Location: Texas, USA
Age: 21
Degree I am Seeking: Cybersecurity - Completely Online
Current Credits: 30-34

San Jacinto College:
Composition I (ENGL 1301) / TBD / A
Composition II (ENGL 1302) / TBD / A
British Literature I (ENGL 2322) / TBD / A
General Psychology (PSYC 2301) / TBD / A
Music Appreciation (MUSI 1306) / TBD / A
Business Computer Apps (BCIS 1305) / TBD / A
Intro To The Humanities I (TBD) / TBD / A
Federal Government (TBD) / TBD / A
United States History I (TBD) / TBD / A

Please note that the above information is not complete (TBD - To be determined) and will be updated ASAP. There will be a few more classes that will be listed and credits/names will be updated.

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits:
N/A

Certifications:
Google IT Fundamentals Professional Certificate

Budget: I have very little money to work with. I am a single mother. Right now, I am working with a FAFSA and possible PTK scholarship/scholarships
Commitments: I have my daughter, pets, and family.
Dedicated time to study: I can study as much as possible early in the morning and later in the evening.
Timeline: I am trying to complete my degree as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Tuition Assistance/Reimbursement: I do not have any reimbursement opportunities, but I will be receiving assistance with the FAFSA.

Introduction:

Hello,

I am fairly new to college. My parents did not attend, and my older sister has been pursuing her degree for about a year. In high school, I took dual credit classes (about 30-34 credits), so I do have some college experience. Initially, I planned to go to college within a year of graduating (2022). I had my eyes set on pursuing a degree in the medical field (albeit I never knew which route). However, my plans changed when I had my daughter. Now, I'm ready to go back to school and pursue a degree. I am trying to secure a degree that may offer remote positions so I can be around my daughter more. Right now, I am in line to pursue an associate of applied science in Cybersecurity in April in hopes of transferring to WGU afterward. My degree plan is entirely online. I have chosen to pursue the AS because I will have extra money leftover from the FAFSA, and I will qualify for the WGU PTK scholarship, which will hopefully leave me debt-free if I can graduate with a bachelor's from there.

Here's my issue: I lack confidence in my decision. I'm going into this degree almost blind. I've taken and completed the Coursera IT Fundamentals course, and I am in the process of completing a Cybersecurity fundamentals course. However, I may not receive the certificate for the Cybersecurity Fundamentals because of financial issues. Right now, I have audited the course's information. Alongside this, I have found freecodecamp, which I have dabbled in getting the free certificates that the website offers. Are there other free resources that I may be overlooking?

As a result of my lack of confidence, I keep backpedaling to a business degree route instead. I have experience in customer service, and I find that it may be more natural (therefore easier) to complete. Still, I want to pursue Cybersecurity, I just don't know how to go about it. I've got the motivation to put in the work, but I have my worries, and reasonably so.

Note: I have read a lot about people recommending CS instead, but I don't believe I have the mathematical ability to do well in that route. I struggle with statistics and a little in algebra. My strong suits are mostly writing, history, and sciences. Regarding the Cybersecurity route, I have noticed that some people recommend entering the field with a specific niche in mind. Is this correct? I know the field is very broad, and I still do not know the different professions well.

Thank y'all in advance.

Some interesting masters programs i noticed were in Photography, Interior Design, and Applied Computer Science for non majors.

They all seem to cost around 9k USD. 

https://www.tees.ac.uk/sections/onlinele...ourses.cfm

They started this back around 2020. There is quite a few courses at TESU that require no books. I took Introduction to Critical Reasoning (PHI-1300).


Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Courses

https://www.tesu.edu/academics/courses/ztc

Im nearing the end of my journey at TESU thanks to this forum (105 credits!). Looking at my program eval and I somehow skipped right over my Intro to Psychology! I started the Onlinedegree.com class and I'm not a fan of the format at all. Is there anything else besides TEL (takes me quite while to complete) that this can be taken?

I know Study.com and Straighterline both have the classes but couldn't find anywhere on the forum that says they're accepted by TESU. What about Sophias? Anywhere else? Thanks as always!

Can I use the digital book to look for answers during the final proctored exam of the Introduction to Religion REL 101 course at Straighterline? 

Thanks!

BA in Marketing 

https://www.futurelearn.com/degrees/busi...-marketing

BA in Design

https://www.futurelearn.com/degrees/huma...-ba-design

Both cost around 13k USD each. They are full degree programs (which means 360 credits UK system).
Not sure if they allow credit exemptions / transfers. 
Degree conferred by University of the creative arts

MA Marketing

https://www.futurelearn.com/degrees/busi...-marketing

MA Design

https://www.futurelearn.com/degrees/huma...-ma-design

These are 7k USD each. Can be completed in 1 year. 
Degree conferred by University of the creative arts.

Your Location: United States in Texas
Your Age: 33
What kind of degree do you want?: Easy MBA and 2nd master's degree
Current Regional Accredited Credits: TAMUC bachelor's degree
Any certifications or military experience? No
Budget: Degree costs don't matter to me under the range of doctorates/law school/art degrees.
Commitments/Dedicated Time To Study/Timeline: Can make my own time to do everything I need. I prefer CBE, but I don't mind taking my time slowly even if it costs more.
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: I'll probably start the degree slowly and acquire employer reimbursement if needed/possible depending on the options.

