From Pierpont BOG AAS to UMPI Bachelor’s: Your Degree Plan 🚀

Hey folks! Want to go from an Associate’s to a Bachelor’s degree on a budget? The Pierpont Community & Technical College Board of Governors (BOG) AAS to University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) Bachelor’s pathway is like a well-optimized pipeline in a CI/CD workflow—fast, cheap, and flexible. 📚 This guide, based on 2024 degree plans, maps out how to earn Pierpont’s 60-credit AAS (~$350) and transfer to UMPI’s Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) or other bachelor’s programs, maximizing free and low-cost credits. Confirm requirements with both schools, as policies can shift like a rolling distro update.

Big thanks to student communities for their insights on this path. Let’s craft a degree plan as sleek as a custom bash script! 😎

Note: Verify transfer credits and requirements with Pierpont (registrar@pierpont.edu) and UMPI (umpi@maine.edu). Pierpont may require 12 RA credits (up from 1). Get approvals in writing to avoid surprises.

Table of Contents

• Why Pierpont to UMPI?
• Pierpont BOG AAS Requirements
  • Required Courses (15–21 Credits)
  • Area of Emphasis (15 Credits)
  • Electives (24–39 Credits)
  • RA Credits (1–12 Credits)
• Transitioning to UMPI
• Tips for Success
• Final Thoughts: You’re Ready to Graduate!

Why Pierpont to UMPI?

Pierpont’s BOG AAS and UMPI’s bachelor’s programs are a dream team for non-traditional students:

• Affordable: Pierpont AAS (~$350, 60 credits); UMPI BAS (~$4,500–$6,000, 120 credits total). Compare to SNHU ($9,900 for 30 credits).
• Transfer-Friendly: Pierpont accepts 59/60 credits from Sophia.org or free sources; UMPI accepts up to 90 credits, including Pierpont’s AAS.
• Flexible: Pierpont’s BOG is customizable; UMPI’s YourPace CBE (competency-based education) is self-paced, online, with 8-week sessions.
• Fast: Pierpont AAS in months; UMPI BAS in 6–12 months post-transfer. Faster than traditional colleges (4–5 years).
• RA Credits: Pierpont requires 1–12 graded RA credits (e.g., Jacksonville State, $0); UMPI needs 30 RA credits, met via Pierpont’s AAS and additional courses.
• BAS Focus: UMPI’s BAS requires 40 technical credits, achievable with Pierpont’s Information Systems Area of Emphasis (AoE) and Coursera certificates.

This path is ideal for students aiming for a BAS or other UMPI degrees (e.g., Business, History) with minimal cost and time.

Pierpont BOG AAS Requirements

Pierpont’s BOG AAS requires 60 credits: 15 core credits, 15 AoE credits, 24–39 electives, and 1–12 RA credits. Below is a plan to meet Pierpont’s requirements while aligning with UMPI’s General Education Curriculum (GEC).

Required Courses (15–21 Credits)

| Requirement | Course | Provider | Credits | UMPI GEC | Notes | |————-|——–|———-|———|———-|——-| | Communication | Communication at Work | Sophia.org | 3 | GEC 1C | 1 Touchstone (15–30 min). | | Communication (optional) | Visual Communication | Sophia.org | 3 | Elective | No Touchstones. | | Math/Science | College Algebra or Intro to Statistics | Sophia.org | 3 | GEC 3A/3B | Algebra recommended for UMPI; free tutoring available. | | Math/Science | Environmental Science | Sophia.org | 3 | GEC 3D | No Touchstones. | | Social Sciences | US History I | Sophia.org | 3 | GEC 5B | No Touchstones. | | Social Sciences (optional) | Psychology or Sociology | Sophia.org | 3 | Psych: Elective; Soc: GEC 2B/5A | Psych (3 Touchstones); Soc (2 Touchstones). Preview for ease. | | Computer Literacy | Intro to Information Technology | Sophia.org | 3 | CS Elective | No Touchstones. |

• Total: 15 credits (core only) or 21 credits (with optional courses for UMPI GEC).
• Cost: $99/month (Sophia.org, ~1–2 months).
• Note: Skip optional courses (Visual Comm, Psych/Soc) if aiming for minimum credits. Take English Comp I/II at UMPI unless you have prior RA credit.

Area of Emphasis (15 Credits)

For UMPI’s BAS, choose Information Systems AoE (15+ credits) to meet UMPI’s 40 technical credit requirement. Alternatives (Business, Communication) may not qualify for BAS.

• Total: 15+ credits (e.g., Google IT + Python = 15).
• Cost: $39/month (Coursera) + $99/month (Sophia.org), ~$150–$300.
• Note: Prioritize Google IT/Data Analytics for UMPI BAS technical credits. Avoid Intro to Relational Databases (lengthy).

