Looking for some advice on the quickest and easiest way to finish this plan.

[cblsak]

I was here some time ago and got some help on a computer science degree. Thank you. Turns out I'm not great at math. I cannot do calculus and I cannot do discrete math. 
So change of plans. I have been working on Sophia credits for months now and have a lot stacked up. I'm hoping to get a quick associates degree in Information Technology at Purdue with emphasis on Networking. The goal is to get in and out quickly by transferring in 75% of the credits.  

Just want to run my plan by everyone and see if it's correct and also any further advice on what to do. I do know it's cheaper or the same cost to get the BA IT but again the math is a stumbling block so I just want the associates for now.

Here is the link to the program: 
https://catalog.purdueglobal.edu/undergr...ntext-otp1

So I can transfer in 65 credits of the 90 needed for the associates degree. Right now I have around 40 ace credits with Sophia so my 20 needed for the generals are covered. But it also said I needed 10 credits from open electives. Can I use the remaining courses I took with Sophia to eliminate those 10? If so, great. That means the first 30 should already be covered.

If everything above is correct I would need 35 credits to come from the 50 credits remaining below. 

Major:
IT133 Microsoft Office Applications on Demand 5
IT190 Information Technology Concepts 5
IT213 Software Development Concepts 5
IT273 Networking Concepts 5

Networking:

Code Title Credits
IT117 Website Development 5
IN203 Networking With Microsoft Technologies 5
IN205 Routing and Switching I 5
IN206 Routing and Switching II 5
IT278 Windows Administration 5
IT286 Network Security Concepts 5

How would you approach the remaining transfer ins? I have heard if you had certain IT certifications you could eliminate a lot of courses. I don't have any certifications at this point. I actually have no experience in IT so I know it's going to be a struggle to learn some of these concepts. I'm worried some courses at Purdue will hold me up. Any advice on what to take outside of Purdue? What to take at Purdue? If I transfer all 75% in it looks like I would have to do 15 credits + capstone from Purdue so perhaps a better question is what would be the 3 easiest courses to do at Purdue? Also, 3 courses and a capstone should take just one semester you think? I would appreciate any advice from someone who went through this program. 

Thanks so much!

[allvia]

You should list here what you have already completed at Sophia. You should also look at completing the Google IT Support certificate - https://www.coursera.org/professional-ce...it-support. It is worth ACE credit (even if it turns out you cannot use them for this degree) and is excellent starting point since you're looking to get into the IT field.

Have you considering going the Pierpont BOG AAS route? Here is a thread that may interest you, https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...PI-BAS-MIS and you can get the IT concentration with the use of the Google IT certificate.  Then once you get some experience move on to bachelor. There is a great deal of information on the BOG on the Wiki page listed in the thread (with how to max your Sophia credits).

[rachel83az]

I don't think I'd recommend that degree. It's not an ExcelTrack degree, so you'll be paying $371 per credit for at least 23 credits. That'd be $8533. Also, Purdue is notorious for having a LOT of writing, so it's probably not going to be a quick degree.

What about either Management Information Systems from UMPI or a Bachelor's in Computer Information Systems from TESU? Either one should be cheaper than that Purdue degree.

[cblsak]

You should list here what you have already completed at Sophia. You should also look at completing the Google IT Support certificate - https://www.coursera.org/professional-ce...it-support. It is worth ACE credit (even if it turns out you cannot use them for this degree) and is excellent starting point since you're looking to get into the IT field.

Have you considering going the Pierpont BOG AAS route? Here is a thread that may interest you, https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...PI-BAS-MIS and you can get the IT concentration with the use of the Google IT certificate.  Then once you get some experience move on to bachelor. There is a great deal of information on the BOG on the Wiki page listed in the thread (with how to max your Sophia credits).

Thank you for responding yes I do have the Google IT support certificate on my list. Eventually I want to get into WGU and do the BA in network operations so that will help knock off a few courses. From there I want to finish and do a masters in Cyber security. I know I'm going the long route here. But, I have a inside man for a job and he said any IT degree will do because they're willing to train me in cyber security. I picked this degree because it has doesn't have a math requirement and eventually the end goal would be cyber security where a lot of networking is involved at a foundational level.

---

I don't think I'd recommend that degree. It's not an ExcelTrack degree, so you'll be paying $371 per credit for at least 23 credits. That'd be $8533. Also, Purdue is notorious for having a LOT of writing, so it's probably not going to be a quick degree.

What about either Management Information Systems from UMPI or a Bachelor's in Computer Information Systems from TESU? Either one should be cheaper than that Purdue degree.

Two very good points. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. I don't know why I thought it was going to be around $3000 per semester. And, writing.... not my strong suit.

I'll look up the BA at TESU and check back. 

Thank you!

