1SG Private RallyPoint Member 51930 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Have BA in History, no desire to be a teacher. 2014-02-05T14:20:01-05:00 1SG Private RallyPoint Member 51930

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Have BA in History, no desire to be a teacher.

2014-02-05T14:20:01-05:00 2014-02-05T14:20:01-05:00 SFC James Baber 52011

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&lt;p&gt;1SG,&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The 1st question I would ask is what are your intentions after you get the degree, further study or do you plan on using it within your current career or post military?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;From what I have seen, if you are planning on GS work, you need at least a Master&#39;s to be competitive for any GS-9 or above position, a Bachelors don&#39;t cut it no more, that is why I am going forward with my MA currently.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Good luck.&lt;/p&gt;

2014-02-05T17:09:04-05:00 2014-02-05T17:09:04-05:00 1LT Private RallyPoint Member 52054

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>1SG Jim W,<br /><br />What kind of history did you study?<br /><br />Would you be interested in working for US Department of State? Then check out their website and take the Foreign Service Exam. They have their own intel group known as INR - if general State Deparment Stuff doesn't bear interest for you maybe intel does?<br /><br />Would you be interested in CIA either analyst at headquarters or traveling? Same story check out their website.<br /><br />FBI, NSA, DIA, etc - you get my drift?<br /><br />There are a lot of opportunities for using the skills acquired with BA plus military service: reading, writing, analysis etc that all of the intel orgs want and need.<br /><br />Keep in mind people rather often find themselves employed outside their degree field. Indeed most people are employed outside their degree field.<br /><br />My advice is to check out alternative employment opportunities rather than pursuing an advanced degree where you don't already have passion for these graduate degree programs yet.<br /><br />Then again, SFC Baber has a point, the MBA / Masters Public Administration can be a help in getting management job. But, is is worth two years to earn?<br /><br />Warmest Regards, Sandy

2014-02-05T18:12:27-05:00 2014-02-05T18:12:27-05:00 LTC Private RallyPoint Member 52151

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>1SG Wedding, <div>When I started looking for a Master's program, I searched the different on-line Universities.  Once you find a degree you are interested in and then you can find the right university.  I started at Norwich University but then transferred to American Military University whenI found a degree I was more interested in.  You can also check Walden University, they have a large on-line program. An area you might check into is FEMA.  Good luck. </div>

2014-02-05T20:28:54-05:00 2014-02-05T20:28:54-05:00 CSM Private RallyPoint Member 52662

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Columbia Southern University is really great for Graduate programs, very friendly staff, and the professors are true professionals. I completed my MBA while serving as a 1SG so the work load wasn't too difficult. Also, TA covers course costs enough to complete six courses a year and books are free for Military, good luck.

2014-02-06T16:11:54-05:00 2014-02-06T16:11:54-05:00 Maj Chris Nelson 52665

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><p>So, a couple things to think about.... 1. If you use TA, you will incur additional oblication (think it is 1 year from the end date of your last class...but double check with education office). 2. What do you want to do? Is it for you (personal acheivement)? or do you want something that is USEABLE (ie. requires a masters to do)?  3.  Once you have figured those questions out, you will need to determine if you are going to do it online or in the classroom...schools will transfer some of those credits, but it can get tricky, so try to start and finish with the same school.  4.  Once you have figured out the answers to the above 3 items, start looking at the schools that meet your criteria!  Good luck and have fun!!!</p><br /><p> </p><br /><p>By the way, I have a buddy that works at Ft. Campbell. He is a Major, Nurse in the medical facility there!  If you see a Maj AJ Gibbons running around, give him a "Hey!" for me!!</p>

2014-02-06T16:22:10-05:00 2014-02-06T16:22:10-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 52785

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><p>1SG,</p><p> </p><p>You can not go wrong with a Masters in Project Management or a Masters in Business Administration (Insert focus here). The MBA lists a number of different concentrations to tailor to what you may want to do in post Army life. Another good thing about most MBAs is that the original course line is exactly the same and you don't have to decide until after the 6 basic courses on where you should direct your concentration. Like a lot of those who have commented below, I too am a student of Columbia Southern University. I completed my Bachelors with them and have opted to stick with them for my Masters. Very easy to work with, option for extensions if work ends up interfering with completion date, and a dedicated staff to ensure your success. </p><p> </p><p>Whatever you chose, good luck. I have noticed a drastically different course load across the handful of classes I have taken on the graduate level. </p>

