Pursuing a BA in the IT field (either IT management or network security). Are there any good online programs that I could consider?

Wed, 07 Oct 2015 23:21:10 -0400

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Oct 7 at 2015 11:23 PM

SSG Ed Mikus — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 23:23:22 -0400

UMUC

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2015 11:24 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 23:24:56 -0400

Trident University

Response by TSgt Scott Hurley made Oct 7 at 2015 11:28 PM

TSgt Scott Hurley — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 23:28:36 -0400

You can try argosy University. But I will warn you if the IT degree has a course called Intro to business in a technology world, Beware. That course does not talk one bit about how businesses use technology. It talks about how to create and run a business.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2015 11:54 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 23:54:27 -0400

I won't disparage any accredited university, or the value of education as a whole. Obtaining a traditional education at a brick and mortar college, while I was in the military, was just not feasible due to the multitude of TDYs and deployments. That being said, both my undergrad and MBA were completed through an online platform. I will say this, since being in the job market, many employers might look down on an online degree that was obtained where there was no actual, physical campus at the main location. Don't ask me why, but I would assume it has something to do with the prevalent prejudices online degrees still get to this is day. Good luck and congratulations on making the decision to further your education. It's the best thing you can do for yourself before you separate/retire (trust me on that).

Response by PO1 Sojourner "Chancy" Phillips made Oct 8 at 2015 12:29 AM

PO1 Sojourner "Chancy" Phillips — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 00:29:12 -0400

I went through AIU for my BIT. At the time I got mine there weren't a ton of choices. It was a good program. I am now looking at Websters University, Norwich or University of Maryland for my Masters in information assurance/cybersecurity. They all have great programs.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2015 12:44 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 00:44:37 -0400

I got my masters in IT Management from Webster University. It's very military friendly.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2015 12:59 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 00:59:13 -0400

Excelsior College is a great school. I took the time to check their accreditation and email the NSA who confirmed they accredited their IA program. Got my Masters in Cyber Security with them.

I'd try and go for the most technical program and pass on IT Management.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2015 1:02 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 01:02:18 -0400

I went to ITT for Information Security (Bachelor's). The certifications matter more then the degree though. You still need it, but you need to get the certs too which are pretty costly. My CEH cost me about $800.00 (I failed the first try).

Response by SSG Michael Hathaway made Oct 8 at 2015 4:13 AM

SSG Michael Hathaway — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 04:13:16 -0400

I am going through UMUC, and they just revamped their new 2016 program seperating cybersecurity into two seperate programs. I also recommend online training programs like testout pro, even skillport helps a bit.

Response by Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin made Oct 8 at 2015 10:03 AM

Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 10:03:48 -0400

Go Cyber Security and work your certifications concurrently (CCNA, CISSP, etc). Not sure who has the best online programs but University of Texas at San Antonio is an excellent school for security focused degree programs.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2015 10:46 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 10:46:09 -0400

Regis University. The program is tougher and more technical than other universities, but the accreditation is good.

Response by SSgt David Nace made Oct 8 at 2015 1:12 PM

SSgt David Nace — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 13:12:15 -0400

I got my Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Saint Leo University and now I am getting my Masters of Science in Cyber Security from the same school. Living in New York and having a family to take care of made them a good choice for school. The courses were well tailored to online course programming. They were 8 week long courses and you could take two courses at the same time. If you had a really high GPA, 3.5 or higher, you could take 3 classes at a time. They accept the GI Bill and do most of the paperwork for you. You fill things out and they take care of making sure the money gets to them. They also price their classes for the undergrad degree so that your GI Bill will pay it in full. You might have to come out of pocket for some of the books, because the GI Bill only pays $150 per class for books. Sometimes these books are more expensive than that, especially the economics books.

All this being said, if I were you, I would get my associates degree first. You can probably complete this within about a year, less than 2 years, depending on your situation. This will make it so that you will not have to take the prerequisite programs, English, Math, Biological Science, and such when you go for your Bachelor. This will shorten the time that you will need to get the degree, because instead of 120 credits, you will have 60 of them waived, you will only have to complete the major requirements of 60 credits.

