Has anyone completed the 2nd Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology offered by University of Massachusetts Lowell? Only 10 courses/30 hours... 2nd Bachelor's Degree - Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Information Technology Electives 90.220 Visual Basic .NET 90.224 Advanced Visual Basic 90.230 Introduction to Multimedia 90.231 Graphics for Multimedia and the WWW 90.232 Desktop Video Production 90.238 Website Development: Microsoft® Expression® Web 90.247 Web Authoring: Adobe® Flash® 90.248 Website Database Implementation 90.250 E-Commerce on the Web 90.268 C++ Programming 90.269 Advanced C++ Programming 90.270 Visual C++ .NET 90.291 Introduction to DHTML 90.292 Advanced DHTML 90.297 Introduction to Java Programming 90.301 Java Programming 90.302 JavaScript 90.303 Advanced Java Programming 90.305 Introduction to Perl 90.306 Introduction to XML 90.311 Introduction to UNIX 90.312 Shell Scripting 90.313 UNIX Internals Overview 90.319 Introduction to Linux 90.321 Linux System Administration 90.340 Intro to the Development of Intranets 90.346 Digital Media Delivery 90.360 Introduction to Data Structures 90.364 Problem Solving with C 90.385 Information Security 90.457 Network Security 90.460 Computer Ethics 90.461 LAN/WAN Technologies 90.462 TCP/IP & Network Architecture 90.464 Network Management 90.474 Relational Database Concepts 90.480 Project-Based Information Systems (6cr.)
What is your 1st degree in? Do you have any IT background already (either coursework or work experience)? Given the high number of IT/CIS/CS masters programs, you have to balance getting a second bachelors with simply getting a masters degree. But the cost of the program is pretty low and the curriculum, while very applied, is certainly designed to help you land a 1st job in IT. But do note that many of the masters programs that might be currently closed to you due to lack of pre-requisites will still be closed to you even with this degree - there are no CS theory classes at all in this program. That's either a good or bad thing, depending on what you want to do with the degree. Edit - I should have looked at your signature... since you already have a masters degree, getting a second masters probably isn't much more useful than getting a second bachelors. So any program that meets your work and financial needs will probably work, whether undergraduate or graduate.
I currently possess a B.S. in Organizational Leadership and M.A. in Homeland Security. I have a limited background in IT. Plans are to complete the 10 courses for second Bachelors in IT and then move on to a second Masters. I am currently unemployed and could double down and complete the 10 courses in less than one year. The Masters will be in either Information Assurance or Systems Engineering. I am still contemplating what area of IT to concentrate in. Right now, I am leaning away from software development/software engineering and more towards network/security positions. I am also pursuing the following certifications: Cisco - CCENT/CCNA/CCDA/CCDP/CCNP CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+ MCTS - Windows 7, Configuring MCITP - Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Administrator MCITP - Windows Server 2008 PMP Certification CISSP Note: Has anyone ever contemplated the notion of attending an IT bootcamp to rapidly complete a multitude of certifications? I am considering this idea versus self-study. The only drawback is the financial cost and the expiration date of the certifications, which is normally 3 years, depending on vendor. I am eligible for the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill, which will be paying for the Bachelors and Masters.
I have never attended those boot camps but rather Microsoft classes at a local community college (3 credit classes, cheaper, and slower paced). My concern with boot camps is the lack of information they can teach/you can learn when they cram so much into a one or two week period. You may walk out knowing enough to think you know what you are doing and to be dangerous. I completed a lot of my certs through self study and learned just as much of not more then some of the classes I took. Having a boat load of certifications and no real experience is not a positive in my mind. I suggest knocking out the basics first like A+, Net+, and MCTS - Windows 7, Configuring then think about Cisco. Best of luck to you. *I currently have MCP+Internet, MCSA -Windows 2000, MCSE NT 4.0, Network+, A+, Server+, Security+, Project+, and i-Net+
MCSE NT 4.0 man you don't have that anymore! I know because I got my transcript and its gone! I thought I would get a bunch of credit for it at TESC but those exams were retired so long ago they fell off my transcript. I also have Network+ because I thought it would work for WGU but alas they now require the entry level CCNA cert. I was also self study and I had a problem getting an entry level job at a large firm as a desktop support technician because I had 5 years of computer tech experience and an MCSE. The guy doing the interview had been studying for his MCSE for a year and already failed the NT4.0 Server test once so he said I was overqualified and would quit. Sorry to hijack the thread but this kind of thing does happen.
