Liberal Arts Program/Arts and Letters

I agree - Excelsior has a very flexible BS or BA in Liberal Studies - the BS allows up to 59 semester units of electives (including professional areas) so you can tailor the degree to your needs. You can obtain and transfer credit obtained through CLEP and DSST exams.

For bookkeepers I'm not aware that any qualifications are needed except being smart and reliable. I have worked with dozens of small businesses (5 to 15 employees) where the receptionist is also the bookkeeper, administrative assistant, receptionist, and various other positions. Obviously some accounting and business credits help.

 

Ian, thanks for the info! I always have my eyes open for safe career routes in the event my current occupation ends abruptly. When I read the above advice about accounting it seemed like a way to get to work quickly without licensing issues. A few indeed.com searches showed that with some accounting credentials a person could get a job almost anywhere in the country. My guess is that most organizations need to fill that spot quickly so they can get back to business.

 

I think Lamar University is a great fit for you. Check out their Bachelors of Applied Arts and Science program. They also offer computer science and general studies programs. They are affordable also.

LU Online - Lamar University - Undergraduate Programs - BAAS

 

I've always worked in the aerospace industry but in the late 80s the future did not look so good. That is why I obtained my MSQA because I could always get a job in QA, either manufacturing or service sector. Fortunately aerospace picked up and I kept my job (but looks to be on a slight down slide again).

 

I've been a police officer for 22 years, and have to accept the reality that I can't do it forever. One bad knee, some arthritis or any number of other problems can end it all quickly. I've had a lot of old friends who didn't have a good back up plan and fell apart after washing out. Down South we generally don't get to retire after twenty years, so you really have to plan for a second career. There just aren't too many 65 year old patrolmen.

 

Is it normal to just be completely clueless to what you want to do in life? I have no direction and guidance counselors aren't any help they just tell me things like "Well nurses are in demand why dont you be a nurse"

 

I think it's normal. Not everyone has a set plan. Maybe they never thought about it because higher education seemed like an impossible dream. Or life got in the way and they thought they were to old to start a new career after college. Or maybe they just can't limit their goals to just one. I have that problem. I'm passionate about several different things, so limiting myself to just 1 end goal is tough. But I have time for that. And so do you. Get the bachelors degree first. Be thinking about it and see what direction you head in. If you really, truly, honestly have no clue at all what you want to do, then get your undergrad degree in Liberal Arts/Liberal Studies. It's a good general degree that will allow you to try several different kinds of classes to see what you really like. Then you can move on to a certificate or masters degree in what you really want.

 

NMTTD - thank you I just feel very lost on what degree I should chase after. I enjoy many things but I honestly don't have a clue as to what actual major I should choose...hopefully Liberal Arts will at least give me some clue as towards what would be a good fit for me.

On a side note would you recommend Arizona State University online? I have been looking around but haven't seen much about the school.

 

Read Pathfinder:

Amazon.com: The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success (9780684823997): Nicholas Lore: Books

I wouldn't rely on the liberal arts to lead to a particular career. It seems to me that they more often just lead to more liberal arts, which is fine but not so reliable as a career path. At the end of that stream are a bunch of fish in a little tiny pond. If I could go back I'd take more career-oriented professional courses and finish with a marketable skill. You can always just read or do whatever interests you for free.

 

My bestfriend is getting her Liberal Studies degree from ASU and she loves it. She said she gets to take a wide variety of classes which is helping her narrow down her field of interest. I'm probably the wrong person to ask about ASU because I go there, and I LOVE it, but I will answer you anyway. YES. Arizona State is AMAZING. It's a tier 1 school, very well known and respected, RA (obviously), and the mascot is Sparky the SUN DEVIL, for crying out loud!!! Can't get much better than that!!

Anyway, not everyone who gets a liberal arts/liberal studies degree is stuck with only choices in other general degrees. As I stated, if you know you want to have a job with just the bachelors then the liberal arts/liberal studies degree is not right for you. It is a very broad, very general degree. Now, if the job you want only requires you have a degree and doesn't specify that you need a particular major, then this one would work just fine. Now, if you know you want to go on to get a masters but have no idea what direction to go in, then this would be a great degree. It helps you narrow down your focus and will be accepted for entry into ALMOST any masters program. I say "almost" because there are some programs that want you to have your undergrad in specific majors before you can get in. But that's easy enough to research.

I think, whether you choose ASU or a different school, you should research the liberal arts/liberal studies degree and see if it is a good fit for you. If it is, then by all means contact ASU. Here's the link to the ASU program. Liberal Studies (BLS) | Online Degree Programs | ASU Online

 

If you don't like the idea of the Liberal Studies degree, there's also another avenue you can go down. Its called a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies. You will have the chance to focus on 2 specific areas to get your degree. You do half your requirements in one area and the other half in another. This is good if you want to focus on 2 areas and want to more general degree. Here's that link, as well. Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) | Online Degree Programs | ASU Online

 

I've always liked ASU's web development program. If I was doing it all over again I would have knocked out my AS/AA locally and finished up with ASU.

http://asuonline.asu.edu/degree-programs/undergraduate/bachelor-applied-science-internet-and-web-development