Degree Planning - Choice Selection Help

[bjcheung77]

Basically, it really depends... An educational journey is different for everyone, there are many pathways you can take, you can look into doing a 'top-up' program to the UK Masters options. Your main goal should be focused on your Bachelors first and then add the Masters afterwards, it's somewhat hard to get done if you're doing things concurrently, unless you're doing alternative credit options... Do your due diligence and research further...

It'll be similar to concurrently doing a Bachelors and you're taking both Sophia.org and Study.com at the same time... I usually recommend getting one done before going to the next provider. You want to use the mix/match approach to getting the credits you need to get into the degree of your choice. You can concurrently complete the studies if the Masters is self paced as well and you're only charged for the classes, not a session or per term...

[allvia]

Based on the years you earned your credits you're at an age where your work experience will speak louder than where you graduated from. You're in the age range where you need to 'check the box' more than anything, but without knowing what credits you already have it is hard to provide you with the most practical solution. I suggest you complete the template - https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid335173

[Kjnova]

Thanks - my credits are a lot of English Literature, a lot of History, and a lot of electives in general, such as Sociology.

I have no Business credits, and I don't think I have any Math credits. (I took a math class but got a D in it.)

Way back when, my SAT verbal was 710, which led to NCSU exempting me from the introductory freshman English class. My SAT math was 600. I got a 5 on the AP US History exam. But, I don't know if any of that is relevant at this point other than how it is calculated at NCSU.

I saw a thread today about the UW-Flex BSBA. It sounds like it a traditional class with a lot of assignments that has simply been ported to a self-paced format, and may not be as quick to get through as UMPI.

While I am all for academic rigor, I am more interested in speed of completion, so based on that, I think I can eliminate UW-Flex BSBA.

Right now I am liking the idea of UMPI BAA. I do see the value in NCSU vs a less known or less selective option, but I also I like the idea of being able to power through self-paced coursework, and I also like the idea of it being in a more meaningful major for my career.

Actually, one concern I have is if I remove my NCSU block in the Education part of my resume (which does not say I got a degree, but does list when I attended) and replace it with a degree from UMPI, if that will actually look less impressive to some people. I wonder if I can still list both UMPI and NCSU while noting the degree is from UMPI. Maybe I am overthinking this part of it.

I have considered just getting a box-check degree in Liberal Studies or something like that. For that, I could probably transfer in nearly every credit I need, and would mostly need to deal with a residency requirement of 30 relatively easy credits. But a BAA would also need 30-36 credits or so, so maybe I should get the more relevant degree even if the coursework is a bit tougher for me.

Some job ads I look at simply ask for a college degree; some ask for a business degree; and some would like a degree in Computer Science or similar. If I thought I could be successful in a CompSci program, I might choose that over Business, but I have no real programming experience (some HTML and a smidgen of JS and CSS) and I don't know if I could make it through a program like that in a timely way.

This is a lot to figure out with few resources to help figure it out, and most of the ones who do know pieces of the puzzle only know or advocate for one option, eg the UMPI guy knows and advocates for UMPI, the NCSU guy knows NCSU's rules. I really appreciate that this board exists for a broader point of view. Thanks to everyone who has responded!

[Vle045]

There’s no need to list NCSU on your resume. Is there any chance you have enough credits already for them to confer an associate degree or certificate? Then you have something completed that you can list on the resume.

[davewill]

Being that close, I'd be tempted to finish at NCSU, even with the inconvenience of dealing with their classes. You can then decide whether to go elsewhere for that business degree. If you're well established, then getting a business degree probably won't make much difference.

If you don't care too much about finishing at NCSU, or the effort doesn't seem worth it, then I'd just go ahead and pivot to a business degree from one of the alt credit friendly schools.

[Kjnova]

Thanks. I will see what UMPI says about transfer credits and remaining requirements, then decide from there. Hopefully, they are timely in their analysis so I can keep options open.

I know I wouldn't need to list NCSU on my resume, but I am wondering if it would be beneficial to do so in a scenario where I did complete 120 hours there without a degree, but received a degree elsewhere. I live and work in NC, and NCSU has a pretty powerful network. Then again, it may not matter at this point in my career, or perhaps it would even be a negative if my degree was from somewhere else and I was highlighting where I did NOT get a degree.

In terms of checking boxes, some job openings I might apply for say "bachelor degree required," some say "bachelor degree in business, computer science or similar required," some will say that but add "or equivalent experience". None seem to mention the university's stature. I have seen that in the past, but it's been years since I saw that on a job posting, and in any case, it's probably more for early-career people.

Since I have already been admitted to NCSU, I will try to register for fall classes soon, and see what is available and what kind of schedules they offer. My biggest concern is that some of these rare and unusual classes might be in person on campus only, and if not that, might be online synchronous only.

Also I'll mention, those classes that were rejected might be misleading. I looked again, and I was wrong about Jazz History counting for interdisciplinary at NCSU. Maybe that is why it was rejected. Maybe it would count for diversity, but my advisor sent it for interdisciplinary.

Someone mentioned watching NCSU basketball with other alumni and that sort of thing. You don't need a degree from NCSU for that (I am already a fan), but it would be a good sense of completion. Actually, I think any bachelor's would be, but NCSU even moreso since that is where I started. But I probably value speed of completion more than that, at this point, as well as whatever will help me the most or hurt me the least in applying for future jobs.

Thanks for all replies!

[evergreen]

If you go to NCSU Transfer Equivalency page (https://webappprd.acs.ncsu.edu/php/transfer/), you can determine all the colleges that have approved transfers for particular courses at NCSU. For example, under NC State courses tab, select Dept. MUS, available courses 260 (history of jazz) and it will show you all approved equivalents. This includes one self-paced course at BYU Indep Study which is about $700. https://is.byu.edu/catalog/MUSIC-204-200.

