MBA or MSIT?

curtisc83

I current work for the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Center (SPAWAR) in Afghanistan as a Sr IP Field Specialist. I have over 10 years of experience in my field and enjoy it. I have a AAS in Computer Network Engineering and now a BS in IT, Network Management. I currently hold certifications such as A+, Network+, Security+ and Project+, and MCITP Server Administrator.

Prior to any of this I was a U.S. Army Paratrooper (25F) stationed at Fort Bragg and did two tours overseas OIF 1 and 3. I have lots of free time and am wanting to go back to school. I know once I get back to the states whenever that is I will have less time.

So here is the question. I am wanting to take my career to the next level and at the very least future proof it. Also I am a Tech and know as I get older I may want to get into management. So the million dollar question is should I get a MS in IT or a MBA?

lunchbox67

MBA
Everything in your background takes care of tech experience

xbuzz

MBA, without a doubt.

HLRS

I am honestly against MBA, if you are looking for a job in IT, MSIT is the way to go. why take MBA? I just see MBA bunch of boring business courses. How hard and how much do I need to know to Administer a Business. and to study that 1-2 years? no thank you . Also MSIT can stand as a prerequisite for Ph.D in IT. with MBA you can't jump to Ph.D in IT. with a MBA you can continue to Doctor of Business Administration.

it doesn't teach you any valuable skills. I believe ROI with MSIT would be better. I would go for MSIT. There are more MBA grads out of work than MSIT believe that! Companies can just hire a BBA graduate to run their business rather than pay more for MBA. but you can't replace the knowledge learned in MSIT. IT will be always in demand. Businesses go out of business regardless if there is 50 MBA's working in that company.

NotHackingYou

If you want to get into management, MBA. WGU offers a a Master's in IT Management, which might be up your alley. MBA in Technology Management | Online MBA | WGU College of Business Online

xbuzz

HLRS wrote: »

I am honestly against MBA, if you are looking for a job in IT, MSIT is the way to go. why take MBA? I just see MBA bunch of boring business courses. How hard and how much do I need to know to Administer a Business. and to study that 1-2 years? no thank you . Also MSIT can stand as a prerequisite for Ph.D in IT. with MBA you can't jump to Ph.D in IT. with a MBA you can continue to Doctor of Business Administration.

it doesn't teach you any valuable skills. I believe ROI with MSIT would be better. I would go for MSIT. There are more MBA grads out of work than MSIT believe that! Companies can just hire a BBA graduate to run their business rather than pay more for MBA. but you can't replace the knowledge learned in MSIT. IT will be always in demand. Businesses go out of business regardless if there is 50 MBA's working in that company.

The thing about IT though, is that alot of the times, an IT degree technically is behind the times. Skill wise, most IT degrees specialising in networking, will only have the equivalent level of skill of a CCNA (often times the CCNA course is done, but students don't have to sit the actual exam, only an easier university made exam). In Networking Masters courses, alot of universities follow the CCNP curriculum. So in reality, you don't need a degree to get the technical abilities to do well in IT.

The op stated his interest in eventually moving into management as he gets older. It's what alot of people do and MBAs help alot with promotion in those scenarios. I have alot of friends with technical degrees, EE, mechanical engineering, IT degrees, and when they all have a few years experience and are looking to get promoted, they all say how Business degrees are where the money is.

The OP already has a degree in a technical discipline, so I would say, unless he wants to stay in the technical side of IT, and hates any notion of moving to management, a business masters is the way to go, and even if he wanted to stay in the technical side, there's alot of technical industry certifications (such as CCIE) that command alot more respect and wages than any technical masters programs currently available for IT.

jmasterj206

MBA. You already have the technical background with your current education. With an MBA you always have another option if you decide to leave IT.

jm0202

I was in the same dilemma a couple of months ago. I guess the questions is: What do you want to be?
If you want to be a CISO i heard a lot of comments that the MSISA at WGU will give you the tools to be a good one. In the other hand if you want to be just a IT manager go for the MBA

curtisc83

xbuzz wrote: »

The thing about IT though, is that alot of the times, an IT degree technically is behind the times. Skill wise, most IT degrees specialising in networking, will only have the equivalent level of skill of a CCNA (often times the CCNA course is done, but students don't have to sit the actual exam, only an easier university made exam). In Networking Masters courses, alot of universities follow the CCNP curriculum. So in reality, you don't need a degree to get the technical abilities to do well in IT.

