Best degree program for enlisted Sailors?

2015-06-19T14:17:25-04:00

After a year in the Navy, I have finished "A" school and met with a college counselor in the Navy College office. As it turns out, between my previous college credit, and the credits I received for my ascension training, I am one class short of an A.S. in general studies, which I am going to finish post haste.

With that said, I am curious if anyone has any input on what might be a more "useful" baccalaureate degree to earn, once I finish my A.S. I am a submarine Nav ET, but I have been told that it is not necessarily essential to have a degree that is directly related to my rating. I have always had a strong interest in political science and economics; I was thinking about a poli-sci degree with a focus on international relations.

Any thoughts?

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2015 2:25 PM

2015-06-19T14:25:26-04:00

Electrical Engineering

Response by MCPO Brian Legg made Jun 19 at 2015 2:27 PM

2015-06-19T14:27:26-04:00

Well that depends on what you want to pursue either for commissioning or for when you separate.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jun 19 at 2015 2:34 PM

2015-06-19T14:34:06-04:00

You need to decide career goals. I would suggest, that if you are a submarine ET, you get your dolphins and qualify on all watch stations, before thinking about doing anything as far as a commissioning program. You'll get a lot more respect as an officer if you have experience as an enlisted man under your belt. I went for NROTC right after Nuclear Power School, so I didn't have any enlisted fleet time or a GCM. Both would have been nice to have.

If you are thinking about your own personal development rather than pursuing commissioning, then pursue whatever degree program interests you the most.

If you are seeking a commission, then you need to decide whether you want to go line or staff, and if staff, which community. Then you pick a degree that fits that staff corps. If you want to go line, then my advice, quite frankly, is whatever gets you the degree most quickly, because in fact your degree has little impact on your career field...

International relations might be a good stepping stone to an Information Dominance community career...

Response by PO2 Bernard Burney made Jun 19 at 2015 2:35 PM

2015-06-19T14:35:46-04:00

Michael it really depends on what you like to do. Do you like what you are doing now? If so, then you might look into electrical engineering, computer science, telecommunications or networking. There are a number of ways you could go.

Hope this helps.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2015 3:07 PM

2015-06-19T15:07:12-04:00

hey I did the same thing now I'm trying to settle on a BA. Embry Renold is who I'm talking to at the moment

Response by PO2 Skip Kirkwood made Jun 19 at 2015 7:20 PM

2015-06-19T19:20:05-04:00

At the associate level, it really doesn't matter. Do the "general studies" stuff so that when you decide what you want to pursue as a career, you can focus on your major subject your next two years.

Unless you have specific professional goals that require a particular degree, study something that interests you, that you can do well at. I know very smart physicians who have undergraduate degrees in English, and very smart lawyers who have undergraduate degrees in Engineering. But they all got GOOD GRADES in those undergrad programs, to get you in to the later degree programs.

Good luck with whatever you pursue. I started as a bubblehead HM, got a general studies BS, an MS in Health Services Admin, and a law degree. And soon I will retire as the chief of a county paramedic service. Full circle. Go for it!

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Jun 19 at 2015 8:59 PM

2015-06-19T20:59:04-04:00

There is no "best degree program". You have to decide what you want to do and how you want to go about it.
My only advice is to make sure the college / university is one where the credits can transfer and that the degree is actually a degree.
I have seen some people to go ITT Technical institute and its not a true degree program, its more of a certification program that sits somewhere at the Associates or Bachelors level and the other thing is that the credits are non-transferrable to other universities or schools, they are only good at ITT. Same thing with a few other colleges. Again this is just what I am being told by some people who went there.
Either way get your Navy career going whether its going to be 4, 6 or more years.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 19 at 2015 11:22 PM

2015-06-19T23:22:46-04:00

As a Nav ET you're equivalent to a surface QM, so you're absolutely right that a degree in that field would necessarily help you advance in your career. Or as a civilian or Officer for that matter.

It all boils down to what you want to do as others have stated. Political Science is a good degree to have both as an Officer and in the civilian sector from what I've heard if that's the field you want to work in.

On the other hand if you want to work in say IT, it would be best to pursue a degree coupled with certifications in that field, and a good school for that is WGU or University of Maryland. UMUC also has an excellent Master's Program in Cyber Security that is accredited by the NSA, and one must actually have a security clearance to even enroll in the program.

Response by PO1 John Meyer, CPC made Jun 20 at 2015 9:56 PM

2015-06-20T21:56:54-04:00

Make sure to do your research concerning what's in demand. You don't want to get a degree in something like liberal arts, which has no practical application in any job other than to teach liberals arts.

