Posts: 3
Threads: 1
Likes Received: 1 in 1 posts
Likes Given: 3
Joined: Jan 2021
Hi all, I'm new around here. Hoping to get some advice. About me: I'm a 20+ year vet in IT ... Started in Infosec way back in 1998 with only a trade certificate similar to an associates degree but not quite. Luckily, I am now the CTO (for the past 10+ years) of a company I founded 15+ years ago. Along the way in Infosec I did get my CISSP and CISM (both still in good standing) and also completed the A+, MCSE, and CEH certs earlier in my career. Unfortunately I let my CEH cert expire as I was not active in pentesting at the time. That said, I really just want a BS in IT. Let me clarify. I want a degree for personal reasons more so than for future career aspirations. It's important for me to demonstrate to my daughter that getting her degree is important so I want to set an example. From my research the WGU BSCSIA seems like the best fit as I can get credit for my CISSP/CISM but the idea of having to sit for multiple certifications like an A+ test again (already did way back when i was 20) at this stage in my career doesn't really excite me, but if need, be so be it. That said, would this be the quickest path to getting a BS in IT and if so how long do people usually take to complete the BSCSIA. I'm open to the other IT degrees and schools as well. BSBAIT seems like a good fit too without the certs. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and Cheers.
Posts: 11,059
Threads: 153
Likes Received: 6,007 in 4,002 posts
Likes Given: 4,216
Joined: Mar 2018
With your experience, WGU would almost certainly be the fastest/easiest/cheapest option. TESU does have a BSIT as well, but a lot of the courses aren't available through alternate means. Plus, TESU requires either Physics I&II with lab or Chem I&II with lab.
You can give the WGU experience a "test run" so to speak by starting at WGU Academy: https://academy.wgu.edu/program/it?degree=it For $150/mo, they'll allow you to complete as many courses as you're able to do. There are up to 29 credits available (including the CS exams) and they'll cover the cost of your A+ exam OR one of the MS exams while you're in WGU Academy. Pretty sure they cover the other exams once you're a full WGU student. You can see all the courses available at WGU Academy here: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/WGU_Academy and how they transfer in here: https://partners.wgu.edu/Pages/Single.as...097&pid=78
You can also fill in some of the gaps in the gen ed section using Sophia.org. No sense in spending WGU fees for things like English Comp II and Algebra if you don't have to. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/So...lency_List shows which courses will theoretically transfer. But I think only English Comp, Algebra, Stats, Human Biology or Environmental Science, and maybe Ethics would work for the BSCSIA.
---------------
On the other hand, I don't know if all of the certs WGU wants for its BSCSIA are available online. The CompTIA exams can be taken online and I think the MS ones can also be taken online. But I'm not sure what other certs WGU wants and if they need to be taken at a test center or not. If you want to avoid certification exams entirely, TESU does have the BSBA CIS that could be obtained entirely online. This might or might not take longer than WGU but it will probably cost more. You would need 24 RA credits (either $1200 if through Olivet Nazarene or $1600 through TEL Learning) to start with. Plus 6 credits from TESU itself is $3114 + the residency waiver is $3192. So you're looking at $7500+ before you even get to the cost of classes from places like Study.com or Sophia.org
TESU is more of a pay-as-you-go system, though, so if life happens and you're unable to devote time to studies for a while, you're not still paying the term fees like you would be doing at WGU.
Ultimately, though, I don't know what your biggest priorities are going to be, so you'll have to decide. WGU is a solid choice for those who have that option. TESU is also a good choice. Either way, there will be multiple exams needed to get a degree. But they won't all be as rigorous as the A+!
