Stressing about school choices and could use some advice.

[yb1]

Last night when I posted this I had just finished taking 4 straighterline exams. But still is it kinda stressful to put all this work and then still have doubts. But I think Hodges might be the right move. I do want to go brick and mortar for my masters though.

Let me give you some of the research that I have accumulated. Yes I would be interested in the upower program.

Originally I wanted to go cybersecurity route UPOWER - Cybersecurity and Forensics - Bachelor's Degree

but now maybe I am thinking that computer information technology might be the wiser choice. UPOWER - Computer Information Technology - Bachelor's Degree

I am thinking long term. I feel like a cyber security bachelors might raise red flags but honestly that is just pure speculation based on opinions I hear off of the internet. but I don't know. I have talked to some people in the field and they said learn programming. if anyone has an opinion on this I would like to hear it.

So it is 2500 for 6 months. It is competency based and you can test out of your classes whenever you feel ready. The exams are non proctored which I assume also means open book. They have rolling admission and you can apply every month. I am planning on a February start.

They do accept Aleks but I have been having issues with showing them an actual grade. I will be sending my transcripts from ACE to them. but he did tell me they would accept them. Now I am just working on the intro to stats alek course. I finished college algebra and college math,

Out of 40+ community college credits it looks like they will only be accepting less then half. but they seem to be willing to accept all of the ones that will match the curriculum.

They do accept straighterline so now I am doing intro to business and may do intro to statistics.

They do not accept saylor courses. But maybe if they went through ACE they would accept it because they do accept ACE credits.

My ethic course from the institute is pending review.


So to summarize my findings

Regionally accredited
Competency based
Accepts Aleks and other types of ACE credits
2500 flat rate which the pel grant will cover.
Friendly staff and very informative for the most part.


@Rebel I have been trying to search information about LSU on the forum and I am having trouble. Do you know anything about them?

[videogamesrock]

If they only accept half of your cc credits then one of the big 3 to graduate would be better. However you could still use Hodges to rack up lots of credits.

[dfrecore]

The UPower competency-based program is not for all degrees there. You can see which ones have it (business does not): Upower | Self Paced Learning | Hodges University

[yb1]

Business Upower program might not be up and running now but I did speak to an advisor and he said that they are in the works of implementing the business program soon and it could happen at any point. This was a few months ago but I would imagine it would be no later than fall 2016.

Also videogames rock that might be the smart thing but even so. I can still just test out of most classes. I mean I will know more once I enroll and I will def report back to you guys but that is my understanding of the program. Go straight to the final and you must get over 80% to pass.

[sanantone]

Got a link to Hodges?

I've never heard of them, not a bad thing, just don't recall them coming up here. What degree are you seeking? What credits do you have so far?

I learned about Hodges from this forum. I also created a thread for them in the graduate sub-forum. A couple of our members have contacted them.

[mednat]

WGU also has BS IT Security option. Online IT Security Degree | Information Security Degree | WGU College of Information Technology

In the IT field I don't believe a degree in security will be valued more or less highly than a regular IT degree, but it does market you as less flexible (or as a specialist). Initially I'd say this is a negative in your career, because it limits the entry level jobs you may be considered for.

The primary thing I like about the wgu program is that it includes certifications (which are valued in the IT World). I don't put much weight on the CompTia certs, but the CCNA and CCNA security could provide you more benefit than the actual bachelors in finding a job within the field. I would recommend these certifications regardless of where you get your degree. In the IT field we tend to show our specializations with certifications and job experience rather than degrees. I couldn't even tell you what my colleagues in the security field majored in because it never mattered, but I can tell you they all have atleast a CCNA and a CISSP. You likely won't have the experience to sit for the CISSP yet, but other strong networking/technical certifications will help you get in the door.

[dfrecore]

WGU also has BS IT Security option. Online IT Security Degree | Information Security Degree | WGU College of Information Technology

In the IT field I don't believe a degree in security will be valued more or less highly than a regular IT degree, but it does market you as less flexible (or as a specialist). Initially I'd say this is a negative in your career, because it limits the entry level jobs you may be considered for.

The primary thing I like about the wgu program is that it includes certifications (which are valued in the IT World). I don't put much weight on the CompTia certs, but the CCNA and CCNA security could provide you more benefit than the actual bachelors in finding a job within the field. I would recommend these certifications regardless of where you get your degree. In the IT field we tend to show our specializations with certifications and job experience rather than degrees. I couldn't even tell you what my colleagues in the security field majored in because it never mattered, but I can tell you they all have atleast a CCNA and a CISSP. You likely won't have the experience to sit for the CISSP yet, but other strong networking/technical certifications will help you get in the door.

I totally agree with this. When my husband was in IT (rather than sales as he is now), he never had a job where a degree of any kind was required (which is good because he doesn't have one), but they were certainly going to require specific certifications for particular jobs. For many years, he was diligent in making sure all of his certs were up-to-date, and continually working on new ones if he found them valuable (including CCNA & CISSP). He is currently a sales engineer (the tech half of a sales team), and none of his old certs are current at this point, because he hasn't needed them. But, when a new division opened up at his work, he went and got another certification - which led to a transfer/promotion at his company. In addition to his experience, the cert was a requirement for the new job - they wouldn't have even looked at him without it, no matter what kind of degree he might have had.

I think this is one field where a degree may or may not be worth much, but certifications are VERY valuable (and a lot less expensive than a degree) - AND many employers are more than willing to pay for their IT people to keep their certs up-to-date or even get new ones. I don't think he has paid for a cert in 10+ years, his employers have always paid for them. Many times, in order for them to be a certified seller of a product, the IT team has to have a certain number of certified people working there (has been the case for him), so not only do the companies pay, they require the IT staff to get and keep those certs.

[KayV]

LSU is Louisiana State University. Here are the independent study classes you see mentioned on the forum.

https://is.lsu.edu/home.asp?level=CO&online=0&nid=101

[Leherself]

Sounds like Hodges is legit, and WGU has a number of IT programs also.

One thing to think of though, is what it is that you want to accomplish with an IT degree. "IT" is a huge field - and honestly, it can pay to specialize. What are the jobs available in your area? What are employers looking for?

In our local area people graduating from the two year Computer Network Technology program at the Community & Technical College are walking into 60k jobs. The guys with four year degrees in Information Technology and Computer Science - 30-40k. The key is that the two year program is an excellent, specified training program that gives people the hands-on skills and certifications that are in very high demand in the local market right now. The four year programs are through the College of Arts and Sciences and just don't go into the same depth (more breadth, but less depth). Every CNT class is a hands-on class - every classroom has a computer and independent network to work with and experiment on. The four year programs are much more theoretical, and the technology component isn't as well integrated. Local employers are aware of this, and it shows in the hiring practices.

I think, more important than the price of a school, is whether or not it's going to teach you the skills that you're going to need to get a job in IT. What certifications does the degree program include, and how do those certifications compare to the requirements listed by the employers you want to work for?

I've watched a coworker go through a career change where he went from not being in the IT field, to being an adjunct instructor at the local college, as well as a "local industry adviser" to the dean of the college, all in less time than it has taken for him to finish his bachelor's degree (in fact, he still doesn't have it). I've also watched friends go off to "get their degree in IT" and end up working for $12 an hour as customer service folks for the local cellphone companies.

There's a lot of opportunity in IT still, but the days of "do anything in IT and you're guaranteed to win" are long over. You've got to be smart about how you approach it - do your research. Choose a degree because it's going to teach you the skills you need and be an asset that helps you find kick-ass employment - don't pick one just because it's cheap and easy.