4? What about BIOL101? You'd also need a foreign language. If you're fluent in something, an ACTFL exam may be the way to go. Otherwise, Spanish through InstantCert would be the fastest and easiest way to get a foreign language for UMPI.

TESU requires at least 24 RA credits, which you already have. For a business degree, they require 15 UL credits (3 of which come from the capstone).

EC doesn't have any RA credit requirements. For all degrees, they require 30 UL credits (I think 6 can come from their capstone/cornerstone when you bring in enough prior credits).

[glaxx]

Thank you for your quick response! From what it looks like UMPI would be the fastest, can you give me a brief idea of the writing required and is it self paced or straight sessions?

Are you comfortable with writing papers? If so, UMPI is going to be the fastest, hands down. If you'd prefer exams, Excelsior or TESU would be the fastest/easiest way to go.

I honestly don't have a preference, but if UMPI with papers is the fastest that sounds good. 

For UMPI, you'd need a science-with-a-lab; is your BIO108 3 credits or 4? What about BIOL101? You'd also need a foreign language. If you're fluent in something, an ACTFL exam may be the way to go. Otherwise, Spanish through InstantCert would be the fastest and easiest way to get a foreign language for UMPI.

My BIO classes were both 3 credits. I will take a look at the InstantCert for Spanish, foreign language is not my strong suit.

[rachel83az]

UMPI YourPace is all self-paced. See https://umpi.edu/yourpace for possible degrees. If you start work now, you ought to be able to apply by the next application deadline (February 28th). It will probably take 2-3 sessions (4-6 months) for you to get your degree after that.

For the papers themselves, I think they're usually 4-10 pages per class (UMPI alumni will be more helpful there). Sometimes, it's a project instead of a paper; like a recorded Powerpoint presentation or something similar. There are occasional exams, too, but mostly papers or projects.

Do not apply to UMPI until you have all credits you want to bring in (you need permission to bring in additional credits once you're enrolled). Do not fill out the form "to receive more info" or call the number on the UMPI website. They've outsourced this to an outside company who doesn't always know what they're talking about. Once you're a UMPI student, though, it seems the staff is generally super helpful.

You're going to want to have as many gen ed requirements met as possible before enrolling (see http://catalog.umpi.edu/preview_program....3&poid=239 ). You appear to have English Comp II twice, but not English Comp I? Maybe that's just a typo. If it is two English Comp II, you can just take the other one at UMPI. One single paper and you're done.

1A: English Comp
1B: English Comp
1C: Met with Business Communicaitons
1D: English Comp
2A: Met with Intro to Psych or Intro to Philosophy
2B: Met with Intro to Psych or Intro to Philosophy
2C: English Comp
2D: Take at UMPI
2E: Should be met by Intro to Theatre
3A: Met with Algebra or Stats
3B: Met with Algebra or Stats
3C: Met with one of your biology courses
3D: Should be met with "Ecosystems & Environment"
3E: Lab science: BIO 101L @ Study.com is probably the easiest way for you to meet this requirement.
4A: Take at UMPI
4B: English Comp
4C: Met with Intro to Philosophy
5A: Approaches to Studying Religions @ Sophia.org
5B: Met with US History
5C: Foreign language: Spanish @ InstantCert
5D: Met with Intro to Philosophy
5E: American Government @ InstantCert

[LevelUP]

Since you said, "Fastest degree possible," you needed to move up in grade level. This is the reality of what will probably happen.

I believe TESU and UMPI are probably going to be the quickest. WGU, I think at least one month slower.

With TESU, you need to get 100 credits before enrolling in the capstone. That gives you three months to gather your alt credit before enrolling by May 1st to graduate by September.

TESU Graduation Deadlines:
https://www.tesu.edu/current-students/gr...nformation

With UMPI, their Spring2 term starts 03/14/22. Unfortunately, I don't think you can finish up your alt credits in time before the registration deadline, so most likely, you are beginning 05/09/22 and finishing 08/26/22, putting you on track to graduate in September.

UMPI Calendar:
https://online.umpi.edu/programs/ba-busi...x#calendar

If you bust your tail and put in at least 20hrs a week studying, there should be np in graduating on time.

Both schools are a good choice. UMPI is going to be cheaper and slightly less work overall but it's really close.

This post was mainly about timelines and what to expect.

[dfrecore]

First, it's unclear to me if your Composition courses are both Comp 2, in which case all 3 schools may force you to take Comp 1.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The UMPI BABA degree is a good option if you want a business degree, but you will lose some credits as they don't have much space for free Electives. If you want a BLS instead, you'll gain at least 12cr. The main issue is going to be getting that lab science, unfortunately. You already have 2 biology courses, so chemistry w/lab makes the most sense, but that's going to be a harder course than Biology.