Good luck in your educational pursuit.

Response by MSgt Brian Poirier made Oct 8 at 2015 1:12 PM

MSgt Brian Poirier — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 13:12:51 -0400

As an aircraft mechanic for over 20 years in both the Navy and the Air Guard, I realized this was not a career I wanted to continue after retirement from active duty. After my self-analysis, I focused on higher education and pursued a degree in Information Technology, Cybersecurity. Took about six years to complete and was done entirely online with Southern New Hampshire University. The company I now work for took me in entry-level, and I love it. Certification would have not helped me, as my employer requires a BA. In the end, find an accredited University. Join a program you are interested in, and go for it. Reach out to recruiters on LinkedIn before you leave active duty, and build up a network of people working in the area you want to be. Not to be a downer, but try not to rely on the simple fact that you are a veteran and will find employers competing for your services. You are a veteran: use all your resources, plan thoroughly, execute the plan and realize that not everyone's experiences are the same. My IT degree has changed my life, and I am grateful for everything the military provided me. Good luck to you!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2015 4:56 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 16:56:03 -0400

Park University is a good choice for USAF because they have satellite campuses at many bases. They also do online and in-class (offered at the base). They've been around since 1875 and have a physical presence and an actual university campus in Missouri. They are non-profit, but they are private, so the tuition is a bit higher than public schools. I would steer clear of for-profit schools and those that don't have an actual campus, regardless of their accreditation. There have been many, many stories about for-profit college degrees being worthless in the job market. A quick Google search is all you need to confirm. Don't take the easy road, work for it. For-profit schools want to make money, so they are generally easier than non-profit and employers know this.

Park U is NCA accredited and is a Masters level institution. I received my BS in Computer Information Systems in 2014, and that program covers the broad spectrum of what you are looking for, from Networking using Cisco packet tracing to database management systems. If you just want IT, you might be better off getting Network+, A+, etc, certifications.

Response by Sgt Robert R. made Oct 8 at 2015 9:07 PM

Sgt Robert R. — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 21:07:04 -0400

Honestly I'd say once you do get a few programs from responses here, plot them out and see where they will benefit you the most throughout their entire degree paths. See what those paths actually cover, course by course, and where those courses fall within your weak/strong points. Since it's likely going to be an online program, you'll have downward gazes from some HR departments when you get out. But, if you're able to turn the experience into one that covers something you are genuinely passionate about, they'll have a hard time not seeing it shine through.

Side note: If you haven't already, start working on certifications, and if you do have some, get some more. Even more so than certifications though, lab the hell out of things til you understand them like the area you grew up in (if you do go with network security at least).

Certs are great, degrees are great, but if you truly know what you are doing, it will show more than anything else.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2015 9:23 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 21:23:44 -0400

Maybe this helps:
http://urbdp.be.washington.edu/programs/graduate/mipm/
Cut and paste in the address bar.

UW Urban Design and Planning | MIPM

University of Washington, College of Built Environments, Department of Urban Design and Planning

Response by WO1 Jose R. made Oct 9 at 2015 5:52 PM

WO1 Jose R. — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 17:52:37 -0400

Colorado technical University, loads of hands on and amazing degree

Response by CPL Jonathan Perkins made Oct 13 at 2015 11:55 AM

CPL Jonathan Perkins — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 11:55:07 -0400

I would recommend FIT (Florida Institute of Technology). So far, on the verge of receiving my associates in computer information systems. And will continue on to get a BA in the same field.

They have great online study groups, face to face via webcam with tuiters/professors/classmates.

