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Planning advise please
#1
I have been in the Information Technology field for over 20 years.  I am currently a Director of an IT department in local government in Texas.  I am looking to get just about any type of technology degree.  Not looking for programing.  I might go for a masters in cybersecurity after this.  I would like to get it easy, fast and cheap in that order.  Math is a huge weakness of mine.

I have completed all below at Dallas County Community College District
ENGL-1301 83454 Composition I - 3 credits
ENGL-1302 85405 Composition II - 3 credits
SPCH-1315 84489 Public Speaking - 3 credits
DMAT-0305 46402 Developmental Mathematics - 3 credits
ENVR-1401 81401 Environmental Science I - 4 credits

I also have the unlimited Sophia.org thing until December 30th and have taken the following there...

Accounting
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
U.S. History I
U.S. History II
Introduction to Information Technology

Any advise or suggestions?
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  • Suji
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#2
Would a BSBA CIS work for you? I'm not sure if you can easily get a Cybersecurity Master's with one but such a degree from TESU would probably be the absolute easiest if you want nothing to do with programming.

Otherwise, you've got two choices. TESU's Comp Sci degree and Purdue Global's IT degree. The IT degree has a concentration in Information Security and Assurance, which should mesh well with your desire for a Cybersecurity Master's. https://www.purdueglobal.edu/degree-prog...echnology/

For math, it looks like PUG only requires Algebra and Discrete Math. https://catalog.purdueglobal.edu/undergr...eeplantext I'm not 100% sure, but I think that you might be able to transfer in Discrete Math from Study.com. Sophia's Algebra is a pretty fast and easy way to meet PUG's Algebra requirement. https://purdueglobal.sophia.org/#courses
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
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  • jch
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#3
WGU's IT program is one of the best ones I have seen that comes with lots of free certifications and based on your experience would be a cakewalk to complete.

There are 38 Sophia credits that transfer and combining with Study.com, you can transfer in at least 72 of 120 credits.  I would guess it would take you 1-2 terms to complete if you can put 20hrs a week into your studies. 

WGU Transfer Guide
https://partners.wgu.edu/

If you went with the TESU BSBA CIS route, I would probably add on the computer science associates for free since it would just require a few extra courses.  TESU requires 30 RA credits, you have 16.  So the cheapest way is would be to do the flat-rate term doing 16 credits in one term.

Don't worry about math, with a CAS physical/online calculator, the work is done for you.

Purdue, I'm not familiar with so I won't recommend them though people on here have said good things about the program.  I haven't seen enough reviews to determine to have fast that option would be.
Degrees: BA Computer Science, BS Business Administration with a concentration in CIS, AS Natural Science & Math, TESU. 4.0 GPA 2022.
Course Experience:  CLEP, Instantcert, Sophia.org, Study.com, Straighterline.com, Onlinedegree.org, Saylor.org, Csmlearn.com, and TEL Learning.
Certifications: W3Schools PHP, Google IT Support, Google Digital Marketing, Google Project Management
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#4
Do you have any IT certs? Or plan on getting any? My husband got the AWS Certified Solutions Architect—Associate cert, and it counts at PurdueGlobal for the Cloud degree for a whopping 61cr (out of 180) there - it only counts for like 3cr at WGU, and nothing at TESU. PG and WGU are the most generous with the credit they award for certs.

Based on my husband's eval from PG, combined with his GE credits from an AA he already had from 20 years ago, the cert, and then 5 Study.com courses he could take, he's at 136cr done - and 45cr remaining (it's a quarter-based school); this 45cr = 8 courses.

Based on what you've taken, I'd think that you could do College Algebra at Sophia (College Algebra requirement), MATH 107: Quantitative Literacy at Study.com (Discrete Math requirement), another short course at Sophia like Intro to Applied Math; take some certs; and then take the remaining few courses at Study.com, leaving 45cr to take at PG (minimum residency). You could probably finish the degree in 1-2 terms at that point.

Here are the certs they give credit for: https://www.purdueglobal.edu/transfer-st...ion-exams/
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
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#5
Thanks for the info/advice folks!

I have some certifications, most were obtained around 2015-2016...