2014-02-06T20:52:08-05:00 2014-02-06T20:52:08-05:00 SFC Jeffrey Thivierge, MA, BSN, RN 52836

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Brandman University.  They have a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership that allows Senior NCOs, Warrant Officers, and commissioned officers to complete the degree with only 7 classes.  It is offered completely online.  I had started my MBA (at Southern New Hampshire University) but realized I would NEVER use it, so I looked in to Brandman.  The terms are 8 weeks long so a motivated individual can finish pretty quickly.  I started in September 2013 and will be graduating in May 2014.  (I took 2 classes the first term, 3 the second, 1 this term, and I start my capstone project/class in early March.)<div><br></div><div>The only reason that I started the graduate school journey is because I started teaching in the allied health department at a community college.  While it wasn't required, they strongly encouraged me to get a master's degree.  Since I was hired to teach medical assisting based on my military career, they really weren't concerned with the discipline of my graduate degree.  It just looks good to have one.</div><div><br></div><div>I would also strongly encourage anyone seeking a graduate degree to find a school that is regionally accredited.  Some of the schools that have been mentioned in this thread may have great programs, but some civilian employers require this type of accreditation rather than national accreditation (Distance Education &amp; Training Council or DETC).</div><div><br></div>

2014-02-06T21:36:40-05:00 2014-02-06T21:36:40-05:00 Col Private RallyPoint Member 135898

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>You have a few good options that folks have already mentioned. One degree that I have seen yield great post military benefits is that of homeland defense. I have worked with a couple of folks who retired and were able to get great jobs with NSA, FBI, CIA, etc. If you do chose an MBA, make sure you specialize. MBAs are becoming a dime a dozen because they were all the rage a few years back, and saturated the job market. If you do shoot for an MBA, look at getting a certification in project management. Just my two cents.

2014-05-27T10:01:41-04:00 2014-05-27T10:01:41-04:00 COL Vincent Stoneking 135910

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>1SG, <br />It really will be driven by what you decide you want/need your degree to be in. That said, UMUC has a wide variety of Master's degrees, as well as an established path for dual Masters of whatever/MBA.<br /><br />If you JUST want the degree, and don't care what, as a History type, looking into Norwich's Masters in Mil History might be a lot of fun.

2014-05-27T10:18:50-04:00 2014-05-27T10:18:50-04:00 SrA Donna Smith 207830

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Make sure if you are going into the mental health field that the degree program is CACREP accredited if you want to work with military or veterans. I will be graduating from Adams State University next Spring and they have a great program, I love the professors, education and reputation.

2014-08-18T10:58:20-04:00 2014-08-18T10:58:20-04:00 1SG Private RallyPoint Member 208682

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Alcon,<br />Finally back on RP after a long hiatus. I appreciate all the input, so of course I did something completely different, as a former 1SG I reserve the right to be a hard-head. I just today received my grades for my final AD class, an A, that gives me a 3.5 GPA. Liberty University is who I chose, partially because of financial reasons; TA covered all tuition, and the post-retirement cost is the same. As a Southern Baptist I also lean very heavily toward their vision. I am taking Break from school now as I get close to retirement and want to devote my energies to job-hunting in the Knox area. Thanks again for all the great suggestions and if y'all know of a job at Knox....

2014-08-18T21:41:12-04:00 2014-08-18T21:41:12-04:00 CPT Daniel Cox 4847857

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It all depends if you are looking for something job related or career after the Army. If you are looking for the catch all major that will aide you in both your current job and for the life after, shoot for an MBA. No matter what job you are doing or looking for, an MBA stands out. What you learn there is not just about business, it is about people management (leadership) in ways the military does not (at least in my day) teach you. All the things you do as a 1SG, including budgets, people, scheduling, and more are key factors in an MBA. For the future, a sub-specialty in Information Technology or Management Information Systems does not hurt. Good Luck. And don&#39;t worry about being the old guy at some Grad Schools, I had a 20 year gap between my BA and MS-Management of Technology (a high tech MBA) and the &quot;kids&quot; had no problem with me.

2019-07-25T17:19:52-04:00 2019-07-25T17:19:52-04:00 2014-02-05T14:20:01-05:00