Need everyone's opinion - Bachelors + PMP

[Chebasaz]

As you can see from my sig, I've got a target date of the end of the year for my current degree in General Business with Excelsior. The reason behind that date is that I have my 4500 hour requirement for the PMP certification. Without a bachelors degree, it requires 7500 hours of PM experience. One of the many reasons that I am pursuing a bachelors degree is in order to receive this certification.

Now my question is this:

Do you think it would behoove me to change to a Liberal Arts major to knock out the bachelors requirement, submit my application for the PMP test, and then continue my General Business path for my second major?

The upside would be that I could "theoretically" finish the Lib Arts degree much more quickly. This would allow me to concentrate fully on the (/shudder) Pre-calc classes that I am going to need to take for my business degree.

Potential downsides that I see is another application fee when it's time to receive the second major, but I was planning on pursuing a second major anyway. Any others that anyone can think of?

[Old Rusty Pipe]

I can't really offer advice on which way to go, but consider this:

1) Does it matter if you wait a few more months to get the PMP? If so, you might want to change majors. If it makes no difference, why change the major?

2) I believe that you must have an additional 30 credits in order get a second major at Excelsior. I believe that it doesn't matter what these 30 excess credits are, so long as they aren't used in the first major. With FEMA courses and $380 you could remove this limitation very quickly.

3) If you are planning on a double major anyway, and it doesn't matter to anyone except you about the PMP then do as you wish. It would all work out the same at the end anyways.

[Chebasaz]

Some good points raised there, and I appreciate the response ORP.

It's more of a staggered deadline. If I can finish the degree requirements on schedule, then I'm looking at another month or two for conferral. Then I'm looking at about a month until I can take the test. Career-wise, it would be in my best interest to have that cert knocked out in six months at the latest. So as long as the cert gets done in six months, I'll be good.

At this point I'm just in risk mitigation mode. There are a couple of wildcards out there (Business Org, MicroEconomics, ect) that I really can't say how long they're going to take for me to grasp firmly.

If I can swap majors to something that I know I can finish on time, with little or no downsides, then I will. The second major is always there to be finished at leisure. I was just curious if any of you could spot any potential pitfalls that I may be overlooking. It would hardly be the first time I overlooked something that was blatently obvious.

[Old Rusty Pipe]

Since its best for you to have that PMP within the next 6 months, I'd figure out how far away you are from a B.S. in Liberal Arts. The general degree is probably your best bet, and you can always finish up the business degree a few months later. Maybe its just me, but when I have only one thing that is really on a dead-line I like to get it out of the way at the earliest I possibly can.

Incidentally, what is this PMP? Never heard of it.

[Chebasaz]

I think that's the route I'm going to take. Irks me to put somethng on hold that isn't finished, but that PMP cert is my primary concern at the moment.

As for what it is, it's an industry cert given by PMI (Project Managment Institute), and it stands for Project Management Professional. It's a pretty involved certification, and requires the hours of experience in a project management position listed above, a mandatory classroom session, has a 200 question test, and holds quite a bit of weight with employers (Think the impact MCSE had on a resume about five years ago).

More on the subject:
PMP: Is It The Certification Or The Knowledge That Matters Most? | NaSPA


I work in the government contracting field, so when trying to climb the ladder, anything that seperates you from the pack is a good thing. A quick search on Dice.com or monster.com for "PMP" shows the benefits of having the certification.

Thanks for the advice ORP, and I'll start checking on the core requirements for the BS in LA today.

[vewdew]

I'm on a very similar path as you. I am currently finishing my B.S. in Individualized Studies through Charter Oak State College. My concentration is in "Manufacturing Process Development & Project Management". Within this I am taking all of the upper division project management classes offered as part of the undergraduate certificate, which is certified by PMI to prep you for the test. In the end I'll finish my degree, get the certificate, and be ready to sit for the PMI test all at the same time.

Anyway, one more thing to consider is that the time spent getting those 30 additional hours required for that second major would probably be better spent on graduate level classes in the long run.

Danny

[Chebasaz]

Hey Vewdew, glad to see I'm not alone in pursuing this certification. Sounds like you've got your plan pretty well worked out, and I wish you the best in getting there. Please keep me updated on how it goes!

I've got my eyes set on the executive level, and once I get back to the U.S. for more than a month at a time, I plan on applying for Duke's EMBA program. I'll need that business degree to go that route, and probably need to start selling off my body parts to foot the bill.

[pugman]

For what it's worth, you may want to consider an employee sponsered PMP bootcamp since they offer 100% pass. Also, it's PMI approved - so it may pass muster with your tuition reimbursement folks. I would never pay the $ - but if it's on my employer - money is no object!

Also, I would consider skipping the double major and going straight into a graduate program. 8 additional classes for a MBA in Project Management is worth considering IMO.

Just an idea.

Greg

[Chebasaz]

Hey pugman, thanks for the suggestions.

I've already knocked out the classroom portion of the requirements due to a PMP bootcamp I went to back in January of this year. It was non-employer reimbursed, but it gave me an excuse to get off the island for a week, so it was worth it

As for the MBA, I'm looking for a program that concentrates on the boardroom in a corporation. I love my current job, but it's the nature of my personal beast to always be looking up the ladder. Half the fun in getting to the next rung is figuring out how you need to better yourself and then going for it. Long hours and a good work ethic have taken me this far, but I'm coming to realize that without a degree there's only so far they'll go. Crazy world we live in, but at least I'll get some pre-calculus knowledge as part of the deal. :eek:

[vewdew]

For what it's worth, you may want to consider an employee sponsered PMP bootcamp since they offer 100% pass. Also, it's PMI approved - so it may pass muster with your tuition reimbursement folks. I would never pay the $ - but if it's on my employer - money is no object!

Also, I would consider skipping the double major and going straight into a graduate program. 8 additional classes for a MBA in Project Management is worth considering IMO.

Just an idea.

Greg

Do you know of a similar graduate program from a university that is regionally accredited? No RA = No tuition reimbursement for me. I love the idea of getting 9 hours of graduate level credit for the certification though.