WGU - Network Engineering and Security B.S. Which path should I take?

[Brandon.Thomas.Downer]

Hello!

I am 43 years old and I recently decided to change directions from Business to IT. I want to get the Network Engineering and Security B.S. I am trying to figure out which path I want to take, General or Cisco. I want to enter the IT field in an entry level position as soon as possible. I am aiming for a starting pay of $60,000 as that's what I make now as an Assistant Manager in retail. Any less and it would be hard to support my family. I took about 2/3rds of an associates degree in Computer Technology 20 years ago. Since then I have always tried to stay up to date on basic IT. I have considered taking the GOOGLE - IT Support Professional Certificate as a refresher for everything. 
My question is would it be more beneficial to go the General Path and graduate earlier with mostly Comptia Certs, or take longer and go the CISCO path and get the CISCO certs with the potential of finding a better entry level job. I know I have a lot of work ahead of me and I am ready to get started! Thanks

Location: Chesterfield, South Carolina - United States
Age: 43
Degree wanted: WGU, Network Engineering and Security B.S.
Career Goal: Information Technology 
Current Regional Accredited Credits: 
Northeastern Technical College - Cheraw South Carolina
Credits: 34
ENG 101 - English Composition I
MAT 031 - Developmental Math
MAT 150 - Fundamentals of Math
PSY 201 - General Psychology
CPT 114 - Computers and Programming
CPT 115 - COBOL Programming I
CPT 168 - Programming Logic
CPT 174 - Microcomputer Spreadsheets
CPT 215 - COBOL Programming II
CPT 255 - Operating System Fundamentals
OST 106 - Keyboarding Lab I
IST 220 - Data Communication

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: 
Sophia
Credits: 34
HLTH 1010 - Introduction to Nutrition
CS 1001 - Introduction to Information Technology
BUSI 1013 - Principles of Management 
ENVS 1001 - Environmental Science 
CONRES 1000 - The Essentials of Managing Conflict
BUS 1001 - Introduction to Business
PM 1001 - Project Management
ARTHIST 1001 - Art History I
HUMBIO 1001 - Human Biology
BUS 1010 - Financial Accounting
ECON 1001 - Macroeconomics
BUSLAW 1001 - Business Law

[bjcheung77]

Basically, if I was in your shoes, I would do the WGU Accelerated BSIT/Masters combo instead... You'll be well versed in both IT/Business and have a Masters in the end.

[allvia]

The Google IT Professional certificate would be a good refresher, but more you seem like an ideal candidate for the Pierpont BOG AAS 'Information Systems' AOS (and it seems to me that you already have the 15 credits for the AOS before the Google IT certificate). The rest of the AAS degree with Sophia and then you can block transfer into WGU (for your degree of choice), leaving you with only career focused courses to complete. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Pierpont_C%26TC

[bjcheung77]

I would put focus on your Bachelors degree first and plan everything out, use a spreadsheet to keep record and track your progress... You may want to review your previous posts or threads if you're looking at the Pierpont BOG AAS, such as this one here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid404607

[Brandon.Thomas.Downer]

The Google IT Professional certificate would be a good refresher, but more you seem like an ideal candidate for the Pierpont BOG AAS 'Information Systems' AOS (and it seems to me that you already have the 15 credits for the AOS before the Google IT certificate). The rest of the AAS degree with Sophia and then you can block transfer into WGU (for your degree of choice), leaving you with only career focused courses to complete. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Pierpont_C%26TC

Allvia, Thanks. I forgot to update my progress/ mention this in my post. I completed my Pierpont BOG AAS degree last month. The AOE is Information Systems. I still feel like I need something additional before changing into IT. Most of my courses from NETC were from 20 years ago.

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Basically, if I was in your shoes, I would do the WGU Accelerated BSIT/Masters combo instead... You'll be well versed in both IT/Business and have a Masters in the end.

bjcheung77, I haven't looked at that program yet. I will have to check it out