Torn between 2 degrees

[Dlynn1219]

I wanna go to school to be a business analyst. I guess business analysts are basically half IT, half business.  From what I've read, these two degrees would be a good fit: BLS with minor in Management Information Systems OR BA in Project Management. I've seen the degree plan for the BLS but does anyone have the degree plan in full for the  Bachelor's in Project Management? Is there any way I can get my Bachelor's in Project Management and get a separate minor in Management Information Systems?

[freeloader]

If you are interested in the BLS, you can certainly pursue both the project management and MIS minors. You have perhaps seen that one of our very active posters completed a BLS with three minors.

Can you do the BA in Business Administration with a Project Management Concentration and an MIS minor? I don’t think anybody who posts here has completed a BABA with one of the business-related minors, but I think you probably could do it. The easiest thing would be to email Jessica Winslow (jessica.b.winslow@maine.edu), explain your situation, and ask her.

FWIW, I suspect you can do the BABA with a business-related minor. There are other people on the board who have done the BABA with a non-business minor (I was enrolled for a while in the BABA program with educational studies minor but ultimately dropped that minor). If, for some reason, she says you can’t have that minor (because of say, a university rule), you could likely do a workaround. If you need “extra” credits for the 120 required hours to graduate, you could select your “extra” hours from the courses in the MIS minor. If you are self-funding (as opposed to receiving federal financial aid), they are also less stringent about the courses you take. So, if you are self-funding, you could almost certainly take the MIS minor courses, even if they won’t let you have the minor, and even if you go above your 120 required hours.

[Dlynn1219]

If you are interested in the BLS, you can certainly pursue both the project management and MIS minors. You have perhaps seen that one of our very active posters completed a BLS with three minors.

Can you do the BA in Business Administration with a Project Management Concentration and an MIS minor?  I don’t think anybody who posts here has completed a BABA with one of the business-related minors, but I think you probably could do it. The easiest thing would be to email Jessica Winslow (jessica.b.winslow@maine.edu), explain your situation, and ask her.

FWIW, I suspect you can do the BABA with a business-related minor. There are other people on the board who have done the BABA with a non-business minor (I was enrolled for a while in the BABA program with educational studies minor but ultimately dropped that minor). If, for some reason, she says you can’t have that minor (because of say, a university rule), you could likely do a workaround. If you need “extra” credits for the 120 required hours to graduate, you could select your “extra” hours from the courses in the MIS minor. If you are self-funding (as opposed to receiving federal financial aid), they are also less stringent about the courses you take.  So, if you are self-funding, you could almost certainly take the MIS minor courses, even if they won’t let you have the minor, and even if you go above your 120 required hours.

Thank you so much for your help!!

[dfrecore]

Just to clarify, the BLS is not a business degree, and so it's not going to give you any of the business classes you need for being an analyst. You could probably just take a bunch of business classes first (Sophia or Study.com) and then use them as electives. But it certainly won't be a business degree in any sense of the word.

I would probably check job listings in your area to see what they're looking for. Do they want an IT degree OR a business degree? Do they want that business degree specifically? If so, then you need the BABA. But if there's a range of degrees they will take, then the BLS may be fine. But make sure before you start down your path.

[Dlynn1219]

Just to clarify, the BLS is not a business degree, and so it's not going to give you any of the business classes you need for being an analyst.  You could probably just take a bunch of business classes first (Sophia or Study.com) and then use them as electives.  But it certainly won't be a business degree in any sense of the word.

I would probably check job listings in your area to see what they're looking for.  Do they want an IT degree OR a business degree?  Do they want that business degree specifically?  If so, then you need the BABA.  But if there's a range of degrees they will take, then the BLS may be fine.  But make sure before you start down your path.

I went on random business analysts LinkedIn profiles and it seems like these people have a variety of majors/degrees  LOL. Some of them were not IT or business related at all. I've seen mostly on the job listings it doesn't matter whether it's IT or business you have a degree in.

[bjcheung77]

@Dlynn1219, This is what I suggest you do: Shoot for the BABA with Project Management and add the MIS minor. However, If you just need a check the box degree, then a BLS Project Management & MIS Minor may work for you, this allows you to get to know the concentrations without having to "major" in them... As you mentioned, BA's are intermediary between business and IT, you should focus on 3 things - Certs, Degree, Experience.

[rachel83az]

BTW, if you want the Project Management minor or concentrations, DO NOT take Project Management at Sophia. That would wind up making things more difficult in the long run, not easier.

This isn't the same degree, but the GEC requirements are the same and there is some overlap in the business requirements: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...-for-3-222 If you follow this plan, you should be pretty well poised to get the BABA with Project Management.

[Dlynn1219]

@bjcheung77
@rachel83az

Thank you so much for your help!!

[LevelUP]

@Dlynn1219, This is what I suggest you do: Shoot for the BABA with Project Management and add the MIS minor.  

The MIS minor is already done when you do the project management concentration
http://catalog.umpi.edu/preview_program....turnto=155

Wonder if you could ask to add that to your degree?

I would definitely go for the BA Business Admin with a project management concentration over the BLS.

[Dlynn1219]

@Dlynn1219, This is what I suggest you do: Shoot for the BABA with Project Management and add the MIS minor.  

The MIS minor is already done when you do the project management concentration
http://catalog.umpi.edu/preview_program....turnto=155

Wonder if you could ask to add that to your degree?

I would definitely go for the BA Business Admin with a project management concentration over the BLS.

Oh shoot, that'd be perfect if I could get the Business Administration degree with the MIS minor. Then I'd get the best of both worlds. I will be talking to an enrollment specialist next week so we'll see!!