Editing Pierpont to UMPI Degree Plan (section)

= Degree Plan =

The BOG degree specifically requires 3 credits in communications, 6 credits in math/science, 3 credits in social sciences, and 3 credits in computer literacy for a total of 15 required credits. The degree plan listed below has been designed to fill both Pierpont's requirements and as many [http://catalog.umpi.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=3&poid=239 UMPI GEC requirements] as possible.

== Required Courses ==

{| class="wikitable" style="width:80%"
|-
! style="width:20%" | Degree Requirement !! style="width:30%" | Recommended Course to Take !! style="width:10%" | Credits !! style="width:40%" | Touchstones (Assignments), if [[Sophia.org]]/Notes & important info
|-
| Communication || Communication at Work - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 1 - very short, should take 15-30 minutes for most people to complete. May fill UMPI GEC 1C
|-
| Communication || Visual Communication - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - UMPI elective
|-
| Math/Science || College Algebra OR Introduction to Statistics - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - Fills UMPI GEC 3A & 3B
|-
| Math/Science || Environmental Science - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - Fills UMPI GEC 3D
|-
| Social Sciences || US History I - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - Fills UMPI GEC 5B
|-
| Social Sciences || Psychology or Sociology - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 3 or 2 - Preview each course to see which one has Touchstones that you think will be easier to complete. Current Psychology course is a UMPI elective. Sociology fills GEC requirements 2B & 5A.
|-
| Computer Literacy || Introduction to Information Technology - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - CS elective at UMPI.
|}

Total credits: 21 (While only 15 specific credits are required for the Pierpont BOG AAS, additional courses are recommended above both for historical reasons and because they fulfill UMPI requirements.)

Students can choose whether they want to take both Communication & Social Science courses listed above or if they only want to take one of each. 

It is strongly recommended that students take their English Composition courses through UMPI if they do not have prior English Composition credit. If you have already taken 1 or 2 English Composition courses from a college or university, that's great. 

While Pierpont accepts essentially any math courses toward their degree, UMPI requires a minimum of College Algebra. Thus, that is recommended over the other [[Sophia.org]] math options. If you struggle with math, you may wish to take advantage of Sophia's '''free''' tutoring for Algebra. Some students who have difficulty with math have found Sophia's Statistics to be easier for them than Algebra after following the [[Sophia_Learning,_LLC#Course_Order|suggested videos]].

== Additional Courses ==
After filling out the core requirements, students are required to bring an additional 39 credits or more to Pierpont to meet the 60 credit requirement. These can technically be anything and students are free to choose others if they feel that a different course will be better for their goals at UMPI. These are just suggestions.

=== Area of Emphasis ===
It is strongly suggested that students pursuing a [http://catalog.umpi.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=3&poid=240&returnto=120 BAS at UMPI] choose an Area of Emphasis in Information Systems. At Pierpont, this requires 15 or more credits in the desired AoE. Another AoE, aside from Information Systems, can be chosen, but students should still obtain enough technical credits to be able to pursue the BAS. For UMPI, students must have at least 40 [https://www.umpi.edu/academics/applied-science/future-careers/ technical credits] in order to access the BAS path. 

Students who have obtained an AAS but who did not obtain any computer or technology credits along the way have previously been denied the ability to pursue the BAS. Suggestions are as follows:

==== Information Systems ====

{| class="wikitable" style="width:80%"
|-
! style="width:30%" | Recommended Course to Take !! style="width:10%" | Credits !! style="width:60%" | Touchstones (Assignments), if [[Sophia.org]]/Notes & important info
|-
| Google Data Analytics Certificate - [[Coursera]] || 12 || Multiple labs & quizzes. Counts for BUS-245 + COS electives at UMPI.
|-
| Google IT Professional Certificate - [[Coursera]] || 12 || Multiple labs & quizzes; a diligent student can complete this in a month or less. 
|-
| Google UX Design Certificate - [[Coursera]] || 10 || Multiple labs & quizzes.
|-
| IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate - [[Coursera]] || 10 || Multiple labs & quizzes.
|-
| Introduction to Programming with Python || 3 || 1 - Python is an easier programming language, so this shouldn't be a very difficult course even for students who haven't previously done any programming. 
|-
| Introduction to Relational Databases || 3 || 0+ - Course is quite lengthy, involved and not recommended for UMPI students unless the extra 3 credits are really needed. 
|-
| Introduction to Web Development || 3 || 0 - Course can be completed in a matter of hours. CS elective at UMPI.

|}

It is known that Pierpont gives the full 12 credits for the Google IT Professional Certificate, but it is currently unknown how UMPI brings this course in. It may only be worth 3 credits at UMPI (the same as at [[Thomas Edison State University|TESU]]) and it will almost certainly only fill general electives. Students should plan accordingly. This is still a quick, easy, and free (through [[Coursera|The American Dream Academy]]) way to get an Area of Emphasis at Pierpont.

