Degree Planning Help? UMPI? TESU? ASU?

[HMohamed12]

Hi All, 

I've posted on this forum a time or two years ago, but wasn't truly dedicated or focused enough to follow through. I've been working since graduating high school, and I've managed to do pretty well for myself even without the degree, but it's always something I've wanted. I have the time, energy, and hunger to accomplish this once and for all. I'm highly motivated, just looking for friendly advice and a guiding hand perhaps. I've read quite a few threads about the different options for schools and majors but I'm kind of lost in the sauce. I need clear advice for-dummies type of advice. With the credits I have now, what is the fastest way for me to get a bachelors degree? Which school do you think has the best options for someone like me?

It's finally time to get this monkey off my back! 

I really appreciate any help/advice!

Your Location: Ohio, USA

Your Age: 28

What kind of degree do you want?: In truth, I don't care what sort of degree I get, the fastest and cheapest option is ideal. Though I will say I'm not great with math and sciences so any coursework with the least of those as possible would be great, but not a deal breaker. 


Current Regional Accredited Credits:  The Ohio State University Autum 2014 & Spring 2015

Intro To African Lit (3)
Intro Humanties (3)
EXP 101 (1)
Women & Film (3)
Weather & Climate (4)
Sports for the Spectator (2)

16 Total Credit Hours from OSU 

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits:  

Sophia Learning

Intro to Psychology
Intro to Information Technology
English Composition 1

Any certifications or military experience?: Infant & Toddler Child Development Associate Credential (CDA)

Budget: 8k MAX but the less the better 

Commitments: Full Time Job 50 HRS Per Week, No Kids

Dedicated time to study: 2-3 HRS Per Day

Timeline: AS FAST AS POSSIBLE !

Tuition assistance/reimbursement: N/A

[jg_nuy]

The quickest and likely cheapest degree is likely to be one from UMPI (work on Sophia for the general education and electives, Study dot com for some of the upper level up to 90 credits, then last 30 credits at UMPI. You can likely finish in 2-3 sessions ($3,400 to $5,100) and some folks on the forum have finished in 1 session (10 classes), although that is pretty intense.

You could choose a business degree, for example and choose a concentration.

The general education requirements are here - you have some completed already: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...ts_Roadmap

This page has the degree plans for UMPI:
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:UMPI

The BLS options may be even quicker, but some people find them to have limitations with some industries.

[HMohamed12]

The quickest and likely cheapest degree is likely to be one from UMPI (work on Sophia for the general education and electives, Study dot com for some of the upper level up to 90 credits, then last 30 credits at UMPI. You can likely finish in 2-3 sessions ($3,400 to $5,100) and some folks on the forum have finished in 1 session (10 classes), although that is pretty intense.

You could choose a business degree, for example and choose a concentration.

The general education requirements are here - you have some completed already: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...ts_Roadmap

This page has the degree plans for UMPI:
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:UMPI
The BLS options may be even quicker, but some people find them to have limitations with some industries.

What's the difference in terms of timing between the two? And how long is 1 session at UMPI? Also, I work for my family thankfully. I'm not getting the degree to help with job prospects, I'm pursuing this because I want it for me.

[jg_nuy]

Each UMPI session is 8 weeks, so 2 session is roughly equivalent to one semester. UMPI is competency-based, so you can finish as many classes in a session as you can manage, with some classes being doable in a week or less if you are either already familiar with the material or a strong reader-writer. Classes have roughly 3-4 short papers with a longer final paper. Some classes have PowerPoints or Excel projects, with or without presentations.

I don't see much time difference between the BLS and the Business degree, unless you bring in a ton of transfer credit from prior college coursework. In your case, the count is low, so I would suggest the degree with higher utility or the ones that interests you the most.

TESU has 12-week terms but the amount of writing required for the final capstone of the TESU degree is probably equivalent to 7-10 UMPI classes, based on folks' feedback on the forum. UMPI classes generally have proctored exams, but you can start a term pretty much any month. You could do 90 credits via Sophia and Study dot com for the TESU requirements and then do a single term of 12 weeks with five classes for the flat-rate tuition, but that can get a little intense in terms of workload.

[HMohamed12]

Each UMPI session is 8 weeks, so 2 session is roughly equivalent to one semester. UMPI is competency-based, so you can finish as many classes in a session as you can manage, with some classes being doable in a week or less if you are either already familiar with the material or a strong reader-writer. Classes have roughly 3-4 short papers with a longer final paper. Some classes have PowerPoints or Excel projects, with or without presentations.

I don't see much time difference between the BLS and the Business degree, unless you bring in a ton of transfer credit from prior college coursework. In your case, the count is low, so I would suggest the degree with higher utility or the ones that interests you the most.

TESU has 12-week terms but the amount of writing required for the final capstone of the TESU degree is probably equivalent to 7-10 UMPI classes, based on folks' feedback on the forum. UMPI classes generally have proctored exams, but you can start a term pretty much any month. You could do 90 credits via Sophia and Study dot com for the TESU requirements and then do a single term of 12 weeks with five classes for the flat-rate tuition, but that can get a little intense in terms of workload.

What about WGU? I've heard good things online about them, but I wonder how WGU differs to TESU and UMPI.


Another question, would it be worth it to first pursue an associates, graduate, then go after the bachelors? If i did that, would the same credits/competencies count toward both degrees?

[jg_nuy]

For most folks, an associates is a waste of time, as you can get the bachelors in the same amount of time.

WGU is also competency-based and primarily uses proctored tests to prove competency, which some folks don't like. Some of your existing credits like would not count, as they don't have match much in the way of electives and they have six-month terms. I forget their exact price per semester, but you can easily look them up.

I would recommend these threads from BJ and Rachel as the next recommended reading - it lays out a lot of this info in easy to consume ways:
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...ed-Version
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...HT-for-you

There are also multiple threads in the Degree Planning Advice section that may help you, asking similar questions to yours:
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Forum-D...ing-Advice

[bjcheung77]

Welcome back to the board, my suggestion is to stay on track with what you're looking at, the bachelors degree.  My suggestion is to get the UMPI AALS on route to getting the BLS with a couple or triple minors, along with the 3-4 classes that can go towards the MAOL if you wanted to later.  Since you're working for family, you may be able to get more hours put into the degree, if that is the case, UMPI is the heavy favorite.  

A pathway would be this: UMPI AALS, BLS, MAOL - Not everyone needs a business degree or MBA, OL is also a leadership/management degree.
Here's a read in regards to cost, ease, speed and the difference for Excelsior, TESU, UMPI: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid433696
For reference, I've merged your previous posts into this thread for your review of advice: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...elp--33249

[HMohamed12]

Welcome back to the board, my suggestion is to stay on track with what you're looking at, the bachelors degree.  My suggestion is to get the UMPI AALS on route to getting the BLS with a couple or triple minors, along with the 3-4 classes that can go towards the MAOL if you wanted to later.  Since you're working for family, you may be able to get more hours put into the degree, if that is the case, UMPI is the heavy favorite.  

A pathway would be this: UMPI AALS, BLS, MAOL - Not everyone needs a business degree or MBA, OL is also a leadership/management degree.
Here's a read in regards to cost, ease, speed and the difference for Excelsior, TESU, UMPI: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid433696
For reference, I've merged your previous posts into this thread for your review of advice: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...elp--33249

Say I wanted to pursue the UMPI AALS to start, would i be able to use the same credits for the AALS as i do the BLS when I do choose to go back? Also, is there a link to the degree map for the UMPI AALS?