I recommend you use ONET at http://www.onetonline.org/ to do your search. You can search for political science or economics or probably even international relations. This web site will tell you what skills are required for the job, what tasks you can be expected to perform, what the employment trends are for the job, and what you can expect to make doing the job. There's more information you can get from this web site, so these are just a few things you can see.

O*NET OnLine

Response by CPO Brian Heath made Jun 21 at 2015 5:57 AM

2015-06-21T05:57:11-04:00

Computer Science

Response by PO1 Russell Henson made Jun 21 at 2015 10:06 AM

2015-06-21T10:06:44-04:00

Follow you're heart and plan for the future. If you have the determination to succeed , then you will make the sacrifice of time and studying to make it work around your military obligations .

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2015 1:19 AM

2015-06-22T01:19:26-04:00

Any thing that you get will help you. It will always give you that leg up when in going in for a new job so I would go for one that you have a craving to learn about, it will always help you to knock it out quicker too.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2015 8:42 PM

2015-06-23T20:42:44-04:00

I find that I have a nice aptitude for work in my rate, I have been pursueing an A.A.S. in Electrical Tech

Response by PO2 Chad Jackson made Jun 24 at 2015 4:17 PM

2015-06-24T16:17:31-04:00

It doesn't matter as long as you use your benefits. A lot of vets never use what they earn

Response by CPO David Welsh made Jun 25 at 2015 7:55 PM

2015-06-25T19:55:36-04:00

So far, I cannot find a problem with any of the previous comments. Most everyone seems right on target, even the one's who found that life was the most important goal for them. I finished a BA with double majors of Criminal Justice & Psychology prior to retirement and then pursued MA in CJ & MS in Social Work because I wanted to go into counseling. Now I work at the VA. That said, finish the AA & then consider your options. A business degree is never a bad choice & is useful in a wide variety of fields, military & civilian. CJ is pretty useless unless you are in that field specifically. Psychology is useful at the masters level. If you want to stay in, the Political Science may be useful, but probably not for an electrician. Right now you have time and youth on your side so there is no emergency to pick a career. Everyone is also right on the money about benefits. Vet benefits paid for all my schools. I think I maybe has less than $5000 out of pocket for all three of my degrees over 7 years of schooling. That counts tuition, books, parking passes & meals. Just make sure the school is accredited. Talk to the universities on station, most of those are accredited. Also, do not pass online degree programs. Many of these are accredited through universities and may be available while your are on deployment. I think my alma mater, Columbia College of Missouri has online programs as well as University of Texas at Arlington, and other state universities. Good luck in whatever you do from here on out.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 20 at 2015 2:03 PM

2015-11-20T14:03:11-05:00

Sometimes the first criterion of picking a degree is money at the expense of enjoyment of a new career. I suggest you do not do that.

Response by PO3 Gary Crispell made Nov 24 at 2015 7:51 AM

2015-11-24T07:51:01-05:00

Molecular biology

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2015 7:55 AM

2015-11-24T07:55:47-05:00

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Still enlisted on subs? Commissioned? Private sector cubicle commando? Stateside or abroad? Business world? Government job? They're all valid, honorable pursuits, but only you know what's right for you. Once you have that question answered, develop a plan to get yourself there.

And always be asking yourself "what will I be doing in 10 years?" Next year, ask yourself that same question. And the next year. And the next year.....

I have a Political Science BS from Texas A&M University, earned before I enlisted. A lot of my classmates went to law school, teaching or government jobs. A few went into politics. I became a Houston Police Officer. Being a Fortune 500 CEO is not in my future. It's a broad degree and somewhat marketable in the right fields. Just ask yourself if it is right for you.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2015 8:42 AM

2015-11-24T08:42:23-05:00

Echoing what others have said in this thread, figure out your career goals first before deciding on a degree program. Your goals don't have to be carved in stone in fact I think they should be flexible because you are only human and interests change over time which will necessitate a change in goals as well. The thing I tell my sons (repeatedly because they are teenagers and it takes time for stuff to sink in) is to find out what interests you, learn as much as you can about it, and then find a way to make money at it. Sure Poli Sci or International Relations might be good marketable degrees but does that interest you long term? Maybe, maybe not. At the end of the day (or more precisely first thing in the morning) if you are not charged up about getting up and going to work when it is time you won't be happy.

Response by CPO Ed Ball made Nov 24 at 2015 9:19 AM

2015-11-24T09:19:28-05:00

Tough to say, train of thought immediately goes to those with a college degree flipping burgers at McDonald's. Perhaps society isn't that bad, but those with a degree searching for a higher paying position is a dime a dozen unless you select an area in high demand. i.e., Physician, Pharmacy Manager, Software Architect, Software Development Manager, Financial Manager, Solutions Architect, Lawyer, and Analytics Manager to name but a few for 2015. Demographics in your area may vary based on industry or population in the region. Good Luck!

