Goal: Finish Bachelors and Masters in 18 months

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by jobee, Sep 6, 2010.

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  1. jobee

    jobee Member

    I have a goal, which is to be completed with both a bachelors and masters in the next 18 months. My wife thinks I am crazy, am I? I am in the business world, but would be fine with a liberal arts degree. Unlike some I don't mind a Big 3 for a masters program. What path do you think would work best?

    Here is my background:
    1. I've taken about 120 undergrad units from various sources for both business classes and general liberal arts stuff
    2. COSC says that I am 5 classes away (including capstone and cornerstone) from a Bachelors in Business
    3. Have 27 FEMA Units, sent transcript to TESC
    4. Have 18 Graduate Level units from RA in Liberal arts
    5. Have not done testing yet (DSST), but finished up a Straighterline accounting course in 9 hours with an A.

    Here are some of my thoughts:
    1. Finish up at TESC with as many CLEP/DSST exams as possible and concurrently enroll in their "bachelors to masters" program. Take those 9 dual credit units, along with transferring my 12 units and I'm only left with 5 classes for a Masters in Management.

    2. Get the quickest bachelors degree, then consider the Masters in Liberal Arts at Excelsior. Transfer in 15 units, and only take 4 classes plus write a thesis.

    3. Other ideas?
     
  2. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Yes, you are crazy...that's why you fit in here with us at Degree Info! :) If you have 120 undergrad units, you are probably pretty much done with your bachelors, unless there are specific required classes that you have missed taking. My bachelors was only 115 units.

    National University, my master's degree alma mater, is fairly quick. They have a one class per month format and I found myself sailing through my master's. It was a ridiculous amount of work and I didn't have much of a life during the process, but I finished my masters in about 14 months.
     
  3. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member


    Have you considered the WNMU MAIS? If you take it over two years the tuition is very reasonable.
    Virtual Campus - Online Programs

    APU has a variety of masters degrees that can be earned rapidly and at a reasonable cost:
    APU Masters Programs
     
  4. rcreighton

    rcreighton New Member

    Yes, it can be done. Will it be easy, no probably not. You are very close to a bachelor's degree and should try to complete it via whatever avenue is quickest for you. While you are doing this, look around at some of the various accelerated Master's degrees that are out there. I started Ashford's MBA program in late September, 2009. I will finish it in early December of this year which is just over 14 months from start to finish. (433 days, but who's counting??)
     
  5. jobee

    jobee Member

    Thanks Ian. I do like the WNMU program and price, however I feel like I would be taking too many classes with their 6 unit masters transfer maximum.

     
  6. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

  7. mark74

    mark74 New Member

    Jobee,

    If you don't mind my asking, what drives a goal of having a master's degree in any subject in 18 months? I think the traditional motivation for a master's degree is to obtain (and have documented) a certain amount of knowledge or skill in a particular discipline. But that does not fit here.

    Is it to meet a requirement for something (I can see that particularly for the BS)? Is it simply a personal goal? Something else?

    I am just curious, not criticizing. Good luck!

    Mark
     
  8. JBjunior

    JBjunior Active Member

    I feel the same way as you but he is going for an MA in Liberal Studies/Arts..... not much to master there.
     
  9. jobee

    jobee Member

    Most of the folks that I know are people are seeking bigger, better and faster. I work in an industry where people try to optimize the goals as much as possible, my degree is no different. Many of the posts on this board are around how they can get their degree faster, for a lower cost, or for a better learning experience. I'm not looking to take a short cut on the materials, just optimize the approach giving the masters level courses that I have already taken.

    I figure if I set a goal, and tell my friends and family about it, I will have both my own aspirations and my team backing me up. I guess I'll bring the degreeinfo folks in on this tell you that 18 months from January 1, 2011 I will have achieved my Masters Degree from a RA. There, I feel better now :) I'll repost this once it has been completed.

    Cheers

     
  10. jobee

    jobee Member

    Agreed, thats why my #1 option was to master the management program at TESC. I don't want to feel like I don't have other options, so thats why Liberal studies is in there.

     
  11. mark74

    mark74 New Member

    Thanks, Jobee. Makes perfect sense. FWIW, if I were you, I would do the Management program, even though it will take a bit longer. I think it is worth the extra time.

    Good luck with whatever you choose.
     
  12. jobee

    jobee Member

    So I wanted to give you guys an update on my progress. Y'all have been fantastic and a great source of information and knowledge. I ended up finishing my Bachelors in Business from Excelsior College. I just applied for Graduation in an RA MBA program, and I am scheduled to graduate May 2012. Woo hoo! If I pass my last class, then I will have met my goal of getting the Bachelors (completion) and Masters in 18 months. Horray! How did I do it? I took what they call "maximum load", which is 5 classes per term (4 classes during the summer)

    You guys were right, the liberal arts would have sucked. I am a business person, and non business related subjects are not areas that I can follow or have interest in. Happy Holidays, I'll respond again once I graduate.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 22, 2011
  13. Psydoc

    Psydoc New Member

    And, your sanity level, on a scale of 0 - 10, is _______________?
     
  14. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Actually, I would say his work ethic level is an 11 (on a scale of 10) :smile:
     
  15. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Congratulations, very impressive.
     
  16. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Or maybe a -10...he might have done all his school work when he was "on the clock"!!!
     
  17. jobee

    jobee Member

    I would have to give myself an 8, my wife would say it is 11 since i've been neglecting her. :) No really she is really supportive, and that made this all possible.

     
  18. jobee

    jobee Member

    I would say my work efforts did not suffer. I spend a lot of lonely nights in hotel rooms on business travel. Instead of being in the bar or at the local gentlemans club, I spend my time studying and researching with a laptop and wifi. It's great.
     
  19. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    No kidding....I took the maximum course load at UMass-Lowell for my first Master's, which was 3 per semester plus 2 in the connecting summer session, to reach 33 credits in one academic year, and it nearly drove me to insanity and/or chronic alcoholism.

    Congratulations to jobee, though....an admirable accomplishment and a perfect example of the power of DL/online education.
     

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