Non-degree professional status wants advice

Hi my name is John Harney and I'm a highly paid computer professional with IBM. I do not
have a degree and I'm functioning at a Masters - PHd level in the workplace. How can I obtain or even begin to approach a degree at this point in my career? I look at IT course offerings at universities and they are really insufficient. Should I pursue another degree discipline other than IT?
It looks as though it would take me to retirement to finish a formal IT degree with the current demands I face. I'm kind of at a loss on how to pursue the degree if at all. I hope someone might have a handle on a possible approach.

 

<sarcasm>
Well, if you're so confident you are functioning at Masters/PhD level, why do you care about degree in a first place?
</sarcasm>

 

At that level for corporate political selections, credentials make a difference. Thanks for your concern (I think?)...

 

Hi John,

There is no quick and easy way of obtain a formal credential. If you are serious and really do need that piece of paper for promotion, then you will have to find yourself about 2-3 hours every day for the next 3 years or so to obtain it.

You do not need to start with a bachelors. In Australia you can go for a Masters by coursework which has only relevant work experience accompanied by references, as a prerequisite. One example course is, and there are many others, the Master in Information Technology, found here, http://www.spider.qut.edu.au/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Courses.woa/172/wo/AAnAEVf9SGKA3e7cguj15juYfS7/1.2.17.1.6.4.3.3.1

Good luck!

 

Thanks geckoz.
I think for the most part that I will have to
go and work gradually in a "turtle mode" to get to that status. I guess the trick is to stay on at IBM and stick out the process.
Thanks again.

 

I have had many IBM employees in my CIS classes who have been in various levels in the organization. All are interested in earning a degree and others are interested in graduate work.

Have you looked in the computer related degree offerings from Excelsior College, Charter Oak, and Thomas Edison. These are accredited programs that can put you on a past track to earning a degree where you can combine courses taken, exams, and independent study into a credible degree program. There are also portfolio evaluations whereby credit can be earned for industry knowledge and other knowledge gained elsewhere.

Look into:
http://www.excelsior.edu
http://www.tesc.edu
http://www.cosc.edu

A bachelor's degree from these institutions should get you into a master's program and there are many good master degree programs in the computer field.

You do not need to be on the turtle track. It all depends on what you are able to bring to the table in terms of past academic accomplishments and future drive to complete an accredited degree.

John

 

Thank you very much, I will do just that.
I'm hoping that it may be a shorter route than I thought.

 

>>I look at IT course offerings at universities and they are really insufficient. Should I pursue another degree discipline other than IT?

Have you thought about obtaining a general BA degree now (speedy way), then specializing in a MA down the line? I was where you were a few years ago. Western Illinois University offers an excelent BA in general studies - that's where I completed the undergrad, and now a year and a half later I'm about to complete the grad in technology at Webster University. Good luck and happy hunting - you'll get there. Mary

 

Thank you Mary. I will look at general
studies. I'm not quite sure after that.
Did you have to do additional course work
to get into grad school?

JGH

 

I don't know about WIU, but I know that several graduates of the University of Iowa's Bachelor of Liberal Studies program have gone on to a variety of graduate school programs.

They say:

------------------
Kristin Evenson Hirst
DistanceLearn.About.com

 

Hi Kristin,

Thank you again.

I think I have to sit down now with
all of the great advice from everyone and make a commitment, then just go for it regardless...

See you at graduation(s) (I hope...)...

JGH