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
§ Certified Government Chief Information Officer
 
Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator Server 2008
§ Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator
§ Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
§ Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator
 
Fiber Optic Association
§ Certified Fiber Optic Technician
§ Certified Fiber Optic Specialist in Outside Plants
§ Certified Fiber Optic Specialist in Testing
§ Certified Fiber Optic Specialist in Splicing
 
CompTIA (most of these were taken in 2016)
§ Cloud+ Certification (Expired)
§ Linux+ Certification
§ Server+ Certification
§ A+ Certification
§ Project + Certification
§ Systems Support Specialist (Stacked Certification)
 
Department of Defense Directive 8570.1
§ Information Assurance Technical Certification Level 1
 
Not sure if anyone gives credit for FEMA classes but I have taken these…
 
FEMA Emergency Management Institute
§ IS-00775: EOC Management and Operations
§ IS-100.B: Introduction to Incident Command Systems
§ IS-200.B: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
§ IS-700.A: National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Intro
§ IS-701.A: NIMS Multiagency Coordination System (MACS) Course
§ IS-702.A: NIMS Public Information Systems
§ IS-703.A: NIMS Resource Management

I also plan on taking just about everything Sophia has to offer, it seems to be about 31 courses if I exclude the 2 English and 1 Speech courses.  (It's paid for through December and I can typically complete a course in a couple of days)

I'm not really looking to get any more certs, so I know that rules out some of WGU's offerings.  

I like the TESU CIS option and am also looking at Excelsior's BS in Cybersecurity.  Is Excelsior degree semi respected?  Anyone know which of the two might be the easiest or fastest?  

I am also open to any other suggestions!

Smile
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#6
Excelsior would be more difficult and take longer because you'd have to take most of the required courses at EC. You can't transfer them in because there are no equivalents. Because of this, EC would also wind up costing (probably significantly) more than TESU. If you're okay with that, though, it's up to you which degree to get.
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
Reply
#7
(09-01-2021, 09:11 AM)idontworkhere Wrote: Thanks for the info/advice folks!

I have some certifications, most were obtained around 2015-2016...

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
§ Certified Government Chief Information Officer
 
Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator Server 2008
§ Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator
§ Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
§ Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator
 
Fiber Optic Association
§ Certified Fiber Optic Technician
§ Certified Fiber Optic Specialist in Outside Plants
§ Certified Fiber Optic Specialist in Testing
§ Certified Fiber Optic Specialist in Splicing
 
CompTIA (most of these were taken in 2016)
§ Cloud+ Certification (Expired)
§ Linux+ Certification
§ Server+ Certification
§ A+ Certification
§ Project + Certification
§ Systems Support Specialist (Stacked Certification)
 
Department of Defense Directive 8570.1
§ Information Assurance Technical Certification Level 1
 
Not sure if anyone gives credit for FEMA classes but I have taken these…
 
FEMA Emergency Management Institute
§ IS-00775: EOC Management and Operations
§ IS-100.B: Introduction to Incident Command Systems
§ IS-200.B: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
§ IS-700.A: National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Intro
§ IS-701.A: NIMS Multiagency Coordination System (MACS) Course
§ IS-702.A: NIMS Public Information Systems
§ IS-703.A: NIMS Resource Management

I also plan on taking just about everything Sophia has to offer, it seems to be about 31 courses if I exclude the 2 English and 1 Speech courses.  (It's paid for through December and I can typically complete a course in a couple of days)

I'm not really looking to get any more certs, so I know that rules out some of WGU's offerings.  

I like the TESU CIS option and am also looking at Excelsior's BS in Cybersecurity.  Is Excelsior degree semi respected?  Anyone know which of the two might be the easiest or fastest?  

I am also open to any other suggestions!

Smile

Excelsior is not a good option, it's not able to be done via test-out at all.  It will cost a boatload, and take a long time to take all of those classes.

TESU's BSBA/CIS degree is a good one, will cost more than UMPI or PG, but it's still a good one.

Also, any cert has to be current to be able to be used in any degree plan, so you're probably out of luck there.
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
Reply
#8
I agree, the TESU BSBA CIS would be your easiest/fastest option, unless you go for an UMPI BLS MIS.  I would not recommend Excelsior as the degree requirements have changed and may be much harder/slower to complete.  Even though TESU takes ACE/NCCRS from various providers, you're much better off with the Sophia.org/Study.com combo to finish the requirements for the degree.  You have RA credit, I suggest you may want to complete the 16 credit residency requirements to get up to 30+ RA credits.

You have Sophia.org membership, as you mentioned, take all of the ones that don't duplicate your current RA credits.  There has been a slight change in the TESU requirements for the 2021/2022 year, as per my last post in your previous thread...  You should complete the CSM Learn, Sophia.org College Algebra and Statistics (these are non-proctored, open book, if you need help/review, take the Intro courses as well even if it's not for credit).  Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...dvice-Info
In Progress: Walden MBA | TESU BA Biology & Computer Science
Graduate Certificate: Global Management & Entrepreneurship, ASU (Freebie)

Completed: TESU ASNSM Biology, BSBA (ACBSP Accredited 2017)
Universidad Isabel I: ENEB MBA, Big Data & BI, Digital Marketing & E-Commerce
Certs: 6Sigma/Lean/Scrum, ITIL | Cisco/CompTIA/MTA | Coursera/Edx/Udacity

The Basic Approach | Plans | DegreeForum Community Supported Wiki
~Note~ Read/Review forum posts & Wiki Links to Sample Degree Plans
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