Have an IT degree? Want to continue school? What next?

Let me give you some background about myself, which may be similar to many of you.

1. 12 years of IT experience.
2. BS in Information Systems
3. Pursuing MS in Cybersecurity Policies

I am doing quite well in my career and I am not looking to necessarily change my career, except to advance it. After completing my current pursuit, I intend to pursue an MBA, which I am not looking to debate... it is two-fold: 1) I will attend the university of my dreams, 2) it will advance my career.

Anyhow, I love learning and I know that school is not a requirement for learning, but I think that I would like to get another degree at some point in my life. Here is a short list of what I have considered:

1. Doctor or Jurisprudence: I have always like arguing and substantiating my position. I have taken law courses in both high school and my undergrad and I did quite well. In addition, I have many friends that are attorneys and they have parlayed that into something else in the future. I also believe that it would assist in advancing my career, as C-level folks tend to be lawyers, whether or not they have ever practiced law (which I would not). There has been a lot of discussion on this front, so I don't want to get on a tangent about this.

2. Architect/Engineer: This was my first passion; I decided to go this route when I was ten years old. I took drafting, advanced draftings, and computer-aided drafting in high school; I actually quite disliked CAD... the reason was I didn't like the computer getting in the way... odd considering what I do now. In addition, I did a short internship in high school. Life happened and I discovered that I could make a nice living working in IT without deferring earnings for five years. One of my favorite books and movies is Ayn Rand's, The Fountainhead. Anyhow, my dream university (which I intend to attend for my MBA, and which I originally wanted to attend for their School of Architecture) has a special program for those that already have a degree. Let me add that their current tuition is $40k/year... I would not be going there for at least four years, likely more.

3. Nursing: Don't get me wrong... I don't want to be wipe people's rears, and I don't have an overarching desire to care for people directly. However, for current degree holders, one can attain an RN in 18 months or less. My alma mater actually has an accelerated BSN/MSN program. My intent here would be alternative income stream, a fallback. Plus, it could help advance my possibilities of healthcare IT.

4. PharmD: I would love this from the option for another career. I have looked for second jobs and they just don't pay in IT unless you can line up enough quality side work on your own. With a PharmD, I could easily have a six-figure job or a rather substantial second job working a rather flexible schedule allowing me to keep my current full-time work. This would be a HUGE undertaking, however.

5. MS in International Relations: It would be fun... and it could assist in my current career. If I want to become a senior leader in a company, it would definitely help in an international company or organization.

6. MS in History: I like history, that would be about all of the utility I would gain.

7. MS in Economics: I like economics and discussing economics... maybe it would help me in getting an IT leadership position in an organization that has an economics mission.

8. Philosophy: I am an amateur philosopher... I don't exactly need school for this, bottom-line.

Those are roughly in order of preference, but not precisely. What options would you take, assuming that you enjoy school enough to endure it more for pleasure or you have a plan that would advance your career assuming you have that sort of ambition.

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Comments

Raidersfan81

Nursing is always one of the top 3 career choices on every career ranking. You can't go wrong there. There will always be sick/injured people in the world and nurses will always be needed.

N2IT

International relations with a foreign language.

My friend worked for AT&T 13 years as a PM never made more than 85K. Around the year 6 mark in this 13 year run he started back with Spanish and Portuguese. When year 13 hit he started looking for a new job, one where he could use his Spanish and Portuguese. He finally locked on to a service utility company. He now travels down to Mexico, Columbia, Brazil, and Peru. He now makes mid 100s and progressing rapidly. No PMP, No Agile, No SCRUM, just a little bit of Six Sigma a lot of real world knowledge and a big fat pay check. They are looking to promote him to a C level employee in Latin America. Soon salary won't mean anything it will be bonuses. You gain a modest 200-300 per year but can bonus out at 500,000 or more. Now that to me sounds realllly good.

Not saying you should do that, but that is how he leverage his skills into a soon to be C level position. I know you are trying to get to the top and this example is really all I can offer.

He has his BS in CIS, he developed for 5 years before transitioning into his PM role. That is his background.

My personal opinion is International relations with a foreign language or Finance.

whatthehell

PharmD would be good, but some things to note:

1. Yes there is nation wide interest in Pharmacy, but that is Nation Wide interest. Depending where you live, there may be an overabundance of Pharmacists, making it hard to get a job. For example, everyone wants to live in Southern California. Due to this fact, I know many Pharmacists that can't find jobs because there are quite a few out here already.

2. If you already have a good IT background (which it appears that you do), I would strongly suggest looking into a Pharmacists Informaticist position. Basically, this is someone with an IT background that has the medicinal background from a PharmD education. You will most likely be tapped on to have input in developing software for meds and or to verify meds for software, etc etc. You may even manage some of these systems. I know quite a few people in the medical field, and they are saying that this is a pretty good emerging market. You can actually do a rotation for a Pharmacist informaticist role at some schools now, but it does take some research to find.

3. You are going to have to take all the pre-reqs, and do pretty well if you want to go to a good school ,let alone a school in the US. You will most likely have to take the PCAT, and will most likely need at least 1 year experience as a Pharm Clerk and/or a Pharm Tech.

The reason I know so much about this is that I was looking into this too. The only thing is, I am almost in my mid 30s, and see this path as being at least 6-7 years to accomplish. Who knows what the demand for Pharmaticists will be at this time? I enjoy IT more and find it interesting. On the other hand, I don't think I have ever find chemistry to be fun, let alone Ochem, etc.

Just want to give you the 411 on this. If you can do it, have enough energy and time to dedicate to it, and are willing, best of luck to you and keep us posted!

Good luck either way!

NOC-Ninja

PharmD. They make more money than nurses and its not pure labor like nurses.
Health care is also very stable compare to technology. Sometimes, I wish that I was in health care.

