As a mini-background, I am 53 years old and have a bunch of certifications in Agile project management, plus an eCornell certification in Financial Management, and lots of experience in corporate team leadership roles. I got downsized by a Fortune 50 company a few months ago and actively looking for my next job. Just to convey the experience level I am at, as well as that there are some timing unknowns and reason to get this done sooner than later.
Also, my former employer will reimburse me for up to $2500 in education cost.
I was admitted to UMPI last week, and yesterday, got my transfer credit evaluation and a chance to speak with my academic advisor. I intend to begin YourPace classes on July 1.
I had 101 credits transfer in. The credits satisfied all general education requirements except for three. For general ed, I need:
One of these: 2D. ART 108 OR ENG 211
One of these: 4C. PHI 152 or SWK 202
One of these: 5B. Choose one: HTY 115, HTY 116, HTY 161, HTY 162, HTY 184
My main two options are:
1 - For BABA with concentration in Leadership, I would need every business major and Leadership concentration class (20), plus the three general education classes. That is a total of 23 classes.
The 20 business classes I would need are: BUS 101*, BUS 150*, BUS 200, BUS 220, BUS 244, BUS 325, BUS 353*, BUS 440, BUS 460, BUS 489, ECO 207*, MAT 140, COM 210*, BUS 260, BUS 321, BUS 330, BUS 335, BUS 415, BUS 489, and one BUS elective, such as BUS 350*.
I could potentially satisfy the six with asterisks via Sophia. I have not taken those Sophia classes yet, but could begin on them as soon as today; noting that I have less than two weeks before the UMPI session begins.
There are also a number that I could complete via Study.com, but from what I have read, it's little if at all faster via Study.com than via UMPI, and in any case, I don't have time before the UMPI session begins for that along with the Sophia classes.
2 - For BLS with Management minor, I would need the same three general ed classes, but then only the six minor courses, and any one additional elective.
My transfer credits satisfied all major requirements, since the BLS major requirements are basically electives and I transferred in plenty of those.
The six minor courses I would need are: BUS 141, BUS 260, BUS 321, BUS 415, PCJ 215, and then any one of these four: BUS 240, BUS 350*, BUS 352, BUS 353*.
Since that is only nine classes and residency requires 30 hours at UMPI, I would also need to add any other UMPI 3-credit elective. I left the Sophia asterisks where applicable, although the only reason to use Sophia in this case would be if the UMPI class is notably slow or difficult. I could use Sophia, and then take a faster or easier UMPI elective in that situation. But, I doubt there's much benefit to that.
So, it is decision time.
One path is going to be faster and easier. The other path would potentially be more valuable for me, because I do sometimes see job openings I am interested in that require a degree in business. Most job listings do not require that, but even then, I wonder if a business degree would look better (or less of a question mark) on my resume.
But I also may be overthinking, and better served by getting the box-checking BLS, which would at least have a Management minor I could highlight along with my certs.
That brings me to my questions, some of which will have subjective answers, but I will ask anyway.
1 - For a motivated student with plenty of hours per day but not necessarily plenty of months, how realistic would it be to complete the 10 classes for the BLS with minor in Management in one session?
2 - For that same student and situation, is it conceivable to complete 23 classes for BABA in one session? Or if not one, is two realistic?
3 - Given that I have less than two weeks before the session begins, should I attempt any of the Sophia courses at this point? I could begin as early as today.
4 - Has anybody done portfolio review? My advisor said it's usually slower than just doing the classes. But I am wondering, could I begin a portfolio review for some classes that I save until the last, and meanwhile do other classes while they consider the portfolio? How easy or hard is it to actually get credits this way?
5 - And most subjective of all, is a BABA worth the extra time and effort, and risk, compared with a BLS, for somebody like me? Either would check the "has degree" box. BABA would check the "business degree" box, but frankly, anything that adds to the time also adds risk, since I can't predict what my work situation will be like in a few months.
