Second Undergrad from CCU...comments?

All right, just thought I would post here to get a third party perspective. After long consideration I decided that I would get a second undergraduate degree (a BS) in Management since a BSCJ will have limited flexibility in the real world. I thought about double majoring in my current school (Southwestern College) but decided that I would like to take a less expensive option and after discussing it over with Dr. Barcroft at CCU regarding the amount of elective credits they will take towards a business degree, I have enrolled in their BS in Management program.

I intend on pursuing both degrees at the same time since Southwestern College has deadlines and CCU does not, it seemed more appropriate to go with CCU for the price, flexibility and the acceptance of credits. I do intend on getting an MBA from St. Josephs College of Maine in the future, however I anticipate that will likely be a 2 year endeavor and hopefully will be paid for by my employer, until then, I would like to be as diverse as possible.

Anyone here have experience with CCU?

 

Just a thought...

Instead of another bachelor's degree, why not get the master's? CCU has the H.R. Management Concentration MBA. It may be of more value to you.

http://www.calcoast.edu/programs_mbahrm.php

Either way enjoy your studies at CCU.

Craig

 

Don't waste your time, effort and money for a non-RA school. I don't mean to be blunt or brutal, but those are the cold hard facts.

 

IMO a second bachelor's degree is usually not that helpful. If you need additional courses when you apply for the MBA deal with that at the time. MBA programs accept students from many different undergraduate backgrounds. Save your money.

 

As for accreditation...I am painfully aware of the difference between DETC vs. RA, I accept the limitations. As for getting an MBA…I will, eventually. But we are looking at 2 years to completion from beginning to end and 18 months before I am even in a position to start that. 3 ½ years….the BS in Management is a fall back degree but also so that I can learn about management…..

So given all that you guys still think it’s a waste?

BTW…I appreciate the responses, even those that differ in opinion.

 

I'm afraid I agree with the earlier posters. A second BA is of only moderate value. A DETC degree is of limited utility. Neither is bad in itself, but they add up to a lot less than the sum of their parts.

Even a DETC master's is lots better than a DETC second bachelor's. And it's still utility-restricted (perhaps regrettably, perhaps even unfairly).


St Joseph's is a better deal than either. Their customer service is said to be tremendous. Call em and try to work out a swop. Ayuh, that's what I'd do.

 

I've interviewed some strange combos, one was a person with Accounting and Anthropology bachelors.

From a practical point of view, having a 2nd bachelors of any kind does not add much to your resume, let alone a DETC degree.

I agree that an RA MBA is a much better use of your time.

 

I agree with the previous posters. Your time, money and energy would be better spent on the Bachelors program at Southwestern and then the MBA at St Joe's instead of a second Bachelors. Don't make yourself too busy

Rhonda

 

Thanks guys. I appreciate the replies. I guess the largest appeal is that it doesn't take much time or money to get a 2nd BS....and if I ever used my BS in Management, it is doubtful I would even mention my BS in CJ.

I intend on getting an MBA come heck or high water...and it will be at St. Joes no doubt.

I just thought that in the interim I could get a 2nd BS and use it as something of a fallback degree.

As for too busy...is there such a thing?

Seriously, I work nights and keep a schedule opposite of the rest of the world, thus have lots of time if I would just get out of bed. But those "on call" days would kill me if I tried to add more classes to my Southwestern College program due to having to meet deadlines.

Thanks again guys. I'll pray over it.

 

Dittos to what "me again" said!

I say this particularly after having reviewed the course descriptions of their BS in Management degree. Introduction courses of this nature give you a basic overview but provide nothing of value to an employer. If you do not want to go for an RA Masters now, how about getting a certificate in a specialized area in management? Hone in on a marketable area! Just a thought!

 

friendorfoe, friendorfoe, friendorfoe... [shakes head in disbelief] I thought we had you all squared away!



Seriously, don't move in a backward direction. Think back on what you went through to get out of your nationally-accredited bachelors situation, and into the sweet gig at the regionally-accredited Southwestern where you are now! And that unique and unusual St. Joseph's MBA is waiting... beckoning.

What are you thinking?

Forget the second bachelors... especially, given your particular circumstances, at an nationally-accredited school.

You're getting impatient. I get that. But remember that that's probably the number 1 thing that adult learners -- particularly if they're older than 30 -- experience... and must work through, without shooting themselves in the foot.

Have a little faith in the BSCJ you're fairly close to getting. It will be of more value than you think. And if it isn't quite as valuable as you'd like because you need more management classes -- or some kind of finished management credential -- don't, for godsake, go for a second bachelors when situations such as yours are precisely why God made certificates!

Undergraduate certificates are for precisely what you're trying to accomplish. They were created for people who are getting a bachelors in "underwater basket weaving," but would like to be thought of as having, in effect, a second bachelors in "snipe management"... or whatever area of study -- equivalent to a second major -- that's unrelated to that in which you got your bachelors. For example, a person with a bachelors in psychology, and an undergraduate certificate in management, is going to be viewed, if it's explained properly on the resume, almost as if s/he had a second bachelors in management.

In your case, a 20 or 30 hour distance learning undergraduate certificate in management from a regionally-accredited school will accompllish exactly what you're trying to accomplish... yet won't look goofy on your resume. It will give you the exposure to management that you seek, and which will make your MBA studies a little easier; and it will give you a management credential you're looking for until you get that MBA. It's win-win all around.

I could refer to you ten gabillion regionally-accredited, distance-learning undergraduate certificate programs out there and overwhelm you with choices; or I can, as I did with both Southwestern and St. Joseph's, just tell you what your best choice is... the one you'd come to all by yourself if you only knew about it... and that's this one. Yes, I'm arrogant for saying so, but that's the program. Period. And it's only six courses... well... the equivalent of six-and-two-thirds courses, really, 'cause two of 'em are four-hour courses... for a total of only 20 hours.

