NEED Advice on Quickest Option for Bachelors

[Darkstar]

Hi all, I'm at a point at work where I can not advance unless I obtain a Bachelor's degree. There will be an opening late next year. Ideally, I need to have the degree at that point or will be disqualified from the position.

I have been exploring the Business Management degree at WGU however, when I submitted my transcripts was only given credit for 33 units. I have since done a few Sophia classes that will raise that up a bit. In reality, I just need to check the Bachelor's degree box so I'm really looking for something that will maximize my existing credits with the addition of some Sophia or Study.com classes and allow me to graduate quickly.

I have also looked at Liberal Studies through Excelsior, which may allow for a greater transfer of credits. In reality I'm open to anything I can complete quickly. I'm not tied to either school if there is a better option.

I currently have two Associate's degrees:

AA in Spanish
AS in Building Codes and Standards

'Your Location: California, United States. 

Your Age: 50

What kind of degree do you want?: Bachelor's - just need to check the box. Being able to complete quickly is more important.

Current Regional Accredited Credits: Total of 85

Community College #1 Total Credits: 16

BIOL 111 Principles of Biology, 4, C
POSC 100 American Government, 3, C
HIST 127 Survey of American History, 3, C
PHIL 105 World Religions, 3, C
ENVS 126 Natural History of California, 3, C


Community College #2 Total Credits: 41

CONST 114 Blueprint Reading, 3, A
CONST 182 Building Code Interpretation - Structural, 3, A
CONST 192 Mechanical Code Interpretation, 3, A
CONST 267 Electrical Code: Articles 400-830, 3, A
CONST 170 Fundamentals of Building Inspection, 3, A
CONST 183 Title 24: Energy Conservation Code, 3, A
CONST 191 Plumbing Code Interpretation, 3, A
CONST 266 Electrical Code: Articles 90-398, 3, A
CONST 181 Building Code Interpretation non-structural, 3, A
CONST 124 Construction Details and Specs, 3, A
CONST 273 Construction Management, 3, A
PSYCH 101 Intro to Psychology, 3, A
SPAN 120 First Term Spanish, 5, A

Community College #3 Total Credits: 15

SPAN 102 Beginning Spanish II, 5, A+
SPAN 103 Intermediate Spanish I, 5, A+
SPAN 104, Intermediate Spanish II, 5, A+

Community College #4 Total Credits: 13

ASTR 1 Intro to Astronomy, 3, A
ENGL 1A Composition and Reading, 4, A
MATH 15 Math for Liberal Arts Students, 3, A
SPAN 35B Intermediate Conversational Spanish: Film, 3, A


Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: 

Sophia Credits: 9

Macroeconomics, 3, 95% or A
Intro to Business, 3, 97% or A
Project Management, 3, 94% or A


INPROGRESS at Sophia:

Principles of Finance
College Algebra


Any certifications or military experience? 

No Military.

I hold about 30 ICC certifications related to Building Codes, Including Master Code Professional and Chief Building Official

California DSA CASp certification

I also recently passed the DELE B2 Spanish exam given on behalf of the Government of Spain and am awaiting the Diploma.

Budget: under 10K

Commitments: Full time job and family.

Dedicated Time to Study: Evenings and weekends. 20-25 hours per week

Timeline: 1 year if possible

Tuition Assistance/Reimbursement: $750/year reimbursement from work, other than that I will be out of pocket.

[bjcheung77]

Hmm, basically, you have not completed any upper level credits as of yet.. Your best bets right now is to apply to Excelsior/UMPI to get an evaluation.  If you're leaning towards a degree such as one from UMPI since you have the Lab and Language requirements, it'll probably be cheaper, easier, faster to complete.  If you complete the 10 or so courses at UMPI in two sessions, it's just $2800 and if you need to extend to three it'll be $4200.  

Excelsior you would need to transfer in upper level requirements, and the Info Lit, Cornerstone, Capstone already is about $4K... Even with the tuition assistance/reimbursement, I would recommend seeing if you qualify for financial aid, if you do get any grants, going either route will probably net you an amazingly affordable degree.  I'm thinking that would be my recommendation, it would be UMPI first and Excelsior as your backup option.

Note: The bulk of your Construction and Spanish can be used in the free electives section of your degree.  You should decide on the school and degree of choice, example UMPI BLS with a double minor in Management and Project Management or something you're interested in, if you want, you can go for a triple minor by adding the Management Info Systems too.  Send your applications in and get an evaluation, continue your Sophia.org courses.

