Decision time: BABA/Leadership vs BLS/Management

[ReyMysterioso]

I would vote BLS in Management since it's easiest and despite the nomenclature of "bachelor of liberal studies." (BTW do you mean Management or Project Management?) At your age and experience level, it's a box-check to meet administrative requirements. Your resume and experience does all the heavy lifting in the job market.
In general, I never worry too much about the naming conventions of BAS, BAAS, BLS, BGS vs the more common BA/BS. A bachelor's is a bachelor's.

Also keep in mind if you complete the BLS fast and frictionless as possible but find in a year or two you still feel some kinda way about having a liberal studies major vs. a proper business degree - there's nothing stopping you from going back and getting another degree - this time in business. Especially if you find you really like learning and the routine of the academic grind. (Some of us get hooked.)

[Kjnova]

This may not be the best place for this question, but, how does getting a second bachelor's degree work? Whether through the same institution (in this case, UMPI) or otherwise?

For example, would I be able to skip the GEP requirements, and do ONLY the major and concentration requirements?

If I take some of the BABA major requirements now for the BLS (whether for the minor, or as electives), will they still count toward a later BABA?

Would I be able to do ~30 credits via Sophia and Study.com and show up needing only ~30 credits for residency?

Alternately, I have been thinking about a graduate certificate program (wondering if those are easy to get into at "name" universities) as well as the UMPI MAOL.

Either way, those things can wait a little while and are not part of my current rush.

Thanks!

[LevelUP]

I wouldn't rule out the BABA with concentration in Leadership.

Since you have a lot of time on your hands, it may only take a month extra to do the BABA.

If you can go through Sophia's courses quickly, then you could do the BABA.

[bjcheung77]

What I've been telling people with an 'experienced or seasoned' portfolio or profile is to continue working towards a balanced mix/match trifecta of certs, degree, experience. With your current mix, you decide for yourself if you're looking at a certain time frame to complete things, including the costs, that's the main reason for the addendum and template, it's to gauge what you're looking for and can achieve.

Having said that, I'm more into recommending the BAS with a minor, even though you do not have an AAS. If you follow through with recommendations... You can graduate the Pierpont AAS along with the UMPI BAS at the same time, plus get the 3-4 classes that can go towards the MAOL. Alternatively, you can do UMPI BABA PM & IS instead, then ladder to the UMPI MAOL. Use your tuition assistance for both!

[Kjnova]

Thanks -

As for timing, I have some significant unknowns right now. A month may matter ... or a year may not matter.

What I mean is, I might get a call from a recruiter tomorrow about a job, but then get eliminated for not having a degree. It is unlikely, but possible, and I wouldn't want anything that raises my risks the way the economy and job market are right now for people in my income band.

Or, I might get a call tomorrow and the degree isn't an obstacle, and get hired and have plenty of time to do this so I'm not in a similar situation in the future.

Or, I might NOT get a call for a long time.

The lowest risk option right now would be the fastest, which I think means BLS.

But, I could also rush through the BLS, then sit on it for months waiting for something to come along, and wish I'd taken a little extra time for the BABA.

My thinking right now is, if I can rush through the BLS, that gives me a little added security in the short term, and then I can probably re-enroll and knock out BABA, or alternately, get a graduate certificate or some sort of master's that would enhance my profile with the BLS.

I don't see why BAS would be a good fit for me, but I'm open to learning more about it. It seems to me that it would take as much or more time as BABA and not fit my career as well, but, I could be wrong. I am here to learn.

In the BLS scenario, I could return for BAS as easily as I could for BABA, so if there is a good reason for it in my case, that would be a possibility.

Thanks!

[allvia]

@Kjnova - There is no scenario you've mentioned where the BAS helps you reach your goal(s). If you go with the BLS-Management (which I recommend, you are so close and it will give you what you need - a bachelor degree for the resume - and it is quick and low cost), you would be better served going for a master (such as a MBA somewhere, or even the UMPI MAOL) over a second bachelor (even a BABA). I don't even believe you need more than the BLS to reach your professional goals. However, I do feel the need to repeat 'There is no scenario you've mentioned where the BAS helps you reach your goal(s).'

[Kjnova]

Thanks!

My current status is that I am listed as a BABA student, but per my advisor, I can switch to BLS at any time, including after the term starts. So I don't feel pressure to switch immediately. However, right now I anticipate switching to BLS to minimize my risks. This would let me check the degree box potentially very quickly.

I will add that "BLS" bugs me a little, and I like preserving the option to add a BABA later. However, I probably will not do BABA right now, because of my timing unknowns and perceived risks. It would be more of a potential upgrade, and knowing it's possible reassures me about doing BLS now.

I do not see a longterm advantage to having both degrees (and if I had both, I might not list both on my resume), but more like a short-term advantage to BLS and then a longer term "upgrade" option. I may end up getting over this and not worrying about BABA, but for now, I like knowing the door is not shut.

Down the road, I will be really interested in the Illinois iMSM and iMBA options as well as UMPI MAOL. We will see where life takes me.

Thanks for all advice!

[freeloader]

Why not do both the BLS and the BABA?

Do the BLS first—complete the 10 courses needed to meet your residency requirement, including the 9 specific requirements. Graduate.

Re-apply to the BABA program. You should need 13 classes. Graduate.

That gives you the BLS more quickly for the immediate resume boost. With another session or two (most likely), you can go from zero bachelor’s degrees to two.

[Kjnova]

Thanks, yes, I like having that option.

There is actually not much overlap between the Management minor and the BABA. So, I might have as many as 19 classes remaining, or depending how I approach electives, I may be able to get it down to 16 or 17.

But then, I can do the six via Sophia to get it down to between 10 and 13.

[jg_nuy]

As others have said, I would say do the BLS, including the 3-4 class for the MAOL in the classes you do for it, then do the MAOL with 9 classes. A masters will give a bigger boost than the BABA honestly and you can always do the MBA later if it turns out you want it.