[LevelUP]

I was here some time ago and got some help on a computer science degree. Thank you. Turns out I'm not great at math. I cannot do calculus and I cannot do discrete math. 

Discrete Math isn't that hard and can be done in 1-2 weeks.  I would do that at SDC.  

Calculus on the other hand can take months for some people.

But it also said I needed 10 credits from open electives. Can I use the remaining courses I took with Sophia to eliminate those 10? If so, great. That means the first 30 should already be covered.

I wouldn't do any Sophia for the electives.  I would do the W3schools PHP cert which covers the IT213 course you need + 34 credits of electives.

If everything above is correct I would need 35 credits to come from the 50 credits remaining below. 

IT133 Microsoft Office Applications on Demand (Microsoft Office Specialist Cert)
IT190 Information Technology Concepts  (Sophia IT course)
IT213 Software Development Concepts (W3 schools PHP cert)
IT273 Networking Concepts (SDC)

Check the wiki for links to equivalent guides, make a degree plan spreadsheet.
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/PU...egree_Plan

How would you approach the remaining transfer ins? I have heard if you had certain IT certifications you could eliminate a lot of courses.

You want to transfer in max credits you can.  Some IT certifications you can do easily in 1-2 weeks.  Some like the  CCNA could take months.

I actually have no experience in IT so I know it's going to be a struggle to learn some of these concepts. I'm worried some courses at Purdue will hold me up. Any advice on what to take outside of Purdue? What to take at Purdue? If I transfer all 75% in it looks like I would have to do 15 credits + capstone from Purdue so perhaps a better question is what would be the 3 easiest courses to do at Purdue? Also, 3 courses and a capstone should take just one semester you think? I would appreciate any advice from someone who went through this program. 

From a technical point of view, I don't see any courses that I would be worried about.  

If you need to do 22.5 credits at Purdue, that looks like it would be 5 courses.

[cblsak]

I was here some time ago and got some help on a computer science degree. Thank you. Turns out I'm not great at math. I cannot do calculus and I cannot do discrete math. 

Discrete Math isn't that hard and can be done in 1-2 weeks.  I would do that at SDC.  

Calculus on the other hand can take months for some people.

But it also said I needed 10 credits from open electives. Can I use the remaining courses I took with Sophia to eliminate those 10? If so, great. That means the first 30 should already be covered.

I wouldn't do any Sophia for the electives.  I would do the W3schools PHP cert which covers the IT213 course you need + 34 credits of electives.

If everything above is correct I would need 35 credits to come from the 50 credits remaining below. 

IT133 Microsoft Office Applications on Demand (Microsoft Office Specialist Cert)
IT190 Information Technology Concepts  (Sophia IT course)
IT213 Software Development Concepts (W3 schools PHP cert)
IT273 Networking Concepts (SDC)

Check the wiki for links to equivalent guides, make a degree plan spreadsheet.
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/PU...egree_Plan

How would you approach the remaining transfer ins? I have heard if you had certain IT certifications you could eliminate a lot of courses.

You want to transfer in max credits you can.  Some IT certifications you can do easily in 1-2 weeks.  Some like the  CCNA could take months.

I actually have no experience in IT so I know it's going to be a struggle to learn some of these concepts. I'm worried some courses at Purdue will hold me up. Any advice on what to take outside of Purdue? What to take at Purdue? If I transfer all 75% in it looks like I would have to do 15 credits + capstone from Purdue so perhaps a better question is what would be the 3 easiest courses to do at Purdue? Also, 3 courses and a capstone should take just one semester you think? I would appreciate any advice from someone who went through this program. 

From a technical point of view, I don't see any courses that I would be worried about.  

If you need to do 22.5 credits at Purdue, that looks like it would be 5 courses.

OKAY, mind blown.....what?  

{quote} W3schools PHP cert which covers the IT213 course you need + 34 credits of electives. {quote}

I looked at the BA IT program with Purdue. I tried the discrete math. I'm not there mentally to even want to begin with calculus or discrete. I've tried numerous times and it's just not my thing or something I ever want to deal with. Unfortunately I know my limits. Now PHP I have had some experience with as well as CSS, html, and a few other languages. Not my ideal degree because I don't want to be a programmer but for a fast IT degree if it knocks off as many courses as I think it does it might be worth it. How would that work with this associates degree considering it said I needed 10 electives and 30 for the networking emphasis? Would it just eliminate the networking emphasis all together? And since it's programming would it just become some kind of IT programming degree? That seems worth it.

[LevelUP]

OKAY, mind blown.....what?  

