Degree Plan, help? I

[infradata.it@gmail.com]

This is my 2nd major question here, this one for myself.

Any advice would be great

Personal Intro:

I delayed, too long, as I started working when a degree was not “as important” in IT, as ability was (less common then). 

Your Location: 
·        Ontario, Canada

Your Age: 
·        43

What kind of degree do you want?: 
A BS Information Technology is ideal, that’s what my career has been, but I am willing to accept the fastest and cheapest “similar” option.

Biggest concern = residency requirements (time + I have many credits already), then cost/time
AND interacting with ANY other people, at all.

Skill levels
·        Overall “high end of decent”, self judged
·        I excel in information systems/cybersecurity (weak: programming/networking, for IT).
·        I am terrible at mathematics, Algebra or “better”. “Common” math, no issues
·        My English skills are good, but I have an eccentric writing style.

Current Regional Accredited Credits:  
·       None, but AUS CIS194 or Prima STU100 are accessible.
·       Canadian, but I maintain an American mailing address.

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: (I believe all of mine are ACE)
NOTE: I included certificates with ACE credit I am aware of.

·        Saylor Academy, College Success (1)
·        Saylor Academy, BUS107: Customer Service (3)
·        The Harvard/Edx CS50x Certificate (4, 1 is a lab)
·        The SeeMore Impact Labs CMS Certificate of High Performance (3, math)
·        American Dream Academy Alumni + Five Google Certificates, (54 credit value):
·        Google IT support + Google Project management + Google UX Design Professional + Google Digital Marketing and E-Commerce + Google Data Analytics, Professional Certificates
·        The IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate (10)
·        The AWIT Real-World Product Management Specialization (6)
·        The AWIT Real-World Cloud Product Management Specialization (6)
·        The Salesforce Sales Operations Professional Certificate (1)
·        The Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate Certificate (1)
·        The Salesforce Sales Development Representative Professional Certificate (3)
·        The Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate (2)
·        The ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity certificate (2)
·        The TEEX Cybersecurity courses Cbyer101, 201, 301 & accompanying courses (25)
·        The OAC (Ontario Academic Credit) Politics course (100 series Intro to Politics) (3)

Total = 124 credits
Upper level of above: 3 + 3 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 17 UL, the rest are LL

Any certifications or military experience: 
·        CIPS (Canadian Information Processing Society) Information Technology Certified Professional (ITCP)
·        Google Business Intelligence Certificate
·        NHCPS CPR, AED, and First Aid Certificate (ILCOR/JCAHO accredited)
·        PMI Kickoff (Agile + Waterfall) Certificates
·        PMI PMB (Project Management Basics Certified, via GoSkills)
·        Six Sigma White, Yellow & Green Belt Certificates
·        Scrum SFC Certificate
·        ServiceNow Certified
·        Aix Safety WHMIS/OSHA Certificates
·        MTO (Ministry Transportation Ontario) Safety Certificate
·        Cisco Network Academy Transcript (full completion of ALL free, online, self-paced offerings)
·        Management & Strategy, Institute Leadership Certified
·        Cybersecurity Awareness Certificate
·        Technical Cybersecurity Certificate
·        Cybersecurity Risk Management Certificate
·        IBM skills certified (all)
·        13 CertiProf certifications: Lifelong Learner Certificate - LLC
·        Scrum Foundation Professional Certificate - SFPC
·        Cybersecurity Awareness Professional Certification - CAPC
·        Lean Six Sigma White Belt Professional Certification – LSSWBPC
·        Business Agility Professional Certification - BAPC
·        Lean Leadership Professional Certification - LLPC
·        Design Sprint Professional Certification - DSPC
·        Business Intelligence Foundation Professional – BIFPC
·        Business Model Canvas Essentials Professional Certification BMCEPC
·        Remote Work Professional – RWPC
·        Digital Marketing Professional Certification – DMPC
·        Prompt Engineering Foundation Professional Certification - CPEFPC
·        Generative AI for Marketing Professional Certification - GAIFMPC

Budget: 
·        $4K USD …. Or $5,555 CANADIAN dollars (but the less the better, if possible)

Commitments: 
·        Full Time Remote/Onsite (Hybrid) Job 40 HRS Per Week
·        Wife, but no children

Dedicated time to study: 
·        3 HRS Per Day on Mon-Fri
·        8-10 HRS on Sat/Sun
·        Note: I am a fairly good “cram + exam” (IT Certs + Coursera, “taught” me this)

Timeline: 
·        ASAP?