==== Business ====

{| class="wikitable" style="width:80%"
|-
! style="width:30%" | Recommended Course to Take !! style="width:10%" | Credits !! style="width:60%" | Touchstones (Assignments), if [[Sophia.org]]/Notes & important info
|-
| Google Project Management Certificate - [[Coursera]] || 9 || Multiple labs & quizzes. Not recommended for students desiring a PM minor/concentration from UMPI.
|-
| Accounting - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - Intro to Financial Accounting at UMPI.
|-
| Business Law - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 1 - Takes 1-2 hours to research sources, then another 2-3 hours (depending on writing ability) to assemble a competent Touchstone. (Possibly) LL Business Law at UMPI.
|-
| Introduction to Business - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - BUS-101 at UMPI
|-
| Principles of Finance - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - (Possibly) LL Financial Management at UMPI.
|-
| Corporate Communication OR Organizational Behavior OR Principles of Marketing - [[Saylor Academy]] || 3 || Saylor's exams are reportedly tough. Students are advised to be very familiar with the subject material before attempting an exam.
|}

Principles of Management is listed as being an upper level class in the [[American Council on Education|ACE]] guide. Students may attempt to complete this course instead of the Saylor courses, but the Touchstone for Principles of Management appears to be quite involved for students who are just looking for quick and easy credit.

UMPI students are strongly advised to avoid the Project Management course at Sophia. This is because the Sophia course replaces ''BUS 141: Introduction to Project Management with Microsoft Projects'' at UMPI. The final project for BUS-141 is a requirement to be able to complete two upper level Project Management courses for students who decide to complete either the concentration or minor in Project Management at UMPI.

=== Electives ===

Students who are intending to get an Area of Emphasis will only need at least 24 additional credits here. Students not seeking an Area of Emphasis will require at least 39 credits. Students may also choose to take some of the Area of Emphasis credits listed above instead of some of the courses listed here.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:80%"
|-
! style="width:30%" | Recommended Course to Take !! style="width:10%" | Credits !! style="width:60%" | Touchstones (Assignments), if [[Sophia.org]]/Notes & important info
|-
| Ancient Greek Philosophers - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 1 - If you do not wish to complete the Touchstone, it is recommended that students complete everything else '''but''' the Touchstone before dropping the course and continuing on to Intro to Ethics. - Fills UMPI GEC requirements 2A, 2B, 4C, 5D.
|-
| Introduction to Ethics - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - Fills UMPI GEC requirements 2A, 2B, 4C, 5D
|-
| Approaches to Studying Religions - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 3 - Fills GEC requirements 2A, 2B, 4C, 5D
|-
| Art History I - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - Fills UMPI GEC 2E
|-
| Human Biology - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - Fills UMPI GEC 3C
|-
| Human Biology Lab - [[Sophia.org]] || 1 || 1 - Fills UMPI GEC 3E
|-
| Conflict Resolution - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - Business Elective
|-
| Art History II - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - Fills UMPI GEC 2E
|-
| Introduction to Chemistry - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - Fills UMPI GEC 3D
|-
| Introduction to Chemistry Lab - [[Sophia.org]] || 1 || 1 - Fills UMPI GEC 3E
|-
| Macroeconomics - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - When both Macro & micro econ are taken, this comes into UMPI as ECO-207 + 3 elective credits.
|-
| Microeconomics - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - When both Macro & micro econ are taken, this comes into UMPI as ECO-207 + 3 elective credits.
|-
| US History II - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 0 - Fills UMPI GEC 5B
|-
| Personal Finance - [[Sophia.org]] || 3 || 2 - The 2 Touchstones take 15-30 minutes each to complete. Economics elective
|}

== RA credits ==

Currently, the cheapest, easiest & fastest way to meet this requirement is with [[Arizona State University Universal Learner|ASU's]] 1-credit course ''CIS-194: Business Technology Fundamentals'' for $25. Coming in second place is the [[Free_Sources_of_Credit#Clackamas_Community_College|free Clackamas CC credit]]. Although free, the Clackamas course has limited availability and is not self-paced. If you don't have the good fortune to be able to take this class, the ASU course is recommended.

[[TEL Learning]] also has a $67 [https://www.tellearning.org/product/col-1101-college-readiness/ College Readiness] course that should work. While self-paced, this course has a proctored exam with scheduling that could slow down course completion.