Electives (24–39 Credits)

Fill 24 credits (with AoE) or 39 credits (without AoE) using cheap/free sources to align with UMPI GEC.

• Total: 24–28 credits (select as needed).
• Cost: $99/month (Sophia.org, ~1–2 months).
• Note: Prioritize GEC courses (Ethics, Art History) for UMPI transfer. Use TEEX (14–26 credits, $0) for extra electives.

RA Credits (1–12 Credits)

Pierpont requires 1–12 graded RA credits (policy may shift to 12).

• Total: 1–3 credits (JSU preferred for 3 credits, $0).
• Note: JSU is fastest/free; Clackamas if available. Confirm RA requirement with Pierpont.

Transitioning to UMPI

After earning Pierpont’s BOG AAS (60 credits), transfer to UMPI for a bachelor’s (120 credits, 30 RA, 40 technical for BAS). Key steps:

• Apply to UMPI: Contact umpi@maine.edu. Submit Pierpont transcript and Credly for Sophia/Coursera.
• Complete GEC Gaps:
  • GEC 3E (Lab Science): Study.com’s Biology 101L (3 credits, $235/month). Avoid StraighterLine (physical lab kits).
  • GEC 5C (Foreign Language): ACTFL exam (6–12 credits, ~$70–$115) if fluent; otherwise, InstantCert’s Spanish I (3 credits, ~$20/month) or Study.com’s Spanish 101/102 (6 credits, $235/month, for History majors).
• BAS Technical Credits: Ensure 40 technical credits (e.g., Google IT, Data Analytics, Python from Pierpont AoE, plus UMPI courses).
• UMPI Courses: Take remaining 30–60 credits via YourPace CBE (8-week sessions, $1,500/term). English Comp I/II recommended at UMPI for RA credits.
• Cost: ~$4,500–$6,000 (3–4 terms, depending on transfers).
• Timeline: 6–12 months post-Pierpont, depending on pace and transfers (up to 90 credits).

Tips for Success

Approach this like a sysadmin streamlining a Kubernetes cluster:

• Confirm RA Credits ✅: Verify Pierpont’s 1–12 RA requirement (registrar@pierpont.edu). Take JSU’s HPE 180 (3 credits, $0) or ASU’s CIS-194 ($25).
• Maximize Sophia: Complete 50–59 credits via Sophia.org ($99/month) for Pierpont (e.g., Algebra, US History, Ethics). See Sophia Guide.
• Prioritize BAS AoE: Choose Information Systems AoE (Google IT/Data Analytics, 12 credits, $39/month) for UMPI’s 40 technical credits. Avoid Business/Communication AoE.
• Stack Free Credits: Use TEEX (14–26 credits, $0) or Pima CC ($90/7 credits) for electives. Confirm with UMPI.
• Plan UMPI GEC: Take GEC 3E (Study.com Biology 101L) and 5C (ACTFL or Spanish) before UMPI to hit 90 credits.
• Track Credits: Log in Excel (CTRL+C/CTRL+V) to hit 60 (Pierpont) and 120 (UMPI, with 30 RA, 40 technical for BAS).
• Claim Transcripts: Use Credly for Sophia/Coursera; request JSU/Clackamas/Pierpont transcripts directly.
• Avoid Pitfalls: Skip Sophia’s Project Management (conflicts with UMPI’s BUS-141 for PM minor). Contact UMPI advisors for Communication AoE approval.

Final Thoughts: You’re Ready to Graduate!

Boom! You’ve got a roadmap to go from Pierpont’s BOG AAS to UMPI’s Bachelor’s, as smooth as a well-orchestrated Docker compose. With ~$350 for Pierpont (60 credits) and ~$4,500–$6,000 for UMPI (120 credits), you’re earning a bachelor’s for under $7,000. Your next steps:

• Apply to Pierpont at Pierpont and complete 60 credits via Sophia, Coursera, and JSU ($0).
• Apply to UMPI at UMPI and transfer up to 90 credits.
• Finish GEC 3E (Study.com) and 5C (ACTFL) pre-UMPI.
• Complete UMPI’s YourPace courses (3–4 terms, $1,500/term).
• Track credits in Excel to hit 120 (30 RA, 40 technical for BAS).

You’re building a degree as efficient as a custom NixOS config. Questions? Contact Pierpont/UMPI advisors or student communities. Now go crush those credits and snag that bachelor’s! 🌟

Based on Pierpont and UMPI degree plans from 2024 and student insights. Confirm transferability and RA requirements with schools.