How to earn degree while in Navy?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by sympatheticear, Aug 21, 2004.

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  1. My son score extremely well on the ASVAB (88) with perfect scores in language/comprehension and is considering a career in the Navy. He has about 20 lower division units completed and would like to finish his degree while enlisted. Since he has very strong language skills, I feel he should attempt some of the DANTES exams to earn easy credit and take classes for the remaining subjects.

    He has some fluency in Japanese and is hoping for a post in Japan. Does anyone know what RA universities work with the armed forces so enlisted personnel can work on their degree? Any experiences to share?
     
  2. italiansupernova

    italiansupernova New Member

  3. DCross

    DCross New Member


    Hello,


    I was in the Navy, and have done this. I was an Electronics Tech (ET) in the navy. This Rating is one that equates to many credits toward a degree. I got 43. I think the only one that is more is the Nuke program, which is too much stress. I would probably go thru one of the big three. I know with Excelsior, he would just need a few more classes for the associates degree. The Cleps and Dantes could take care the rest. You can look at their website to do the military conversion thing.

    Darren
     
  4. Mustang

    Mustang New Member

    There are several universities that work with the U. S. Armed Forces. The largest is the University of Maryland - University College. I completed my undergraduate degree with them while on active duty in the Navy. They granted me about one year of credit based upon my military education and experience.

    Aside from the University of Maryland - University College, there are several more.

    Fred
     
  5. 4Q

    4Q New Member

    Tell the recuiter to provide information about how Navy training interfaces with civilian education. If the recruiter used education as a selling point (most do), he should be prepared to provide details on how it works in the Navy.
     
  6. Ted N

    Ted N New Member

    Most military bases have college programs on them. The trick is being at a base long enough to complete the minimum number of residency credits that a particular school requires.

    In getting my degree from the University of the State of New York (now Excelsior), I combined credits from navy schools and several different colleges. This included courses I took from the University of Maryland - University College when I was stationed in Bermuda, Iceland, and Yokosuka, Japan. Many of the larger ships used to offer college courses using visiting instructors through a program called Program for Afloat College Education (PACE). This program may still be available but I haven't read anything about it recently.

    The three major programs on the base in Yokosuka in 1998-1990 were:

    Central Texas College (Associate Degrees)
    University of Maryland - University College (Bachellor Degrees)
    Webster University - Master's (mostly in management)

    The programs and colleges vary by base and is the reason why it is difficult to meet the minimum residency requirements of any one school and why many get their degrees from Excelsior route.

    Ted N.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 21, 2004
  7. spmoran

    spmoran Member

    Troy State has a bunch of campuses on many military bases, and has several bachelors degrees that can be completed online. Old Dominion has campuses on some of the Navy bases here in Washington State. From what I have seen, unlike when I was in the military 25 years ago, there is no shortage of educational opportunities on base for those in the military. A likely exception, based on what I've read from linuxman's posts, is in Iraq and other combat areas.

    Sean
     
  8. w_parker

    w_parker New Member

    I would also look into applying for an ROTC scholarship--earn your degree, do a few years active or reserve duty, then make up your mind if you want to make a career of the military. As I am Army, here is the Army link-- http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/index.jsp
    and the Navy link-- https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/

    Bill
     
  9. Glenn

    Glenn New Member

    I was a Hospital Corpsmen in the Navy and was able to earn an AA, BS and MBA all in less than 5 years. At Camp Pendleton there are many colleges on-base, when I was stationed in San Diego I was able to take classes at a local university. To accommodate our schedule, many of the classes were accelerated. The best part was the Tuition Assistance (TA), if you're son plays his cards right he can earn his degrees debt free. I do not much about the DANTES; I just used schools around the bases.

    It is possible to earn a few degrees while in the service, just depends on the individual. I also knew many sailors and marines who spent the nights and weekends drinking their checks away. Now I can drink the nights away with a few college degrees.

    :)
     
  10. capper

    capper New Member

    I think it really depends on the rating your son chooses. I went through the Nuke Program which gets awarded many credits from many different universities. I ended up choosing Thomas Edison State College and was awarded 75 credits.

    TESC has degree completion programs for many Navy ratings. Going to sea makes completing a degree hard, especially on submarines, but it is possible.

    Mike
     
  11. Michael Lloyd

    Michael Lloyd New Member

    My wife put twenty years in the Navy, retiring in 2000 as a HMC (SW). She accmulated credits all over the darn place, and ended up getting her degree from Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) which seems to be a real popular school amongst military personnel. After she got out, she got her MHA from Chapman University, also a very popular choice for the military.
     
  12. Rob L

    Rob L New Member

    Sympathetic ear:

    I was a navy electronics technician (ET) stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. Besides what some of the other members have mentioned, another option for your son could be to earn as Associate Degree through University of Phoenix's military credit recognition program. I earned my Associate's Degree through Phoenix by:

    1) Phoenix giving me 21 credits for my navy electronics training.

    2) Passing the english comp w/essay Clep

    3) Passing the college mathematics Clep

    4) Passing the Natural Sciences Clep

    5) Passing the Sociology Clep and Introduction to Management Clep

    6) Earning "A's" in the following Central Texas College Courses: Psychology, Biology, and American Government.

    7) Passing Phoenix's required EML299.1. Basically, EML 299.1 consists of writing two essays on why your military experience and education makes you more prepared for real world challenges.

