which free class for Oakton?

[rachel83az]

PUG will still cost more than TESU at this point, even for the Professional Studies degree.

Oakton is good because you need at least 30 RA credits for a TESU degree. The others can come from TECEPs, ONU, etc. Whatever's cheapest. Or FREE!

[Blckbuster]

I wouldn't do any classes at Oakton, free or not. Focus on getting your degree first.

With learning online, you are learning on your own for the most part. If you are interested in XYZ subject taught at XYZ school, it's pretty simple to look at the syllabus, find out what book they are using, then buy that book used off eBay which would be quicker and cheaper than taking the course. 

Have you looked at the PUG Professional Studies Degree?
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/PU...egree_Plan

Looks like you got most of the credits needed for that degree.

The IT degree uses the W3 Schools PHP cert
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/PU...egree_Plan

I suggest making some spreadsheets for PUG degrees, TESU, WGU, or any schools you are thinking of and see which one is the quickest or which degree makes the most sense for you.

I was only interested in the free course at Oakton so that I could use it to complete my degree. 

Making spreadsheets and comparing degree programs is what originally made PuG seem attractive.

With the items I have completed so far in my original port I still need the following 15 courses for a BS in Information Technology degree:

ENC-102 English Composition II (CLEP or PLA?)
Oral Communication (I had planned to use Sophia's Public Speaking)
Civic Engagement and Awareness (I had planned to use American Government class from Instantcert.com for $20+$15 proctor)
Chemistry I or Physics I - w/Lab (CLEP or PLA?)
Chemistry II or Physics II - w/Lab (CLEP or PLA?)
Higher Lvl Math (CLEP or PLA?)
Python Prmngm (CLEP or PLA?)
G: Network Technology(CLEP or PLA?)
H: Linux(CLEP or PLA?)
I: Windows Server Configuration(CLEP or PLA?)
J: Cybersecurity(CLEP or PLA?)
K: Modern Operating Systems(CLEP or PLA?)
L: Wireless and Mobile Networking(CLEP or PLA?)
M: Cloud Computing(CLEP or PLA?)
N: Management Information Systems(CLEP or PLA?)

So it was one of these I thought Oakton might fulfill, I have heard the PLA portfolio writing is very tough at TESU compared to PUG and I am a truly horrendous test taker.

Whereas, with PuG I need these 13:
IT133 Microsoft Office Applications on Demand
IT163 Database Concepts Using Microsoft Access
IT117 Website Development
CS212 Communicating Professionalism
SC200 Discovering Science: Current Issues in a Changing World
SS238 Engagement - Civic- and Citizen-Driven Public Policy
MM250 Discrete Mathematics
IT301 Project Management I
IT302 Human Computer Interaction
IT331 Technology Infrastructure
IT460 Systems Analysis and Design
IT402 IT Consulting Skills
IT499 Bachelor's Capstone in Information Technology
But I thought I'd be able to write portfolios on these much easier with evidence from my manager and director's assessments of my experience and abilities.

[rachel83az]

BS in IT is a really difficult degree to get from TESU, especially cheaply. I would recommend switching to Comp Sci instead.

[ss20ts]

I can't imagine the amount of work a portfolio would be at PUG. My husband attends PUG in an ExcelTrack degree program and he has a TON of writing for each course. At PUG a portfolio isn't available for every class.

[carrythenothing]

With your certifications, I'd also check the Professional Learning Reviews (PLR) credit already completed/approved by TESU: https://www.tesu.edu/academics/oplr/plr#info-technology

Network+, for example, is equivalent to ITS-140.

[LevelUP]

I wouldn't do any classes at Oakton, free or not. Focus on getting your degree first.

With learning online, you are learning on your own for the most part. If you are interested in XYZ subject taught at XYZ school, it's pretty simple to look at the syllabus, find out what book they are using, then buy that book used off eBay which would be quicker and cheaper than taking the course. 

Have you looked at the PUG Professional Studies Degree?
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/PU...egree_Plan

Looks like you got most of the credits needed for that degree.

The IT degree uses the W3 Schools PHP cert
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/PU...egree_Plan

I suggest making some spreadsheets for PUG degrees, TESU, WGU, or any schools you are thinking of and see which one is the quickest or which degree makes the most sense for you.

I was only interested in the free course at Oakton so that I could use it to complete my degree. 

Making spreadsheets and comparing degree programs is what originally made PuG seem attractive.

With the items I have completed so far in my original port I still need the following 15 courses for a BS in Information Technology degree:

ENC-102 English Composition II (CLEP or PLA?)
Oral Communication (I had planned to use Sophia's Public Speaking)
Civic Engagement and Awareness (I had planned to use American Government class from Instantcert.com for $20+$15 proctor)
Chemistry I or Physics I - w/Lab (CLEP or PLA?)
Chemistry II or Physics II - w/Lab (CLEP or PLA?)
Higher Lvl Math (CLEP or PLA?)
Python Prmngm (CLEP or PLA?)
G: Network Technology(CLEP or PLA?)
H: Linux(CLEP or PLA?)
I: Windows Server Configuration(CLEP or PLA?)
J: Cybersecurity(CLEP or PLA?)
K: Modern Operating Systems(CLEP or PLA?)
L: Wireless and Mobile Networking(CLEP or PLA?)
M: Cloud Computing(CLEP or PLA?)
N: Management Information Systems(CLEP or PLA?)