{quote} W3schools PHP cert which covers the IT213 course you need + 34 credits of electives. {quote}

I looked at the BA IT program with Purdue. I tried the discrete math. I'm not there mentally to even want to begin with calculus or discrete. I've tried numerous times and it's just not my thing or something I ever want to deal with. Unfortunately I know my limits. Now PHP I have had some experience with as well as CSS, html, and a few other languages. Not my ideal degree because I don't want to be a programmer but for a fast IT degree if it knocks off as many courses as I think it does it might be worth it. How would that work with this associates degree considering it said I needed 10 electives and 30 for the networking emphasis? Would it just eliminate the networking emphasis all together? And since it's programming would it just become some kind of IT programming degree? That seems worth it.

You don't have to pick a concentration with that associate of IT degree.  It's your choice. 

The Php cert I did in one day. With your experience, it may take 1-3 days or likely no more than 20 hours. Definitely worth it and can be used for your electives. The study guide is free on the website. The exam is open book, and you get 2 tries to pass.

https://www.purdueglobal.edu/alternative...ion-exams/
https://www.w3schools.com/PHP/php_exam.asp

[cblsak]

OKAY, mind blown.....what?  

{quote} W3schools PHP cert which covers the IT213 course you need + 34 credits of electives. {quote}

I looked at the BA IT program with Purdue. I tried the discrete math. I'm not there mentally to even want to begin with calculus or discrete. I've tried numerous times and it's just not my thing or something I ever want to deal with. Unfortunately I know my limits. Now PHP I have had some experience with as well as CSS, html, and a few other languages. Not my ideal degree because I don't want to be a programmer but for a fast IT degree if it knocks off as many courses as I think it does it might be worth it. How would that work with this associates degree considering it said I needed 10 electives and 30 for the networking emphasis? Would it just eliminate the networking emphasis all together? And since it's programming would it just become some kind of IT programming degree? That seems worth it.

You don't have to pick a concentration with that associate of IT degree.  It's your choice. 

The Php cert I did in one day. With your experience, it may take 1-3 days or likely no more than 20 hours. Definitely worth it and can be used for your electives. The study guide is free on the website. The exam is open book, and you get 2 tries to pass.

https://www.purdueglobal.edu/alternative...ion-exams/
https://www.w3schools.com/PHP/php_exam.asp

OH WOW! This is an option!

So, let me just talk this out.

I have the 20 credits for the generals already through Sophia.

I could use the PHP for one course in the major (213) leaving 3.

This PHP cert would cancel out the 30 credits required for the networking specialization. 

That is 55 credits transferred in.

I'd still have to come up with 15 credits (from where?), because after the 15 credits (3 courses) for major and a 5 credit capstone I'm only up to 75.

Would I just repeat some of these general courses I found easy on Sophia but through Purdue to finish it out?

[LevelUP]

OH WOW! This is an option!

So, let me just talk this out.

I have the 20 credits for the generals already through Sophia.

I could use the PHP for one course in the major (213) leaving 3.

This PHP cert would cancel out the 30 credits required for the networking specialization. 

That is 55 credits transferred in.

I'd still have to come up with 15 credits (from where?), because after the 15 credits (3 courses) for major and a 5 credit capstone I'm only up to 75.

Would I just repeat some of these general courses I found easy on Sophia but through Purdue to finish it out?

If you need 15 credits, then the Google IT cert is 15 credits, or do some easy Sophia courses like Visual Communications, Environmental Science, etc.

Google IT cert can be done in 1-2 weeks.

[cblsak]

OH WOW! This is an option!

So, let me just talk this out.

I have the 20 credits for the generals already through Sophia.

I could use the PHP for one course in the major (213) leaving 3.

This PHP cert would cancel out the 30 credits required for the networking specialization. 

That is 55 credits transferred in.

I'd still have to come up with 15 credits (from where?), because after the 15 credits (3 courses) for major and a 5 credit capstone I'm only up to 75.

Would I just repeat some of these general courses I found easy on Sophia but through Purdue to finish it out?

If you need 15 credits, then the Google IT cert is 15 credits, or do some easy Sophia courses like Visual Communications, Environmental Science, etc.

Google IT cert can be done in 1-2 weeks.

What the........................

So PHP 34, GOOGLE IT 15  = 49
Plus my 20 Sophia generals = 69

But they will only transfer in 75% or 65-67 credits of the 90
so that means I would need to get about 25-27 credits directly from Purdue

I can get 25 with
3 courses in major 15 credits  = 84
capstone 5 credits = 89
I'm sure I can find 1 credit with Purdue = 90

So if I got the two certs I'd be doing 26 credits x 371 credit hour = $9600  

Uhhhhh..........does this sound right? 

If so, it works.... it's a lot of money but it works. It's the cost of a BA (sad) but I don't have time for that NOR the smarts for the actual CS and this will get me in the door. 

This was great, thank you very much for the help, LevelUp and everyone else. 
Muuuuch appreciated!