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+--- Thread: Accounting, MBA, JD - Seeking Advice (/Thread-Accounting-MBA-JD-Seeking-Advice)
Accounting, MBA, JD - Seeking Advice - tf8088 - 08-27-2025
Your Location: South Texas
Your Age: 43
What kind of degree do you want?: Masters in Cybersecurity, Bachelors and Masters in Accounting, MBA, and a JD (Must be able to take state bar in TX)
Current Regional Accredited Credits: Many 2 Associates (Electrical Systems Technology and Intelligence Studies) & BS CSIA @ WGU
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: Yes NCCRS credits from two FEMA certificate programs
Any certifications or military experience?: Most all CompTIA, CGRC, CISM, Project+ & 20 yrs military experiance
Budget: As cheap as possible
Commitments: Full-time job and family
Dedicated time to study: 10-20 hrs/wk
Timeline: Years
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: TA available but saving for kids (Doc or Lawyer or Dentist x2). Not Hazelwood eligible. No TA at this time. VRE is not an option as I am employed.
Experienced cybersecurity professional looking to be more well rounded on the business and accounting front (maybe hang my own shingle) who is primarily looking for a JD to leverage/navigate federal regulations and contract law. Feel a LMS in Cybersecurity Law or Contract Law will not benefit me due to the circles I work within.
Will go to WGU for the Masters in Cybersecurity (paying out of pocket) and will complete the degree (transferring in max credits) within one term.
Primary question(s):
Wanting to learn Accounting sitting through some of the classes but also want the option to cut down on costs (learning through Study.com or other service) and then transfer into accepting university.
After getting the Masters in Cybersecurity, what is the best way to pursue the MBA? Any graduate courses I can take elsewhere and transfer in to a degree?
Masters in Accounting totally open to suggestions.
JD - Looking at St. Mary's but again open to other ideas so long as it meets the requirement to take the bar in Texas.
I thank everyone for their time and support.
RE: Accounting, MBA, JD - Seeking Advice - ss20ts - 08-28-2025
That's quite the mix of degrees you want to complete. Do you really need the degrees or could certificates work? Or classes from Udemy or LinkedIn Learning? Coursera? I see 1 bachelor's degree, 3 master's degrees, and a doctorate listed as what you want to complete at 43 years old. A JD full time is typically 3 years alone. That's an awful lot of education to pile onto your career and family. What are you looking to do career wise? Have you researched what formal education it needs? Can you take courses through conferences to learn the material? I ask because I know in cybersecurity there are several conferences with quite a bit of continuing education offered.
RE: Accounting, MBA, JD - Seeking Advice - tf8088 - 08-28-2025
I do agree it is an wide variety of study, however my thought process is as follows. I am at the point where my cybersecurity subset is top notch. It is all continued learning. To further develop, I need a broader business background. Being an auditor by trade looking for anomalies has always interested me. From my cybersecurity perch, I have seen CPAs and lawyers come into cyber, I want to have the education and gain expertise to leverage it the other way while also having those additional degrees bolster my business acumen to elevate me into the C-Suite.
Eventually the end goal is to either wind up in the C-Suite or hang my own single(s), primarily in the cybersecurity consulting space.
RE: Accounting, MBA, JD - Seeking Advice - bjcheung77 - 08-28-2025
Continue from your Bachelors to Masters at WGU for the first trifecta of cost, ease, speed to finish... When you're done, you've got the certs, degree, experience, a second trifecta I always recommend. Once you're done with the Masters, you'll have enough of the three to then decide on which path you want afterwards...
RE: Accounting, MBA, JD - Seeking Advice - Heartstrings - 08-29-2025
I think no matter your age or your reasoning you should always shoot for your goals. If you want 3 master's and a doctorate you should go for it. As long as you can afford it. Right now there are limits being placed on financial aid. I would try and pay out of pocket as much as you can and then use the financial aid for the stuff that can be out of anyone's budget like law school.
RE: Accounting, MBA, JD - Seeking Advice - Robson - 08-29-2025
Hi there, a couple of my previous posts might be helpful.
"Hybrid/online professional doctorates — JD, PharmD, PsyD, DPT": https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Hybrid-online-professional-doctorates-%E2%80%94-JD-PharmD-PsyD-DPT
"Easiest routes to CPA and other accounting qualifications": https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Easiest-routes-to-CPA-and-other-accounting-qualifications
RE: Accounting, MBA, JD - Seeking Advice - tf8088 - 10-19-2025
(08-29-2025, 10:45 AM)Robson Wrote: Hi there, a couple of my previous posts might be helpful.
"Hybrid/online professional doctorates — JD, PharmD, PsyD, DPT": https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Hybrid-online-professional-doctorates-%E2%80%94-JD-PharmD-PsyD-DPT
"Easiest routes to CPA and other accounting qualifications": https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Easiest-routes-to-CPA-and-other-accounting-qualifications
This is most helpful... I truly thank you