new to distance learning - suggestions on IT / MIS degree tracks

I am a System Admin with 12 years of experience in IT (2 of which have been administration, 3 of which have involved management / tier 3 support).

I have completed 2 years worth of general education requirements at a local community college.

I have also completed my CCNP and am currently working toward my MCITP Enterprise Admin certification.


I am new to the distance learning world, but am interested in the quickest path to an accredited IT / MIS bachelor's degree.

I have system experience with Win 2003, 2008; programming experience with scripting & PHP / SQL; and network engineering experience.

I don't know if I will continue to a master's degree or not, but I don't want to let the credits I have earned go to waste.

Any suggestions on how to begin?

Thanks

 

Since you have two-years (60 credit hours / 20 courses) worth of general education requirements completed you might consider earning an AA/AS/AAS immedately and then utilizing the the certifications towards a BA/BS. I reason I suggest getting the AA/AS/AAS first is simply to give you a valid academic credential as soon as possible and it will show employers you are serious about furthering your education. For the AA/AS/AAS, Thomas Edison State College (TESC) is probably the quickest though Charter Oak State College (COSC) is another contender depending upon the distribution of the general education courses you have already completed.

As for which schools might best serve your BA/BS needs, I think Thomas Edison State College (TESC), Western Governors Unversity (WGU), and TUI University (TUIU) will each allow you to earn a BA/BS in a relatively short period of time. TESC allows you to transfer in 100% of credit hours requirements. WGU uses a competency model rather than specific courses. TUIU courses are on DVD and the assignments are mostly paper writing. Obviously, there are other fine schools but you did say you are "interested in the quickest path to an accredited IT / MIS bachelor's degree."

 

I'd highly recommend WGU of that list. I graduated there in 2007 and was in much the same situation as you are with some minor differences.

(I had an undergrad in another field already but not much transferred over if anything.. I have an MCSE and a bunch of work experience in integration and that waived a swath of the third year.)

Other side of it is I got into good masters programs after graduating there, so putting the year or two into the degree hunt won't serve you badly.

Best,
A

 

This comes into mind - and has been discussed here a while ago - just search

http://www.itmasters.edu.au/