For the Math, you could do CLEP test, online comm college course or ASU Universal Learner. If you are rusty in math, I can recommend STP226 - Statistics at ASU for $425. It's mostly learning how to use excel for stats.

For the English classes, it looks like Appalachian State has a number of English courses that are matches and have a fair amount of asynchronous online classes (see https://bannerweb.appstate.edu/pls/PROD/..._term_date). If these are not affordable, you can investigate other colleges on the approved list in your area.

[allvia]

If you have a completed degree from one school (any school), I would not recommend you add (and confuse) your resume by adding a school you 'started at, but didn't finish at' just because you want some local name recognition. Again, you're at an age that your work experience is going to matter more than any school/degree major - unless you're truly changing careers, then the major matter may more than the school. If you're that concerned about getting the NCSU on you resume, then you should finish (any) bachelor there or use your existing to get yourself an associates degree you can list the school properly.

[bjcheung77]

Again, You're 16 credits away from graduating NCSU, I would decide on getting that done first and then you can ladder up to a Masters later. You can do the HAU MBA or something similar, such as WGU MSML/MBA, whatever that comes to mind next. If you're deciding to skip NCSU and want to complete the UMPI degree, then you can always take the 3-4 classes that go towards their MAOL, and complete the UMPI MAOL next.

[Kjnova]

OK, so based on some further research, here is where I am with my two major options - though I am adding a third option for now.

NCSU:
As a reminder, I have been readmitted for the third time, in a BA in English Literature program, which is my original program from the early 90s. To complete this, I need one class in British Renaissance literature, one class in World Literature, one class in Rhetoric, one math class, 5 hours (basically two classes) of Interdisciplinary, and one Diversity. Also a 1-credit-hour physical fitness class. NCSU has a Rhetoric class that doubles as Interdisciplinary. So if I can find another Interdisciplinary that doubles as Diversity, I would need five classes (plus the physical fitness class, so that is six, but the physical fitness is just one hour).

The issue I am facing here is that the Brit Ren class, in particular, has very limited options, and I've had difficulty finding anything that would transfer in, available online anywhere. The courses that count for this are very picky and specific. I have found some classes listed elsewhere, for example, UNC-Greensboro has a class that would count, but it's a class that they offer rarely and as far as I can tell, it's in-person only. The World Lit and Rhetoric classes are also hard to find, but not quite as hard. I have not found any of them available as self-paced classes, though perhaps I could find those in an online format somewhere other than NCSU. The good news is that math and interdisciplinary courses are readily available online at NCSU.

For those accustomed to finding classes that will transfer in and fulfill requirements at UMPI, TESU, etc, I think NCSU is a different kettle of fish, especially with upper level English Literature classes.

My NCSU advisor said yesterday that I should "just accept" that I will need to take two or three of the classes on campus at NCSU. But that is easier said than done due to other obligations I have. Also, these are classes that are going to have very limited course availability, so we're probably talking like, an hour and a half in the mornings every Tuesday and Thursday or something like that. I could do it if my life depended on it, but I think about this and I just don't feel iike this is giving myself the best chance to succeed.

It is very frustrating, because I feel so close yet so far. So, that's where I am with NCSU.

UMPI:
I completed my application today.

I have ~120 NCSU credits. Of course, any UMPI degree program would require a 30-credit-hour residency at UMPI, so for practical purposes, I have at most 90 credits. And, the BABA program requires, what, about 60 credit hours or a bit more.

I have no prior business classes at all right now. So at UMPI, I am looking at ~20+ classes I would need to take.

From another thread and a wiki list, it looks like I could complete around half a dozen of my UMPI business requirements via Sophia.org. I also see five Study.com classes that should transfer for concentration requirements. That is theoretically 11 classes, but I am not sure if it's worth doing both Sophia and Study. I am thinking about just doing the Sophia classes and doing the rest at UMPI, based on what I've read about Study.com's format and pricing relative to UMPI's format and pricing; also simplifying my life by dealing with two online class systems instead of three. So, I would bring in not 11, but a maximum of 6, business classes, and would need the remaining ~14+ at UMPI. But I'm open to advice here, if Study.com has practical advantages over UMPI.

Third option (probably the easy route):
I'm also going to look at what I would need to complete a BLS at UMPI, plus a Management minor. The advantage of this is obvious in my situation: I would bring in enough credits that I would only have the residency requirement and the minor requirements to worry about. This will probably be the fastest, easiest path of these three to bachelor's completion in my case. The minor requirement is six classes (18 hours), so I'd probably only need four other classes to get to 30 hours at UMPI, and most of those four should have no requirement at all except residency so I can pick whatever looks easiest for those. This would check the "has bachelor's degree" box and it would put at l least a business minor on my resume.

Of course, I worry whether a BLS would be as beneficial for job applications. I do sometimes see job listings of interest to me that specify that a business degree is required. With my experience plus a minor, I think I could make a case for equivalence, but avoiding weed-outs (especially AI keyword weed-outs before a human even looks at the application) is always a plus. I could add a master's of some sort down the road, though.

I am waiting for the UMPI analysis of my transcript. I will know more details then, and I plan to discuss these options with my UMPI academic advisor at that point.

I am posting this here because, again, I really do not have any disinterested party in my personal life to discuss this with or bounce things off of. My NCSU advisor thinks I should be walking around NCSU with a Jansport on my back. The UMPI guy is helping me complete the UMPI admission process and nothing else.

Thanks. I appreciate this board a lot.