So it was one of these I thought Oakton might fulfill, I have heard the PLA portfolio writing is very tough at TESU compared to PUG and I am a truly horrendous test taker.

Whereas, with PuG I need these 13:
IT133 Microsoft Office Applications on Demand
IT163 Database Concepts Using Microsoft Access
IT117 Website Development
CS212 Communicating Professionalism
SC200 Discovering Science: Current Issues in a Changing World
SS238 Engagement - Civic- and Citizen-Driven Public Policy
MM250 Discrete Mathematics
IT301 Project Management I
IT302 Human Computer Interaction
IT331 Technology Infrastructure
IT460 Systems Analysis and Design
IT402 IT Consulting Skills
IT499 Bachelor's Capstone in Information Technology
But I thought I'd be able to write portfolios on these much easier with evidence from my manager and director's assessments of my experience and abilities.

With the PUG IT ExcelTrack degree, you need to take 8 courses at PUG or 45 credits total.
5 of those you listed can be done via SDC, Sophia, and Saylor.

IT133 Microsoft Office Applications on Demand (Take at PUG)
IT163 Database Concepts Using Microsoft Access (Take at PUG)
IT117 Website Development (Take at PUG)
CS212 Communicating Professionalism (reported not required for ExcelTrack)
SC200 Discovering Science: Current Issues in a Changing World (Sophia Environmental Science)
SS238 Engagement - Civic- and Citizen-Driven Public Policy (Study.com 102: American Government)
MM250 Discrete Mathematics (Study.com Math 108: Discrete Math)
IT301 Project Management I (Saylor BUS402: Project Management)
IT302 Human Computer Interaction (Take at PUG)
IT331 Technology Infrastructure (Take at PUG)
IT332 Principles of Information Systems Architecture  (Take at PUG)
IT460 Systems Analysis and Design (Study.com CS 302: Systems Analysis & Design)
IT402 IT Consulting Skills (Take at PUG)
IT499 Bachelor's Capstone in Information Technology (Take at PUG)

https://catalog.purdueglobal.edu/undergr...eeplantext
https://catalog.purdueglobal.edu/undergr...uirements/
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/PU...egree_Plan

[bjcheung77]

Hey, I got your private message. It is a bit confusing when you've got so many good people advising you of different options from several degrees offered at other schools. There's just too much info to process, so take it slowly as these are all suggestions, you decide on what's better for you. There is a very recent thread about a specific need of an "IT" degree or not, it might be a good read for you.

As I left off last, I don't think I have a concrete answer from you yet... Are you a math-phobe? If no, then BACS, if yes, then BSBA CIS, I would stick with TESU as you have so many residency credits with them already. You can get the "degree" and with your experience, you don't really need an "IT" degree, you can pickup a cert in Comp Science, or MSIT later on if needed...

One reason many don't do the BSIT TESU is because of the number of science labs, it's hard to find a Chemistry II or Physics II lab, even though the bulk of the people going for the BS they go for Tech Studies or another alternative to the industry they like to work in. For people looking at IT, WGU would be my recommendation as they provide industry certifications!

[Blckbuster]

Hey, I got your private message.  It is a bit confusing when you've got so many good people advising you of different options from several degrees offered at other schools.  There's just too much info to process, so take it slowly as these are all suggestions, you decide on what's better for you.  There is a very recent thread about a specific need of an "IT" degree or not, it might be a good read for you.

As I left off last, I don't think I have a concrete answer from you yet... Are you a math-phobe?  If no, then BACS, if yes, then BSBA CIS, I would stick with TESU as you have so many residency credits with them already.  You can get the "degree" and with your experience, you don't really need an "IT" degree, you can pickup a cert in Comp Science, or MSIT later on if needed...

One reason many don't do the BSIT TESU is because of the number of science labs, it's hard to find a Chemistry II or Physics II lab, even though the bulk of the people going for the BS they go for Tech Studies or another alternative to the industry they like to work in.  For people looking at IT, WGU would be my recommendation as they provide industry certifications!

I don't think I would say I hate math, I just hate tests, I'm a very poor test taker.

[rachel83az]

In that case, Calculus I from SL is probably right up your alley. With SL, you can "pass" the class before you even take the final exam. The final exam can be just a formality that needs to be done. You can pass SL's calculus even if you only get one question right on the final exam!

[Blckbuster]

With your certifications, I'd also check the Professional Learning Reviews (PLR) credit already completed/approved by TESU: https://www.tesu.edu/academics/oplr/plr#info-technology

Network+, for example, is equivalent to ITS-140.

I received credit for some of my certs, some TESU just doesn't give anything for (although PuG does)
I got an Information Technology Elective: ITS-140 Introduction to Networking for N+,  CYB-220 Defensive Security for Security+ CMP-202 Foundations of Information Technology for the Google IT cert, I'm still waiting to hear back from them on whether or not the Google UX, PM, or Data certs will be worth anything, ITIL, PHP3 they don't give anything for, but I thought they could be useful for pla evidence.