Advice on how to go forward

I have an AS in Computer Info Mgt from Ashworth College and am currently enrolled in CCU's BS of Business program. I work in IT and have for many years, however, programming is something that I simply cannot do so getting a Bachelors in the computer field was not an option for me.

Both of these degrees will do me well in my job. The company has paid the tuition for both and is very supportive. I've been there a long time and will retire there. Job security isn't an issue.

What I would really like is a degree from an RA school. I'd like the company handbook to list an RA college next to my name instead of an NA one. I used to not care, however, for some reason this is a goal that I'd like to reach.

After my CCU degree is finished, can I simply transfer the majority of those credits to a school like WGU and get another BS in Business that's RA or would I have to choose another degree program? I'm not quite sure how this works.

Thanks for any help.

 

With the exception of an associate's, degree credits usually cannot be transfered. So if you plan to graduate from WGU, it is best to transfer BEFORE you graduate, most likely.

 

It seems to me that what you're really wanting to explore is second baccalaureate degree rules and NA to RA transfer rules.

In the second matter, for the time being, transferring NA to RA is a challenge at best. There are some few programs that will make the transfer though.

That leaves the rules for a second degree at the same level. Generally speaking (and there are exceptions), you can earn a second degree at the same level in a field different from the first by completing 1) all of the requirements for the second degree and 2) a specified number of credit hours (often about 1 year FTE or 30 hours) in addition to the first degree. Repeating all 120 hours is rarely (if ever) required.

In many cases, the additional hours requirement is no problem since you'll need to complete the requirements for the new major as well. In the case of closely related degrees (or even the same degree as a second degree), the challenge is adding the additional hours without duplicating credit.

In some cases, a college will allow you to complete a second degree at the same level in the same field if 1) your initial degree is from a different school 2) they consider their degree to be superior to your first one. This is not uncommon in the arts where some schools are much more highly regarded than others.

You might consider several options suitable to your scenario. Keep in mind that transferring NA to RA credit 1:1 may create a challenge at best and an imposibility at worse.

* You could consider using the level of education (actual learning) you have to test out via CLEP/DANTES/ECE to a program such as COSC/Excelsior/TESC and thereby validate your undergraduate education with an RA BA/BS.

* You could try to get into an RA MS/MA/MBA program based on your present undergraduate education and thereby bypass your desire for an RA BS/BA. Some schools will admit you with an NA undergrad as a conditional admission (even though they don't advertise that fact).

* You could seek a more specialized degree (assuming your present BA Biz is a general biz degree) and go after a BA/BS in something such as economics, finance, marketing, training (education), etc... at any number of RA schools. (remembering that your NA credits may not transfer in).

* You could seek a degree in IT management which would require less emphasis (or no emphasis) in programming.

 

I second Mr. Turner's suggestion of earning a graduate degree. Either way, you will most likely need to earn 30 or more new credits for an additional degree. If you are earning 30 new credits anyway, you might as well have those credits net you a masters degree.

-Travis

 

This is true, if you find a place that will accept most of the crdits for a second bach., you will have to do at least 30 credits.

That will be enough to do a grad degree.

I would go ahead and get the RA grad degree if it was me.

There are probably at least a dozen options availible on that front.

 

Thanks for the replies. I've been quite busy with life these days.

Would it be possible for me to do the following, or would it be a bad move:

I have to take 23 classes at CCU to earn the BS in Business degree. If I finish, let's say 12 of those classes, can I then apply as a transfer student to WGU or another RA that will accept NA?

I'm wondering how realistic it is to assume that an RA institution will accept my NA degrees to get into their Masters program. Is that really possible to do?

I'm at a point in my life where I am very confused. I never cared about not having a degree because I never needed it before. I'm in my early 40s and believe it or not, when I graduated from high school, many, many kids didn't go on to college. I still don't need it for my job, but everyone around me has one and I'd get odd glances if someone asked where I went to college and I said I didn't go. It was that oddness that prompted me to enroll in Ashworth.

Then I guess I got bitten. I didn't want to say I had just an Associates degree so I began searching for an affordable BS and CCU was exactly what I needed.

Now I'm having doubts about saying I have a BS from CCU and being open to "oh, that's not a real school." It's very strange because in some ways I don't care what other people think but in the privacy of my own mind I suppose I really do care where it's from.

I am loving my CCU experience and would love to move on to their Masters in Education Admin or Curriculum and Learning when I'm finished with this degree but someone mentioned in another thread that one should diversify and not stay with the same school. On the other hand, I wonder if an MA in Education Admin or C&L is worthwhile. I don't wish to teach so maybe that's the way to go?

Thanks for all the help.

 

Have you thought about Charter Oak State College www.cosc.edu , Excelsior College www.excelsior.edu , Thomas Edison State College www.tesc.edu , or Western Governors University www.wgu.edu ?

 

Thanks for the responses.

Therein lies the rub. I'm trying to please the "RA or no way" crowd that may look down on my degrees. I just can't help but wonder how many people, when seeing my degrees listed in the employee handbook, will say it's a fake or inferior degree. My thinking is why not get the RA so I'll never have to worry about it. I don't know what the future will bring at my job. If my direct supervisor is ever replaced, the replacement might consider my degree inferior. Also, you never know. I don't think they will but I have to be prepared in the event that at some point some circumstances change.

Before I enrolled at CCU, I called TESC and they weren't very friendly when they told me they wouldn't take any of my Ashworth credits. I had hoped to enroll in Fort Hays State's Networking and Telecom program but again was told that my Ashworth credits would not transfer. Cost was a big factor as was transferring those credits.

I'd consider a transfer to WGU or Excelsior but my question still remains:

Is a viable option to take about 12 courses from CCU and then attempt to transfer to one of those schools?

I paid half of the tuition up front at CCU so I'd like to finish at least half of the courses there.

 

Unless those people can prove unequivocally that an RA degree is superior to an NA degree from a quality of education perspective you can safely ignore the bigots. If you company or job does not require a degree but you are pursuing it just to not be the odd man out, relax and earn the degree from CCU.

Most people do not know the difference and certainly are not going to know the name of every educational institution in the country or around the globe. How do you think so many diploma/degree mills are able to operate and their "graduates" list the illegitimate degree on their c.v. and/or business cards

Finish your degree at CCU as there are many institutions where an NA undergraduate degree is accepted into NA and RA graduate degrees.