Pierpont BoG to UMPI (YourPace?) - Requesting Planning Advice

[cmm0889]

Hello! I am new to posting but not new to reading the forum. I found this forum in the fall of last year and because of this forum, I am graduating with an AAS from Pierpont this month (BoG, Business AoE). So thank you already for all of the help! That being said, I am at a point where I am a bit overwhelmed with trying to determine the most efficient next steps to earn my bachelors. I have completed the advised information below in hopes that guidance can be provided on the best next route (strongly considering UMPI - potentially YourPace?) so thank you in advance for any feedback and suggestions. From the YourPace catalog, the Bachelor of Liberal Studies – Management Minor, Bachelor of Liberal Studies – Project Management Minor, Business Administration – Management and Leadership Concentration and Business Administration – Project Management & Information Systems Concentration are most appealing to me but the goal is ultimately the fastest bachelors (truly any bachelors degree) that will consider the most of my existing credits. My desire to obtain my bachelors degree is for career progression and I would like to pursue my masters when complete. I imagine the Business Administration degrees will take longer than the Liberal Studies degrees based on my existing credits transferring in.

Your Location: Rather not say, United States
Your Age: Mid-30s
What kind of degree do you want?: Bachelors
Current Regional Accredited Credits:  61 (or potentially 69+ - see note below*)

Pierpont Community & Technical College - 40 credits (with transfers credits)
Computer Usage & Software Appl - 3 credits - A (4 at private college, 3 transferred to Pierpont)
Human Potential - 3 credits - A (4 at private college, 3 transferred to Pierpont)
Introduction to Business - 3 credits - B (4 at private college, 3 transferred to Pierpont)
Spreadsheet Applications - 3 credits - B (4 at private college, 3 transferred to Pierpont)
Advanced Composition - 3 credits - A (4 at private college, 3 transferred to Pierpont)
MTH: Business Mathematics - 3 credits - A (4 at private college, 3 transferred to Pierpont)
Business Law I - 3 credits - B (4 at private college, 3 transferred to Pierpont)
Business Law II - 3 credits - B (4 at private college, 3 transferred to Pierpont)
Written English I - 3 credits - B (4 at community college, 3 transferred to Pierpont)
Medical Terminology - 3 credits - B (community college, transferred to Pierpont)
Introduction to Psychology - 3 credits - D (community college, transferred to Pierpont)
Elementary Spanish I - 3 credits - B (4 at community college, 3 transferred to Pierpont and private college)
Elementary Spanish II - 3 credits - C (4 at community college, 3 transferred to Pierpont and private college)


Sophia Learning Credits
Conflict Resolution - 3 credits
Environmental Science - 3 credits
Human Biology - 3 credits
Intro Information Technology - 3 credits
Introduction to Web Development - 3 credits
Project Management - 3 credits
Visual Communications - 3 credits

Provider Total Credits: 21

Any certifications or military experience?
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Several Scrum Alliance Certifications: CSPO, CAL-E, CAL-T, CAL-O
Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
Coursera: Project Management Principles & Practices Specialization from UoC, Irvine
Some other, smaller and less recognized certifications
No military experience

Budget: Need to go the cheapest route, not a lot of extra funds to work with
Commitments: Work full time, kids, and other obligations, all course work and studying will be evenings and weekends only
Dedicated time to study: Would do coursework after 9 PM to graduate from Pierpont, I expect it will be the same again
Timeline: Would like to finish as fast as possible, less than a year if feasible
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: None at this time

I have more than 10 years of work experience, with 7 years in management, that I would like to leverage to get credit for prior work experience, if possible, and I believe UMPI does do that.

*Not sure if it’s worth noting but my transcripts actually have 8+ additional credits vs what Pierpont accepted as most of my courses that transferred were worth 4 credits but Pierpont transferred them in as 3 credits.

[jg_nuy]

You could do the BLS with the Project Management minor - it would allow you to bring up to 60 credits of electives into the degree. It looks like you still need the lab - the Human Biology Lab on Sophia would probably be the best option:

Links below

General Education: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...ts_Roadmap
Degree Plan: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan

However, considering that you have your PMP already, I think the BBA would not take you much longer than the BLS:
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan

You could consider doing the MAOL (3 classes can be carried from the bachelor's to the MAOL) or doing a combo MSML/MBA at WGU.

[bjcheung77]

@cmm0889, Welcome to the board, good initial post with addendum, template, and a bit of additional info. Having said that, you're missing the 'Rather not say' which may be critical for people to provide you a concrete, definitive, and suitable answer. Basically... If you review the addendum, template, there are reasons you want to provide extra info, we're not asking for personal identifiable info such as your address, SSN, etc, or more mentioned in the addendum.

For example, it's usually better going to an in-state/public institution, if you're in Maine, great job, your best option is the UMPI Your Pace Bachelors and then ladder to the MAOL by doing the 3-4 classes that can be exempt or transferred from the B to the M as mentioned in post #2 above. But, if you're in NJ, you might be better off transferring 114 into TESU and paying the flat rate fee to do 15 residency credits instead. In Texas, TAMUC would be my choice...

For CT-COSC is my choice, and the not for profit private institutions, NY-Excelsior, WGU for those states that endorse the institution, PUG, SNHU, etc... Just like me, you don't have tuition assistance or reimbursement, but did you ask about any other 'learning benefits', did you ask HR about EdAssist or Guild, or if they have freebies such as Coursera, EdX, Udemy, etc, that may grant credit through PLA, etc? So many variables, so many choices or options...

[cmm0889]

Updating the post to add that the location is IL, if that helps!

[bjcheung77]

Actually, you may be perfect for the trifecta I keep mentioning, no, not just the balanced mix/match trifecta of certs, degree, experience, but in this case, the trifecta minor of Management, PM, MIS for the BLS degree. You take 2 classes of each minor, and the 4 classes that go towards the MAOL, thus you've got the 10 residency classes required at UMPI. Here's a sample template I created a while back (exactly 2 years ago to the day), it should still work for you... https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid365771

[cmm0889]

You could do the BLS with the Project Management minor - it would allow you to bring up to 60 credits of electives into the degree. It looks like you still need the lab - the Human Biology Lab on Sophia would probably be the best option:

Links below

General Education: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...ts_Roadmap
Degree Plan: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan

However, considering that you have your PMP already, I think the BBA would not take you much longer than the BLS:
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan

You could consider doing the MAOL (3 classes can be carried from the bachelor's to the MAOL) or doing a combo MSML/MBA at WGU.

Thank you! I have been digging into these resources!

---

Actually, you may be perfect for the trifecta I keep mentioning, no, not just the balanced mix/match trifecta of certs, degree, experience, but in this case, the trifecta minor of Management, PM, MIS for the BLS degree.  You take 2 classes of each minor, and the 4 classes that go towards the MAOL, thus you've got the 10 residency classes required at UMPI.  Here's a sample template I created a while back (exactly 2 years ago to the day), it should still work for you... https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid365771

This would be amazing - thank you for sharing the resource. I made my own copy so I can try to plan things out further. I also tried searching but didn't find any resources around transferring in work experience, etc for credit. Is that something that you've seen other threads around? With all of my experience, certs, etc. I am hopeful that some of that can help cut down the time even if it means building out a portfolio of some kind. I have also completed 50+ LinkedIn Learning courses but I am doubtful those would count towards anything.

I went ahead and submitted my application to UMPI for their 7/1/24 YourPace session this evening, it did allow me to upload my resume for consideration.