Assistance with Credit Transfer & Fast, Affordable & Efficient Degree Completion Plan

[PositiveSoul]

Hi there,

I hope you are doing well.

I have been following this board for a long time, and today I am reaching out to inquire about the credit transfer process and to seek assistance in maximizing my previously earned credits toward the completion of my Bachelor's Degree. I have found your postings very insightful.

Introduction and Historical Academic Efforts:

At 53 years old, my academic journey to complete a Bachelor's Degree has been ongoing since 1990. I hold an MBA from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, and a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) from California Southern University. Despite having advanced degrees, some employers still require a Bachelor's Degree, hence I have embarked on this journey. My undergraduate coursework completed abroad has been rigorously evaluated by the Center for Applied Research, Evaluations, & Education, Inc., a respected member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) since 1987.

Evaluation Report Courses and Credits:

• Accounting - 5 semester hours
  
• Business Communication & Report Writing - 5 semester hours
  
• Business Mathematics & Statistics - 5 semester hours
  
• Economics - 5 semester hours
  
• Introduction to Business - 5 semester hours
  
• Religious Studies - 5 semester hours
  
• Travel & Tourism Environment & Framework - 4 semester hours
  
• Travel Geography - 4 semester hours
  
• Passenger Transport Management - 4 semester hours
  
• Retail Travel Operations - 4 semester hours
  
• Management Operations - 4 semester hours
  
• People, Communications & Technology - 4 semester hours
  
• German - 4 semester hours
  

Previous Evaluations and Credit Transfer Offers:

Based on the comprehensive evaluation by the Center for Applied Research:

• Capella University: Recognized and awarded me 79.5 quarter credits, with specific achievements noted in Humanities (6 credits) and Social Science (6 credits) among other areas.
  
• Pepperdine University: Credited me with 59 units across various disciplines including Business, Economics, and Humanities.
  
• Azusa Pacific University: Transferred 58 units towards my degree, detailed in General Studies and specific business-related courses.
  

These evaluations and recognitions by other institutions substantiate the level and rigor of my academic pursuits.

Certifications and Professional Qualifications:

My professional development includes certifications such as:

• Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI - Capella offered me more than 40 quarter credits for PMP as it accepts more than 50 various certifications
  
• Certified SAFe 6 Agile Product Manager
  
• Product Manager Certificate, Product School, Silicon Valley
  
• Business Analyst Certificate Program, University of California, Irvine
  
• Human Resources Management Certification, California State University, Long Beach
  
• FEMA - Emergency Management Institute and National Fire Academy (NFA) - Independent Study Courses - U.S. Fire Administration [8 Certificates]
  • IS-00003 Radiological Emergency Management - 1.0 CEU
    
  • IS-00007 A Citizen's Guide to Disaster Assistance - 1.0 CEU
    
  • IS-00100 Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS 100) - 0.3 CEU
    
  • IS-00340 Hazardous Materials Prevention - 1.0 CEU
    
  • IS-00513 The Professional in Emergency Management - 1.0 CEU
    
  • IS-00650 Building Partnerships in Tribal Communities - 1.0 CEU
    
  • IS-00700 National Incident Management System (NIMS) an Introduction - 0.3 CEU
    

My Ultimate Goal:

I am looking into getting Pierpont Community & Technical College's Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) and then transferring it to the University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) for their Bachelor's Degree. I have already emailed Nancy Parks. I am ready to use Sophia and other CBE alternatives to maximize my credits.

Any other suggestions or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

I just would like to get maximum credits for my previous undergraduate coursework, my professional certifications, and FEMA courses towards the completion of a Regionally Accredited Bachelor's degree efficiently, economically, and expeditiously.

Thank you for considering my request. I am looking forward to your guidance on the necessary steps to proceed with my application and any additional requirements.

Best regards,

PositiveSoul

[bjcheung77]

Hey PositiveSoul, got your PM. It seems you created a copy/paste thread of the PM you sent me earlier, I've responded to a couple of your posts over the years... Here's a snippet from roughly 3.5 years ago: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid299342

Late to post a reply, but I actually think a second Bachelors would not be a bad idea depending on What the Bachelors is in... or in your case, a first bachelors. For example, a few members on this board and the sister board have multiple Bachelors degrees. Basically, it boils down to what you want to do with your education and how you want to roll with it, someone on this board or the sister board doesn't make that decision for you, they can give you the pros and cons, but ultimately - go with the gut. You may need that Bachelors to get into a different Masters program as there may be prerequisites for that Masters.

My recommendation pretty much remains the same, basically, go with your gut feelings on what you want to accomplish. In this case, transfer all you have to Pierpont BOG AAS with an emphasis of your choice, if you want to change the emphasis to something like IT, get some Technical credits using Coursera, TEEX in addition to Sophia.org then you can ladder up to the UMPI Bachelors of choice.

If you want a BAS, you need the technical credits you're currently missing... You can then take remaining transfer credits using Study.com (if any are missing for the BAS, BLS, or BA/BABA), you need 30 residency credits at UMPI, you can take the 3-4 classes that can transfer into the MAOL if you wanted to, just in case you want to get the MAOL later on. Study.com 68% discount offer is in my signature...