Good luck on your future endeavors.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 12:09 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 12:09:14 -0400

Trident University International

Response by SFC Brandon McCray, MBA, PMP made Oct 13 at 2015 12:12 PM

SFC Brandon McCray, MBA, PMP — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 12:12:46 -0400

Florida Institute of Technology and American Military University are good ones. Make sure you go to a regionally accredited school

Response by Sgt Ryerson Gorman made Oct 13 at 2015 12:32 PM

Sgt Ryerson Gorman — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 12:32:46 -0400

I have been in the IT field for more than 14 years with multiple college degrees and IT certifications. My college degrees include: B.S in Computer Science (Troy University), M.S in Telecommunications Engineering (Southern Methodist University), MPS in Technology Management (Georgetown University) and currently working on Ph.D in Information Assurance (Nova Southeastern University). I also have IT Certifications include, MCSE, MCIPT, CCNA, CCNP, Security+, CASP, Ethical Hacker, ITILv3, CISSP, and etc. I am currently a Cyber Security Consultant to one of the top financial institutions. A College degree is the least requirement for the IT job, the most selling points are experiences and IT certifications. However, attending top school would provide good networking for the job hunting. School such as Western Governor University only helps those experienced IT professionals to fill a cap (a college degree). I would recommend the following program and schools.

- Penn State University's Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology
URL: http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/information-sciences-and-technology-bachelors/overview

- University of Florida's Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
URL: http://ufonline.ufl.edu/degrees/undergraduate/computer-science/

- Northeastern University's Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
URL: http://www.northeastern.edu/online/degrees/bachelors-information-technology/

- Arizona State University's Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
URL: http://asuonline.asu.edu/online-degree-programs/undergraduate/bachelor-science-information-technology

-Drexel University's Bachelor of Science in Computing and Security Technology
URL: http://online.drexel.edu/online-degrees/bachelors-degrees/bs-gs-tech/index.aspx

Penn State Online | Bachelor of Science in Information Sciences and Technology

The online bachelor of science in information sciences and technology is designed to prepare people to use information technology to attain a variety of system-based goals such as reliability, accessibility, and efficiency.

Response by SFC Michael Welker made Oct 13 at 2015 12:35 PM

SFC Michael Welker — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 12:35:46 -0400

Syracuse University has an awesome veterans program that is fee.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 2:41 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 14:41:22 -0400

I'm working on my Computer and Network Security BS at Wilmington University. I found them through the NSA Center for Academic Excellence website (https://www.nsa.gov/ia/academic_outreach/nat_cae/institutions.shtml). My thought was any school on the list must have a good program to met NSA requirements. I chose Wilmington because the cost per credit hour was equal to Tuition Assistance plus they have classes on base (JB-MDL) and online. Take sometime to look at the NSA website and compare each program to ensure they met your goals.

Also, don't forget to look for regional accreditation. Regional accreditation is hard for a school to obtain but it is easier to transfer your degree to another university. Some schools that are regionally accredited will not accept a Bachelor's degree from a nationally accredited school.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 3:18 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 15:18:01 -0400

I would look into the Pennsylvania State University World Campus - IST Major with Cyber Security option. I'm currently on leave from attending but will be returning next year. From what I've experienced with them, it's a good school and their degree is identical to the one you would receive if taking all the classes on campus. Best of luck in your decision!!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 3:44 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 15:44:15 -0400

Having a "B.S." in IT - are there programs out there offering B.A.'s in IT? If so, that's interesting - I wonder what the difference is in curriculum.

Response by SGT David Silva made Oct 13 at 2015 4:00 PM

SGT David Silva — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 16:00:22 -0400

I would look into taking some classes specifically geared towards certain certifications. Having a degree is useful but companies are starting to focus more on certifications now. If network security is something you want to focus on, I would look into Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) courses. Certs like these will greatly improve the amount of job opportunities you could receive in addition to a college degree. The CEH cert is just one example of what you could looking into. Let me know if you got any more questions about anything I'll be more than happy to help out where I can

http://www.eccouncil.org/Certification/certified-ethical-hacker

CEH: Certified Ethical Hacking course from EC-Council

Become a certified ethical hacker and get information security training; the CEH program certifies individuals in the specific network security discipline of Ethical Hacking.

Response by Sgt Harlin Seritt made Oct 13 at 2015 4:29 PM

Sgt Harlin Seritt — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 16:29:52 -0400

My biggest mistake was not going straight to school as soon as I got out. I eventually did about 8 years later just as my GI Bill benefits were drying up (I think you have 10 years to use them). When I got out of the Marine Corps, I got a job in a warehouse making what I thought was good money (about $30k/year). I found out though, that was about all I could make without any other education.

