Full Time SWE Looking for the Path of Least Resistance

[pughbert]

Hey everyone!

I'm currently a full-time SWE who has 83 credits so far toward a Software Development & Security degree at UMGC. I'm looking for the fastest, easiest, and cheapest way toward an accredited degree in the field. 

I'm an exceptional test taker and can spend ~3-4 hours a night on schoolwork.

I also went to school at Mount St. Mary's and the brunt of my credit comes from them.

Your Location: Pennsylvania 
Your Age: 21
What kind of degree do you want?: Software Engineering/Software Development/Computer Science. Any one would suffice.
Current Regional Accredited Credits: 83 credits

All courses listed below are 3 credits unless stated otherwise.

Mount St. Mary's University: 60 total credits

CMSCI 254 - Data Structures & Algorithms, A
CMSCI 125 - Intro to Computer Science II, A
CYBER 261 - Linux/Windows Operating Systems, A
CYBER 260 - Networking Administration, A
DATA 200 - Introduction to Data Science, A
PHIL 103 - Foundations of Philosophy, A
SPAN 102 - Beginning Spansih II, A
WCIV 102 - Origins of the West, A
WCIV 201 - The Western Imagination, A
CMSCI 120 - Intro to Computer Science, A
FAAR 204 - Art History Survery, A
FYSYM 101 - First-Year Symposium, A
HIST 260 - Age of the American Civil War, A
SPAN 101 - Beginning Spanish I, A-
CMSCI 256 - Principles of Software Development, A
CMSCI 480 - Educational Internship, 9 credits, A
MATH 211- Mathematical Thinking, A

University of Maryland, Global Campus: 23 credits

PACE 111T - Progression & Career Exploration in Tech, A
WRTG 112 - Academic Writing II, A
COMM 202 - Media and Society, A
WRTG 393 - Advanced Technical Writing, A
CMIS 320 - Relational Database Concepts & Applications, A
SDEV 300 - Building Secure Python Applications, A
BEHS 103 - Technology in Contemporary Society, A
SDEV 325 - Detecting Software Vulnerabilities, A

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: none

Any certifications or military experience? none


Thanks for taking a look at my situation! 

[dfrecore]

It would probably be helpful if you listed the courses you still need to take at UMGC, and we can tell you if there's a faster/cheaper/easier way to get those particular credits.

You could also apply at WGU to see what they'll bring in all of your credits in, and then you can tell us the courses you still need to take there, and we can tell you if there's a way to get those credits cheaper/faster. I imagine at this point, WGU would be faster, but it really depends.

There's really no better option than those 2, since transferring to yet another school will lose credits. So, to just find a faster way to get some credits at these 2 schools is really the only way around it at this point (since you're pretty far in and want to continue with the same degree).

[bjcheung77]

dfrecore is correct, my suggestion is to see what academic evaluation of your UMGC degree shows for the requirements remaining and what's missing, from the looks of things, you've only transferred 50% of your degree and started taking some credits at UMGC, they only require 25% residency, thus you can transfer in some more with alternative credit. Your evaluation is key, in addition to that, you missed the addendum!

So... Please fill us in with your important info! Without more details on your overall situation, we won't know if a max transfer option with alternative credits or a competency based degree option would be better for you, as there are so many of those extra variables we like to know before providing you advice on which way to go... Your options range from what was mentioned UMGC, WGU, to SNHU, TESU, and more...

[pughbert]

Sorry! Here is some more info from the addendum:

Budget: I get like ~5.5k in tuition reimbursement and am also qualified for the maximum Pell Grant for the upcoming Fall/Spring semesters.
Commitments: I'm married, but she works in the evening. So, I have a lot of free time.
Dedicated time to study: ~3-4 hours on the weekdays and more on the weekend as needed.
Timeline: I would like to finish ASAP.
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: As stated earlier, I get Pell Grants and also a $5.5k tuition reimbursement.

It is also worth noting that UMGC is fairly expensive for me because I am out of state. I pay around ~1,000 a class after Pell, so it eats up all my tuition reimbursement to take 3 6-credit semesters a year like I have been doing.

UMGC Academic Advisement Report is attached.


Let me know if you need any more information. Thanks again!

[bjcheung77]

@pughbert, congrats! Wow, marriage at 21... I didn't get married until I was 33... Anyways, you're at a cross road right now my man, deciding to stay at UMGC for 9 additional credits residency, or go elsewhere... Since you have tuition assistance, use that up along with the Pell Grant!  Having said that, you need to switch your degree to something else, but re-use the exact same credits you have...

Change your degree to the Bachelors of Science in Applied Technology instead, your requirements for residency remains the same of 9 credits, but you get to chose what your remaining credits are (capstone is one of them of course). The only difference is that you need to choose two more courses in addition to that and transfer all outstanding requirements entirely using alternative credit partners.

