Which degree route would be best?

[katelynn]

I've finally kicked my speed up a notch and once this round of classes is over, I'll be done with my Gen Eds soon. I've been getting depressed again and almost went back on my meds, and then I realized the root of the issue. I'm getting close to having to decide on a major. The idea of going through with the TESU BSBA is eating away at me because it's not what I want. I really want a psychology degree but I just thought that the BSBA would give me a better chance at finding my first stable job. I've read threads on here of people complaining about their psych degree because of all of the job options it rules out. I don't quite know what I'll do with it yet, but I know that I want it. Would it be a foolish decision? I don't want to feel stuck, but I think I'd feel that way about a business degree too. I'm really not feeling great about any of it.

[Merlin]

I've finally kicked my speed up a notch and once this round of classes is over, I'll be done with my Gen Eds soon. I've been getting depressed again and almost went back on my meds, and then I realized the root of the issue. I'm getting close to having to decide on a major. The idea of going through with the TESU BSBA is eating away at me because it's not what I want. I really want a psychology degree but I just thought that the BSBA would give me a better chance at finding my first stable job. I've read threads on here of people complaining about their psych degree because of all of the job options it rules out. I don't quite know what I'll do with it yet, but I know that I want it. Would it be a foolish decision? I don't want to feel stuck, but I think I'd feel that way about a business degree too. I'm really not feeling great about any of it.

Passion is critical, both in education and business. You'll find it a lot easier to finish your degree if it is in a field that you're actually interested in. Not to mention a business degree won't really open more doors than a psychology degree unless you're trying to get a job in a place that requires a business degree (though in that case, they may want a specific one, like in marketing or accounting, etc.). Most of the time, hiring managers are just looking for candidates to have a bachelors degree of some kind, and it doesn't even matter what the degree is in.

If I were you I'd look into careers that interest you and figure out what degree makes the most sense for that. Interestingly enough, a psychology degree actually works out pretty well in a lot of non-psych fields, but if you really like psychology you might want to look into higher education and maybe get into counseling or something.

In any case, I don't recommend getting a business-specific degree unless you really want to do that as your career. Do what you're passionate about and you'll not only be happy, you're more likely to get hired since passion is very attractive in a candidate.

That's just my $0.02, but based on my 20+ year career as a business owner and hiring manager in the games and technology spaces.

[allvia]

I've finally kicked my speed up a notch and once this round of classes is over, I'll be done with my Gen Eds soon. I've been getting depressed again and almost went back on my meds, and then I realized the root of the issue. I'm getting close to having to decide on a major. The idea of going through with the TESU BSBA is eating away at me because it's not what I want. I really want a psychology degree but I just thought that the BSBA would give me a better chance at finding my first stable job. I've read threads on here of people complaining about their psych degree because of all of the job options it rules out. I don't quite know what I'll do with it yet, but I know that I want it. Would it be a foolish decision? I don't want to feel stuck, but I think I'd feel that way about a business degree too. I'm really not feeling great about any of it.

Study what you enjoy and what interests you - that time is never wasted, and in the end you will have a bachelor degree; that alone opens many doors (for all ages) that would not be opened to you otherwise.  The only thing about a psychology degree is that better paying jobs in the field will require that you continue on to a Master/PHd level, but the same could be said about most degrees.   As is often said here "the best degree is the one you complete".   Plus I think it was just posted recently that the BA in Psychology at TESU can now be completed through alternative methods (there had been a course or two that would have been traditional college course), this makes it as affordable as the BSBA (which is often why so many here choose that route).

Also, if you're really concerned about being able to 'prove' out some business skills/knowledge then you can always through on a ASBA in addition to your BA in Psychology - there are plenty of 'free' electives in the BA program as to not add more courses/classes; so no extra cost and it would only result in a more well rounded education for your resume.

[bjcheung77]

Why not take both degrees for a bit more money and time? You can use the BSBA as your "fall back" plan and use your BA Psychology as the degree of choice. You can have both in the resume when you graduate at the same time for one graduation/residency waiver/cornerstone fee...the only catch is to graduate/finish requirements at the same time.

