Ashford University Experience? Especially Linguistics

[ilovetacos]

Hi all,

Sorry, I realize this is a forum for other schools, but I'm not sure where to post this.

Thanks to great advisors at my local community college, InstantCert and my CLEP success I am nearly done with my AA. I'm very interested in finishing up my BA in linguistics, but I need to do it online. The only fully-online linguistics program I have found is at Ashford University, which seems to garner very mixed reviews.

Does anyone have experience with this school? Would you be willing to warn or encourage me?

Thanks so much,
Stacey

No big signature line...I sign up for InstantCert when I need it and then cancel it...I've passed 36 credits worth of tests

[futuremrsmlb]

I have a friend that completed a BA in Education and Master of Education at Ashford. Her degrees are pretty much worthless in NC.
So, I would recommend checking to ensure accreditations are valid in your state in case licensure/certification is needed.
Cost is another major factor to consider. Ashford is VERY expensive compared to other regionally accredited institutions offering similar online degrees.

Would a BA in English work? If so, there are many options to consider. A quick google search yielded TESU, Univ of Maryland and Nicholls State University.

[happydayruth]

Just chiming in with my own experience...I opted for a BA in English at TESU, and chose to take several linguistics/English language oriented courses, since that was my interest (rather than entirely literature and/or writing courses).

I ended up taking Intro to Linguistics from American Public University (great course), The English Language from Southern New Hampshire University (upper level), and Descriptive Grammar from LSU (which I do not recommend at all). These are not the cheapest courses, but an English BA just isn't one of the cheapest degrees out there.

[ladylearner]

Hi all,

Sorry, I realize this is a forum for other schools, but I'm not sure where to post this.

Thanks to great advisors at my local community college, InstantCert and my CLEP success I am nearly done with my AA. I'm very interested in finishing up my BA in linguistics, but I need to do it online. The only fully-online linguistics program I have found is at Ashford University, which seems to garner very mixed reviews.

Does anyone have experience with this school? Would you be willing to warn or encourage me?

Thanks so much,
Stacey

No big signature line...I sign up for InstantCert when I need it and then cancel it...I've passed 36 credits worth of tests

I was also very interested in Ashford's Applied Linguistics program because of the subject matter and the fact that I could take one class at a time. Plus high school friend of mine had told me she enjoyed her time at Ashford and finished a bachelor's degree in organizational management. I asked around on the forums but no one was too particularly thrilled with Ashford and I was steered toward the Big 3. I enrolled anyway lol. The process felt sales-y and I un-enrolled before it was too late. I think the sales pitch turned me off. However, If I had to do it over again, I might reconsider Ashford. You can transfer in up to 90 credits and while there is a cap on non-traditional credits, it is still possible to save on your total cost. You just need to plan it correctly and I wouldn't expect anyone there to give you tips on how to fulfill the requirements through nontraditional means.

Like happydayruth, I ended up at TESU. I transferred in some foreign language and linguistics credits earned through portfolios. My capstone paper is also related to linguistics. However, if I want to start working in the field, I will need some additional training after I graduate. I'm considering the CELTA and then graduate school for applied linguistics (perhaps a foreign distance learning program to cut down on costs).

I wish I could tell you more about Ashford. However, I do understand how unique that particular program is for undergraduates. I was able to start class before un-enrolling but it was one of their required classes and not a class in the major. If you let us know what your goals are, perhaps we can offer more suggestions.

[ladylearner]

I have a friend that completed a BA in Education and Master of Education at Ashford. Her degrees are pretty much worthless in NC.
So, I would recommend checking to ensure accreditations are valid in your state in case licensure/certification is needed.
Cost is another major factor to consider. Ashford is VERY expensive compared to other regionally accredited institutions offering similar online degrees.

Would a BA in English work? If so, there are many options to consider. A quick google search yielded TESU, Univ of Maryland and Nicholls State University.

There are tons of online degrees in education and/or English but the online BA in Applied Linguistics is rare. While the fields may have some things in common, they are quite different so we need to know what the OP's goals are. For example, there are NO literature classes in the BA in Applied Linguistics like there would be required for most degrees in English. Similarly, there are no general curriculum & instruction classes. This is ideal for someone who wants to get into the linguistics field but NOT in the K-12 system.

[ilovetacos]

I was also very interested in Ashford's Applied Linguistics program because of the subject matter and the fact that I could take one class at a time. Plus high school friend of mine had told me she enjoyed her time at Ashford and finished a bachelor's degree in organizational management. I asked around on the forums but no one was too particularly thrilled with Ashford and I was steered toward the Big 3. I enrolled anyway lol. The process felt sales-y and I un-enrolled before it was too late. I think the sales pitch turned me off. However, If I had to do it over again, I might reconsider Ashford. You can transfer in up to 90 credits and while there is a cap on non-traditional credits, it is still possible to save on your total cost. You just need to plan it correctly and I wouldn't expect anyone there to give you tips on how to fulfill the requirements through nontraditional means.

Like happydayruth, I ended up at TESU. I transferred in some foreign language and linguistics credits earned through portfolios. My capstone paper is also related to linguistics. However, if I want to start working in the field, I will need some additional training after I graduate. I'm considering the CELTA and then graduate school for applied linguistics (perhaps a foreign distance learning program to cut down on costs).

I wish I could tell you more about Ashford. However, I do understand how unique that particular program is for undergraduates. I was able to start class before un-enrolling but it was one of their required classes and not a class in the major. If you let us know what your goals are, perhaps we can offer more suggestions.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Your career path sounds very similar to what I would like to do. My goal eventually is an MA in TESOL, most likely from Regent University (online). I have my CELTA certificate and currently live overseas. I know two foreign languages and have testing/documentation for them (Turkish and Russian). However, I'd like to eventually work in the U.S. and I think I really need to have my master's in order to work in this field. So, you were able to transfer in quite a bit of credit from your language learning it looks like, and take some related courses. Were those courses all online? Because of my husband's job I only get a few months of the year in the U.S., which is why I am sticking to online schools for the most part. (I will fulfill my CC's residency requirement during one semester stateside and with an online class this summer.)

Thanks again for your input. I'm very gun-shy about Ashford after reading reviews online. I was just intrigued that they offered this major.

[ilovetacos]

(I will fulfill my CC's residency requirement during one semester stateside and with an online class this summer.) .

I should say, I've already fulfilled 12/15 credits for the residency requirement and will finish up this summer.

[ilovetacos]

Futuremrsmlb, It is very helpful to know that NC won't accept a degree from Ashford. That is our state of residence when we are in the U.S. Thanks!

[ilovetacos]

There are tons of online degrees in education and/or English but the online BA in Applied Linguistics is rare. While the fields may have some things in common, they are quite different so we need to know what the OP's goals are. For example, there are NO literature classes in the BA in Applied Linguistics like there would be required for most degrees in English. Similarly, there are no general curriculum & instruction classes. This is ideal for someone who wants to get into the linguistics field but NOT in the K-12 system.

Good point. I do not plan to teach in a K-12 setting, but with adult EFL/ESL students, either at the community college level or with refugee/immigrant populations.

[futuremrsmlb]

There are tons of online degrees in education and/or English but the online BA in Applied Linguistics is rare. While the fields may have some things in common, they are quite different so we need to know what the OP's goals are. For example, there are NO literature classes in the BA in Applied Linguistics like there would be required for most degrees in English. Similarly, there are no general curriculum & instruction classes. This is ideal for someone who wants to get into the linguistics field but NOT in the K-12 system.

Good point. I did notice the rarity while conducting that very brief search