[Darkstar]

Hmm, basically, you have not completed any upper level credits as of yet.. Your best bets right now is to apply to Excelsior/UMPI to get an evaluation.  If you're leaning towards a degree such as one from UMPI since you have the Lab and Language requirements, it'll probably be cheaper, easier, faster to complete.  If you complete the 10 or so courses at UMPI in two sessions, it's just $2800 and if you need to extend to three it'll be $4200.  

Excelsior you would need to transfer in upper level requirements, and the Info Lit, Cornerstone, Capstone already is about $4K... Even with the tuition assistance/reimbursement, I would recommend seeing if you qualify for financial aid, if you do get any grants, going either route will probably net you an amazingly affordable degree.  I'm thinking that would be my recommendation, it would be UMPI first and Excelsior as your backup option.

Note: The bulk of your Construction and Spanish can be used in the free electives section of your degree.  You should decide on the school and degree of choice, example UMPI BLS with a double minor in Management and Project Management or something you're interested in, if you want, you can go for a triple minor by adding the Management Info Systems too.  Send your applications in and get an evaluation, continue your Sophia.org courses.

Thank you...I took a look at UMPI BLS program and that might fill the bill nicely. I'm going to apply and get a transcript evaluation to see where I stand.

While I do have the Language requirement covered, I'm missing the Lab, My science classes were lecture only. Are there any options for a Lab class online that I could get done quickly to meet the requirement?

Thanks

[rachel83az]

For UMPI, Study.com's Biology 101L works for the lab requirement. DO NOT apply to UMPI until you have most/all of the GEC filled out. You might have it completed, with your prior Associate degrees, you might not. I compare your courses completed with what you need. You need to pick a minor for UMPI if you go with the BLS, though BABA might be faster/use more credits due to your prior courses.

I would recommend filling out a spreadsheet with what you have, so you can better see what you need. Check out https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...quivalents and https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:UMPI to make a plan and decide.

UMPI is NOT for students who would rather take exams. Almost all courses are completed with papers or project, with only a couple of classes having exams. If you would prefer to avoid as many papers as possible, Excelsior or TESU would be a better option.

[allvia]

Hmm, basically, you have not completed any upper level credits as of yet.. Your best bets right now is to apply to Excelsior/UMPI to get an evaluation.  If you're leaning towards a degree such as one from UMPI since you have the Lab and Language requirements, it'll probably be cheaper, easier, faster to complete.  If you complete the 10 or so courses at UMPI in two sessions, it's just $2800 and if you need to extend to three it'll be $4200.  

Excelsior you would need to transfer in upper level requirements, and the Info Lit, Cornerstone, Capstone already is about $4K... Even with the tuition assistance/reimbursement, I would recommend seeing if you qualify for financial aid, if you do get any grants, going either route will probably net you an amazingly affordable degree.  I'm thinking that would be my recommendation, it would be UMPI first and Excelsior as your backup option.

Note: The bulk of your Construction and Spanish can be used in the free electives section of your degree.  You should decide on the school and degree of choice, example UMPI BLS with a double minor in Management and Project Management or something you're interested in, if you want, you can go for a triple minor by adding the Management Info Systems too.  Send your applications in and get an evaluation, continue your Sophia.org courses.

Thank you...I took a look at UMPI BLS program and that might fill the bill nicely. I'm going to apply and get a transcript evaluation to see where I stand.

While I do have the Language requirement covered, I'm missing the Lab, My science classes were lecture only. Are there any options for a Lab class online that I could get done quickly to meet the requirement?

Thanks

This 'BIOL 111 Principles of Biology, 4, C' really looks like it had a lab component - even if you don't recall anything 'lab like' (without knowing the school name it's hard to confirm, but I would recommend you do a search on the school site), especially since all the other classes you took at the school are standard 3 credits.  I would apply to UMPI and let them decide before spending money on the SDC course. I agree with bjcheung77 that UMPI BLS (Management) is likely your best option - quickest and lowest cost.

[bjcheung77]

@Darkstar, By using your courses/credits, you can create a plan with the template and use the WIKI for referencing those updates.
You're pretty close to that 90 credit threshold, I would just apply and complete any missing credits before you officially enroll.

Here's the thread with the triple minor spreadsheet, you should create one for yourself : https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid365771
Here's the WIKI template for the UMPI BLS Management Minor to reference options: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan

[dfrecore]

I did 2 degree plans:

1) UMPI BLS/Management - I would stop with Finance now; I MIGHT consider taking Art History I or II since you are already paying for a Sophia membership; and I MIGHT take Ethics as well; other than that, everything else you'd do at UMPI. You could probably finish those 2 courses plus College Algebra and be done in a week, and apply to UMPI now and send that last transcript when you finished.

Cost is $1400/8week term - next term starts on 10/24, and if you finished in 1 term it would be $1400 and you'd be done in December; 2 terms would be $2800 and done in March.