    Although the Associate Degree by itself provided me little utility, it was a great stepping stone towards earning my Bachelor's and Master's.

    Anyway, here's the link if you are interested:

    http://www.phoenix.edu/aacr/aacr.asp
     
  13. Thanks for input

    I see Coastline College is an affiliate school of SOCNAV where my son has taken classes. He should be able to finish AS through them and then move on. I don't want him to use up all his education money on UofPhoenix just on an AS degree. He is hoping for Yokosuku, Japan so he can polish his Japanese, but who knows where he'll go. He has stated an interest in Crytology so he can join CIA or FBI or other law enforcement agency when he returns to civilian life.
     
  14. Ultimale

    Ultimale New Member

    My .02

    Hi Sympatheticear,
    Here's my .02; to add to the good advice given in this thread. I was the Department Ccareer counselor at 2 of my duty stations. The Military offers almost unlimited options in obtaining a degree. Have him consider the NAVY (Navy RULES!!!) or Air force (Ugly uniforms), as they seem to allow more time for education. Marines and Army are very busy these days, but they do have the coolest uniforms and they get to play with guns.

    Step one: Pick a rating (Intelligence, corpsman, Nuclear, Operational specialist, etc) Find a rating that he would enjoy, and receive the most credits for. Be aware that some ratings spend a LOT of time at sea, while others spend almost no time at sea. Find out from the recruiter what the Sea/Shore % is. I was a corpsman and never left San Diego. It is much easier to finish your degree when you are on shore duty.

    (Corpsman is a good rating to look at, the Navy needs them, low sea time, Yokuska is a duty station, he will be a EMT upon graduation from Corps school, recieve lots of credit for A school, and eligible to be an LVN/ PN when he is finished with his school.)

    Step 2: Visit www.BAin4weeks.com . This is a tremendous site which will give him proven strategies to follow Greg's lead: AA, BS, MBA. If he enters with a plan, he will achieve much more than if he has an idea.

    Step 3: When he is finished with Boot camp, A school, Possibly C school; he will be given a primary duty station (ship, shore). When he checks in, he will have to get fully checked into the command. Have him go directly to the Command Career counselor. Here is where they will know what forms to fill out for receiving ACE credits, how to recieve tuition assistance, take CLEP exams, Dantes, etc.

    Step 4: Follow his plan. Take as many CLEPs and Dantes as he can, and realize that his 4-6 years will go by super fast. When he is done, he will have at least a BS, and maybe an MBA like Glen! (great job Glen)

    Good luck!
     
  15. gsmckee

    gsmckee New Member

    Old Dominion

    Don't forget to look at a number of schools in the Navy College program.
    Old Dominion has fabulous coursework on CD.

    Here's the link for Old Dominion University:
    http://www.dl.odu.edu/navycollege/

    Good luck
     
  16. gsmckee

    gsmckee New Member

    And...

    And if you look around the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University site, I think there is a new minor program in Security/Intelligence
     
  17. Ted N

    Ted N New Member

    Re: Thanks for input

    I know the percentages have probably changed but it is pretty hard to run out of money. Tuition Assistance used to pay for 75% of the course. This is separate from the GI Bill. I used the TA program as much as I could and then used my GIBill money for my Master's and Ed.S. after I retired.

    Ted N.
     
  18. w_parker

    w_parker New Member

    The current Army policy is $4500 a year for tuition assistance. They pay 100% of tuition up to a cap of $250 per credit hour, and if you have the GI Bill you can use it as "top up" to pay the remaining tuition. Alternatively, you can also use your GI Bill on active duty. I spend roughly $7500 a year on tuition using a combination of all the above. I am preparing to start an MBA program this spring term, and still have roughly 24 months left on my GI Bill, so in combination of TA and the GI Bill I will get my MBA paid for by the Army. The education benefits are there, and all soldiers (sailors, etc.) are foolish not to take advantage of this benefit.

    Bill
     
  19. mourningdove

    mourningdove New Member

    Your son should contact his education officer on his ship or on a large base. There is usually someone designated to do this and on larger bases they would have more expertise. Actually most online schools have military folks. It should be fairly easy to get a list of those who have an agreement with he military.

    The important thing is to get a school who will give college credits for military schools and rate. ACE publishes a national guide which most academic libraries carry. An education officer or the college counselors should know about this. Navy boot camp is 4 credits. Also rates within a specialty counts too. For instance an E3 and above should get additional credits above the schools attended. Unfortunately I didn't know about this and could have had at least a full semester or 2 of credits for boot, corps school, field medical, and rate.

    Some schools that I am familiar with that I have a military following include:
    Baker College (www.baker.edu)
    St. Joseph's College in Maine (www.sjcme.edu)
    American Public University System (www.APUS.edu) - Look at AMU or APU
    Southern New Hampshire University www.snhu.edu

    Good luck. He will need reliable access to the Internet which most Navy personnel don't seem to have a problem with.
     
  20. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    For us active duty military types, the first stop is the base (or other service equivelant) education office. The services are there for the military member to take advantage of.

    As far as which colleges to look at for military members, the DANTES and SOC links are excellents sites. Here is one that is specific to the Navy. https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/

    Don't worry, your son won't have a problem with burning through his tuition assistance. My associates through masters (soon to be completed) are all courtesy of tuition assistance and I still have almost three years of GI Bill left to use up.
     

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