How long should it take to complete a bachelor's on active duty?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 15:45:29 -0500

I want a second Bachelor's degree while on active duty. Yes, I also want a Master's but I don't see that as urgent and I'm okay with getting my Master's degree when I separate. I plan to get this degree completely online. It won't be possible yet until I have everything I need. I figure, I might as well get the degree now rather than later. Any advice is appreciated.

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My first Bachelor's is in Management and Music-Vocal Performance (I was able to Double Major). I would like to get a Master's in Vocal Performance/Opera AFTER I leave active duty, and attempt to come back in as a military musician (likely reserves). To me it never mattered what branch of the military either. For the type of Master's I want it really can't be done online. However, a certificate in Guitar can! I'm looking at Berklee. My recruiter was working on his first degree from Berklee School of Music with TA. Thanks to online courses the military can get a musical education from a fairly prestigious conservatory while on active duty these days.

But as many have mentioned on here it's probably best to go for a Master's with TA. So, maybe I should look into a Master's degree program that I could complete online instead. And perhaps I could have 2 master's degrees! The one I earn on active duty doesn't even need to be music.

I'm NOT against getting something from Berklee. I see they have online certificates I can pay for out of pocket for around $5,000. I'm not even in a field related to the arts or production at all right now but I'm seeking ways to keep myself current and competitive once I leave active duty. It's very likely that I will go reserves after this first enlistment.

Thank you so much everyone! I've determined a Master's would be best on TA...now I just have to sit down and determine what I want a Master's in.

Response by SGT Russell Wickham made Dec 31 at 2017 4:18 PM

SGT Russell Wickham — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 16:18:26 -0500

If you are using TA only, you are looking at 16 hours per year, or about 8 years, unless something has changed in the years since I got out. If you're paying your own way, a lot depends on your unit and MOS, whether any military training counts toward your degree, etc. My op tempo was such that it was impossible for me to do classes. However, if you are support, not deployed a lot or in the field for a month at a time every two or three months, and if your unit is supportive and you are willing to us your GI Bill or pay out of pocket, you should be able to finish a degree in as little as four years.

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Dec 31 at 2017 4:46 PM

MAJ Raúl Rovira — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 16:46:00 -0500

I commend you for your academic goals. Never stop learning and growing. It is always inspiring to hear of young soldiers setting really high goals.

One question I have for you is why another bachelor degree? It takes more resource (time and money) to earn a bachelor than a master. A lot of this will depend on which schools we use to compare of course.

You can earn a master's degree in about 2 to 4 years. Less time, less money(TA) and it is a higher level degree that will open more doors once out of the Army.

Also consider that you will not get TA for another degree at the same level of what you have. TA is only to pay for the next higher degree up to a master's.

The 9/11 GI Bill works best when out of the Army in part because of the BAH that goes with it. If you use it while in active duty you loose $2000+ in BAH.

If anything, you could earn a master while on active duty and then work on a second master or Doctoral level degree after service.

My second question is, "what do you want to study?" In today's work market the level of education tends to be more important than the subject. But no so much unless it is in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math).

My last question is, "What is your long term career goal?" Where do you want to be 5 or 10 years form now. Use that answer to align your academic goals. Time and money should be spent in a strategic way. "By earning X degree it will help me with Y career because of Z"

Best of luck Denisha

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2017 5:19 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 17:19:37 -0500

What is your current bachelors in? You don't have to get a whole other degree if you want a masters in that field. You can get a masters in any field you want regardless of your bachelors, within reason of course. I contemplated getting a whole other bachelors but found that it would just be better to get a masters in the field I want to go into despite the undergrad degree that I got.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2017 5:31 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 17:31:34 -0500

Under current TA rules, you cannot use TA for a 2nd Bachelors, only a Masters if you entered with a degree already. Once you complete 1 bachelors using TA, you have to wait till your 10th Year to use TA again towards a Graduate degree. You can use FAFSA for a Pell or SSEOG grant though.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Dec 31 at 2017 5:43 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 17:43:31 -0500

Okay, how many of your courses cross over to your next degree? Why would you not just transition to your Masters in field you are looking at moving into?

Response by PO1 Andrew Cabral made Dec 31 at 2017 5:53 PM

PO1 Andrew Cabral — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 17:53:12 -0500

I completed a dual associate and a dual bachelor degree (due to having lots of credits and taking 2-3 courses per semester) less than three years (Jan 1994-Jun 1996). I used TA (75%) and cash to clear. I was very lucky coming off five years of sea duty.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2017 6:38 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 18:38:20 -0500

*This comment was added to above question.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Dec 31 at 2017 8:04 PM

Capt Tom Brown — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 20:04:38 -0500

Best wishes for success!

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jan 1 at 2018 12:47 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 12:47:28 -0500

So many variables here, much will depend on your unit, MOS, their training/deployable status. I had a 71L who completed his Masters on Active duty., but until he came to us he was in non-deployable units. We were the tip of the spear, but since we had Corps G1-6 with us on deployments, it made more sense to leave him at Rear Detachment NCOIC. You need to visit the Educational center and ask a bunch of questions.

Response by Ben Korstvedt made Dec 26 at 2018 9:49 AM

Ben Korstvedt — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 09:49:44 -0500

Hi Denisha,

It's Ben K. from Clark here. If you see this, please send me a note. I have lost track of you and would love to hear how you are doing. We are proud of you!

best regards!

Ben