Decision time: BABA/Leadership vs BLS/Management

[Kjnova]

I signed up for Sophia.org this afternoon. In ten hours, I have completed Business Communications (well - except that the touchpoints aren't graded yet, but they are submitted and I have little doubt they will be acceptable), and Introduction to Ethics. I am currently halfway through American History 1.

These are classes that I could have taken via UMPI, and by taking them via Sophia, I am not reducing my BLS residency requirement. I will just need to take different electives to replace them. So why am I doing it?

One reason is to get my feet wet with online for-credit learning before the UMPI term begins.

But the larger reasons are to reduce risks with the BLS by knocking out some classes that reviews indicate may take more time; and, to use the extra UMPI elective courses to knock out more of the MAOL/BABA requirements. I plan to take the three that translate to MAOL plus one more that translates to BABA.

How does the speed and difficulty of UMPI courses generally compare with Sophia courses? Thanks!

[allvia]

I signed up for Sophia.org this afternoon. In ten hours, I have completed Business Communications (well - except that the touchpoints aren't graded yet, but they are submitted and I have little doubt they will be acceptable), and Introduction to Ethics. I am currently halfway through American History 1.

These are classes that I could have taken via UMPI, and by taking them via Sophia, I am not reducing my BLS residency requirement. I will just need to take different electives to replace them. So why am I doing it?

One reason is to get my feet wet with online for-credit learning before the UMPI term begins.

But the larger reasons are to reduce risks with the BLS by knocking out some classes that reviews indicate may take more time; and, to use the extra UMPI elective courses to knock out more of the MAOL/BABA requirements. I plan to take the three that translate to MAOL plus one more that translates to BABA.

How does the speed and difficulty of UMPI courses generally compare with Sophia courses? Thanks!

I would recommend that you take as many at Sophia as possible, it will make your preferred goal of the BABA (vs the BLS) much quicker and cheaper - meaning more achievable as the 'one' bachelor you earn. If you focus and max out those Sophia transfers credits, I'd even switch my 'vote' to the BABA.

[Kjnova]

Thanks - in that scenario, if I were to complete all six UMPI BABA classes via Sophia, this is what my decision would look like.

BLS/Management: I would need 1 GEP (ENG 211 Creative Writing), 4 minor classes (BUS 141, BUS 260, BUS 321, BUS 415), 5 electives of any kind for residency (would do the 3 MAOL (BUS 440, BUS 469, BUS 353) and whatever 2 seem fastest).

The only class in the Sophia 6 for BABA that overlaps with BLS is BUS 350, so the only difference for BLS/Management if I take those six classes is that I'd have one fewer BUS class and one additional free elective. But, I would also bank credits for a possible future BABA, and I've already paid for a month of Sophia, so there isn't a drawback other than taking more hours of my days in the next week plus.

BABA/Leadership: I would need the 1 GEP (ENG 211 Creative Writing) and the other 14 BABA major/Leadership concentration classes (BUS 200, BUS 220, BUS 244, BUS 325, BUS 440*, BUS 460, BUS 469*, MAT 140, BUS 260, BUS 321, BUS 330, BUS 335, BUS 415, BUS 489). 

* MAOL classes

It's a difference of five classes, and beyond that, I don't know if the business classes might be a little more difficult on average, since I mostly have to take specific classes, vs being able to pick to a larger extent. Note that I would ironically be one class closer to the MAOL with the BLS plan, because of the ability to use so many electives; of course, if I choose BABA and I have time to take a 16th class as an additional elective, it could be BUS 353.

I have no experience with UMPI classes. I can say that Sophia classes seem very easy for me. But I suspect Sophia classes are easier/faster than UMPI classes, so it's hard for me to guess how this translates to the choice between BABA and BLS, in my case.

Thanks!

[allvia]

Here is the link for the course review thread starting around Fall 1 2023 when thing moved over to Brightspace at UMPI YourPace - https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...ead?page=8  Note: you want to look at reviews for courses taken after Aug 28 2023 - as these were completed on the platform you'll be taking courses on.

You'll do great, you have to understand that these are college level courses that are aimed at traditional age student (<25), it is now that your age and work experience becomes your greatest asset - because odds are favorable that you're already quite familiar with many of the topics. And once you get to writing papers you realize because of those years of wisdom you've gained - you won't be lacking for things to say

[Kjnova]

I think if I were to commit to the BABA plan, I would hope to complete it in one term, and I might create a timeline for myself, subject to change if it does not seem realistic. Something like: complete 5 classes every 2 weeks, with at least 3 As and nothing below B.

15 classes done this way would take 6 weeks, which would get me complete in a term with some fudge factor.

But I won't know if I can really do it until I try.

Also, I finished the third Sophia class I was originally doing for BLS prep. To be precise, I have actually finished one Sophia class (Intro to Ethics), and I have filed all touchpoint material and completed all tests for the other two and am awaiting touchpoint grading/acknowledgement (Business Communications, and U.S. History 1). It took me not quite 23 hours of actual time, not time spent working on it but I started at 2pm yesterday and finished before 1pm today. But, this could be deceptive if UMPI classes are structured much differently. Also since these are pass/fail, I am not concerned about getting As as I would be with UMPI classes, so that alone will add some time. My Sophia grades are high 80s to mid 90s so far.

[Kjnova]

I just realized that I can only have two active courses in Sophia at a time, and since I have two that are awaiting touchstone grading, right now I can't add another one :/

I have to wait "2-4 days".

I might still have time for the BUS classes. I looked at them on Sophia, and only two have touchstones. So, I can do those two last, and even though they won't be marked as done, I won't need to spend more time on them before starting UMPI classes on July 1. Just depends when Sophia marks the two I have already done as complete so I can add others.

The applicable Sophia business classes and their UMPI equivalents are:

UMPI BUS 101 - Sophia Introduction to Business
UMPI BUS 150 - Sophia Financial Accounting
UMPI BUS 353 - Sophia Business Ethics *SOPHIA HAS TOUCHSTONE*
UMPI ECO 207 - Sophia both Macro and Micro Economics - two Sophia classes = UMPI ECO 207 and an elective
UMPI COM 210 - Sophia Workplace Communication or Conflict Resolution
UMPI BUS elective 300+ - Sophia Business Law I (UMPI BUS 350 *SOPHIA HAS TOUCHSTONE*)

[jg_nuy]

If you are waiting for grading on Sophia, contact the learning coach via chat or email to add a new class. They did it in less than two minutes for my son when he accidentally did that.

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Macro and Micro gives you ECON 207 for 3 credits and 3 elective credits.

[Kjnova]

Good to know about Macro and Micro, although, I don't need elective credits so no real difference for me. It might matter for somebody else, though.

[allvia]

Good to know about Macro and Micro, although, I don't need elective credits so no real difference for me. It might matter for somebody else, though.

I believe the BABA requires Economics, so it wouldn't be an elective. Did you already have that covered by course you transferred in? See bottom of page for course requirements (the top link for them isn't working) - https://www.umpi.edu/yourpace/academic_p...eadership/

[Kjnova]

I am taking it to satisfy the Economics requirement, but what jg_nuy said is that since UMPI's course is both macro and micro economics, and the Sophia courses are separated into two 3-credit courses, one for macro and one for micro, it transfers in as both Economics and an elective.

I do need Economics for BABA, but I don't need any additional electives transferred in, with the possible exception of the "BUS 300+" elective major requirement.

I used jg's tip for getting added to more courses while awaiting touchstone grading, as well, and it worked. I was added to macro and micro at 5pm eastern, and just finished macro a few minutes ago. I'm hoping to knock out micro tonight, but we'll see how that goes. Thanks, jg!