In progress:
TESU - BA Computer Science; BSBA CIS; ASNSM Math & CS; ASBA
Completed:
Pierpont - AAS BOG
Sophia (so many), The Institutes (old), Study.com (5 courses)
ASU: Human Origins, Astronomy, Intro Health & Wellness, Western Civilization, Computer Appls & Info Technology, Intro Programming
Strayer: CIS175, CIS111, WRK100, MAT210
•
Posts: 8,529
Threads: 94
Likes Received: 3,603 in 2,578 posts
Likes Given: 4,321
Joined: May 2020
(01-30-2021, 02:29 PM)xriddle Wrote: Hi all, I'm new around here. Hoping to get some advice. About me: I'm a 20+ year vet in IT ... Started in Infosec way back in 1998 with only a trade certificate similar to an associates degree but not quite. Luckily, I am now the CTO (for the past 10+ years) of a company I founded 15+ years ago. Along the way in Infosec I did get my CISSP and CISM (both still in good standing) and also completed the A+, MCSE, and CEH certs earlier in my career. Unfortunately I let my CEH cert expire as I was not active in pentesting at the time. That said, I really just want a BS in IT. Let me clarify. I want a degree for personal reasons more so than for future career aspirations. It's important for me to demonstrate to my daughter that getting her degree is important so I want to set an example. From my research the WGU BSCSIA seems like the best fit as I can get credit for my CISSP/CISM but the idea of having to sit for multiple certifications like an A+ test again (already did way back when i was 20) at this stage in my career doesn't really excite me, but if need, be so be it. That said, would this be the quickest path to getting a BS in IT and if so how long do people usually take to complete the BSCSIA. I'm open to the other IT degrees and schools as well. BSBAIT seems like a good fit too without the certs. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and Cheers.
If you want fast and are willing to put in the time to do a competency based program, Purdue Global might be what you're looking for. There are 2 versions of their BS in IT - the regular college semester way and their Excel Track which is a competency based program. In the Excel Track, you aren't on a semester schedule with numerous assignments and weekly deadlines. Instead, you complete courses at your own pace. You take the readiness quiz to start the course, then you read the material and watch the videos you're given. Some classes have practice quizzes and there are discussions which are optional. Then you complete an assignment which is given to you. All of this is on your own time schedule. You do need to complete a specific number of credits each term. Most classes are broken down into 1 credit courses so they can be done fairly quickly. My husband attends Purdue Global and is in an Excel Track program. He completed 20 credits his first term.
https://www.purdueglobal.edu/degree-programs/information-technology/exceltrack-bachelor-information-technology/
Purdue Global will give you college credit for your certifications. You won't take them again. They tend to be very generous with credit for IT certifications.
https://www.purdueglobal.edu/transfer-st...ion-exams/
•
Posts: 11,059
Threads: 153
Likes Received: 6,007 in 4,002 posts
Likes Given: 4,216
Joined: Mar 2018
Purdue Global gives credit for expired certifications?
In progress:
TESU - BA Computer Science; BSBA CIS; ASNSM Math & CS; ASBA
Completed:
Pierpont - AAS BOG
Sophia (so many), The Institutes (old), Study.com (5 courses)
ASU: Human Origins, Astronomy, Intro Health & Wellness, Western Civilization, Computer Appls & Info Technology, Intro Programming
Strayer: CIS175, CIS111, WRK100, MAT210
•
Posts: 677
Threads: 36
Likes Received: 461 in 281 posts
Likes Given: 1,614
Joined: Jul 2020
01-30-2021, 06:49 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-30-2021, 06:49 PM by jch.)
(01-30-2021, 03:32 PM)rachel83az Wrote: Purdue Global gives credit for expired certifications?
I believe that colleges often treat certification exam results like college credits, which don't expire. For many IT certifications, the credit recommendations are actually for the exam, not the cert itself.
TESU Class of 2024 BSBA-CIS+GM, BSIT, ASNSM-CS+Math, AAS-GEN
Earned credits from Sophia, SDC, ASU ULC, TEEX, Microsoft, Strayer, TESU, Saylor, DSST, CLEP, CompTIA, StraighterLine, and others since starting in April 2020
•
Posts: 1,065
Threads: 42
Likes Received: 601 in 398 posts
Likes Given: 590
Joined: Jul 2017
01-30-2021, 08:04 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-30-2021, 08:08 PM by quigongene.)
I can tell you that neither school will take certifications older than 3 years. I took the CISA to avoid taking 13 CU (3 classes) at WGU when they wouldn't accept my 14 year old (but still in good standing) CISSP. As far as the CompTIA exams, I gotta say it was fun knocking out all 4 in 8 days.
Edit: Side note, have a look at my journey thread if you would like to see what I did for the WGU degree. There's a (now a bit outdated, but will give you a starting point) spreadsheet on how I got my BSCSIA.
