On the way to completing a BA at Thomas Edison State College I enrolled in an AA at American Military University. The BA has been earned but I have a few credit hours remaining to finish the AA. I am contemplating applying to Charter Oak State College in the BS (Individualized Studies) degree and putting the unused credit hours from the AA towards the BS. What are your thoughts?
Your sig indicates that you have already signed up for the UoL LLB and applied to a Master of Forensic Science program. I think the most productive use of your time is in moving forward with these programs, instead of being sidetracked by the pursuit of a second bachelors degree. The UoL LLB is difficult enough to complete when it's the only thing you're working on, and you're already trying to add a masters program to your plate. I know you feel like you're "wasting" the credits, but why go to the trouble and expense of obtaining a second bachelors if it's just going to delay your pursuit of the degrees that are your ultimate goal?
I think that Fortunato has made a good point but I'd want to add something. I've known some people (on this board and other places) who have a very diverse collection of credentials. They've got a few different sorts of degrees, certs, CAGS, etc. and it's hard to look at them all and see any sort of comprehensive plan. Now some of those people will say that they are just pursuing areas of interest and that it's not necessary for all these credentials to hang together. For example, someone might be a computer professional with an MBA but they're also a History buff and so they're working on a Masters degree in History. The History degree is not part of a career plan. I think that's an interesting and good thing that someone might earn a degree almost as a part of a hobby. Other people might tell you that there actually is a connection between their seemingly diverse credentials and that they actually do hang together as a career plan. That's also an interesting and good thing. What I would ask of sentinel is, does earning this second Bachelors degree serve a purpose? Is it part of a career plan or the pursuit of an area of interest (as in the hobby example). If the answer is yes then I can see moving ahead with the plan. If the answer is no, and it's just a way to use loose credits, then I'd agree with Fortunato. Focus your efforts into your projects that are already in process.
I have three years to complete the AA before the deadline imposed by the school so there is plenty of time to wrap-up that degree (5 courses). After abandoning two on-campus degrees during my younger years I hate leaving anything unfinished these days. There is no doubt the LLB will consume most of my available study time during the next two or three years (September through May). As for the Master of Forensic Sciences degree the courses start monthly allowing plenty of flexibility in scheduling those 12 courses during the next three years; my original thought is no more than 4 graduate courses over a 12 month period with April through May reserved for reviewing courses for the LLB examinations in May/June. Now all I need do is win the next multi-million dollar lottery.
You raise a valid argument so I will explain my rationale. Earning the second bachelor degree would serve a purpose in as much as I could use the extra credit hours from the AA in combination with the credit hours earned as part of the undergraduate certificate in digital forensics in part to elevate those credit hours into a degree rather than a certificate. Also, the issue of credentials on business cards comes into play; it is awkward to put any variation of "Computer & Digital Forensic Investigation Certificate" on a business card, but adding a simple BS flows more professionally and many professionals, especially lawyers, tend to list both earned BA and BS degrees if they have such degrees. With only 5 courses remaining before finishing the AA and 3 years left to earn those credit hours I cannot foresee a conflict sufficient enough to negatively impact the LLB and MFS. The MFS degree will probably be strictly for my own intellectual curiosity and as such a slower pace is not an problem. There are other professionally-oriented graduate degrees I would like to earn eventually though for the time being career-wise the LLB is the most important. I have a few professional certifications which tie neatly into the LLB that will hopefully open a variety of career opportunities as I transition into a new career. Never think for a moment I am not listening nor hearing your thoughts, comments, opinions, and words of wisdom. Thank you.