Do not pass "Go." Do not collect $200. Do not keep looking. That's your program. As soon as you feel enough on top of your studies at Southwestern that you believe you could take-on another course or two from another program, sign-up for and begin this program.

Finish the BSCJ and the business management certificate; then take the family on vacation... go fishing... decompress; then come home and begin the MBA at St. Joseph's.

And stop thinking about it, getting yourself off-track, and then coming here and asking what everyone thinks! You're on the right track! Have faith! You've gotten out of the NA quagmire, and you're in an RA BSCJ program of which you will be very proud, once you're done... and will serve you better, I think, than you think! If you follow my advice, again, you'll also have an RA certificate in business management to round-out the BSCJ in a way that only a certificate can do! And you'll be poised to begin an MBA program that will put a smile on your face just working through it.

Life is good. Stop pissing it off.

 

I won't say a second Bachelor's would be a waste, since I never think education is a waste, but I do think it would have very limited utility.

 

Ahhhh...Gregg speaks. Really, that makes sense. You guys are probably thinking I'm fairly thick by now...well I am if you ask my wife.

Thanks, everyone. Gregg....I'm looking into the program right now....this very minute....and don't worry, I'm finishing at Southwest....dropping would never even cross my feeble mind.

So here I go looking for a self paced certificate in Management.

 

Re: Re: Second Undergrad from CCU...comments?

I think that's an overly blunt and pessimistic assessment of non-RA education. I think NA degrees do have their place and are useful to some people. For example, I plan to use my NA degree as an inexpensive springboard to an RA bachelors program. For others, an NA masters degree could very well suit their needs and goals. In this case, friendorfoe is already getting an RA bachelors, and simply wants to add to his own personal knowledge and educational diversity by getting a second bachelors, although one that is NA.

Don't argue with me that RA is the gold standard: I know that and I happen to agree with it. However, to totally write-off a school simply because it is RA seems a bit...well, snobbish. It's not like the guy is going for an unaccredited degree or one that is from a *gulp* MILL!

Friendorfoe, if the NA bachelors program will offer you some insight and knowledge you will not otherwise get from your RA program, and it will not hinder your future plans to go for an RA masters, I say go for it.

 

Okay guys, I am trying to explain your logic to a co-worker of mine who asks:

"Would a certificate have more utility than a degree, no matter where the degree is from?" (accredited of course)

Meaning, why get a certificate when a second degree could be had.

Would a certificate carry much weight when your degree is in a different discipline?

To be honest, I am not qualified to answer this question so I turn the floor to the experts.

Edited to note: I don't think this is strictly about accreditation....is it? regardless of accreditation I am getting a RA MBA from St. Joes who WILL accept a RA BSCJ as an acceptable undergrad.

 

Friendorfoe,

I would have to say..Go with your instinct in either situation, but think of your objectives thoroughly. It sounds like you have full intentions of St. Jo's etc. and you should probably stick with that if it is what you seek to pursue.
A certificate in management could be useful as well, however, depending on the cost factor, I would still prefer a degree over a certificate, unless it is from a prestigious institution. Just my thoughts.

There are tons of options for you out their that are reasonable and RA if that is particularly important in your field etc.

Good luck in your search.

 

Okay just to make things clear.

Pending my death and/or dismemberment....I WILL and hereby swear to whatever entity you hold Holy that I WILL....

1.) Finish a BSCJ at Southwestern.
2.) Get an MBA from St. Joes.

CCU will NOT be a substitute for either program....it will be in addition to it.... I just thought it would be a cost effective means to get exposure to business and be able to get a second degree in the process. I am not opposed to a certificate...I already hold one in computer science...but when a cert costs $6,000 and a second degree $3,000....I'm just missing something.

 

You mean a second bachelors from CCU costs $3,000? If so, that's no second bachelors, as far as you, who is now, finally, in an RA primary bachelors program, are concerned. In other words, an NA bachelors is fine if it's your only one and you agreed with yourself to endure possibly having someone turn-up their nose at it at some point in the future. But you've already gone to the pains of getting off the NA road and traveling the RA highway. Don't put a dark cloud over it by having an NA bachelors hanging-around in the background... standing near your RA credentials, hoping some of it will rub off.

I didn't add-up the price of the Penn State cert, but if you say it's $6K, I'll believe you. If so, and if $6,000 for 20 regionally-accredited undergrad hours packaged as a finished, shiny, new certificate (with a name that's exactly what you're looking for) is too expensive, fine... then let's find a regionally-accredited one from somewhere else that's cheaper. We can start by plugging this search string into the Google search box:

• +"undergraduate certificate" +"management" +"distance learning" OR "distance education" OR online site:.edu

Don't try to type it. Copy-and-paste it so you get spacing, capitalization, etc., exactly as I've specified.

Maybe others, here, can chime-in.

 

Looking.....oh by the way. So if I understand correctly, having an NA degree with a RA degree is viewed suspect?

Generally I would only list my NA degree in the case that I applied for a position that required a business 4 year degree....though I don't anticipate that...you never know.

 

That was my point, exactly. And...I understood that you meant for the CCU degree to be in ADDITION to your RA bachelors and masters programs, not as a substitute (in that case, I would have a problem with that, too).

If you're simply looking to pump up your resume and creditentials, there is something to be said for a certificate from a very prestigous university. Penn State is a good choice.

Maybe it's just me, but I'm always more impressed when somebody says they have a degree in something than simply a certificate.