Tuition assistance/reimbursement: 
·        Not concerned, overly

[jg_nuy]

You probably need some classes from Sophia, but I think you are in a good space for the UMPI BBA with PM and IS concentrations in 1-3 sessions ($1,700-$5,100 USD):
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan

Other degree plans: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:UMPI

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For other more traditional options (but a bit more expensive), you could look at TESU:
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:TESU

[infradata.it@gmail.com]

just the sound of needing 1 to 3 "sessions", is concerning .. I'd rather something I could just toss funds at and, hopefully, only need a "single credit" with awarding institution to "degree out".

I am more than willing to do Sophia courses/etc (but not math, no more math, if possible), no issue... I just dont want to attend classes, speak with others, be proctored, be spoken to, or need to interact more than HYPER minimally with people..

Why: I am shy, eccentric and abrasive to others (I can do the work, I cant do "others")

PS:
Also the BBA is a personally distasteful title (for my goal), IT specific, not concentration would be preferred (IT, IS, CS or EM?)

[Hotdogman1]

This is probably a more distasteful title but the only thing I could think of that satisfies those requirements is ENEB via the agile exam.
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/ENEB

[infradata.it@gmail.com]

With everything I have earned so far, all was done "solo" exam for credit/certification, or remote tool proctored (sw proctor, online from home and that was only for ISC2's CC/Saylor).

If I could do anything needed to continue to avoid any form of interaction that would be great, interacting with others is one of the reasons I delayed this so long (I could never get through social situations with classmates/instructors/coworkers)

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lol @ hotdogman1, I didnt mean it was bad, but I wanted to avoid any title, like Bus Admin, that was not easily seen as "Highly Skilled IT Professional (for remote/closet)" by a recruiter

---

maybe I will remake this post after more thought, on how to word this for my goals and other people, I didnt mean to be offensive/rash with "distasteful", very sorry

---

Ok after reviewing the lists linked, only a single one has the "target" title type: "TESU BS Information Technology" (as I realistically doubt my ability to complete CS "Computer Science", but I could CS "Cybersecurity")

I think this is a pay2play school? one with a "waiver" to exit directly to a capstone?

https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

Any thoughts on this? 15 credits need to be UL, I have 17 qualifying (& total) UL credits.

[Hotdogman1]

"Students may still transfer in up to 114 credits. However, at least 24 of those credits must be from RA sources." https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Th...University

[infradata.it@gmail.com]

Ok Hotdogman1,

RA is "Regionally Accredited" correct? (or no?)

Lets assume I have no clue what I'm doing (because, past mostly solo looking into it, I dont)

Could you explain this to me, is this a limiting factor, or is this the "residency credit waiver" (that is $$$, but leads one to a media literacy and capstone project, courses?) >> " paying a residency waiver fee ($3354 as of July 2024)"

I have read, many confusing and contradictory things ... but if upping my budget $750 USD does it, I'll do it, even if its slightly painful (thats a good bit of "spare" funds, in Canada)

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Never mind, 3x "required" Math courses/9 credits, all "above" the 3 I hold to boot

Plus 2x "required" Physics courses/6 credits (more math, I couldn't pass).

//

Scrap that idea, way too much math (which is any additional), maybe this plan was too unrealistic/ambitious .. looking at similar programs, I keep seeing more math

[Hotdogman1]

RA refers to Regionally Accredited. Simply put, RA is the highest level of institutional accreditation in the US. RA organizations accredit institutions (universities, Community college, etc) and credits earned from those institutions are RA credits.

This is a limiting factor. ACE credits are not RA and an extra $750 does nothing here. Basically, you need 24 credit hours from a RA university/community college + 90 ACE credits to graduate with the 3k waiver + 6 credits.

I'd honestly recommend UMPI. Even though you need to take 30 credits, it is possible to complete everything in 4 months ($3400 for 2 UMPI sessions). 4 small ungraded assignments with one graded final essay/project.

(Also, ignore the ENEB recommendation)

[infradata.it@gmail.com]

Can I do "UMPI" with all Sophia like courses, while an active enrolled student with them?

Anything to avoid actually doing anything with them or people. (I really need this degree to be able to escape Canada)

[Hotdogman1]

I don't get why UMPI is being lumped with UoPeople but that's cool. For UMPI, it seems like you already did the Coursera certs so you would just need to complete the general education requirements at Sophia + (probably not needed since you already have a bunch of credits but) electives if required. There is no RA requirement so all your transfer credits may be ACE (90 transfer credits apply towards degree.
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...ts_Roadmap

If UMPI is disagreeable, you could look into ETAMU. It's a similar concept to UMPI but you can only apply 84 transfer credits towards degree. $2000 per session.

PS. ENG 101 and ENG 102 are super quick at UMPI so avoid completing them at Sophia.