RA MS vs. NA MBA...toughy

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by friendorfoe, Feb 18, 2006.

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  1. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    Just curious about something. One of my Officers is considering getting the MSMS (Masters of Science in Managerial Sciences) from Amberton U because it's free...for us anyhow. He is also considering their MBA but does not want to remediate and knows he can go to Southwest U which is DETC and not have to remediate, but it is NA. So we debated over which is more useful. He doesn't know much about accreditation and I have difficulty explaining it at times, suffice to say he already has an MS and is looking to double up.

    His argument, an MBA is much more recognized than an MSMS (he wins, it is). My argument is that the MBA is NA and the MSMS is RA....which to most folks just flies right over their heads. So I put it to you guys, for a free degree, get the one that has the famed "MBA" letters or the less recognized "MSMS" based solely on accreditation? He is looking for the MBA on his resume and I’m pushing him for the MSMS…

    At what point do we draw the line on the RA vs. NA thing?
     
  2. JoAnnP38

    JoAnnP38 Member

    If his other degree is RA then I might be inclined to agree with your officer. If his MS is NA, then I would think having an RA masters would serve as insurance against having an employer who refuses to recognize or recognizes with caveat NA degrees. What is the cost of an MBA from Southwest U? How many hours would Amberton require from him to makeup his prereqs?
     
  3. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    The degrees cost roughly the same....but either for him is going to be paid by employer....no worries there. Amberton is telling him that he has to remediate 5 classes before starting his 12 for the MBA. Southwest will take him right into the 12 right away. He doesn't want to remediate the 5.

    His MS is from Sam Houston, it is RA and well regarded.
     
  4. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    Personally, I'd go with the MBA. He already has an RA MS as "insurance" for employment purposes. Having an MBA would be a nice touch to his resume, even though it is NA. Not too many employers, even police departments, recognize the difference.

    If it won't hold him back in the department, and the department is willing to pay for it, I'd go for the MBA.
     
  5. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    Well I guess I was wrong then. You learn something new every day.
     
  6. sentinel

    sentinel New Member

    Texas has a requirement that degrees be regionally accredited from what I recal of reading previous posts discussing the relative merits of NA versus RA. So, be sure you understand the specific expectations of the employer.
     
  7. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    This is true, for advanced POST certification such as intermediate and master peace officer. At times departments even look for recruits with RA degrees, but he already has a RA Masters of C.J. and thus all he needed to recieve his master peace officer cert, when he decides to get it.

    I'm not sure what the MBA is for, he just seems to think it's the thing to do. Of course a lot of guys I work with talk about what they will do once off the force, so, who knows, maybe he's thinking of working an office job somewhere.

    Personally I like the MSMS from Amberton, but that's not an MBA, I don't even know if it could be substituted for one in the "real" world.
     

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