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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?
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?
Higher Education
College
Career Advice
Navy
ET: Electronics Technician
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 38
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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.
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.
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Suspended Profile
PO1 John Meyer, CPC,PO1 Michael G. ONET is great. Just wanted to add that you may want to bookmark bls.gov. I've used it since I separated and started school. The stats cover a lot, including earnings/geographic areas hiring greatest numbers/etc. It will help you consider specific jobs and good places to look for them. I'd also keep your linkedin and indeed profiles up to date.
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Well that depends on what you want to pursue either for commissioning or for when you separate.
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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.
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.
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LCDR (Join to see)
If you are going to teach STEM is the way to go. Most of the teachers out there today did not do a Math and or Science degree as their undergraduate. Therefore there is a great need for "real" math and science teachers and with that degree they will always pick you over a coach.
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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.
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.
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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.
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PO2 Michael Henry
The problem with that approach is that you are never done getting qualified. By the time you finish that "last qual", you are either getting out or moving to another command and starting over. Even the "golden boys" in our division were never done. I had to get DC312 qual'ed when going for my SW on my ship because I was an E-5. I was an FC with an automatic E-4 in my contract. Started at E-3, E-4 9 months later and E-5 at 2.5 years (1 year on the ship). Wasn't that bad but getting the classes needed were hard. College was advertised but not possible because everyone was getting quals done. Our chiefs put too many hurdles in our way to clear so we could work on something that would benefit us in the future. I put 5 years in but am 2 weeks from my 2nd AS degree in 3.5 years since getting out. Had a year off in between degrees. 1 in (AS) Electronics Engineering Technology and the other in (AAS) Network Administration with plans for a BS. We get points for degrees and it opens the door for bigger and better things, however some of the quals we had to get are pointless. Most serve a real purpose but some are head scratching. I agree with everything else you said, the mentor is to keep you focused, fellow shipmates to bounce ideas, stories and life lessons, learn from your superiors. You have to got to do something that will benefit you provided something happens and your time in is cut short. I developed hypothyroidism and sleep apnea while in but was undiagnosed until about 2 years after getting out. It severely hampered my time in, mentally and physically, and couldn't pass PRTs as a result. Medical never bothered to inform me of any test results while in. I found out later when I requested my records.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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Suspended Profile
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...
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...
CAPT (Join to see)
I'll disagree here. If you want to seek a commission, don't hesitate. The amount of "respect" you earn because you qualified such and such as an enlisted person is negligible. I was enlisted briefly but went for my commission right away. I don't regret that for a second. If I would have held off so I had a little more fleet experience I would have first, not qualified for the commissioning program I qualified for and the secondly, the programs are competitive enough without placing artificial limits on yourself. Make yourself competitive for the program, most definitely, but don't wait for anything else. As for what degree you get, first, figure out what you like and also consider how competitive that will make your package. Engineering degrees are certainly considered more highly and more competitive than other degrees but those other degrees aren't deal breakers either. People come out of the Naval Academy with Poly Sci degrees so, consider that the discipline doesn't matter one for one.
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CAPT (Join to see) if you read my profile, you'll see that I was enlisted for 1 1/2 years, and made MM2 during that time. But sadly, in my case, pulling the trigger when I did meant the only option for me was 2 year NROTC. NESEP had been ended and ECP started a year or two after I was commissioned. Had I delayed, it's possible things could have gone south and I wouldn't have gotten into a program, but who knows?
I really do wish I had had enough E time for a GCM and a warfare pin...
I really do wish I had had enough E time for a GCM and a warfare pin...
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