Priston

PharmD or Architect/Engineer.

powerfool

I guess my real question is what would you do (as in a program I didn't mention) based on your background and desires. Just really want to see what sort of interests others have here.

the_Grinch

PharmD could prove difficult depending on what your background is. In my state, most of the programs are 6 years starting at the undergrad level. They will review your transcripts, but usually at most they will let you start as a second year student (again this is in my state, it could vary from state to state). Nursing seems to have it's ups and downs with hiring, my sister got hired right out of school, but the class after her (and after that one) have been having trouble getting hired. Ultimately, nursing is a solid field though. Engineering, it really depends on what speciality you are looking to pursue. Civil engineers are having a bit of a rough time given the economy and no one building.

If it were me, I'd go to law school since you have the security background. A lot you can do with that degree, versus the others you have on the list. I'd have to agree with the Philosophy, I've looked into going back for that degree as I think it could really have an affect in the IT world. Have you read Atlas Shrugged? Really great Ayn Rand book, also I suggest you listen to "Philosophy Who Needs It?" which is a talk she gave at West Point. You can listen to it for free online....

powerfool

the_Grinch wrote: »

PharmD could prove difficult depending on what your background is. In my state, most of the programs are 6 years starting at the undergrad level. They will review your transcripts, but usually at most they will let you start as a second year student (again this is in my state, it could vary from state to state). Nursing seems to have it's ups and downs with hiring, my sister got hired right out of school, but the class after her (and after that one) have been having trouble getting hired. Ultimately, nursing is a solid field though. Engineering, it really depends on what speciality you are looking to pursue. Civil engineers are having a bit of a rough time given the economy and no one building.

If it were me, I'd go to law school since you have the security background. A lot you can do with that degree, versus the others you have on the list. I'd have to agree with the Philosophy, I've looked into going back for that degree as I think it could really have an affect in the IT world. Have you read Atlas Shrugged? Really great Ayn Rand book, also I suggest you listen to "Philosophy Who Needs It?" which is a talk she gave at West Point. You can listen to it for free online....

As for PharmD, I have had a great difficulty in finding a suitable program for someone that is working full-time. I believe a university in Florida has an online program, but it would still be a mind-boggling undertaking for someone working full-time. Unless I want to switch careers, or there is a new option that surfaces, I am going to have to cross this one off of my list.

As for engineering, I would do architecture. I doubt I would do any work in that area outside of satisfying my own wants and needs; it is just something that I have always wanted to do.

As far as law school, I have been leaning that direction for a long time. Indiana University has a part-time JD program in Indianapolis, so it would be an ideal fit. Also, since I am not planning on practicing law, there are new online JD programs that don't qualify folks to take the bar, in states that have an educational requirement (do any states still exist that don't have that requirement?).

I am a huge fan of Rand and I consider myself a student of Objectivism. Probably enough said there.

I believe Atlas Shrugged may be the most influential book on my life... and the odd thing is, it didn't change a single one of my views... I had independently arrived at many of the same conclusions/views long beforehand. As a matter of fact, after watching many interviews with Rand, I had arrived at the same place long ago using many of the exact same words and phrases. The one that sticks out most clearly is calling "socialism" a philosophy where everyone is a slave to everyone else. I guess it kind of goes back to Kant's view that it is the same "pure practical reason" that we all share independently.

As far as online philosophy goes, Harvard's most popular course is titled "Justice" and they have placed a semester online with reading materials and discussion boards at justiceharvard.org. I was expecting it to have a more biased slant to it, but it is fairly even, so far.

w_w_w

I like the idea of the JD. You could leverage it and your IT/infosec experience to find all kinds of interesting work in cybercrimes, governance, forensics, etc.

whatthehell

powerfool wrote: »

As for PharmD, I have had a great difficulty in finding a suitable program for someone that is working full-time. I believe a university in Florida has an online program, but it would still be a mind-boggling undertaking for someone working full-time. Unless I want to switch careers, or there is a new option that surfaces, I am going to have to cross this one off of my list.

As for engineering, I would do architecture. I doubt I would do any work in that area outside of satisfying my own wants and needs; it is just something that I have always wanted to do.

As far as law school, I have been leaning that direction for a long time. Indiana University has a part-time JD program in Indianapolis, so it would be an ideal fit. Also, since I am not planning on practicing law, there are new online JD programs that don't qualify folks to take the bar, in states that have an educational requirement (do any states still exist that don't have that requirement?).

I am a huge fan of Rand and I consider myself a student of Objectivism. Probably enough said there. I believe Atlas Shrugged may be the most influential book on my life... and the odd thing is, it didn't change a single one of my views... I had independently arrived at many of the same conclusions/views long beforehand. As a matter of fact, after watching many interviews with Rand, I had arrived at the same place long ago using many of the exact same words and phrases. The one that sticks out most clearly is calling "socialism" a philosophy where everyone is a slave to everyone else. I guess it kind of goes back to Kant's view that it is the same "pure practical reason" that we all share independently.

As far as online philosophy goes, Harvard's most popular course is titled "Justice" and they have placed a semester online with reading materials and discussion boards at justiceharvard.org. I was expecting it to have a more biased slant to it, but it is fairly even, so far.

Never heard of an online PharmD program! No way in heck would you be able to work full-time and do a PharmD though --- it's just waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much work!

veritas_libertas

w_w_w wrote: »

I like the idea of the JD. You could leverage it and your IT/infosec experience to find all kinds of interesting work in cybercrimes, governance, forensics, etc.

If you are insisting on the choices you've given than I would completely agree. That is quite a load of work though.

UnixGuy

you like The Fountainhead, and you like philosophy..I think a degree in one or both history+philosophy is great for you. I wish I could do the same myself..