Thanks! And also, thanks for your collective patience. This is not my first post about this, as I fumble around trying to figure this situation out with no one to advise me in person. This board is a big help to me, even if it may seem like I ask the same thing repeatedly.
Also, my former employer will reimburse me for up to $2500 in education cost.
I was admitted to UMPI last week, and yesterday, got my transfer credit evaluation and a chance to speak with my academic advisor. I intend to begin YourPace classes on July 1.
I had 101 credits transfer in. The credits satisfied all general education requirements except for three. For general ed, I need:
One of these: 2D. ART 108 OR ENG 211
One of these: 4C. PHI 152 or SWK 202
One of these: 5B. Choose one: HTY 115, HTY 116, HTY 161, HTY 162, HTY 184
My main two options are:
1 - For BABA with concentration in Leadership, I would need every business major and Leadership concentration class (20), plus the three general education classes. That is a total of 23 classes.
The 20 business classes I would need are: BUS 101*, BUS 150*, BUS 200, BUS 220, BUS 244, BUS 325, BUS 353*, BUS 440, BUS 460, BUS 489, ECO 207*, MAT 140, COM 210*, BUS 260, BUS 321, BUS 330, BUS 335, BUS 415, BUS 489, and one BUS elective, such as BUS 350*.
I could potentially satisfy the six with asterisks via Sophia. I have not taken those Sophia classes yet, but could begin on them as soon as today; noting that I have less than two weeks before the UMPI session begins.
There are also a number that I could complete via Study.com, but from what I have read, it's little if at all faster via Study.com than via UMPI, and in any case, I don't have time before the UMPI session begins for that along with the Sophia classes.
2 - For BLS with Management minor, I would need the same three general ed classes, but then only the six minor courses, and any one additional elective.
My transfer credits satisfied all major requirements, since the BLS major requirements are basically electives and I transferred in plenty of those.
The six minor courses I would need are: BUS 141, BUS 260, BUS 321, BUS 415, PCJ 215, and then any one of these four: BUS 240, BUS 350*, BUS 352, BUS 353*.
Since that is only nine classes and residency requires 30 hours at UMPI, I would also need to add any other UMPI 3-credit elective. I left the Sophia asterisks where applicable, although the only reason to use Sophia in this case would be if the UMPI class is notably slow or difficult. I could use Sophia, and then take a faster or easier UMPI elective in that situation. But, I doubt there's much benefit to that.
So, it is decision time.
One path is going to be faster and easier. The other path would potentially be more valuable for me, because I do sometimes see job openings I am interested in that require a degree in business. Most job listings do not require that, but even then, I wonder if a business degree would look better (or less of a question mark) on my resume.
But I also may be overthinking, and better served by getting the box-checking BLS, which would at least have a Management minor I could highlight along with my certs.
That brings me to my questions, some of which will have subjective answers, but I will ask anyway.
1 - For a motivated student with plenty of hours per day but not necessarily plenty of months, how realistic would it be to complete the 10 classes for the BLS with minor in Management in one session?
2 - For that same student and situation, is it conceivable to complete 23 classes for BABA in one session? Or if not one, is two realistic?
3 - Given that I have less than two weeks before the session begins, should I attempt any of the Sophia courses at this point? I could begin as early as today.
4 - Has anybody done portfolio review? My advisor said it's usually slower than just doing the classes. But I am wondering, could I begin a portfolio review for some classes that I save until the last, and meanwhile do other classes while they consider the portfolio? How easy or hard is it to actually get credits this way?
5 - And most subjective of all, is a BABA worth the extra time and effort, and risk, compared with a BLS, for somebody like me? Either would check the "has degree" box. BABA would check the "business degree" box, but frankly, anything that adds to the time also adds risk, since I can't predict what my work situation will be like in a few months.
Thanks! And also, thanks for your collective patience. This is not my first post about this, as I fumble around trying to figure this situation out with no one to advise me in person. This board is a big help to me, even if it may seem like I ask the same thing repeatedly.
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