I need help figuring out how to finally obtain Bachelors, advice appreciated

[dadof3]

The BABA Project Management is the PM&IS degree. It won't show that on the application, but I think it shows in MaineStreet once you're an active student? It certainly shows on your transcripts after graduation.

It is possible to apply as a non-degree student, see where your current credits go, take classes, and switch to a degree program after a session. This would also allow you to talk to Jessica at UMPI about what program would make the most sense for you to complete.

Ok, thank you, that’s very helpful information.

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@dadof3, you have an AAS already in an IT field, it's a 'base' of your knowledge you can build up on.  There are so many ways to swing this to your liking, it depends which way you're leaning towards.  A progression into Management, or a continuation into sub specialties of IT... In your shoes, you need to decide a nice mix/match of certs, degree, experience... You decide how to mix that yourself, more certs, different degree, gain experience...

I think just a regular BABA PM&IS would do better for leadership/management roles if you're planning that in the future.  If you just need a check the box degree, get the BLS MIS and add a minor of your choice as this degree will slot up to 60 elective credits.  And if you want to go into other fields of IT, you really don't need a specific degree, you can hit them slightly differently with the extra Cousera/TADA certs.  Examples are below:

Basically, I recommend grouping the certs in a specific order to ladder the knowledge from one to the other, such as this...
Essentially, when you get the certs, you're adding 'some experience' to hit the trifecta I mentioned earlier: certs, degree, experience.

1. Cybersecurity/IT related - Start with Coursera/TADA, IT Support Pro Cert, ladder that up to IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Pro Cert.
- You can do some freebies such as the TEEX Cybersecurity courses along with this or as prep for this track.

2. Coding/Development - Start with Coursera/TADA, UX Design Cert, ladder that up to IBM Full Stack Software Developer Pro Cert.
- You can take the Meta Front-End and Back-End developer certs (I think these are also free from TADA) for the Coding part.

3. Project Management - Start with Coursera/TADA, META Social Media Marketing, ladder up to Google Project Management Pro.
- Take Sophia.org Project Management and their other business/communication counterpart courses to get an idea of Business/Management.

4. Data Analytics - Again, Start with Coursera/TADA, Google Data Analytics and ladder up to all the IBM Data options combined...
Consider again taking as many cheapie/freebie options along with the Google offering, plus the various IBM Data Analytics/Science options.

You can take one or more routes, decide what your passion lies, then you can see if taking a degree (not another Bachelors, but a Masters) would do.
There are several Masters of Applied Computer Science or Data Science, etc offerings that do not require a prior Bachelors for entry all around 10-15K.

Coursera/TADA offerings Wiki: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Coursera
TEEX & other Free Sources of Credit: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Fr..._of_Credit

Thank you this is really helpful. I’m pretty sure I won’t be continuing in IT but I do want to have a bachelors of some sort just done so that I could theoretically move into a masters in the future if wanted/needed.

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The BABA Project Management is the PM&IS degree. It won't show that on the application, but I think it shows in MaineStreet once you're an active student? It certainly shows on your transcripts after graduation.

It is possible to apply as a non-degree student, see where your current credits go, take classes, and switch to a degree program after a session. This would also allow you to talk to Jessica at UMPI about what program would make the most sense for you to complete.

Sorry one more question on this option—I’m not seeing an area to apply as non-degree in the YourPace app, would that application option be through the regular site or am I missing something?