Posts: 8,529
Threads: 94
Likes Received: 3,603 in 2,578 posts
Likes Given: 4,321
Joined: May 2020
(01-30-2021, 03:32 PM)rachel83az Wrote: Purdue Global gives credit for expired certifications?
He said only one of his certifications was expired not all of them.
•
Posts: 3
Threads: 1
Likes Received: 1 in 1 posts
Likes Given: 3
Joined: Jan 2021
01-31-2021, 11:33 AM
(This post was last modified: 01-31-2021, 11:56 AM by xriddle.)
(01-30-2021, 08:57 PM)ss20ts Wrote: (01-30-2021, 03:32 PM)rachel83az Wrote: Purdue Global gives credit for expired certifications?
He said only one of his certifications was expired not all of them.
A+ MCSE and CEH are older than 5 years (older than 10 years lol) ... CEH is expired. CISSP/CISM are older than 5 years (I passed both in 2001) and in good standing ... will i get credit for those. If not I'm heading for the BSBAIT.
Also if it helps I completed Project Management, English Comp I and Intro to Statistics on Sophia so far this past month. Was thinking of doing Critical Thinking on Saylor but so far I'm not a fan of the interface. Sophia is so much better in my opinion.
•
Posts: 16,325
Threads: 148
Likes Received: 5,482 in 3,748 posts
Likes Given: 367
Joined: Apr 2013
(01-31-2021, 11:33 AM)xriddle Wrote: (01-30-2021, 08:57 PM)ss20ts Wrote: (01-30-2021, 03:32 PM)rachel83az Wrote: Purdue Global gives credit for expired certifications?
He said only one of his certifications was expired not all of them.
A+ MCSE and CEH are older than 5 years (older than 10 years lol) ... CEH is expired. CISSP/CISM are older than 5 years (I passed both in 2001) and in good standing ... will i get credit for those. If not I'm heading for the BSBAIT.
Also if it helps I completed Project Management, English Comp I and Intro to Statistics on Sophia so far this past month. Was thinking of doing Critical Thinking on Saylor but so far I'm not a fan of the interface. Sophia is so much better in my opinion.
PUG requires certs to be less than 3 years old. That being said, my husband got credit for his AWS cert, and they gave him 55qcr (that's 36cr semester-based) for an easy (to him) cert. They are quite generous with credits for certs. They also take Sophia, Study.com, SL, etc. So he is close to being able to start and will have 75% of his degree completed easily. For someone with a lot of GE credits already, PUG is a better option than WGU. If you don't have many GE credits, and want to spend the majority of your time on major-related coursework, then I think WGU is the better option (their GE is about 25% of the degree rather than 50%).
WGU does require both A+ certs for their IT degrees, and my husband was NOT a fan of having to take those again. He's 20 years past them being useful for his career, and did not want to spend the time required studying for those. If he's going to get certs, he'd much rather do ones for people with many years of experience behind them like the CISSP, or ones specific to what he does at work (cloud-related).
I'd look into both schools and see what you think. PUG is about twice the price IF you take 6 full months to complete it (PUG works out to be $250/wk, while WGU is $130/wk). But for someone bringing in a large amount of credits, having a shorter option is a good deal. $2500 for 10 weeks is good, and even if you do 2 terms, $5000 is not a bad price for a Bachelor's degree.
------------------------------
Study.com has Critical Thinking.
TESU BSBA/HR 2018 - WVNCC BOG AAS 2017 - GGU Cert in Mgmt 2000
EXAMS: TECEP Tech Wrtg, Comp II, LA Math, PR, Computers DSST Computers, Pers Fin CLEP Mgmt, Mktg
COURSES: TESU Capstone Study.com Pers Fin, Microecon, Stats Ed4Credit Acct 2 PF Fin Mgmt ALEKS Int & Coll Alg Sophia Proj Mgmt The Institutes - Ins Ethics Kaplan PLA
Posts: 1,065
Threads: 42
Likes Received: 601 in 398 posts
Likes Given: 590
Joined: Jul 2017
Critical Thinking took me a whopping 2 days at WGU. If you go the WGU route, just take it with them and save the $$.
|