<p>What is your first degree in? What is your career goal? </p>
<p>Are you wanting to get a MBA? </p>
<p>Do you live near any FL publics that you can commute to? Do have to take any lower division business classes? If so, can you do those a local CC?</p>
<p>How much are you planning on borrowing each year for this second degree?</p>
<p>Haystack is correct that an undergrad degree in business isn’t necessary for an MBA program. Sometimes, however, an MBA program might ask that you pick up certain specific undergrad courses to get you to the level that they want. In which case, you may be able to get those at a community college.</p>
<p>If the point of the undergrad degree is to get into a specific grad program, then you need to be asking the people in the grad program where it is that they prefer that you study. So get in touch with the UF folks about that one.</p>
<p>As for career centers, start with the main one on each campus. Ask about placement help that they can provide for students in the distance ed programs, and ask about placement for the specific program that you plan to pursue. Sometimes departments have their own placement staff in addition to the general university one. So ask there as well.</p>
<p>I got my first degree in public administration because at the time, I was working for the local government and it was a broad enough degree that it fit the criteria for most job requirements there, however, I left that position a few years ago and wanted to get a degree in business. Not to mention that I had some leftover business credits that I wanted to transfer into another university and use towards a business degree. </p>
<p>My ultimate goal is to attend UF, get a Masters in web design/communication, and use that knowledge (combined with my background in business) to successfully operate my own online business. I do not plan on going for an MBA, but did want to obtain some business knowledge.</p>
<p>Hope that makes sense.</p>
<p>If you just want some background in business, then first take some CC classes locally. Also take some web design classes. The Masters sounds totally unnecessary, but possible even w/o the extra bachelors. </p>
<p>Seriously, it sounds like your plan involves racking up a whole lot of needless and highly regrettable debt.</p>
<p>Your future new business will not likely be earning enough to simultaneously support you and your family and a bunch of loans. Don’t make that bad business decision. ;)</p>
<p>An undergrad degree in managment is not going to help you one bit and will be a waste of money ( I teach at a college of business). Undegrad business degrees are geared towards people intending to work in the corporate world and don’t really teach you anything about small business. You will be far better served finding an entrepreneurial certificate program at a community college in Florida. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.hccfl.edu/media/421869/business_certificate.pdf[/url]”>http://www.hccfl.edu/media/421869/business_certificate.pdf</a></p>
<p>An MA program in web design may also be a waste. Consider a certificate at a CC.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information.</p>
<p>I forgot to mention that I was planning on using the business degree in the meantime to find a business-related job. As it was mentioned, the business may not start generating huge profits right away, so that would have to be something I work on “on the side.” I just feel that having a business degree would open up my job opportunities better than one in public administration will.</p>
<p>* I just feel that having a business degree would open up my job opportunities better than one in public administration will.*</p>
<p>Seriously? Probably not. Many companies who would hire a newish business grad would just as happily hire a PA degree stable married family person who has years of experience in some gov’t agency.</p>
<p>Are you working now? In what field?</p>
<p>I hope you’re right because I haven’t had any such luck. :)</p>
<p>I don’t want to get into any specifics, but I am working now for an IT-related company.</p>
<p>I would not do any online degree program unless it gives you a set of real tactical skills that the marketplace values. A BS degree in management will not do that. Neither do most generalist MA degrees.</p>
<p>I would do the online UF MA Urban PlannIng GIS degree before any of your suggestions. That program should give you solid tactical and technical skills that the marketplace values.</p>
<p>The UF Masters program I referenced is not considered a ‘generalist’ degree. It prepares students for work specifically in web design and strategic communication, which are subjects I am very interested in learning. Even if my goal of owning a business does not pan out, I can still use that degree to land a pretty darn good job just based on what I’ve seen from the job listings and their requirements.</p>