Your homework for today, is to get the academic evaluation done for Applied Technology, this degree is an awesome mix of your own CS, Development, IT, whatever mix you want really (it has to have a majority of Computer related courses), you need to find an alternative credit partner (I recommend Study.com as they're a partner)... Program Link: https://www.umgc.edu/online-degrees/bach...technology

Courses - Total Credits Required: 120, Required Major Courses: 30 Credits
Take 9 credits in a primary computing focus area; at least 3 of these credits must be upper level
Take 18 credits from any discipline area; you may take courses in multiple disciplines to fulfill this requirement
Applied Technology Capstone(3 Credits, APTC 495), taken as the last course in the major

Requirements - Overall requirements for a bachelor’s degree in applied technology differ slightly from the general bachelor’s degree requirements. You must meet the 30-credit requirement for coursework taken at UMGC, but those credits may be earned in any combination across major, general education, and elective courses.  Make sure you match all the Bachelors Degree Requirements: https://www.umgc.edu/online-degrees/bach...quirements

[dfrecore]

From what I can see based on your eval, it looks like you can do the following on Sophia:

English Comp I (WRTG111)
Human Bio w/Lab (unconfirmed but should work) or Chem w/Lab (confirmed) - (LAB SCIENCE)
EnvironSci, Nutrition, Human Bio, Chem - all confirmed (SCIENCE W/O LAB)
Intro to College Math (MATH105), College Algebra (MATH107), Precalc (MATH115), Calc I (MATH140), or Intro to Stats (STAT200) - (MATH REQ)
Macroecon (ECON201), Microecon (ECON203), Intro to Sociology (SOCY100), Intro to Psych (PSYC100) - (SOCIAL SCIENCE REQ)

That's 16cr that could be taken in a month or two for $99-$198. Saves you a ton of time and money. It would leave you with 21cr to finish your degree.

The only thing I can't quite figure out is the "Interdisciplinary or Emerging Issues Computer Course" requirement, and then it says CMIS 102 is a pre-req to major coursework - and it shows that you took CMIS 102 further down, plus you've taken a bunch of the major coursework. So I would question that one and see if you can't take a computer course at Sophia that would meet that requirement (or if one of the courses you took at MSMU couldn't count there). That's definitely one you should appeal, and see if you can't get an elective instead. That would put you at only needing 18cr.

So you then either need 21cr x 499 = $10,479 or 18cr x $499 = $8,982.

Honestly at this point, I'm guessing that it's easier (but not cheaper) to just complete this at UMGC than to make a switch. If you can continue to use tuition reimbursement, that's another $5k off the price, and you should be done in a year or so.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

If you want to switch to WGU, you will have to do quite a bit since I don't think things will transfer well. So you really have to apply to see what they will take towards the degree, and then come back and tell us what you have left to take, and we can tell you where to take some of them. But I'm guessing you'll get like 30cr, and have to take 90, and while you will be able to do a lot via Sophia and SDC, I just think you won't be happy with the eval you get. But at least you'll know. Once you see what you need, and what you can get via alt-credit, you can also see what you can do via certifications (assuming your company would pay for those outside of the tuition reimbursement plan you'd def come out ahead). But those will probably take some time to study for and pass, even if you did them prior to enrolling. I'm going to guess that you'll spend 3-6 months prior to enrollment getting the credits you need, and then a 6mo term at WGU, so you're looking at a minimum of 9mo to complete the degree (in my estimation). It will be a lot of work, but certainly cheaper.

[bjcheung77]

@pughbert, Essentially, the remaining costs at UMGC is 499 x 9 = 4491. The reason to this is, you're transferring from Sophia.org and Study.com, you'll just have to add the required costs from these providers. Sophia.org is going to mainly be lower level, you want to use Study.com for the bulk of your computer science and similar courses such as cybersecurity, info systems, programming, etc. You need to skim through providers you know that have a partnership with UMGC and 'map' your final courses... the Applied Technology degree is the one I would switch to, as it allows a combo/mix of whatever you feel like taking, literally (as long as it's computer related)... Your final cost again at UMGC is going to be 4491, you can take out the Pell or the tuition reimbursement, costs to ACE options such as Sophia.org or Study.com are not part of that fee. Does your tuition assistance or reimbursement come from Bright Horizons (EdAssist) or Guild Education?

[dfrecore]

@pughbert, Essentially, the remaining costs at UMGC is 499 x 9 = 4491.  The reason to this is, you're transferring from Sophia.org and Study.com, you'll just have to add the required costs from these providers.  Sophia.org is going to mainly be lower level, you want to use Study.com for the bulk of your computer science and similar courses such as cybersecurity, info systems, programming, etc.  You need to skim through providers you know that have a partnership with UMGC and 'map' your final courses... the Applied Technology degree is the one I would switch to, as it allows a combo/mix of whatever you feel like taking, literally (as long as it's computer related)... Your final cost again at UMGC is going to be 4491, you can take out the Pell or the tuition reimbursement, costs to ACE options such as Sophia.org or Study.com are not part of that fee.  Does your tuition assistance or reimbursement come from Bright Horizons (EdAssist) or Guild Education?

I looked, and there are no courses from SDC that will cover the UL requirements that are still needed.  He will have to do either 18 or 21cr at UMGC.

[bjcheung77]

@pughbert, when you log in next, can you give us an update? I want to know if you have the 9 credits residency requirement as I mentioned in your posts a few times, or if you have a different number. Applied Technology and the General Studies degrees have slightly different requirements for the degree, it's still 30 residency credits, but can be from any part of your degree.