If you just want one of the degrees, guess what, you can get exactly 90 credits from the BSBA transferred into your BA Psych, or vice versa, the other way around, haha... it just depends what courses you take. You can prolong your decision by taking the exact courses required. But my suggestion is, do both as the BSBA is the cheapest/easiest/fastest ACBSP accredited degree!

If I was younger like my cousin, I would have gone with two degrees at the same time, especially when it would cost $1098 for the capstone, $200/2 Study.com courses, $70/extra Study.com exam. 5 Study.com courses would equate to $410 and in total, that second degree would be roughly $1500 (that is if the requirements can all be matched with Study.com, I haven't fully looked into it yet)!

[dfrecore]

You can always do the Psych degree and get a business certificate added to it, or do a BSBA and get a Psych degree added.

[katelynn]

Thanks so much guys, I feel a lot better today. For some reason I hadn't considered the possibility of pursuing both, one as a bachelors and one as an associates. I don't really know if I'll be able to figure out how to gear my courses towards that without an advisor, but I'll try to figure it out haha.

[dfrecore]

Here's what I might consider:
1) Get all the requirements met for the ASBA
2) Continue on with the BA in Psych
3) Get a certificate in General Management, HRM and/or Organizational Leadership

Boom!  You have just given yourself quite a bit of backup in terms of having a more "useful" degree in business areas, and still have your Psych degree.

I haven't updated these degree plans in a while, so make sure they're current by comparing to TESU's website before using.

Also, I didn't add the certificates, but they're simple enough to add to using the website. The required courses can be used in the Free Electives, along with any of the ASBA core courses that won't work in the upper section of the Psych degree. You'll probably end up with more courses than 120cr.

[jsd]

Organizational Leadership (and to a lesser extent, HRM) ties in nicely to Psych, so dfrecore's suggestion is pretty solid.

[Supermind]

Why not take both degrees for a bit more money and time?  You can use the BSBA as your "fall back" plan and use your BA Psychology as the degree of choice.  You can have both in the resume when you graduate at the same time for one graduation/residency waiver/cornerstone fee...the only catch is to graduate/finish requirements at the same time.

If you just want one of the degrees, guess what, you can get exactly 90 credits from the BSBA transferred into your BA Psych, or vice versa, the other way around, haha... it just depends what courses you take.  You can prolong your decision by taking the exact courses required.  But my suggestion is, do both as the BSBA is the cheapest/easiest/fastest ACBSP accredited degree!

If I was younger like my cousin, I would have gone with two degrees at the same time, especially when it would cost $1098 for the capstone, $200/2 Study.com courses, $70/extra Study.com exam.   5 Study.com courses would equate to $410 and in total, that second degree would be roughly $1500 (that is if the requirements can all be matched with Study.com, I haven't fully looked into it yet)!

Could you please elaborate a little more on how this double degree process works? Can the same credits be used to fulfill the requirements for two degrees? Are there common subjects for BSBA & BA-Psych.? And do we work on two different capstone projects? How much in excess would I be paying if I opted for the BSBA degree as well?

[Johmford]

Why not take both degrees for a bit more money and time?  You can use the BSBA as your "fall back" plan and use your BA Psychology as the degree of choice.  You can have both in the resume when you graduate at the same time for one graduation/residency waiver/cornerstone fee...the only catch is to graduate/finish requirements at the same time.

If you just want one of the degrees, guess what, you can get exactly 90 credits from the BSBA transferred into your BA Psych, or vice versa, the other way around, haha... it just depends what courses you take.  You can prolong your decision by taking the exact courses required.  But my suggestion is, do both as the BSBA is the cheapest/easiest/fastest ACBSP accredited degree!

If I was younger like my cousin, I would have gone with two degrees at the same time, especially when it would cost $1098 for the capstone, $200/2 Study.com courses, $70/extra Study.com exam.   5 Study.com courses would equate to $410 and in total, that second degree would be roughly $1500 (that is if the requirements can all be matched with Study.com, I haven't fully looked into it yet)!

Could you please elaborate a little more on how this double degree process works? Can the same credits be used to fulfill the requirements for two degrees? Are there common subjects for BSBA & BA-Psych.? And do we work on two different capstone projects? How much in excess would I be paying if I opted for the BSBA degree as well?

For a second bachelors you need 24 additional credits. 
For capstones it would likely be 1 business capstone and 1 liberal arts capstone.