Which College/Degree? A lot of credits.

[bjcheung77]

And that's my point, OP's still stuck at deciding on the degree. Wait for the evaluation, if the BSBA is your ultimate goal, or the BALS, complete it. As many have mentioned, go for the degree you're interested in most and closest to finishing. A degree in the hand is better than waiting to complete half the degree, you're still stuck at deciding to start. Start when the evaluations come through... that's the hardest step, if you haven't decided, take courses that will work towards both degree options.

[dillpickles]

Alright, I'm back!  Have the degree eval. Here's what I have for credits for the following degree programs, BA because BS eval is much lower. I've only added the options that have me at 85cr or higher.  Thoughts on the best path to take here?  I think enviro is out. Not sure the real-world difference between BA comp sci and LA/comp sci, but at this point it seems to make sense to go both LS: Nat Sci & Math and LS: Comp sci at the same time?  However, since I'd like to go MBA or MS in a business field, does a different path make more sense?

Enviro Studies:  85.67

Comp Sci, BA: 89.68
Liberal Studies: 108.35
LS/Comm: 92.34
LS/Comp Sci: 101.68
LS/Management or labor studies: 92.34
LS/Nat Sci&Math: 107.02
LA/Psych: 93.67


For lib studies I need: 
Oral communication
sos-110 
soc - in prog with sophia
ethical leadership - in prog with sophia
civic engagement and awareness
LA capstone


What should my immediate next steps be? 

Thanks so much!

[rachel83az]

Can you please post the actual degree evaluations, minus your personal information? I recommend using Fireshot to take screenshots.

[dillpickles]

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Eval of BALS Nat Sci & Math attached

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Eval for BALS Comp Sci attached

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BA Comp Sci attached

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BALS Management attached

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Also, BSBA CIS isn't offered in the degree program choices.

[dillpickles]

BALS attached

[bjcheung77]

@OP, Question, have you applied anywhere else or have evaluations at other institutions?  Nice, that's a few evaluations!  In regards to the BSBA CIS, it's just CIS, BS now in the evaluation tool...  They've recently made a change/update to their "What if I change my program" option.  You may want to fill in the addendum as I mentioned here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid375982

[dillpickles]

@OP, Question, have you applied anywhere else or have evaluations at other institutions?  Nice, that's a few evaluations!  In regards to the BSBA CIS, it's just CIS, BS now in the evaluation tool...  They've recently made a change/update to their "What if I change my program" option.  You may want to fill in the addendum as I mentioned here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid375982

I haven't applied anywhere else or done evals anywhere else. Any recommendations for options that might be a better route than TESU?  Will colleges do unofficial evals with unofficial transcripts, or do I need to go through the whole application process, etc?

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Here is the addendum:

Budget: Does not matter. Ease of completion matters more.
Commitments: I work full time and my kids are mostly older, so I don't have any major commitments.
Dedicated time to study: I can do at least 10 hours a week.
Timeline: Finishing the courses required for the degree as fast as possible would be ideal. I would like to move over to an MBA or an MS
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: No TA

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I definitely don't agree. Not when it's almost as easy to get a subject degree, and one that is actually relevant. Lots of people come here, defeated, and ask for help getting "any" degree, come to find out that they would be better served getting a degree that they didn't know was possible before visiting the forum.

Honestly, this often depends on what side of 40 you are on (maybe even 35) - or if you're trying to get into a completely new field of work. If you're 40+ it is often more about checking a box - it is your resume/work experience that matters.  I have a friend/former co-worker who now quite north of 40 and they have a CS bachelors from the late 80s. They never went on to work in CS after graduating college, to them that degree is as useful as any Liberal Arts degree (it checks a box). I don't understand why the TESU BACS is so often recommended here (for people who really have no intention of working in an IT role, never mind CS) just because they can (thanks to the SDC courses currently being accepted), and often I see it being recommended to people who are math avoidant! A CS degree is not a magic wand to success; and talk about feeling defeated if you're trying to learn something you really have no interest and are weak in math because it is the current 'hot thing'. The most successful CS person I know has a bachelor's degree in economics. When you're north of 40, it is often more about just getting it done (and maybe onto the next thing, such as a MBA or other master's).  I work in IT Management - I ended up choosing a BSBA because no one questions my professional tech skills (both CS & IT), but I go so tired of hearing things in high level meetings like "if you only knew something about accounting" (or finance, or business, etc). I had no intention of going for a MBA (or any other master's at the time), but in this case the OP specifically said that is their goal.

Yes, there is where I'm at. There are a ton of jobs (and I have a great one) that don't require a degree. But there were a lot that had a check box that I didn't meet. 

But in trying to decide, I'm looking at effort required --> degree that feels more "legitimate" on an app (does BALS vs BALS CIS make a difference for some applications? Maybe.)

Regarding a masters, there are quite a few jobs that require that, and a handful that require MBA specifically. I haven't gone very far down the "which grad degree should I go far" bath because I haven't yet researched the differences in time/effort for MS vs MBA. My goal is a MS, but if an MBA isn't that much further of a shot to take I'll go that direction. I'm 44 with a lot of solid work experience, and that alone has gotten me to where I am ... so far

[bjcheung77]

The answer to MS vs MBA really depends on what "specialty" you're interested in or looking to have.  Another thing you want to do is ask yourself again, BALS vs BSBA, it really doesn't matter if you're going for a non-competitive Masters.  Having said that, you should look at some MBA/MS programs and see the requirements for each, take those courses on route to your Bachelors.  

Right now you have only a few courses left to finish the degree, main thing to look at is finishing... Since you don't have the energy, time, you'll just continue on with TESU and finish fastest, it'll cost a bit more than COSC, Excelsior, UMPI, but you get the degree in 1 semester by completing the requirements first, then cornerstone and capstone together.

Remaining for all degrees at TESU:  Work on the Non TESU courses first and decide later if needed!
Cornerstone and Capstone to be done at TESU
Oral Communications - Study.com Presentation Skills
Diversity - Sophia.org Sociology
Ethics - Sophia.org Ethics
Civic - Study.com Comparative Politics

[dillpickles]

The answer to MS vs MBA really depends on what "specialty" you're interested in or looking to have.  Another thing you want to do is ask yourself again, BALS vs BSBA, it really doesn't matter if you're going for a non-competitive Masters.  Having said that, you should look at some MBA/MS programs and see the requirements for each, take those courses on route to your Bachelors.  

Right now you have only a few courses left to finish the degree, main thing to look at is finishing... Since you don't have the energy, time, you'll just continue on with TESU and finish fastest, it'll cost a bit more than COSC, Excelsior, UMPI, but you get the degree in 1 semester by completing the requirements first, then cornerstone and capstone together.

Remaining for all degrees at TESU:  Work on the Non TESU courses first and decide later if needed!
Cornerstone and Capstone to be done at TESU
Oral Communications - Study.com Presentation Skills
Diversity - Sophia.org Sociology
Ethics - Sophia.org Ethics
Civic - Study.com Comparative Politics

Thanks so much for this guidance! I don't expect to go for a competitive masters - I'm not sure if would be worth the extra work (since I'm not 30). 

Where can I find that study.com presentation skills will meet the TESU requirement? I was having a hard time finding anything on that one besides the TECEP.

[carrythenothing]

Where can I find that study.com presentation skills will meet the TESU requirement? I was having a hard time finding anything on that one besides the TECEP.

https://study.com/academy/course/present...place.html