ACT Advancement Courses for Teachers

[cookderosa]

I know there have been a few discussions of ACT courses and VESI courses, but I'd like to get a dedicated thread going. PLEASE those of you already using ACT please chime in!

ACT | Advancement Courses for Teachers

Here is their program description from the homepage:
A program of non-classroom, independent study courses for educators k-14 and other individuals requiring Graduate-Level Professional Growth Credit for salary advancement and recertification requirements.

All of their courses are $110/credit (sometimes on promo for $99) and all of their courses are GRADUATE credit.

I just signed up for an account, and at no time did I have to verify my age, or if I had any college credit or a college degree. In other words- these look like they are available to ANYONE including those still working on their undergrad degree or high school students.

There are no text books to buy (everything is included in the cost) and there are several options in addition to online. They offer email courses, traditional, internet, etc. I'm not sure of the specific differences yet.

Questions I don't know the answers to:
Are there exams and or proctor requirements? (I think no, but unsure)
Can an undergraduate take one or 20 courses from ACT and then transfer them back to the big three as upper level? (I think yes, but unproven)

Their search function isn't laid out easily, you have to really select "all" course types to see a good list, but here is an example of potential upper level credit for business....at $300 per course....

BUSINESS
EBUS701 Accounting or Number Crunching Internet Resource Business 3, 3 (Worksheets Only)
EBUS702 Advertising Magic Internet Resource Business 3, 3 (Worksheets Only)
EBUS703 Building Asian Business Bridges Internet Resource Business 3, 3 (Worksheets Only)
EBUS704 Business Plan Ad-Ventures Internet Resource Business 3, 3 (Worksheets Only)
EBUS705 Entreprenuers: Builders of America Internet Resource Business 3, 3 (Worksheets Only)
EBUS706 On the Edge of the Marketing Mix Internet Resource Business 3, 3 (Worksheets Only)
EBUS707 What's a Business Ethic? Internet Resource Business 3, 3 (Worksheets Only)


I checked SCIENCE there are pages, I checked HISTORY, there are pages, I checked every subject, and if we can work on confirming these transfer back in as UL at the big 3, then this opens up an entire option of degrees that are currently off the table due to lack of course options (well, courses may exist, but not at prices anyone wants to pay)

According to the website, you take the courses and they are put on a transcript from California State University - Monterey Bay campus. No need for "ACE" credit evaluation- it's full on regionally accredited!

Let's get some feedback from those taking these courses (I hope to count myself among them soon)!

EDIT: The website has less info then their "catalog" pdf, you can find tons more info here http://www.actprogram.info/sites/actprog...t_Cat2.pdf

[IrishJohn]

Jennifer,

I just got off the phone with ACT and was told that these courses are more like Continuing Education Units, although at the graduate level, and are not eligible to be used for master's degree programs - including transferring to other schools. I assume this would be the case for undergraduate as well. Perhaps this is why CSUMB won't accept them for their programs. Pity.

[cookderosa]

I'm not quite ready to accept that answer yet.

Besides, courses are not "more like" this or that- they are or are not. They are either non-graded CEUs or they are graduate credit graded credit. Yes, it's always up to the receiving school. Yes, CSUMB won't accept it towards their own degrees. HOWEVER, just being an extension college means nothing. My Harvard credits are through an extension division of their continuing education college and 100% regionally accredited and accepted in transfer by TESC as upper level undergraduate credit or graduate level transfer.

In my experience, I'd be more inclined to put my money against the phone person than with them. I've never met a paid academic adviser more educated in transfer than my network of online edu-hobbiests. Sorry, just the truth.

[sanantone]

It is true that advisors are often confused about non-traditional ways of earning credit. The Penn Foster advisors can't tell you if their courses are ACE-approved, TESC has advisors that'll give you wrong answers, and I had a program director of a PhD program I want to apply to get so confused by my questions that she just stopped responding to my emails. ECE, Straighterline, ACE, and Uexcel were just too much for her to comprehend. Oh, well. I'll just have the credits transcribed by a Texas community and the school will probably accept the prerequisites without questioning.

Anyway, I'm interested in this answer too. My backup plan is to become a science teacher and I would love to use some of these courses as actual credit. The VESi courses deal more with special education, how to educate, and how to deal with difficult situations.

[rebel100]

edu-hobbiests

We have a name!!! Or is that an affliction?

As far as counselors go...it's far better to read the catalog and research the issues than to go in and ask questions. Heck, we had to write letters to the Registrar to get the DSST College Algebra accepted as College Algebra...and it IS in the handbook that way. I have very little confidence in most "counselors".

[sanantone]

Don't forget Annenberg courses! They are transcribed as graduate credit by Colorado State University.

Colorado State University offers graduate-level semester credits to those who view the complete sequence of video sessions, download the support materials and participate in the discussion questions, homework problems and activities therein, and complete the additional required coursework assignments for any of our workshops/courses.

