Considering degrees to advance career or continue with certs

After I finish my Cisco CCNA I've been seriously thinking about going back for my Bachelor's/Master's degree still undecided it would only take me about 2 years at most maybe a year and a half with my transfer credits for the Bachelor's longer for Master's degree these are what I'm considering from WGU:

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology—Network Administration or Security then move onto
Master of Science Information Technology—Network Management

I keep going back and forth on it would likely need to be online-based since I work full-time now but I debate do I really need it at this point of where I am in my career:

I currently have:
Associate's of Applied Sciences degree, Information Technology-Network Systems Administration
5 IT certifications (A+, Network+, MCP, MCSA, CCENT, CCNA(hopefully soon)
6+ years of work experience (PC Technician, Desktop Support, Systems/Network administration and engineer roles)

Thoughts TechExam members? I just want to get some opinions I know at the end it's my call.

The only reservation I have is the financial side not necessarily the time. I considered maybe waiting till I'm in a role with benefits such as tuition reimbursement/assistance. A master's degree is also a personal goal of accomplishment that would be great to have under my belt.

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Comments

Dakinggamer87

I finished my first term 5 weeks ahead of schedule. I'm taking a week or two off before I jump into Linux+!!

Dakinggamer87

I thought I would update my progress at WGU for my B.S. IT - Security degree:

I'm currently on track and ahead of schedule. I should be able to finish in less than 2 terms maybe 1 1/2 depending on how it progresses. So in a year or less from now I will have my Bachelor's degree and then I can transfer over to my Master's shortly afterwards.

Remaining classes:
Principles of Management - MGC1
Literature, Arts and the Humanities: Analysis and Interpretation - IWT1
Database I - CJV1
Software Development Fundamentals - DJV1
Organizational Behavior and Leadership - BNC1
Designing Customized Security - C299
Technical Writing - SBT1
IT - Security Capstone Written Project - RGT1

onatechmission

I am just starting WGU- BS IT program as well (Jan 1). From the looks of it, I only have these courses left to take besides the technical writing/capstone:

CJV1: Database 1
CUV1: Web Technologies
TPV1: Project Management
MGC1: Principles of Management
BNC1: Organizational Behavior and Leadership

The first 3 courses I'm sure I can knock them out due to them being certification based….As far as requesting the voucher, would I have to complete assessments for the courses prior to requesting the actual voucher ?

Dakinggamer87

onatechmission wrote: »

I am just starting WGU- BS IT program as well (Jan 1). From the looks of it, I only have these courses left to take besides the technical writing/capstone:

CJV1: Database 1
CUV1: Web Technologies
TPV1: Project Management
MGC1: Principles of Management
BNC1: Organizational Behavior and Leadership

The first 3 courses I'm sure I can knock them out due to them being certification based….As far as requesting the voucher, would I have to complete assessments for the courses prior to requesting the actual voucher ?

Awesome looks like you won't have that many classes to finish it. I got a little to go myself maybe 1 1/2 terms at most.

You work with your course mentor and need to get a certain percentage or score on a pre-assesment exam prior to the actual assessment. Then once you have satisfied that requirement your mentor will approve the assessment which you will then contact WGU for a voucher.

It's a pretty easy process after you do it once or so.

onatechmission

Thanks Dakinggamer87. I am shooting to finish up in one term hopefully

. I am trying to progress myself and move into a higher role (Virtualization) in the mist of attending WGU.

Dakinggamer87

Same here trying to finish in less than 2 terms and for virtualization I would focus in on VMware technologies.

Dakinggamer87

Making great progress since I started at WGU this year in February. I've finished 3/4 of my degree so far onward and upward to the new year!!

Dakinggamer87

Update on my progress at WGU for my B.S. IT - Security degree:

I'm currently on track and ahead of schedule. I should be able to finish in less than 1 term by the end of the Summer/Fall (August/September). Then I can transfer over to my Masters of Science: Information Technology Management degree shortly afterwards.

Remaining classes:

Designing Customized Security - C299
Software Development Fundamentals - DJV1
Technical Writing - SBT1
IT - Security Capstone Written Project - RGT1

olaHalo

Glad to see youre still chugging along man.
I only have my capstone and technical writing left, so we are pretty close

Dakinggamer87

olaHalo wrote: »

Glad to see youre still chugging along man.
I only have my capstone and technical writing left, so we are pretty close

Yep that we are!!

I know I'm taking a trip to Japan once I finish lol..

anoeljr

Dakinggamer87 wrote: »

Yep that we are!!

I know I'm taking a trip to Japan once I finish lol..

Nice lol.

srabiee

Let me know when you start the MS:ITM degree. Not a lot of people are taking or have taken this degree, so if you need help with any of the material I can try to provide some support. Some of the tasks (it's 100% performance assessments, i.e. papers) have really vague instructions. Some of the course mentors are extremely helpful though, others not so much. One class was between course mentors (he became unexpectedly ill, long-term) and didn't have any help at all.

Dakinggamer87

srabiee wrote: »

Let me know when you start the MS:ITM degree. Not a lot of people are taking or have taken this degree, so if you need help with any of the material I can try to provide some support. Some of the tasks (it's 100% performance assessments, i.e. papers) have really vague instructions. Some of the course mentors are extremely helpful though, others not so much. One class was between course mentors (he became unexpectedly ill, long-term) and didn't have any help at all.

Awesome thanks much appreciated!! I will definitely let you know

I'm hoping to start by end of the year or January at the latest..

Dakinggamer87

I'm soooo close currently working towards my CCNA: Security which I hope to finish by the end of next month. Then do my Scripting and Programming class hopefully within a month's timeframe. The last months leading up to the August/September goal I am shooting towards will be doing the Technical Writing and Capstone Project courses.