Degree Planning Help - Natural Sciences

[violaborealis]

Hi everyone, I’m here to ask for some help with degree planning for my husband. 
He’s been working  for the USFS for 10 years as a wildland firefighter (official title is  "Forestry Technician") but wants to transition to a less physically demanding job within the agency. He has no previous college experience, went from HS to the Marine Corps, did some retail jobs and then joined the USFS. I know a lot of the the forestry related degrees can’t really be done online but any degree related to natural sciences would work.

Location: California, United States
Age: 38
What kind of degree do you want?: biological, chemical, physical or environmental sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, Rangeland Management/Ecology, forestry 
Any certifications or military experience? Veteran with unused GI Bill
Budget: whatever the GI Bill covers, beyond that we’d probably have to take out a student loan
Commitments: spouse, pets and full-time job that can require two weeks fighting a fire without access to the web
Dedicated time to study: 3 hrs on weeknights + 4-6 hrs on weekends 
Timeline: Finishing the courses required for the degree as fast as possible would be ideal. 

He has some anxiety about going to college and has been procrastinating on looking into this which is why I’m posting this for him. Hopefully seeing some options laid out will be the kick in the butt he needs to get this thing going.

Thank you for any help with this!

[bjcheung77]

@violaborealis, Welcome to the board, that's a very good introduction with the addendum/template. There are two degree options that jump up, Excelsior BS Natural Science and the TESU BA Environmental Studies, they allow the max transfer of 113/114 credits respectively. Having said that, due to the number of courses that can't be transferred in, I would still suggest the Excelsior BSLA, or TESU BALS with NSM concentration, these are Liberal Arts Studies degrees, and the major is Liberal Arts not Natural Science or Environmental Studies. He can take classes he wants within the general education/free electives that are geared towards what he wants...

[LevelUP]

SNHU has an Environmental Science major
https://www.snhu.edu/admission/academic-.../N1Ok44IYg

All SNHU majors
https://www.snhu.edu/program-finder

I haven't seen many jobs that require a physical science major. You could opt for another degree, such as liberal arts or business, and do a concentration/minor in science at a school such as UMPI or TESU. 

Or fill up your electives with science courses such as environmental science, biology, chemistry, physics, etc.

[Avidreader]

Unity Environmental University has a bunch of online forestry courses. Also offers forestry degrees. Courses seem to cost approx 450 USD/credit.

Their online booklet mentions theoretically they accept ACE credit, possibly up to 90 credit transfers. Might be worth sending them an email and ask if they accept Sophia and Study transfer credit.

[Jonathan Whatley]

Less physically demanding job, for the forest service, that draws on applied science. Safety and health? TAMUC has a competency-based bachelor's in safety and health.

[rachel83az]

Since you mentioned Biology, TESU has a BA Biology. But I'm not sure it's a "real" biology degree. Same with TESU's Environmental Science degree. I mention this because forest service is a government-type job and they may care a lot about the CIP codes.

But if a generic "natural science" degree would work, then I think TESU should be fine, whether or not the degrees have the expected CIP code.

[Duneranger]

I have reviewed the biological/physical degrees at SNHU, TESU etc and they are pretty weak on "sciences". Even the "Geosciences" degree at SNHU wouldn't be considered an actual Geology degree without field work. Your desired degree path is sort of vague. Are you looking for a soft science "Environmental science" degree or a pure physical/biological science degree like Geology, Physics, Chemistry and Biology?

I am a PNW guy and if you are in Forestry and looking for a science-based degree, you can't do better than OREGON STATE. They have a robust foresty and natural resource program and are one of the best online platforms for education.

https://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/online-d...nce#browse

Check out this. They have NUMEROUS degrees for your husband. Yes, maybe not as fast or cheap as other places but the Oregon State name is WELL KNOWN in the USFS world. My dad worked for USFS as a forest firefighter for years...

If you are going to do it, do it right.

[bjcheung77]

TESU's BA Biology and the BA Environmental Studies programs are interesting, they're 60 credit major for the Biology program, the Environmental Studies is similar to their regular programming now of 45 credits. It really depends on the student and what they need and want, as I mentioned earlier, something along the lines of the Excelsior BSLA with 60 electives (all sciences) would probably work, or even the TESU BALS with NSM concentration. Your goal is the first initial degree, so UMPI with a BLS in a minor of Your Pace, and another minor that can be all transferred in, may do the trick as well. You can then ladder to a Masters or grad cert specializing in what your preference is in... Any route you take, make sure to check your boxes, or better yet, do the trifecta mix of certs, degree, experience.

[dfrecore]

Columbia Southern University has several degrees that might work, and they take a lot of ACE credit and are cheaper than others:
- BS in Emergency Management w/Concentrations in Environmental Science or Fire
- BS in Environmental Management
- BS in Fire Administration

[bjcheung77]

Unity is a good option but I would go for the masters from them instead, that is if you have enough funds left from what you have in the initial post... I would get a quick check the box degree and go forward with a Masters of choice afterwards, be it the MAOL, MSML, MBA, whatever it may be...