Response by PO2 John Crutchfield made Nov 24 at 2015 10:44 AM

2015-11-24T10:44:54-05:00

Back when I got my BS degree from UofPhx in '99, the choices for non-traditional programs were few. Today, the choices are endless. Traditional schools have gotten into the game too, which is fantastic because they don't differentiate between online and traditional programs when it comes to the degree. Arizona State, Colorado State, Penn State, and Wisconsin are several schools that offer online programs. One online program that has a great track record is Capella. I have several friends that have graduated from there with Master's degrees. They were all sponsored by DOD/DOE govt entities. Good luck in your search.

Response by CMDCM Richard Moon made Nov 24 at 2015 11:04 AM

2015-11-24T11:04:52-05:00

Your cart is sitting squarely in front of your horse. The first thing(s) you need to do is become qualified and focus on being successful as a Sailor. Develop relationships with your shipmates, find a mentor, discuss with people who know you and can help you figure out what you want and need. There is too much unstated to give a useful opinion on this kind of forum.

Response by PO2 Mark Bates made Nov 24 at 2015 11:06 AM

2015-11-24T11:06:29-05:00

Business or Accounting. Either of those will serve you well in your life after the NAVY.

Response by CWO3 Bryan Luciani made Nov 24 at 2015 11:27 AM

2015-11-24T11:27:44-05:00

Some solid advice already in this string. No one knows you as well as you. A written long term plan (meeting your desires and goals) is the best start. You don't want to waste money and effort in a degree that is useless. Even if you stay for 20, you will need it when you get out. Take a good look at the job market and align yourself to be competitive. A Poly-Sci / Intern. Relations degree is great for a commissioned officer with aspirations to be a senior/flag officer in today's world, as well as many government leadership positions. If that's your goal, it's not a bad choice.

Response by CPO Sultan Camp made Nov 24 at 2015 11:48 AM

2015-11-24T11:48:22-05:00

One of the BEST tools that I've found is LinkedIn's University Finder where you can get a data driven decision based on what major/employer and geographic areas you're looking at. Here is the link. Let me know what you think https://www.linkedin.com/edu/university-finder

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2015 12:16 PM

2015-11-24T12:16:57-05:00

Follow your heart. Don't just get a Bachelors in anything, do what intrest you. The money will come, the opportunities you want will come. The most important thing to do is to get that degree though. Don't stop, don't waste time. Time is finite, once it's gone, it's gone. TA pays for it, all you have to do is give up a fraction of your time.

Response by PO1 Charles Norris made Nov 24 at 2015 12:35 PM

2015-11-24T12:35:54-05:00

Figure out your personality type and consider your future. If you want a degree that is related to your rate then start looking around. If you want a degree that is meant to help you post Navy career then start looking around.

I'd start at mynextmove.org/vets. then head on over and take the O*NET personality profiler assessment tool. It will ask you 60 questions and it's trying to figure out your interests based on how you answer the questions. It will spit out a lot of jobs that are broken up into Job Zones (Education Requirements)and then you can see what you may OR may not want to look into.

Regardless, research is key and be honest with yourself. Use O*NET and mynextmove.org in tandem to figure out where you would stand, education wise, with the rest of the folks in the field of your choice. If they all have a BS, then consider getting your BS and following it with a MS. Start while you're in and use TA. This will minimize the amount of Post 9/11 you'll need and make it cheaper to get your MS as you'll still have Post 9/11 left to use.

Response by PO1 Aaron Baltosser made Nov 24 at 2015 12:45 PM

2015-11-24T12:45:43-05:00

Earn a degree anyway, even if it is not required for your rating. You can use TA to offset the cost usually unless budget restrictions come in to play. Even earning a general studies degree like an Assiciate of Arts puts you in a good position to complete a higher level degree where you can get more specific like a Bachelos of Science. Higher learning is definitely worth the time and effort. As for the best degree program, that's like 'the best pistol' conversation. You need a degree program that meets your end goal of a particular degree, fits you well, and feels right. Good luck.

Response by CAPT Douglas McDonald made Nov 24 at 2015 7:31 PM

2015-11-24T19:31:18-05:00

One that includes information you are really interested in ..

Response by PO2 Brad Fletcher made Nov 24 at 2015 8:26 PM

2015-11-24T20:26:22-05:00

The best degrees are in the hard sciences. Best ones to keep you employed that is.

In my experience people with liberal arts degrees have lower paying positions. The degrees I've seen most veterans get are in Business Administration.

Response by PO2 Brad Fletcher made Nov 24 at 2015 8:26 PM

2015-11-24T20:26:45-05:00

The best degrees are in the hard sciences. Best ones to keep you employed that is.
In my experience people with liberal arts degrees have lower paying positions. The degrees I've seen most veterans get are Business degrees.