After being laid off at job after job, I decided to do one of those IT boot camp things back in the early 2000's. It was a waste of time and money -- no one still would hire you around then with only a certificate. When I decided to go to a technical college and get a 2 year degree, I was able to find something small but eventually able to work toward a position making decent money.

My advice would be to #1 go to either a traditional university or technical college. #2 If you can't commit the time and are not able to be there physically in a classroom then know that online universities are a better choice these days than they used to be. They're still just not as good as going physically to a college where you get better hands-on instruction. If you are going to an online school, do it at a college that already has a brick-and-mortar presence. Most state universities have these. You can go to ones like DeVry or Phoenix but know those cost a lot. Doing 100% online at a university in your state where it's cheaper would be your best bet in my opinion.

Response by PO1 Russell Henson made Oct 13 at 2015 4:51 PM

PO1 Russell Henson — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 16:51:48 -0400

UMUC has a good program. But don't forget any university w/online program will have have a decent IT program plus the VA offers IT training using outside sources. Check out your local community colleges to see what technical courses are offered.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 5:38 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:38:32 -0400

I am currently at Walden University. Check them out.

Response by MSgt Michael Null made Oct 13 at 2015 6:46 PM

MSgt Michael Null — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 18:46:36 -0400

I agree with MSgt Santos; I have found that private-sector employers, in general, don't value on-line degrees as much as in-residence programs. If you are interested in being a manager in the IT field, I recommend getting a Project Manager Professional certification through PMI and studying that. Once you get out, the post 9-11 GI bill gives you a stipend, so that's a good way to go. Depending on your career field, you may be able to start logging contact hours for your PMP before you leave the service.
Good luck!

Response by SGT Mark Rhodes made Oct 13 at 2015 7:46 PM

SGT Mark Rhodes — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:46:54 -0400

I'm currently doing my BA in IT with UMUC. They are very Military friendly. Just make sure you have your NCOERs or OERs for your military credit

Response by Cpl Tou Lee Yang made Oct 13 at 2015 8:06 PM

Cpl Tou Lee Yang — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 20:06:27 -0400

First off, don't even worry about a degree in the IT field. The most important facet of the IT industry are the certification. Certification such as the CISSP, CCNA/CCNP/CCIE, and MCSE. Those are the certification you should strive to achieve instead of a college degree. Why do I say this? I just got my BAS in Information Technology at CWU and it's worth crap. I did it online and from my perspective it was good enough to get an invitation to the CIA session and interview in Washington, DC with the entire trip paid for by the CIA. Obviously, I didn't get the position because I'm going against people from Ivy League college.

Unlike it was 5 years ago when I got out of the military and where a degree was still a deciding factor in obtaining a job in the IT field. That is no longer true in today's job market. When I was searching for a job 5 years ago, the summary would request a degree. However, when you look at the summary for today IT position, it will state "equivalent experience or degree". But if you have been pursuing your degree, you obviously was not working and having a year or two break in employment history is really a bad decision as I am currently discovering.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 8:24 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 20:24:37 -0400

Online degrees are fine, in fact you'll likely receive an even better education. Many of the professors are industry professionals and understand what working adults go through and can personalize that training.

On the other hand, biases exist and opinions for for-profit schools will not fade. Furthermore, consider, tuition is roughly the same for both. Personally I believe networking is paramount and it's easier to do at a brick and mortar school.

I work for at a prominent US company (Ford) in IT and I can say only a few have IT degrees. However we're knee deep in certifications and other degrees. As a manager I look for the capability to learn (a degree is just an indicator, not a qualifier), personality, and team focus.

Lastly I must emphasize how important networking is. In many ways this will provide the most leverage. After leaving active component transitioning to the civilian sector was a challenge. Try to remove every roadblock as possible.

