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BitC University

BeatsintheCloud University

The Open-Source "Shield Strategy" Degree Roadmap

License: CC BY-SA 4.0 Degree: Newlane Transfer Cost: Under $2000

Hack the debt. Build the shield. Get hired.

📑 Table of Contents

Section Description
🎯 The Mission Why BITC University exists
🎓 Why Newlane University The engine that makes this possible
✅ The ACE Credit Advantage How we validate every credit
📐 The Strategy The 4-part system that makes it work
📚 The Universal Liberal Arts Core 15 free credits via CLEP
🛤️ The Tracks 7 degree pathways to choose from
📋 Transfer Checklist Ensure your credits are accepted
⚠️ Disclaimer Legal notice and risk disclosure

The Mission

📖 Read the full Mission Statement

The System is Broken. Traditional college demands $40,000+ and 4 years for a degree that doesn’t guarantee a job. You need the degree to get past HR filters, but you need hard skills to actually get hired.

BITC University is the roadmap to get both for under $2,000. We use the “Shield Strategy”:

  1. Hack the Cost: Use the “aggregated credit” model to earn a nationally accredited degree for pennies on the dollar.
  2. Build the Shield: Prioritize industry-standard certifications (Google, Cisco, Microsoft) that prove technical competence.
  3. Finish Fast: A high-density, 9-month curriculum that respects your time.
  4. Skip the associate degree: By earning focused skills and credentials that make you hirable now and slot you directly into Newlane’s bachelor programs.

Stop overpaying for a seat in a classroom. Start building your career.

Newlane University Logo

Why Newlane University?

Newlane is the engine that makes this possible. They replaced semesters with a competency-based model: you don’t sit through lectures; you prove you know the material and move on immediately.

  • The Price Cap: You pay $1,500 total for your degree ($249 start + $39/mo). No hidden fees.
  • The Pace: Finish as fast as you can work. If you need longer than it takes to reach the $1,500 cap, you keep your access for free.
  • The Transfer: Their policy allows transferring up to 75% of credits, which is exactly what our tracks are designed to exploit.

Coursera Modern States Saylor Academy Google Cloud IBM Microsoft Azure AWS

The ACE Credit Advantage

Every course and exam listed in BITC University was selected for one specific reason: they carry an active ACE (American Council on Education) Credit Recommendation.

  • Guaranteed Standard: You aren’t just “taking a course.” You are completing a curriculum audited by academic experts to ensure it is equivalent to a course taught at a major state university.
  • Universal Language: ACE recommendations provide a standardized “transcript” (usually via Credly) that registrars understand.
  • The “Shield” is Backed by Rigor: When an employer sees your Google Cybersecurity or IBM Full Stack certificate, they see professional skills. When Newlane sees them, they see ACE-validated college credit.

The Strategy

This repository contains 7 distinct “tracks” designed to maximize transfer credits while ensuring professional viability.

1. The 75% Rule (The “Heavy Lifting”)

Newlane allows you to transfer up to 75% of your total degree credits. BITC provides exactly 45 credits of “Specialty Core” and “Electives” per track, plus the 15-credit Liberal Arts Core, allowing you to bypass an associate’s degree requirement.

2. Industry Certifications as Academic Credit

Newlane’s Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) policy specifically recognizes industry-recognized certifications. We use certifications from Google, IBM, Microsoft, and Cisco. Because these providers carry ACE recommendations, Newlane can evaluate them for direct credit toward your major.

3. The Major Credit Limit (The 25% Guardrail)

Newlane policy states that up to 25% of required major credits can be transferred. We prioritize transferring the “IT Baseline” and “Foundational” major courses via ACE credits (Google/IBM). This leaves the “Upper Division” specialty work for you to complete within Newlane’s platform. Get hireable skills and well-respected credentials before you complete your bachelor.

4. CLEP & Saylor: The $0 Strategy

We utilize Modern States to get you free CLEP vouchers and Saylor for the remaining. You fulfill Newlane’s General Education and Liberal Arts requirements for $0, saving your 25% “Major Transfer” allowance for high-impact technical certifications.

Transfer Checklist (Newlane Policy Alignment)

To ensure your BITC University credits are accepted, you must follow these Newlane-specific requirements:

  1. ACE/NCCRS Status: Every course in our tracks is selected because it currently carries ACE or NCCRS credit recommendations.
  2. The “C-“ Threshold: For any credit that is not part of a previously completed degree, you must score the equivalent of a C- or higher. (Note: Most ACE-recommended providers like Saylor and Coursera require a 70% or higher to pass).
  3. Official Transcripts: You must have your transcripts sent directly to Newlane.
    • For CLEP: Send via College Board.
    • For Coursera/IBM/Google/Meta: Send your official Credly transcript.
    • For Saylor: Send via the Saylor Academy transcript portal.
  4. 2/3 Rule: Your transfer courses must meet at least two-thirds of the instructional hours of the corresponding Newlane course. Our tracks focus on 3-credit equivalent courses to ensure this threshold is met.

Email transcripts directly to: [email protected]

Questions? Ideas? Want to contribute?

Open an issue or submit a PR. This is open source education for everyone.

License: CC BY-SA 4.0

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