2) EU BSL - I would stop College Algebra and Finance, and instead take English Comp II and Management (which is UL); then I'd switch to Study.com and take your remaining UL courses there, including BUS 318: Management Ethics (kills 2 birds with 1 stone - gets your Ethics course and an UL done); 5 add'l UL Arts & Sciences courses; and 1 add'l UL business course. Then you'd go get your Info Lit, UL Cornerstone, and UL Capstone course done at EU (you can actually start the Info Lit and Cornerstone courses before you finish your SDC courses, as they don't require that you stop taking outside courses while enrolled).

Cost is $4000 for 7cr, and you'd be done mid-March (Info Lit and Cornerstone would be done in Fall 2 term, and Capstone would be in Spring 1).

It all just depends on if you like the competency-based programs. If I were you, I'd probably do UMPI because the timelines are the same, so you may as well spend money less up front and spent less money on the degree overall.

[Darkstar]

For UMPI, Study.com's Biology 101L works for the lab requirement. DO NOT apply to UMPI until you have most/all of the GEC filled out. You might have it completed, with your prior Associate degrees, you might not. I compare your courses completed with what you need. You need to pick a minor for UMPI if you go with the BLS, though BABA might be faster/use more credits due to your prior courses.

I would recommend filling out a spreadsheet with what you have, so you can better see what you need. Check out https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...quivalents and https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:UMPI to make a plan and decide.

UMPI is NOT for students who would rather take exams. Almost all courses are completed with papers or project, with only a couple of classes having exams. If you would prefer to avoid as many papers as possible, Excelsior or TESU would be a better option.

Thanks for the recommendations.

I will fill out the spreadsheet this weekend and see where I stand. However, a quick review of the gen ed requirements shows that I'm missing English Comp II, and a Lab class at a minimum. For the Lab I can take the Study.com class and satisfy the requirement. 

Would it be better to take English Comp II at Sophia, SC, or wait and take at UMPI?

Generally, I dislike writing and would much prefer to take exams. However, if this is the quickest easiest path I will suffer through it.

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The school was Fullerton College. The class is no longer offered but, I looked back through some old catalogs I found online and there was no lab component. There was a separate BIOL 111L which was the lab component. Apparently, my 18 year old self did not feel the need for the Lab. Thanks for the input.

---

@Darkstar, By using your courses/credits, you can create a plan with the template and use the WIKI for referencing those updates.
You're pretty close to that 90 credit threshold, I would just apply and complete any missing credits before you officially enroll.

Here's the thread with the triple minor spreadsheet, you should create one for yourself : https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid365771
Here's the WIKI template for the UMPI BLS Management Minor to reference options: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan

Thank you, I'm going to work on this this weekend. A quick run through shows that I'm missing a science Lab and English Comp II.

---

I did 2 degree plans:

1) UMPI BLS/Management - I would stop with Finance now; I MIGHT consider taking Art History I or II since you are already paying for a Sophia membership; and I MIGHT take Ethics as well; other than that, everything else you'd do at UMPI.  You could probably finish those 2 courses plus College Algebra and be done in a week, and apply to UMPI now and send that last transcript when you finished.

Cost is $1400/8week term - next term starts on 10/24, and if you finished in 1 term it would be $1400 and you'd be done in December; 2 terms would be $2800 and done in March.

It all just depends on if you like the competency-based programs.  If I were you, I'd probably do UMPI because the timelines are the same, so you may as well spend money less up front and spent less money on the degree overall.

Thanks for taking the time to put this together. It looks like everyone is in agreement on UMPI BLS/Management. 

I'm going to give them a call tomorrow and see if I can make the October start work. I will go ahead and finish the Finance class as I'm more than half way through and should be able to complete on Saturday. I will also do the Art History classes as I should be able to complete them and the Algebra class by next weekend. 

Once I apply and send my transcripts, am I locked out of submitting more or could I continue to take classes into October and submit the addition courses?

[rachel83az]

If you're going to UMPI, Definitely take English Comp II there. At UMPI, it's a single paper. Everywhere else, it's multiple papers.

Do NOT call the UMPI number on the YourPace website. That directs to a 3rd party call center that doesn't really know the UMPI process and will likely give bad information.

[Darkstar]

If you're going to UMPI, Definitely take English Comp II there. At UMPI, it's a single paper. Everywhere else, it's multiple papers.

Do NOT call the UMPI number on the YourPace website. That directs to a 3rd party call center that doesn't really know the UMPI process and will likely give bad information.

Should I just go ahead and apply instead of calling? and if I do will I still be able to submit addition course work from Sophia or Study.com?

Thanks for the tip on English Comp II.