[ss20ts]

I'd forget the associate degree as it won't do anything for you career wise and doesn't really help with a bachelor's degree. You already have a master's and a doctorate so an associate degree is meaningless. Focus on the bachelor's degree. Apply to UMPI and see what they give you credit for then defer you're enrollment to complete the courses you need from Sophia. It's easier if you finish the Sophia courses before beginning your UMPI courses. Yes, there are people who work on both, but we see many of them struggle and burnout.

[PositiveSoul]

I have received the following response from Nancy Parks:

Because you already have degrees/credentials higher than the Associate degree level, you are ineligible for the BOG degree program.

You may wish to check out a Regents, Bachelor of Arts, program from any four-year college or university in WV; however, that degree exists only for students who don't otherwise have a bachelor's degree or higher, and it appears that you do.

Nancy W. Parks (she/her/hers)

Associate Provost, Student Services
Director, Advising & Assessment
Coordinator, Board of Governors AAS degree

Pierpont Community & Technical College

Caperton Center
501 West Main Street
Clarksburg, WV 26301

Given Pierpont Community & Technical College's Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) is no longer available to me, I would be grateful for any further advice or suggestions on how to go about completing a Bachelor's Degree Bachelor's degree efficiently, economically, and expeditiously.

Thank you.

[bjcheung77]

UMPI BLS, take whatever minor you want to take...

[Jonathan Whatley]

Would California Southern University apply some or all of the credit you completed with them at the doctoral level towards a bachelor's degree from them? Doctorate holder with no bachelor's seeking to complete a bachelor's is a special case; you might make an inquiry higher up.

[allvia]

I'd forget the associate degree as it won't do anything for you career wise and doesn't really help with a bachelor's degree. You already have a master's and a doctorate so an associate degree is meaningless. Focus on the bachelor's degree. Apply to UMPI and see what they give you credit for then defer you're enrollment to complete the courses you need from Sophia. It's easier if you finish the Sophia courses before beginning your UMPI courses. Yes, there are people who work on both, but we see many of them struggle and burnout.

@PositiveSoul - What ss20ts said.  If for some reason you'd prefer a BA over a BLS, I'd suggest you to go for the UMPI BA-Psychology. Considering you already hold a Doctor of Psychology, these undergrad subjects should be very simple for you to complete. I'd suggest you apply ASAP to see what you already have may fill which requirements, but here is the wiki for the BA should you need it - https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan

[PositiveSoul]

I have applied for UMPI BLS in Project Management as I already have PMP. Let's see how it goes. Thank you.

---

Would California Southern University apply some or all of the credit you completed with them at the doctoral level towards a bachelor's degree from them? Doctorate holder with no bachelor's seeking to complete a bachelor's is a special case; you might make an inquiry higher up.

My goal is to complete a Bachelor's Degree efficiently, economically, and expeditiously and California Southern University doesn't fit in that criteria.

[Jonathan Whatley]

Would California Southern University apply some or all of the credit you completed with them at the doctoral level towards a bachelor's degree from them? Doctorate holder with no bachelor's seeking to complete a bachelor's is a special case; you might make an inquiry higher up.

My goal is to complete a Bachelor's Degree efficiently, economically, and expeditiously and California Southern University doesn't fit in that criteria.

Often a school will accept graduate credit in transfer towards a bachelor's. I have graduate credit in my bachelor's, completed at a graduate school during a separate enrolment and not part of any bachelor's-to-master's program.

If a school would accept some or all of your graduate credit towards a bachelors and have few further requirements, that could be your fastest route to a bachelor's.

One of the further requirements would be credit from the school awarding the bachelor's degree, often called "residency" credit. There's a chance, albeit maybe a small chance, California Southern would deem your bachelor's residency requirement as fulfilled by your graduate credit there.

[PositiveSoul]

Would California Southern University apply some or all of the credit you completed with them at the doctoral level towards a bachelor's degree from them? Doctorate holder with no bachelor's seeking to complete a bachelor's is a special case; you might make an inquiry higher up.

My goal is to complete a Bachelor's Degree efficiently, economically, and expeditiously and California Southern University doesn't fit in that criteria.

Often a school will accept graduate credit in transfer towards a bachelor's. I have graduate credit in my bachelor's, completed at a graduate school during a separate enrolment and not part of any bachelor's-to-master's program.

If a school would accept some or all of your graduate credit towards a bachelors and have few further requirements, that could be your fastest route to a bachelor's.

One of the further requirements would be credit from the school awarding the bachelor's degree, often called "residency" credit. There's a chance, albeit maybe a small chance, California Southern would deem your bachelor's residency requirement as fulfilled by your graduate credit there.

I have already contacted California Southern University. Even if they grant me the maximum of 90 transferable credits, I will still need to pay $12,750 ($425 x 30) because the university charges $425 per credit for the remaining 30 credits, which amounts to a significant sum. Thank you.