I do to have an MCSE NT 4.0 and you nor Bill Gates will ever take it aways!!!!! I did get credit for them from COSC in 2002. I self studied for all the CompTIA exams and a few Microsoft exams (IIS4, IEAK 4, and Enterprise) and the others I took some classes (Server, W/S, Net Ess, TCP/IP, and an upgrade class from NT to W2K). With the one upgrade course I took the upgrade exam and failed (it was a 4 part exam). It was free to all MCSE NT4.0 holders and I just used it to get a feel for what they would ask. I took Server and Professional within 2 weeks of failing the upgrade test and passed both. Ah, the days of cramming for Microsoft exams....never again....
Ok I should have done the same. I transitioned from networking to programming and didn't keep my MCSE up to date so now its gone. I still have the MCSD though even though it was based on VC++ 6.0 and VB6.0. I didn't even have to cram for those because I worked with the stuff every day. I did cram for some of the MSFT tests though. I am actually certified in Front Page which is funny.
Do your IT certs first, and you should have almost enough credits to get a 2nd bachelors at tesc or ec from the credit equivalency they permit.
Oh and per the most recent comments: Microsoft certifications never "go away" (expire) you are, and always will be certified on Server 2003 (or NT 4 or whatever). Are you certified on Server 2008, etc.? Of course not, but that doesn't mean you are no longer competent to manage the ones you passed back in the day (some places still use 2003 anyway), which is why they don't have expirations.
Ok this is weird. They didn't grant me the MCSE 14 credits because it was expired on my transcript. This was back in Jan. I now look at the transcript online and it shows up. I even called the MCP helpdesk and the guy told me that my exams retired and the MCSE was revoked but not the MCSD. So now its back. WTF ACTIVE MICROSOFT CERTIFICATIONS: Microsoft Certified Solution Developer CertificationNumber: A261-5314 Certification/Version : Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer CertificationNumber: D468-9141 Certification/Version : Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Microsoft Certified Professional CertificationNumber: A261-5309 Certification/Version : MCP 2.0 -- Certified Professional
I have not, but it's been on my list of possibilities for a while now. You may also be interested in the new 2nd BS in Computer Science now being offered by Oregon State University. 15 courses - $248/credit! This is about 4k more than the UMass program, but it's in CS vs. IT. It really depends on what you want to do in IT. If you plan on being a programmer, DBA, or similar, a CS degree might make more sense. If you're interested in help desk support or general IT work, then an IT degree could work. The reasons that I've considered a second BS in (insert interesting major here) are: 1) because I'm interested in a number of subjects and would like to gain in-depth knowledge and 2) I have a bit of school insecurity. I know it's silly, but I want an bachelors from a well known and regarded school! I guess my ego is getting in the way of just moving on to a masters program. *sigh* Anyway, best of luck to you. Let us know what you decide to do.
In your current situation, I'd recommend you take a look at Western Governors University (WGU Online University | Online Degree Programs, Accredited Bachelor's and Master's) and their Master's programs rather than a 2nd undergraduate degree. The reason I'm saying this is because WGU is not class-based, it is competency-based...meaning you go as fast as you can handle; moreover, it incorporates industry certifications into the curriculum. There are a lot of IT people that go the WGU route. Here is forum that discusses it in detail: http://www.techexams.net/forums/jobs-degrees/ Why are you aiming to obtain so many certs? Also, with limited IT experience the Cisco certs will be difficult; moreover, PMP and CISSP require 5 years of experience and are no joke. I'd recommend narrowing down your list of certs to areas in which you are interested in going into; i.e. Windows Systems Admin versus InfoSec versus Networking versus IT Project Management.
Some of us are gluttons for certs, I mean punishment. Truth be told, it's sometimes hard to figure out what you really enjoy in IT, or what's coming next that you need to be ready for. The current (real or perceived) "hot" skills that demand high salaries can sometimes change in as little as six months. Employers make it worse by asking for nearly impossible skillset combinations for even basic posts like systems admin jobs. I used to come up with "wish lists" of 12 or so certifications that I would like to earn in a given year, and if I was lucky I would hit four. Now, if I have four exams I'd like to take in a year, I'm busy enough in general I'll be lucky to even take one. Long story short, I can't blame the poster for wanting lots of certs. I do agree, however, with the suggestion of WGU. The way the job market has been shifting for about the last year or so, degrees are taking center stage again and are becoming far more important than certs in terms of job progression/job hunting.
This was true as of the time of BrandeX's post but is no longer accurate. The MCSE designations that existed for 2003 and prior are being formally obsolesced by Microsoft once the EOL for the OS is in place. The new MCSE and MCSA are designed for a three-year recertify path as many other IT certs are. The MCITP certs will follow the old methodology and be good until EOL of the platform. MCSA and MCSE are now solutions certs. Thanks, ITJD
I really like the course of IT although i finished my bachelors degree as a teacher i still want to try taking this course...