Lurker here, hi. I've completed a TAMUC degree, to share some experience. To be honest, I think it's better than UMPI overall [if you're really confident for purely convenience]. If you transfer in Texas Government, it's doable in one term too, if you blitz classes every few days. Even if not, Texas Government isn't that difficult as long as you save essay questions for post-tests. Unlike UMPI, you don't have to do an annoying Sophia lab, communication requirement, and foreign language. The tuition cost is covered regardless if you're in Texas or not, whether employer tuition reimbursement or loans. The name brand is better. UMPI seems to take more class work to do [although you get more "time" to do them]. I guess UMPI's advantages are the time to do all classes within one term "easily" [and not needing Sophia for speed if you don't like the format for some reason I guess], and that there's more degree "options" for IT. Anyhow, I'm looking to do an easy and fast master's degree [but not WGU, as I want non-proctoring]. I'm not interested in UMPI, I think it's worse than TAMUC and looking at posts here it has too much writing for the master's.

I'd like to get 2 master's degrees. The Professional Studies from Bellevue University seems easy and I don't care about prices due to how grad plus loans work. I'd like to get an easy MBA though as well and I'm not sure if they're the best option for that. SNHU also seems to be good, but I don't know how it compares. Also, I'd like to avoid math-involved MBA and excessive Excel. I'm aware that a good MBA consists of networking, the best accreditng, and it's ranking whatnot. That's not my priority, I feel like "2 master's degrees" is enough for job markets. I can always go to another college later in my life.

In summary or TLDR: Professional/Interdisciplinary Studies if possible. Easy as the priority and non-proctor, transfer of credits for a 2nd master's, CBE/competency would be good. MBA, prefer not to do a dozen essays 10+ pages, Brightspace maybe. Price and reputation doesn't matter much. Southern/mid-state universities preferred.

Preliminary Research: Bellevue University first non-CBE and/or SNHU probably. CBE University of Phoenix [easy?, don't care about bad reputation, MBA] fast option. CBE Purdue Global MBA looks difficult, but has Professional Studies non-CBE?
https://www.etsu.edu/online/graduate-degrees/interdisciplinary-studies.php
https://www.una.edu/interdisciplinary-studies/graduate/index.html
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-List-of-Cheap-Online-MBA-Programs-That-Can-Be-Completed-in-Under-1-Year

Online Course Provider 2U Faces Doubts It Can Continue (Inside Higher Ed)

Quote:Financially struggling 2U, one of the largest online course providers, has warned of “substantial doubt” it can continue in business, creating uncertainty for the hundreds of colleges and universities that use its services. [...]

The warning, in a quarterly filing on Monday, added more tumult to the already-uncertain landscape for online program management firms, or OPMs.
At the end of last year, 2U had more than $900 million in debt. According to the earnings report, if 2U cannot raise capital or amend or refinance its loan, which the company has already begun to do, there is “substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.” [...]

2U works with more than 250 higher ed institutions and partners. Inside Higher Ed reached out to a dozen that work with 2U, most of which did not respond to requests for comment. Representatives from Pepperdine University and the University of California, Berkeley, declined to comment. [...]

He pointed toward Academic Partnerships and Grand Canyon Education, both growing in the space, as potential buyers for 2U. Others have suggested a private equity firm, as those firms are used to acquiring debt. [...]

2U is one of the largest in the space, launching in 2008 and hitting a peak with the acquisition of industry giant edX in 2021. [...]

...a potential delisting of 2U on the NASDAQ stock exchange could be a catalyst for universities to cut ties. If a company’s stock price is below $1 for 30 days, the company receives a notice of delisting. It then has 180 days to raise the stock price, which could be as simple as a reverse stock split, which would boost the price. As of Feb. 13, 2U’s stock price was 57 cents per share.

Wow, Instructure Completes Acquisition of Parchment

Yes, the company/maker of Canvas has acquired Parchment! They're trying to grow the customer based and what an acquisition this will be for them.  Amazing really, 165 million credentials over two decades... 

Link: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases...51169.html


Avathon Capital Acquires Magical Beginnings
Link: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases...49406.html


Lifelong Learner Holdings announces the sale of PSI Services
Link: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases...46385.html


Language testing company ETS acquires PSI
Link: https://thepienews.com/news/testing/test...uires-psi/


Notre Dame High School Sold to Sacred Heart University

They're offering 50% off tuition to students accepted at Sacred Heart, about 20% of Notre Dame apply there.  Hmm, I guess they're trying to retain the flow from that high school and that's a good option, by purchasing the high school altogether...

Link: https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/loca...y/3208774/


Startup Nets $140 Million to Bring High-Tech Solutions to School Bus Rides

Zum says it serves more than 4,000 U.S. schools in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston

Link: https://www.wsj.com/articles/startup-net...s-ed7a7ee0


For-profit owner agrees to dismiss CEO, CFO as part of Education Department settlement

The agreement stems from accusations that International Education Corp.’s colleges violated federal student aid regulations.

Link: https://www.highereddive.com/news/for-pr...nt/707054/

Quick question about the managerial communications requirement in the BS CIS - 

Can the class MAN-3760 Leadership Communications be used to fulfill the requirement M. Communications Business/Managerial Communications?

Only the class MAN-3730 is listed.