A real path to an IT career, right here at home.
LIFE and Degree Partners teamed up to help working adults in Deep East Texas earn a college degree and the IT certifications employers ask for. It's all online, it moves at your pace, and you've got real people in your corner the whole way.
Open to residents of the 12 counties of Deep East Texas: Angelina, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, and Tyler.
See the Full Program at Degree Partners
Want to talk it through first? Sign up for a free info session.
How the path works
Degree first, certifications built in along the way.
1. Earn your associate's degree
Start with your Associate of Arts through an accredited, online, nonprofit university — with a personal Degree Partners coach who checks in every week and gets that you're balancing work, family, and everything else. Taken college classes before? Some credits may transfer.
2. Earn three Google certifications
Next, take one term to earn three Google Career Certificates at no cost to you. They're recognized by employers everywhere and cover the skills entry-level IT jobs ask for. LIFE's training team is with you through all three:
- Google IT Support Professional
- Google Cybersecurity
- Google Project Management
3. Finish your bachelor's, then get Security+ certified
Jump back in and finish your Bachelor of Arts. When you graduate, LIFE sponsors your CompTIA Security+ exam — the certification that opens doors in cybersecurity. Enroll in prep within 90 days of finishing, and we cover the study materials, group study sessions, and mock exams.
Already have an associate's degree? You'll start with your bachelor's instead.
Who is Degree Partners?
Degree Partners is a Texas nonprofit that's been helping working adults earn college degrees since 2012. Their students earn accredited degrees online through Southern New Hampshire University, with a personal coach who meets with them every week from day one to graduation. They're not a school selling you something — they're a nonprofit, like us, and their whole job is making sure you finish.
LIFE is your local team
We're your team right here in Deep East Texas — financial and career coaching, cert support, and straight answers, all online, no matter which of the 12 counties you call home. Degree Partners handles your degree and your weekly college coaching.
- Real people, real answers. Call or email us and you'll get a straight answer, not a runaround.
- Financial coaching so school fits your budget and your paycheck goes further.
- Hands-on certification support through your Google certs and Security+ prep — Google certifications come at no cost to you.
- Career coaching to help you go after IT jobs here in the region.
Ready for the next step? Head over to Degree Partners.
Degree Partners students finish an associate's in about 21 months on average, and most graduate without taking out loans. See the full program — degrees, careers, and how to get started.
See the Full Program at Degree PartnersQuestions first? Reach us at (936) 209-2085 or info@legacy-institute.org — everything's done online, no office visit needed.
