495 capstone BALS vs BA

[Mitmike2019]

So my wife is halfway through her capstone, which is the last class she needs to complete her BALS in Social Science. She will be doing a written communication assignment instead of major field test. However, she will try to complete a BA in psychology next year. Will she have to complete a new capstone class or just a major field exam?

[bjcheung77]

Neither, as that's a waste of a second degree. If you go for a second degree, it will require another capstone and a residency waiver fee. That's just not worth it... I would have her take the MS Psychology at Walden - I recommended this person and they finished in 4.5 months (less than 2 terms), each term is $2700. I highly recommend a Masters over a second Bachelors any day, unless it's in something completely different that requires a Bachelors in that field to get in - example, Engineering. Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...o-Learning

[Flelm]

Why would a BALS to BA Psychology require another Capstone? They both use LIB-495 as far as I can tell from the catalog.

That being said, I agree a second degree probably isn't worth it, and she should look at a Master's instead.

[Mitmike2019]

Why would a BALS to BA Psychology require another Capstone? They both use LIB-495 as far as I can tell from the catalog.

That being said, I agree a second degree probably isn't worth it, and she should look at a Master's instead.

I understand what you guys are saying, why do a BA on top of a BALS. But the question remains, if one takes LIB-495 for the BALS, why would another Lib-495 be required for BA?

[Flelm]

I can't say with any authority, but I can't believe you would need to. However, TESU is the authority on the subject, and this might be a situation where you can send a ticket in with a very simple question. Don't make an appointment for the phone, they won't have a good answer and will push towards a Masters.

EDIT: https://tesu.smartcatalogiq.com/current/...of-Degrees

I could read it both ways, you need to do another capstone or it counts a second AoS. Ask TESU is all I can say, unless someone else has better knowledge.

[dfrecore]

Why wouldn't she just get her BA in Psych now instead of as a 2nd degree?? That doesn't make a ton of sense.

I would just continue with the BALS, not apply to graduate, and then take Psych courses through Study.com/UExcel/Coopersmith and then change the degree plan and graduate with the BA in Psych - she'll save a boatload (residency waiver plus capstone if she has to retake it).

[allvia]

Why wouldn't she just get her BA in Psych now instead of as a 2nd degree??  That doesn't make a ton of sense.

I would just continue with the BALS, not apply to graduate, and then take Psych courses through Study.com/UExcel/Coopersmith and then change the degree plan and graduate with the BA in Psych - she'll save a boatload (residency waiver plus capstone if she has to retake it).

Plus if you earn that 2nd degree later 24 all new credits have to be earned after the first one is conferred. BA in Psych through TESU has readily available credit sources for the AOS.  I agree with dfrecore on this - however, bjcheung77 suggestion of going to Walden for the master with the BALS is very valid (if a master is Psych the longer term plan)

[rachel83az]

Why wouldn't she just get her BA in Psych now instead of as a 2nd degree??  That doesn't make a ton of sense.

I would just continue with the BALS, not apply to graduate, and then take Psych courses through Study.com/UExcel/Coopersmith and then change the degree plan and graduate with the BA in Psych - she'll save a boatload (residency waiver plus capstone if she has to retake it).

Yes, this. Except I would probably just change the degree plan to be BOTH Psych and the BALS and not just switch over completely. If she's almost done with the BALS anyway, you might as well. TESU will still count both as just one degree if both are obtained at the exact same time.

[LevelUP]

Don't pay your residency fee until you are done getting all the degrees you want at TESU.  No sense in paying the residency fee twice.

It seems like she wouldn't need that many courses to finish the BA in psychology if she did some psychology courses going for the Liberal Arts in social sciences. I would suggest once the capstone is finished, add BA in psychology to the degree plan and start doing Study.com courses.  At some point in 2022, she should know if she wants to finish the BA in psychology or not.

As I understand it, adding Psychology counts as a double major, you will only have 1 degree either way with 1 capstone required. 

If someone has a passion for a subject, then that's the course they should take.

[allvia]

There is no reason to wait if she doesn't already have the BA in Psychology on her evaluation (you can have as many as you wish if you're enrolled - which in this case they are).  Just email advising and have them ADD the BA Psych to the evaluation now - it puts things in perceptive just how close it is to being done, and it is better than the 'what-if' tool; sometimes things don't fall where you think they would on the official evaluation.