The op stated his interest in eventually moving into management as he gets older. It's what alot of people do and MBAs help alot with promotion in those scenarios. I have alot of friends with technical degrees, EE, mechanical engineering, IT degrees, and when they all have a few years experience and are looking to get promoted, they all say how Business degrees are where the money is.

The OP already has a degree in a technical discipline, so I would say, unless he wants to stay in the technical side of IT, and hates any notion of moving to management, a business masters is the way to go, and even if he wanted to stay in the technical side, there's alot of technical industry certifications (such as CCIE) that command alot more respect and wages than any technical masters programs currently available for IT.

Awesome advice!!! And it was already mentioned and I have too agree a MBA might be a good way to re-brand yourself.

the_hutch

Really depends on if you are looking for a technical position or if you are wanting to do management. Personally, I have no interest in management, so I'm doing my masters in IT.

curtisc83

the_hutch wrote: »

Really depends on if you are looking for a technical position or if you are wanting to do management. Personally, I have no interest in management, so I'm doing my masters in IT.

I don't have a urge to get into management either. But who's to say 5-10 years from now I won't feel different. I can just see me being a 40 year old tech and some snot nose kid is my boss....LOL.

curtisc83

CarlSaiyed wrote: »

If you want to get into management, MBA. WGU offers a a Master's in IT Management, which might be up your alley. MBA in Technology Management | Online MBA | WGU College of Business Online

That's a great suggestion. But WGU isn't online friendly to those that work in a war zone with crappy internet and no learning centers.

MiikeB

Im over here at Leatherneck and am starting my MSISA from WGU on September 1. I plan to have my MSISA and my MBA within the next 3 years. I chose to pursue my MSISA here because I want my MBA to come from a more respected business school than WGU, and all other schools generally require streaming lectures and live chats that are not really an option here.

For the certifications in the MSISA program from WGU I believe there are two pearson/prometric centers in country. I think the one here on Leatherneck is closed for now though of an investigation from Prometric. The taskstream assignments only require having internet access for a small time, the certs you can study for with books/videos (I know we have a large repository of CBT nuggets over here).

Honestly though if you have no learning center and no good internet, how do you expect to complete any degree? Do you not have any access to the commercial internet providers? I know they are pretty expensive but at least its a decent speed and stable.

MiikeB

curtisc83 wrote: »

I don't have a urge to get into management either. But who's to say 5-10 years from now I won't feel different. I can just see me being a 40 year old tech and some snot nose kid is my boss....LOL.

I agree, I mean I am only 24 and working back home I have hit the high end of what I think most technical roles will pay, about $130k for a normal office job. In order to go higher you have to be very specialized or management/executive level.

curtisc83

MiikeB wrote: »

Im over here at Leatherneck and am starting my MSISA from WGU on September 1. I plan to have my MSISA and my MBA within the next 3 years. I chose to pursue my MSISA here because I want my MBA to come from a more respected business school than WGU, and all other schools generally require streaming lectures and live chats that are not really an option here.

For the certifications in the MSISA program from WGU I believe there are two pearson/prometric centers in country. I think the one here on Leatherneck is closed for now though of an investigation from Prometric. The taskstream assignments only require having internet access for a small time, the certs you can study for with books/videos (I know we have a large repository of CBT nuggets over here).

Honestly though if you have no learning center and no good internet, how do you expect to complete any degree? Do you not have any access to the commercial internet providers? I know they are pretty expensive but at least its a decent speed and stable.

