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+--- Thread: Degree planning help request (/Thread-Degree-planning-help-request)
Degree planning help request - degreeboundFF - 01-27-2026
I have worked on classes for something like 10 years, but never really pursued the things I knew I COULD succeed at or was interested in, so now's the time!
Previous attempts resulted in many credits but no final success. I have near zero desire to attempt Calc IV, Diff Eq, etc again.
Currently, I have no degree- actively working to fulfill my LAST class with ACE credit for an Associate's from my local CC. My career field only has 2 or 3 programs in the US for a Bachelor's, so I'd rather get something more relevant/broad. I am working through some Sophia classes, but mostly still trying to plan out what I need and mildly overwhelmed by the amount of information as well as the recent changes to some credit acceptance (TESU).
Leaning TESU or UMPI, but still not fully understanding the difference between them and what benefits I may be missing.
If you see where I can get a faster degree, great, but I'm not SUPER excited about more health courses, hence the org leadership.
Your Location: Mississippi, United States
DISCOUNT: Military-adjacent (qualifies under all military tuition discounts), also Firefighter
Your Age: 30s
What kind of degree do you want?: Bachelors in Organizational Leadership or very near
Current Regional Accredited Credits: 129.33 (pulled from GT transcript; excludes failed classes)
CC Credits: 86.99 semester hours (some converted from quarter hours)
- Fire Science 181: Firefighter I - 5.33
- Fire Science 181: Firefighter II - 5.33
- FST-1111: Fire Behavior and Combustion - 3
- ALH-1110: Principles of Electrocardiogram - 3
- EMS-2100: Applied A&P Patho for EMS - 3
- EMS-2105: Paramedic 1 Lecture - 2
- EMS-2110: Paramedic 1 Lab - 2
- EMS-2125: Paramedic 2 Lecture - 5
- EMS-2130: Paramedic 2 Lab - 2
- EMS-2135: Paramedic 2 Clinical - 2
- EMS-2150: Paramedic 3 Lecture - 5
- EMS-2155: Paramedic 3 Lab - 2
- EMS-2160: Paramedic 3 Clinical - 1
- EMS-2175: Paramedic 4 Lecture - 2
- EMS-2180: Paramedic 4 Field Experience - 1
- EMS-2200: Paramedic 5 Lecture - 2
- EMS-2205: Paramedic 5 Lab - 1
- HIM-1101: Medical Terminology - 2
- MAT-1130: Allied Health Math - 3
- MAT-2270: Calculus and Analytic Geometry - 5
- CHE-1211: Gen Chemistry I (w/Lab) - 5
- HIS-1101: US History I - 3
- BIO 107: Human Biology - 3.33
- ENG-1101: English Comp I - 3
- COM-102: Intro Interpersonal - 3
- ENG-211: Technical Writing - 3
- IVYT-111: Student Success - 1
- MATH-136: College Algebra - 3
- MATH-137: Trig w/Analytic Geometry - 3
- PSYC-101: Intro to Psychology - 3
4 year university: 42 semester credits
- ASE-1013: Intro to Aerospace Engineering - 3
- EN-1113: English Comp II - 3
- FLG-1113: German I - 3
- MA-1723: Calculus II - 3
- CSE-1233: Computer Programming-"C" - 3
- MA-1723: Calculus II - 3
- FLG-1123: German II - 3
- GR-1123: Intro World Geography - 3
- MA-2733: Calculus III - 3
- MA-3113: Intro Linear Algebra - 3
- PH-2213: Physics I - 3
- ASE-2113: Intro Aircraft Spacecraft Performance - 3
- EM-2413: Engineering Mechanics I - 3
- LSK-1033: Fundamentals of Achievement - 3
Sophia: Intro to Information Technology
Anatomy and Physiology I
Any certifications or military experience? N/A
Budget: maybe $5K; the cheaper, the better
Commitments: working full-time, full social life
Dedicated time to study: conservatively, 10-15 hours a week
Timeline: within the next 2 years; the sooner, the better
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: Possibly
RE: Degree planning help request - degreeboundFF - 01-30-2026
I did borrow someone else's template to easily keep myself organized, but I really am working towards a degree and would love input. I know mine is a little messier than most given my career credits, but I'm very open to suggestions and advice!
Currently working actively on Coursera Google Project Management
RE: Degree planning help request - Kevin.B - 01-31-2026
(01-30-2026, 10:11 PM)degreeboundFF Wrote: I did borrow someone else's template to easily keep myself organized, but I really am working towards a degree and would love input. I know mine is a little messier than most given my career credits, but I'm very open to suggestions and advice!
Currently working actively on Coursera Google Project Management
You mentioned graduating faster; you may like the competency based education model - the faster you can prove you know the topics the faster you can get through courses (and graduate). CBE programs are often cheaper, since you pay a flat rate for your term, so completing one course or the whole program in one term costs the same.