Response by PO2 Michael Henry made Nov 25 at 2015 12:30 AM

2015-11-25T00:30:29-05:00

Figure out what you want to do with your life. Are you staying in until retirement or going to move on to civilian? If staying in, enlisted or officer? Getting a degree in your field would be easier, but if it isn't what you want, you are wasting time and money. I would recommend the STEM degrees, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math personally, but you also have to figure job opportunities. If you want to go political science and economics, research the degree plan and job market. Also see what you can do about turning that AS degree into one with a specialty. General studies and liberal arts don't equate to much because it doesn't teach a trade. You are more well rounded but no specialty training. You can transfer that degree to another school and pick up credits towards another AS or AAS degree with a specialty and have something to fall back on.

Response by SCPO Joshua I made Nov 25 at 2015 5:40 AM

2015-11-25T05:40:30-05:00

Poli-sci is an absolutely useless degree. In every way.

Econ, maybe.

International relations? Hell.

What are your career goals. What do you want to do? Yes, you don't need to get a degree in the same field as your rate. But if I were going to get a degree in today's world (I'm finishing an MS right now), I would be looking at the STEM fields, engineering specifically, because you can get a job with those degrees.

Response by PO1 Kevin Arnold made Nov 25 at 2015 9:03 AM

2015-11-25T09:03:48-05:00

Just pick one that is close to where you are stationed and accepts your experience for college credit. Yes there are several online courses but going to a class on base or some where close has no comparison. I was able to go to several classes on base and walk across a stage to get my Bachelors and Masters degree. I had to go back to sea for my Associates degree so it got mailed to me; however, I got to go to all my classes in various places around Oahu (Chaminade University).

Response by MCPO Stewart Powell made Nov 27 at 2015 12:43 AM

2015-11-27T00:43:43-05:00

If uou are going to try for a commission, any degree will do. If you are trying to advance your knowledge then go for what field really turns you on ! I was lucky enough to get a couple of degrees in my chosen fields. My AT, GF, AX, And AV ratings gave me 57 hours towards my EE degree and my Instructor and instructor supervisor schools helped towards my Masters. I served on the CNET executive staff which also helped later in life. My Navy schools helped to get both instructor and administrative credentials in the California community college system. The best way to get good advice is to choose a major, then a good school then get advised by the department head or dean of the specific college ( ie: engineering or whatever ) . The admissions folks go by a check list so their advise is suspect. You might also talk to some of the students in your prospective school. Most important is to look back from the doctoral requirements and salt your degree plan with electives that satisfy pre reqs. for an advanced degree. You wouldn't want to compete with a large group of accounting freshman when satisfying a pre req for an MBA You need an "A" or A "B" to trmain in most masters degree programs.

Hope this gives you some direction to chase your dream !!

Stu Powell
Stewart R. Powell, AVCM (AC) USN Ret.

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Response by MCPO Rick Martin made Nov 28 at 2015 8:56 PM

2015-11-28T20:56:09-05:00

Good on you for working on your degree! I can only speak for myself. I didn't start my college degree pursuit until I was an E-7 trying to get advanced to E-8. The first year I posted my A.S. I was advanced. I continued on and got a BS in Occupational Education - all paid for by GI Bill. After I retired from the Navy as an E-9 FC, I got a GREAT job in an Aerospace Company initially teaching electronics, but quickly moved into Management. I can tell you that Aerospace is hiring a LOT more people with technical degrees - Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering and are also paying them a LOT more ($100K plus). Being an ET, you should have no problems pursuing either of these degrees. My thoughts.

Response by SCPO Frank Carson made Jun 30 at 2017 3:52 PM

2017-06-30T15:52:52-04:00

Political Science is a top paying major if you do it right. Do not go to a diploma mill school. In stay with schools like Arizona State, and Penn State. It really depends on what you want to do. Make your company pay for it, if it is the Navy or the company you work for afterwords. All the best! SCPO BA Political Science, MBA

Response by PO2 Evan Pruss made Jun 12 at 2021 12:28 PM

2021-06-12T12:28:18-04:00

I would suggest something related to finance.

Response by PO3 Pamala McBrayer made Nov 17 at 2022 11:37 PM

2022-11-17T23:37:29-05:00

I hold a BBA degree in economics and enough pol. Science credits to have a second major. These days, I actually favor TRADES. Get a degree in BUSINESS, like I did. It is a USEFUL DEGREE. International relations? Ehhhhh whatever. If you want to work for the government, a BA/BS or MASTERS in accounting, finance, or public administration is a better bet. Statistics or Mathematics is seeing a high demand these days…people need help understanding raw data. The current generation of great number crunchers is retiring!