Cost at UMPI depends on how many terms you take.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At TESU for a BSBA, you need a Diversity course (Sociology), Civic Engagement (Am Govt or Comparative Politics), Marketing, Int'l Business, Quantitative Business Analysis (CSM Learn is still working I think), and then 6 AoS courses.

Cost at TESU is $6,654.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At EC, for a BSB, assuming your business credits are less than 5 years old, you need 30cr, including 3 liberal arts courses, Marketing, Int'l Business (UL), Org Behavior (UL), Quantitative Analysis (UL UExcel exam), 2 add'l UL business electives, Into Lit, Cornerstone & Capstone.

At EC for a BPS, you need 2 UL liberal arts courses, Leadership (UL), Project Management (UL), Marketing, Org Behavior (UL), Int'l Business (UL), 1 add'l UL business elective, Into Lit, Cornerstone & Capstone.

Cost at EC is $4,031.

[glaxx]

UMPI YourPace is all self-paced. See https://umpi.edu/yourpace for possible degrees. If you start work now, you ought to be able to apply by the next application deadline (February 28th). It will probably take 2-3 sessions (4-6 months) for you to get your degree after that.

For the papers themselves, I think they're usually 4-10 pages per class (UMPI alumni will be more helpful there). Sometimes, it's a project instead of a paper; like a recorded Powerpoint presentation or something similar. There are occasional exams, too, but mostly papers or projects.  

Do not apply to UMPI until you have all credits you want to bring in (you need permission to bring in additional credits once you're enrolled). Do not fill out the form "to receive more info" or call the number on the UMPI website. They've outsourced this to an outside company who doesn't always know what they're talking about. Once you're a UMPI student, though, it seems the staff is generally super helpful.

You're going to want to have as many gen ed requirements met as possible before enrolling (see http://catalog.umpi.edu/preview_program....3&poid=239 ). You appear to have English Comp II twice, but not English Comp I? Maybe that's just a typo. If it is two English Comp II, you can just take the other one at UMPI. One single paper and you're done.

1A: English Comp
1B: English Comp
1C: Met with Business Communicaitons
1D: English Comp
2A: Met with Intro to Psych or Intro to Philosophy
2B: Met with Intro to Psych or Intro to Philosophy
2C: English Comp
2D: Take at UMPI
2E: Should be met by Intro to Theatre
3A: Met with Algebra or Stats
3B: Met with Algebra or Stats
3C: Met with one of your biology courses
3D: Should be met with "Ecosystems & Environment"
3E: Lab science: BIO 101L @ Study.com is probably the easiest way for you to meet this requirement.
4A: Take at UMPI
4B: English Comp
4C: Met with Intro to Philosophy
5A: Approaches to Studying Religions @ Sophia.org
5B: Met with US History
5C: Foreign language: Spanish @ InstantCert
5D: Met with Intro to Philosophy
5E: American Government @ InstantCert

Thank you, this looks very doable, in a reasonable timeframe. I appreciate you taking your time to outline as you did.

---

First, it's unclear to me if your Composition courses are both Comp 2, in which case all 3 schools may force you to take Comp 1.

I'm not sure how but both are Comp 2. I'm okay with taking Comp 1 if I need to. 

The UMPI BABA degree is a good option if you want a business degree, but you will lose some credits as they don't have much space for free Electives.  If you want a BLS instead, you'll gain at least 12cr.  The main issue is going to be getting that lab science, unfortunately.  You already have 2 biology courses, so chemistry w/lab makes the most sense, but that's going to be a harder course than Biology.

Cost at UMPI depends on how many terms you take.

Honestly at this point, degree type doesn't actually matter. It's literally to check a box for promotional purposes. If the BLS reduces overall need I'm 100% okay with that. 

Cost is not really relevant, it's more about timeline.

[rachel83az]

I don't think you'll gain that much time choosing BLS vs. BABA. Either one should be completed 6-8 months from now. Pick the one you like the best at UMPI, not necessarily which one is "fastest". Because they'll all be about the same at this point.

[glaxx]

Got it, thank you for the feedback.

[bjcheung77]

@glaxx, Federal Government as a Contracting Officer... I am curious, is this the DOD? When you took your DAU courses, were they non proctored and open book? If you're DOD, then the only logical choice is TESU, you just need to do the 24 credits for residency, 18 through 6 TECEPS and the cornerstone/capstone. You can finish 6 TECEPS first and then 1 term for the cornerstone/capstone, graduate in September.