Response by MSG Jim Gawne made Oct 13 at 2015 9:05 PM

MSG Jim Gawne — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 21:05:43 -0400

Sabrina - I strongly suggest that you avoid the "For Profit" schools (even though I hold a BA from University of Phoenix). Southern New Hampshire University has an excellent on-line program and they offer the degree you are seeking

Response by Lt Col Michael Hills made Oct 13 at 2015 10:44 PM

Lt Col Michael Hills — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 22:44:05 -0400

You might consider Penn State World Campus, the College of IST offers a host of programs in these areas and it was ranked number one by U.S. News and World Report. Regarding the comments on online programs and a stigma employers have against them, I believe this is fading fast. Penn State has taken this issue head on by making no distinction between the degree earned on campus versus the degree earned online--when you graduate, you graduate with a diploma from Penn State that makes no mention of the means through which it was earned. Happy hunting!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2015 1:10 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 13:10:18 -0400

Yeah, check out Old Dominion University. Its a pretty good school and it also caters to military personnel. http://www.odu.edu

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2015 6:41 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 18:41:02 -0400

My recommendation for a good online program is to find one at an institution where you can actually go to the campus of you so choose. I attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. They have a great online program that is very military friendly. While living in the area, I attended some Saturday morning classes on campus, but about 80% was online. I was even able to be part of the graduation ceremony.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2015 8:55 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 20:55:00 -0400

University of Massachusetts,Lowell. Class class away from my second Bachelors in IT

Response by SSgt Michael Cox made Oct 15 at 2015 11:22 AM

SSgt Michael Cox — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 11:22:21 -0400

I would do some research before choosing any school. But I will let you know right now University of Phoenix and ITT Tech are banned from accepting the GI Bill for taking advantage of veterans.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 4:43 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 16:43:37 -0400

I am now in the Army Reserves, and work as a technical Recruiter for IT, Law and SME's for the Army. This being said, I graduated from American Public University System (APUS) / American Military University (AMU), and am currently pursuing my MBA there as well. I can assure you, you will pay less and get a higher quality education there, than just about anything else. I will also say that having an IT degree will not get you an IT job, as everyone has one now. What you will need to get is experience. I would also recommend taking all the free IT courses on E-army learning as well, since that will help more than anything. If you want, I can speak to you further about IT opportunities (the higher cleared ones), and put you in contact with the people who hire. Most importantly, I can give you valuable info you will need before making any decision. I do this pro bono for fellow soldiers and recently discharged veterans. Connect with me on here and I will send you my contact info. Also, connect with me on LinkedIn as well.

Response by SSgt Jeffrey Andrews made Oct 15 at 2015 7:46 PM

SSgt Jeffrey Andrews — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 19:46:56 -0400

I received my B.A. in Criminal Justice, from AIU (American InterContinental University online. They offer a Bachelor's and Master's in IT. What I liked about them was no tests except Algebra. All classes were writing. You prove you know the subject matter by writing Essays on the class.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2015 8:24 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 20:24:59 -0400

I will advice you Google the program typing accredited online IT undergraduate degrees. Make sure that the university you are selecting has both regional and national accreditations.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2015 4:44 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 16:44:24 -0400

Before you choose an online degree, there are important factors you should consider such as the name, acreddidation, and the program of study. Look at US News reports on the best online colleges. Also, don't think about a formal degree as purely education. My undergrad was a mixed degree where I chose some classes in person and other's ony graduate degree was all in person. I did this more to build relationships in the field since as the old saying goes, "it's not what you know but who you know."

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 9:31 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 09:31:50 -0400

SrA Graham,

Here is an article from ClearanceJobs.com that offers some adivce and on choosing a school.
https://news.clearancejobs.com/2015/10/19/cybersecurity-degrees-choose-right-school/

Here is a good excerpt from the article:
"Other considerations when picking a school teaching cybersecurity include:

- The quality of technology used by the school to administer classes; program should include hands-on lab experience in an enclosed network.
- The experience and credentials of the faculty.
- The ability of the program to prepare graduates for real-world work environments.
- Employment rate of graduates.
- Has the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security designated the school as a National Center of Academic Excellence."

Cybersecurity Degrees - How to Choose the Right School - ClearanceJobs

If you're considering a cybersecurity degree, it's important to know what to look for in a good school. Here are a few pointers.