LNK is HUGE I sent a couple months there before I headed up to Camp Stone. I was not a fan of LNK to say the least. The answer is easy I am going to attend Liberty University. They don't require proctors so that makes everything significantly easier for me. Also I want to attend a school that has a decent Football team for grad school. Just a personal preference. I actually have some of the fastest internet in country when I'm at my home base....I am SPAWAR after all :P But I am always going from base to base (VSP's COP's, Huts in the middle of nowhere...LOL) installing or fixing SPAWAR MWR systems so for me to arrange a proctored test would be a pain in the ass if not impossible due to the nature of military travel. I'm sure if I REALLY wanted to I could attend WGU but its just too much trouble and LU is dirt cheap for a veteran anyways. If WGU could waive the proctor thing it would be doable but it still wouldn't be the type of school I want to attend since its just online. Not trying to offend anyone here I know this forum is pro WGU and I think thats wonderful and it is a great school from what I can see. Just not what I am looking for.

curtisc83

MiikeB wrote: »

I agree, I mean I am only 24 and working back home I have hit the high end of what I think most technical roles will pay, about $130k for a normal office job. In order to go higher you have to be very specialized or management/executive level.

Do you make that in the states or in LNK? I always hear of those company's that use edu level for promotions or some sort of payscale that you uses your degree level as your pay grade. My company doesn't do that but who's to say the next won't. On a scarier note one day a Masters degree might be considered the new HS diploma....LOL... wouldn't that suck.

MiikeB

curtisc83 wrote: »

Do you make that in the states or in LNK? I always hear of those company's that use edu level for promotions or some sort of payscale that you uses your degree level as your pay grade. My company doesn't do that but who's to say the next won't. On a scarier note one day a Masters degree might be considered the new HS diploma....LOL... wouldn't that suck.

Thats what I made at home in Virginia before I came here. I make a decent chunk more over here but believe it or not this is almost like a year long vacation for me too. At home there is tons of stress all the time, go to work and deal with stress, social commitments after work, errands to run, whole house to keep clean, being on call, fiance wants to go do stuff like shop etc etc. Out here, I work then I go back to a can that takes 5 minutes to keep clean and do whatever I feel like which is allowing me to pursue things I am interested in. I guess its not really a vacation, but more akin to a sabbatical from life that happens to pay really well.

HLRS

wait, u made 130k/year??? what are your credentials, if u don't mind? thats a lot man

curtisc83

MiikeB wrote: »

Thats what I made at home in Virginia before I came here. I make a decent chunk more over here but believe it or not this is almost like a year long vacation for me too. At home there is tons of stress all the time, go to work and deal with stress, social commitments after work, errands to run, whole house to keep clean, being on call, fiance wants to go do stuff like shop etc etc. Out here, I work then I go back to a can that takes 5 minutes to keep clean and do whatever I feel like which is allowing me to pursue things I am interested in. I guess its not really a vacation, but more akin to a sabbatical from life that happens to pay really well.

LOL...good I was thinking you were getting 130k out here. My brother is actually in LNK and belive it or not he makes like 140k. All he has is his A+ and works at a helpdesk (no military service). So for him that's great. And I do know what you mean back home it is more stressful in a different way. Out here you do your job and go chill. One reason I want to knock out a Masters before I leave here. Not sure when that is but just want to get my ducks in a row prior. Do you have a LinkedIn profile by any chance?

MiikeB

curtisc83 wrote: »

LOL...good I was thinking you were getting 130k out here. My brother is actually in LNK and belive it or not he makes like 140k. All he has is his A+ and works at a helpdesk (no military service). So for him that's great. And I do know what you mean back home it is more stressful in a different way. Out here you do your job and go chill. One reason I want to knock out a Masters before I leave here. Not sure when that is but just want to get my ducks in a row prior. Do you have a LinkedIn profile by any chance?

I don't, I plan on starting one up here soon. I'll PM you the info when I make it.

curtisc83

MiikeB wrote: »

I don't, I plan on starting one up here soon. I'll PM you the info when I make it.

I have my public LinkedIn url listed on my profile just friend me on it whenever.