Hi all, My name is Dustin. I've been lurking DegreeInfo for years, and so excited by reading the stories of people completing their education through distance learning. I dropped out of a couple programs and bounced around, but always maintained that I want a PhD eventually. I just finished my BPA in Human Services from Athabasca, 10 years after graduating high school. I transferred in 60 credits from a 2-year Social Service Worker diploma and an additional 12 credits from an aborted Accounting qualification. Now, I'm looking at completing an online MSW from the University of North Dakota in order to enter the profession of Social Work. Since I'm concerned Social Work may not pay that well, I'm also looking at adding a second Bachelor's in Math or Data Science from TESU in order to make sure I'll be responsive to a changing economy. Thanks for having me!
Never go backwards for another Bachelors, but instead, go forward for a Masters, which is easier. Here are online options: 36 credits: https://www.appliedmathonline.uw.edu/ 33 credits: https://www.indstate.edu/academics/online/graduate/mathematics TBD: https://www.wgu.edu/online-teaching-degrees/mathematics-secondary-education-masters-program.html#
Both programs - University of Washington and Indiana State specifically require Bachelors Degrees in Mathematics, which the OP doesn't have. Please do some research - at least read the web-page - before tossing around off-the-cuff suggestions. We're supposed to help, not hinder.
Johann, thank you for doing the legwork. How about the third program? Please research it and please report back here to be helpful to the OP. Thank you for going the extra mile.
Nope. Your suggestion - you do it. Good exercise for you. You can start here and don't blame me if WGU's links from there don't work. https://www.wgu.edu/admissions/teaching-requirements.html
Johann, thank you for pointing out all those tips to help people - and thank you for posting the WGU link. Keep up the good work.
Okay, Okay. I finally found a working WGU requirements page - at WGU Texas. you don't specifically need a math degree, though a math /science /engineering major is preferred. BUT - for admission, you DO need to have at least a 2.5 GPA in all of six college math courses from an RA school, as outlined in the PDF. https://www.wgu.edu/wgufiles/pdf-tc-math-content-transfer-guidelines https://texas.wgu.edu/education/teacher_certification_mathematics_master_degree Looks like you're 0 for 3, me again. Gone now -- bye.
And just so you know, me again, that WGU math degree admission requirement changes to eleven math courses (as specified) from an RA school - if an applicant wants to teach grades 5-12. Six completed courses only admit him/her to teaching grades 5-9. https://www.wgu.edu/wgufiles/pdf-tc-math-content-transfer-guidelines Done.
Welcome, belatedly. I would narrow in on what you want to do. Social work does not pay well, but I would imagine there is often a need for it, and that will likely continue. Mathematics and Data Science are very different fields. I can't speak to the job market for math or Data Science, but I do agree it does make sense to get a master's in many cases. If you are interested in mathematics though, I would first have to ask what are your intentions with that degree. I do think it would be ill advised to pursue a master's in mathematics, as some suggested, if you have not completed most of the undergraduate curriculum in mathematics. If you have or are close, then go ahead. In many situations it would not be advised to get a second bachelor's. If it is in a STEM field you wish to enter and lack other qualifications, that may be your best option. But before you embark on such a journey, I would be certain it is what you want to do. I would focus on traditional brick and mortar, nonprofit educational schools that also offer online degrees.
Thanks for the info! I also considered a PhD in Human Services or something else. Math and Data Science are very different fields, you're right. My hope is that I'm able to work as a clinician for a while, but then later transition into data-driven nonprofit management, or conduct research, and I feel like my math and stats skills are not up to par. I don't think I'll be switching fields from nonprofit entirely, but we'll see. I have seen some great programs from Amberton, WGU and SNHU and University of Iowa now offers a part-time online MSW targeted at rural folks like myself which is very cool. Exciting times!
I don't think you need an entire degree in math to do that. Just take classes to build up your math skills. I would recommend a local community college, as I think that is one of the more challenging courses to to take online. Many schools have tutoring available, so I would make use of those services if necessary as well. You can do all of this as a non-degree seeking student, though for financial aid purposes, you may need to be part of a program. (That doesn't mean you need to finish it once you get through the classes.) A math degree would build up your math skills, but also introduce you to a lot that may not be relevant to you or that may not be needed. That time could be spent better on other pursuits. If it is for employment, rather than personal enrichment, people often seek out Ph.D.'s for specific purposes. Does it qualify you to teach? Are you going to try to do research? Is it required to be licensed in that discipline? I would also look at employment outlooks for your prospective Ph.D? How likely will it be for you to get work doing that, if you are expecting to do research or teach, for instance, rather than just having doing something you could do with simply a master's? There is nothing wrong with obtaining a Ph.D. without using it, but you should be realistic about your prospects before you embark on that journey. I do not know the figures for that field.