East Texas A&M has a CBE bachelor program in org leadership.
https://www.etamu.edu/programs/organizational-leadership-baas-orgl/
The other option could be UMPI's BLS in management. The BLS program is a build your own degree, outside of university requirements, so that may be more transfer friendly. Below are links to the degree wiki page and the course catalogue from UMPI.
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UMPI_BLS_Management_Degree_Plan
https://catalog.umpi.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=3&poid=269
*Edit*
Charter Oak State College has a bachelor program (not CBE) in public safety admin that awards credits for fire service training and 41 credits for paramedic training/certifications (and up to 32 credits for LE training if its applicable). This program has two concentrations, Public Safety Professional and the Emergency Medical Services Leadership. Once you get accepted you'll work with the program staff to figure out what actually transfers (credit for prior learning, credentials, etc). They also have an org leadership bachelors if you're set on that.
https://www.charteroak.edu/public-safety-administration/
RE: Degree planning help request - degreeboundFF - 02-01-2026
(01-31-2026, 03:48 PM)Kevin.B Wrote:(01-30-2026, 10:11 PM)degreeboundFF Wrote: I did borrow someone else's template to easily keep myself organized, but I really am working towards a degree and would love input. I know mine is a little messier than most given my career credits, but I'm very open to suggestions and advice!
Currently working actively on Coursera Google Project Management
The other option could be UMPI's BLS in management. The BLS program is a build your own degree, outside of university requirements, so that may be more transfer friendly. Below are links to the degree wiki page and the course catalogue from UMPI.
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UMPI_BLS_Management_Degree_Plan
https://catalog.umpi.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=3&poid=269
ETAMU isn't a bad looking option, I'm just iffy on the price (granted, I have not at all looked at UMPI or COSC prices either)
All that said, I think the B.A.S. from UMPI would be the better option only because I can nearly taste my associate's in my trade (also, for a few reasons, science/applied science is preferable for me over an arts degree that isn't very specifically leadership/management. Not a knock on arts degrees at all, just some personal/professional/future plans influence).
I only looked at those options because of your post, so thank you! Got me heading in a much better direction already. I'll update when I get some actual headway going.
RE: Degree planning help request - bjcheung77 - 02-02-2026
It really depends on how you want to play things... UMPI BAS is a great option for those who already have the AAS, but, in your case, you're not done with the AA and the AA doesn't qualify. Here's the kicker, transfer 100% of your credits to the TESU AAS in Applied Computer Studies, complete the BACS and BSBA combo, get the extra certs, degree, experience.
I highly recommend the BSBA over the BSOL at TESU due to 3 reasons I've mentioned before. 1) Cheap, Easy, Fast - as not all classes can transfer over for the BSOL. 2) BSBA has ACBSP programmatic/secondary accreditation 3) BSBA has AOS of Operations Management or another concentration, in addition to anything else you want as an additional AOS.
RE: Degree planning help request - degreeboundFF - 03-28-2026
Due to tuition assistance and my (rapidly dwindling to its end) FAFSA funds, I am currently taking my last class at community college for my Associate of Applied Science.
I know the focus is generally rapid, cheap, and quality, but I have a *metric ton* of credits already and have some specific career plans (and also restrictions from tuition assistance- as a firefighter, I am not allowed to seek a computer science degree, for example).
So, the UMPI BAS is still my focus, with management being one of the minors. I may also explore other schools, or non-CBE options, which would broaden my options to Organizational Leadership, etc. It isn't a set plan, but some paths are closed for me, so.
I really appreciate everyone here- all of the info has made it where I can even believe completing my education is possible, even after a lot of missteps. Thanks!
RE: Degree planning help request - ss20ts - 03-28-2026
Why spend your remaining financial aid at a community college for an AAS instead of UMPI for your BAS?
RE: Degree planning help request - degreeboundFF - 03-28-2026
(03-28-2026, 02:01 PM)ss20ts Wrote: Why spend your remaining financial aid at a community college for an AAS instead of UMPI for your BAS?
In my situation, it's a wash- TA covers all but maybe $100-$200, so I put that remaining money aside when I get the FAFSA refund and use it when there is no more FAFSA. It keeps me from paying out of pocket for the time being. And as mentioned, the AAS opens up specific pathways which are easier to justify under newly tightened TA rules about relevance to current career field.
When I say I'm taking one, single, 3-credit hour class, I mean exactly that and nothing more, so no unnecessary money is otherwise being spent.
Oh, and the CC I'm currently going to, I have a pretty decent GPA, which will hopefully help with admissions and further support "I did poorly in the past, then got myself into gear for my degrees." Which is needed since I'll still have to submit the not-so-great transcripts also...