help with degree choice - Printable Version

help with degree choice - Printable Version

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help with degree choice - westtxco - 05-26-2015

Hey guys. I have some questions. I am planning on getting into TX state troopers next year....or the next couple of years if I need to try more than once. I am going to take a clep soon to finish off my AAS degree (in an unrelated field to any of this). I am currently employed a a a CO.

I am going to get a bachelors degree through one of the big 3. Here's my issue. I decided against a LE related degree because if I get hurt or for some other reason leave the LE field, a CJ or HS degree would be useless in helping me get another job.

So I am looking at degrees that will help me be employable if I ever leave LE.

I was a cnc machinist and programmer for 4 years, and a rancher/hunting guide for 4 years. I have built my own computers for years and enjoy working with them and simple networks. No programming or education in it.

My issue is calculus and physics are more than likely out of my reach to ever understand. They just never clicked. Algebra I was barely passable, but I can pass college algebra fairly easily. So that rules out basically everything technical.

Im looking at a bsba from tesc but cannot for the life of me decide what to get. Hospital administration, general mmanagement, or something else. Any tips? I have researched countless hours and cannot decide what will set me up more for success if I leave LE at some point.

I would like to test out of most of the degree but can take a couple courses sometime if needed.

Thanks for your help. In the meantime, I plan to do as many CLEP basics as I can, since a lot of them apply to every program.

help with degree choice - gingerbeefE - 05-27-2015

westtxco Wrote:Hey guys. I have some questions. I am planning on getting into TX state troopers next year....or the next couple of years if I need to try more than once. I am going to take a clep soon to finish off my AAS degree (in an unrelated field to any of this). I am currently employed a a a CO.

I am going to get a bachelors degree through one of the big 3. Here's my issue. I decided against a LE related degree because if I get hurt or for some other reason leave the LE field, a CJ or HS degree would be useless in helping me get another job.

So I am looking at degrees that will help me be employable if I ever leave LE.

I was a cnc machinist and programmer for 4 years, and a rancher/hunting guide for 4 years. I have built my own computers for years and enjoy working with them and simple networks. No programming or education in it.

My issue is calculus and physics are more than likely out of my reach to ever understand. They just never clicked. Algebra I was barely passable, but I can pass college algebra fairly easily. So that rules out basically everything technical.

Im looking at a bsba from tesc but cannot for the life of me decide what to get. Hospital administration, general mmanagement, or something else. Any tips? I have researched countless hours and cannot decide what will set me up more for success if I leave LE at some point.

I would like to test out of most of the degree but can take a couple courses sometime if needed.

Thanks for your help. In the meantime, I plan to do as many CLEP basics as I can, since a lot of them apply to every program.

A degree in Criminal Justice would be a good match to the experience as a State trooper.
TESC BSBA in Computer Information Systems is what I'm pursuing. No Calc or Physics required, pretty much the entire degree is testable.
Do you get Free cleps? I guess I am a little biased, but If i didnt get free CLEP/DSSTS Straighterline is the path I would take, It cheaper and quicker in my opinion . My wife got over 50 credits in a month from ALEKS and SL for a little over $500

help with degree choice - UptonSinclair - 05-27-2015

I wouldn't get too hung up on the concentration at this point. If you are interested in a BSBA, start working on the requirements that apply to the BSBA in general and worry about the concentration down the road a bit. This way you might find something that appeals to you or at least know which areas you hate.

When planning a degree, you should work backward from your goal. Frankly, no degree will set you up for success unless you know what that success looks like. I would also encourage you to balance your learning goals with receiving the degree. I finished my degree this semester but I have continued to take undergraduate courses because I missed a lot by taking what I could finish fast and cheap.

Good luck with your decision process. Deciding what to pursue has been far more difficult than any coursework for me.

help with degree choice - westtxco - 05-27-2015

Thanks guys.

Criminal justice is no longer an option as it is useless outside of LE and not needed inside of LE in my goals. Any bachelors will add a stipend but something other than criminal justice will be more valuable if I leave LE.

Good point on what to do first.

I will have to check out SL, that's impressive.

help with degree choice - sanantone - 05-27-2015

I'm glad you've done your research. You should only study criminal justice if you have a passion for studying it or if you absolutely need a CJ-related degree for employment. For your goals, you do not need a CJ degree. I'm sure you know that you only need 60 college credits or an associates from a regionally accredited college to join Texas DPS as a trooper. Almost every other city and county in Texas that require college credits or a degree (there aren't very many) don't require a specific major. So far, I've only seen one city that has a preference for a CJ or related degree, but I can't remember if it was a hiring requirement or a requirement for educational incentive pay. I would bet they are very flexible and would accept anything from sociology to homeland security. There is no evidence that people with CJ-related degrees perform better than those with other degrees, but there is some evidence that having any degree helps with performance. There are only a couple of state law enforcement jobs in Texas that have a preference for CJ and related degrees.

If you like IT/IS, then the BSBA CIS is an option like gingerbeefE said. It will be a little more valuable than the generic general management concentration and doesn't require any additional math or science courses over the other business concentrations. Large departments could use more detectives/investigators who have the knowledge to investigate cyber crimes, so that is something to look into as you progress in your career.

help with degree choice - westtxco - 05-27-2015

Thank you!

I have 67 credit hours, so im not worried about that. Its really just that I want a backup plan if LE doesn't continue to pan out, and I want to better myself. I do get a stipend for having a bachelors, which is nice, but I really just want a second option if TX DPS doesn't pan out. My plan was to get into tx dps, do 4 years highway patrol, then go to SWAT for a few years, then into investigations and finally into texas rangers.

But want a second option, just in case.

help with degree choice - westtxco - 05-27-2015

My degree will be in Machine Tool Technology so it won't transfer for anything but the basics.

help with degree choice - westtxco - 05-27-2015

Oh, and also I was looking at cosc concentrations and tesc LDAS if either would be better choices.

help with degree choice - westtxco - 05-27-2015

help with degree choice - westtxco - 05-27-2015