Degree plan for 120 RA credits, TESU Biology BA & WGU BSN

[Hotdogman1]

As someone who has the degrees you seek, getting a BA in Biology->>BSN->> MS in Biology makes 0 sense.

Do you want to be a nurse or no? If not, do NOT get a BSN. I think you underestimate how much of the suck it's going to be.

Why do you want a MS in Biology?

I agree. I would recommend looking into a Medical Laboratory Scientist program instead if the goal is a Biology masters. Most of the certificate programs are ~1 year, require bachelor's degree + 16 credit hours each in Biology and chemistry (prereq requirements may vary), and a relatively low GPA. Tuition is reasonable especially the hospital programs (extremely reasonable). Entry MLS pay seems to be around $30 an hour.
Link to accredited programs in Florida: https://naacls.org/program-search/?_prog...&_state=FL

[FloridaMan]

As someone who has the degrees you seek, getting a BA in Biology->>BSN->> MS in Biology makes 0 sense.

Do you want to be a nurse or no? If not, do NOT get a BSN. I think you underestimate how much of the suck it's going to be.

Why do you want a MS in Biology?

I agree. I would recommend looking into a Medical Laboratory Scientist program instead if the goal is a Biology masters. Most of the certificate programs are ~1 year, require bachelor's degree + 16 credit hours each in Biology and chemistry (prereq requirements may vary), and a relatively low GPA. Tuition is reasonable especially the hospital programs (extremely reasonable). Entry MLS pay seems to be around $30 an hour.
Link to accredited programs in Florida: https://naacls.org/program-search/?_prog...&_state=FL

I am here months later to answer this question.

You need a master degree to teach at the college level. You need a nursing degree to be a nurse. I want to do both, so I need both.

When I was a tutor pre and post AA I was only paid $9.25/hour. When I worked in a group home for disabled adults I was only paid $12.50/hour. With a bachelor degree I can get paid significantly more. With a nursing degree I can get paid significantly more.

I am one semester away from finishing a biology bachelor degree and I can afford one semester at TESU with my current finances. I can't afford WGU tuition with my current finances. Once I have the bachelors I can make more money that I can use to pay for WGU tuition.

I want to teach and I want to be a nurse and if there is an accessible option for me to do both, then I will do that. And I will be able to afford to do both, eventually. I am aware that it's a bit ridiculous to want to do both, but based on my life experiences that is what I want and those are jobs that I know I could do well in.

[Jonathan Whatley]

A registered nurse with a master’s in nursing is qualified to teach nursing, a great position in the market. Nursing faculty shortages are widely reported. Most of these positions will require some nursing experience.

A registered nurse with a master’s not in nursing but in biology will be unable to take many of those high-demand positions. Although they could apply to teach biology courses, that’s not a faculty shortage area like nursing is. In fact there’s probably a glut of biology master’s chasing too few faculty positions.

[bjcheung77]

Finish the BA Biology at TESU, complete the ABSN at TESU afterwards to become a nurse. At WGU, get the Masters in Nursing. If you want to do a Masters in Education you can complete that at WGU as well, unless you need a specific niche UofPeople has that MEd in Advanced Teaching (IB).