These are $194 for 2-credit courses and $294 for 3-credit courses. These cover a wide range of topics. The downside is that you can only complete 5 credits per semester. Boo!
Annenberg Learner: Graduate Credit

[cookderosa]

Don't forget Annenberg courses! They are transcribed as graduate credit by Colorado State University.


These are $194 for 2-credit courses and $294 for 3-credit courses. These cover a wide range of topics. The downside is that you can only complete 5 credits per semester. Boo!
Annenberg Learner: Graduate Credit

Yes, I've used Annenberg lectures for myself and in my homeschool- only problem, is I believe they all still have EDU prefixes (except 1 if memory serves) which would restrict a bit how you used the credit. In my case, I'm looking for cheap upper level sciences- that's been my brick wall for finishing the 9 credits I need for the BA Natural Science degree. I've capped out on biology, am afraid of math and physics, and get a twitch in my eye every time I think of what constitutes "upper level" in chemistry. So, I've just kinda pushed it to the back burner- one day, maybe when I'm really really old, I'm going to finish my Harvard degree- and for that, I'll take more bio, but I hate to take more bio when I know I can't back fill in that pesky 92% complete BA. It's possible (I still think) to use the ACT science courses for a FRACTION of what I pay for a Harvard science class. (grad courses are currently $2000 but guaranteed to come in as upper level since I'm not in a Harvard degree program!) And let's be frank, ACTs look pretty easy....I could be wrong.

I have no way to test my theory just yet- I'm in 12 grad credits this term which starts MONDAY so I'm pretty locked out of any edu-related activity besides my degree classes at Cansius. I might have the summer off, and if I do (and there is still no definitive answer from members here) I'm taking the ACT courses into a TESC degree.

[IrishJohn]

I'm not quite ready to accept that answer yet.

Besides, courses are not "more like" this or that- they are or are not. They are either non-graded CEUs or they are graduate credit graded credit. Yes, it's always up to the receiving school. Yes, CSUMB won't accept it towards their own degrees. HOWEVER, just being an extension college means nothing. My Harvard credits are through an extension division of their continuing education college and 100% regionally accredited and accepted in transfer by TESC as upper level undergraduate credit or graduate level transfer.

In my experience, I'd be more inclined to put my money against the phone person than with them. I've never met a paid academic adviser more educated in transfer than my network of online edu-hobbiests. Sorry, just the truth.

I certainly would rather be able to use these for a master's degree at least so hope this is cleared up soon. I'd like to transfer 6-15 history/poly-sci credits from this towards such a degree one day, depending upon where I ultimately decide to get one (right now it's WNMU vs. APU). For the teacher licensing program at WGU though, I can't afford to be the "guinea pig" right now so will have to look at other options.

[IrishJohn]

I had a program director of a PhD program I want to apply to get so confused by my questions that she just stopped responding to my emails. ECE, Straighterline, ACE, and Uexcel were just too much for her to comprehend. Oh, well. I'll just have the credits transcribed by a Texas community and the school will probably accept the prerequisites without questioning.

Ok, this is just too funny! She better get used to it because these alternatives are only going to increase as time goes on. Regular college is too dang expensive with a return on investment that isn't worth much nowadays. More and more students are going to be taking advantage of the alternatives and the smart colleges who look at their bottom line will accommodate them.

Anyway, I'm interested in this answer too. My backup plan is to become a science teacher and I would love to use some of these courses as actual credit. The VESi courses deal more with special education, how to educate, and how to deal with difficult situations.

Agreed, which is why I personally haven't given VESI much thought. Now the history/poly-sci course through ACT would be right in line with what I'd like to pursue so I'm still very interested in them if they will transfer to a school I'd like to attend.

[NAP]

....... In my case, I'm looking for cheap upper level sciences- that's been my brick wall for finishing the 9 credits I need for the BA Natural Science degree. I've capped out on biology, am afraid of math and physics, and get a twitch in my eye every time I think of what constitutes "upper level" in chemistry. So, I've just kinda pushed it to the back burner- one day, maybe when I'm really really old, I'm going to finish my Harvard degree- and for that, I'll take more bio, but I hate to take more bio when I know I can't back fill in that pesky 92% complete BA. ..........

Hi Jennifer!

Would you mind starting a new thread (so we don't hijack this one) and let us help you with ideas to finish your Natural Science degree?

What credits do you have and what do you still need?

If allowed, I highly recommend DSST MIS. If I can pass it with no previous experience in the topic so can you!

I have noticed that this course has been popular for this degree - ENS-314 Global Environmental Change: Thomas Edison State College: Secondary Category Landing Page

I'd love to get this degree, too, but it's not going to work out for me right now. I'd love to help you get it finished!