Need help figuring out my graduate studies plan

[spohara]

Location: AL, USA
Age: 37
Current Grad Credits: 12 from 2017-2018

Statistics and Political Analysis, 3hr
Quantitative Methods, 3hr
Quantitative Methods II 3hr
Data Science for Public Policy 3hr

Goal: Career wise, I envision a possible path to Chief Data Officer at a Bureau or lower level (I know of a position 2 grades above where I am now and I imagine with my 20 years left until retirement I can get two promotions).  In retirement, I'd like to teach public policy and political theory (PhD door open).  I'd be interested in MPA, MBA, Interdisciplinary or Data Science masters degrees or certificate programs.  I imagine stacking a MS+Cert to hit both the public admin and data sci sides.

Funding: 8 months + a little change of GI bill. I'd be very inclined to run this down to just a few weeks remaining then take a 6 month term (or longer?) somewhere because they should fund the entire term as long as I have at least 1 day of benefits remaining.  Going this route I'd likely have to pay for at least part of some credential out of pocket, which I'm ok with as long as we aren't getting up to tens of thousands of dollars.  I can cash flow one course/term at reasonable grad tuition.

Pursuit rate: I prefer a slower pace.  Full time studies crushed me last time I tried this.  Still, I want to minimize time at the same time, so somewhere that will accept more transfer credits would be useful.

Current thoughts: I'm toying with the idea of stacking Liberty University's interdisciplinary studies (focus on GIS and Government) with WGU's micro credentials (whatever I can complete in a 6 month term) for data analytics.  I might have to pay for around 2 classes out of pocket at LU (assuming they transfer everything in) with very cheap tuition.  I really love the idea of CU boulders MSDS because of the 1 credit pace, but it would be a long road.  On the other hand I don't love that LU's 3hr courses are 8 weeks which seems like a lot of work for a short period of time, but I'd finish this degree very fast (assuming they take the transfer credits again).  I'm really interested to hear some other thoughts as maybe there is an option that doesn't have the tradeoffs I'm wrestling with now.

[allvia]

How about Amberton's Master of Science in Enterprise Analytics, they will transfer in up to 12 credits (four 3 credit grad courses). Free to apply and see what they'd give you for the credits you already have. They are also very affordable - https://www.amberton.edu/programs-and-co...index.html

Another option might be Eastern's MS in Data Science, I'm not sure if they allow transfer in of credits for this program , but affordable - and although the classes are only 7 weeks each (work at your own pace) you can take one at a time. If I recall also free to apply so you could see if they'll give you any transfer credit - https://www.eastern.edu/academics/gradua...ta-science

[withrown]

Hey Spohara,

what flagship school are you closest to? UNA and UAH have some pretty cool programs in north al. A & M has some fun engineering programs and like most hbcu's they'll work with you if you need it. If you are around bham UAB has a setup where you can combine any two certs into a master's degree. UA and AU have pretty decent master's offerings and I have a couple of colleagues who came out of those programs. South Alabama has a long list and western Florida offers in-state tuition to AL residents. The University of Troy is pretty reasonable too.

[spohara]

How about Amberton's Master of Science in Enterprise Analytics, they will transfer in up to 12 credits (four 3 credit grad courses). Free to apply and see what they'd give you for the credits you already have. They are also very affordable - https://www.amberton.edu/programs-and-co...index.html

Another option might be Eastern's MS in Data Science, I'm not sure if they allow transfer in of credits for this program , but affordable - and although the classes are only 7 weeks each (work at your own pace) you can take one at a time. If I recall also free to apply so you could see if they'll give you any transfer credit - https://www.eastern.edu/academics/gradua...ta-science

Looks like Amberton Requires 24 hours taken there for this degree.  Maybe 12 hours transfer is the University level policy, but that might be for a 36 hour+ program.  I'll keep eastern on the short list and see if they allow transfer.  The work at your own pace aspect is also nice, because if their sessions fall in the right times I can strategically take 2-3 weeks off per session without burning a ton of leave with some creative scheduling.  Maybe I can alternate between sprint and plod.  If I went this route, do you know of anywhere I can get a grad cert in the public policy/business administration arena with a six month semester or similar?

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Hey Spohara,

what flagship school are you closest to? UNA and UAH have some pretty cool programs in north al. A & M has some fun engineering programs and like most hbcu's they'll work with you if you need it. If you are around bham UAB has a setup where you can combine any two certs into a master's degree. UA and AU have pretty decent master's offerings and I have a couple of colleagues who came out of those programs. South Alabama has a long list and western Florida offers in-state tuition to AL residents. The University of Troy is pretty reasonable too.

I looked pretty hard at UNA at one point, they had something I was interested in, but I think they don't take transfer credits older than 5 years or something along those lines.  I live 10 min down the road from UAH.  I know they have Business Analytics and I know people who have successfully gone on to data science from there as well, but looking at the program I'm not sure my credits would fit in well.  I suppose I shouldn't rule myself out before they do.  Were you thinking of anything specific there you think would be a good fit?  A&M I'd have to look at closer because their website has never been great at putting good details up for their programs, but I have thought about them as an option.  I never really considered UAB, which would be too far for more than a once a week thing if it were in person, but the 2 certs for a masters is really interesting to me.  I'll definitely see if my credits will be able to fit some way because it looks like they have some decent certs available that check boxes on what I'm looking for.