BA Mathematics TESC

[steelogre]

I've searched the forums for answers, and haven't come up with anything so I figured I'd post to find out for myself.

I'm interested in getting a BA in Mathematics from TESC (chose TESC for a variety of reasons I won't get into here), and I was curious if anyone had experience with using CLEP/DSST/ECE/TECEP/ALEKS/Straighterline/etc. towards the "Area of Study" requirements for this particular degree (check out the requirements here: http://www.tesc.edu/3629.php). I've talked to TESC's enrollment people extensively, and my experience is that they're difficult to extract concrete information from. I've had to ask the same questions several times over, and they always come up with a creative way to say as little as possible. Seems almost like they are hostile towards the idea of someone doing most/all of their credits via testing.

Any suggestions for accumulating credits towards other areas of the degree would also be very much appreciated.

[Bunbu]

I'd do something like this:

Required courses:
Straighterline - Calculus I
Straighterline - Calculus II
LSU - Multidimensional Calculus
BYU - Linear Algebra (3U)
Straighterline - Statistics

Electives:
BYU - History of Math (3U)
COSC - Math Logic
Straighterline - Precalculus
BYU - Differential Equations (3U)
ESC - Discrete Math (3U)
LSU - Probability (3U)

LSU = Louisiana State University
BYU = Brigham Young University
COSC = Charter Oaks State College
ESC = Empire State College

[Lindagerr]

Does it have to be the Mathematics BA? I have the Natural Science/Mathematics BA. It is hard to impossible to do all through testing, but I think the pure Math BA would be even harder. Did you look at where TESC puts testing credits? Undergraduate Ways to Earn Credit - Thomas Edison State College - acalog ACMSâ„¢
Most of the Aleks or Straighterline classes would cover the required courses or the below 300 level.

[steelogre]

Thanks to both of you for the answers.

Bunbu,
Would I have to enroll to take the classes from all of those places, or could I just sign up for each class individually without paying tuition?

Lindagerr,
I'd be willing to consider a Natural Sciences/Mathematics degree - how did you go about doing it?

[Bunbu]

Stuff like Calculus I and II you could take right away from SL.

For everything else I'd enroll first to TESC and discuss the plan with my advisor just to make sure those courses fit the degree. A degree in Math is not exactly cheap or quick so you'd want to make sure your plan is reviewed and approved.

[ryoder]

Natural science/math will be easier to get through testing for sure.
CLEP info sys and comp applications counts as natural science and the DSST MIIS is upper level.

You can also get credits from ALEKs for pre-calc, college algebra, statistics.
ALEKs is the cheapest source of credit around if you can complete it in a month.

Take the following advice. Start working toward the math/nat sci route, getting as much math credit as you can right now and see how your degree eval shakes out. Once you are admitted you can run your own degree eval at any time and if you decide you want to do a few cleps/dssts/straighterline courses you can just email those to your advisor and they will put them on your plan as planned credits that show up in your eval.

This makes it nice since you see where the credits fall from TESC's perspective. As you test out, your planned credits turn to actual credits which is cool.

I am currently studying for natural science/math as a second degree for the fun of it and to have a science degree which I have always wanted.

[Yenisei]

Note also that you'll have to do Calculus-based Physics w/Lab if you do the BA in Math rather than the BA in Nat Sci and Math. It's definitely easier to get the latter degree, but do the former if you want to go to grad school for Math.

TESC might consider Discrete Math to be LL because their own Discrete Math course is 200 level, and the rquired Probability/Statistics course might have to be calculus-based, in which case you'd have to take it with LSU rather than Straighterline.

[Lindagerr]

I did the Na Sci/Math degree because I came in with 18 Chemistry credits and science was my field so I was planning to do PLA's. I did not have to do the 18 upper level because I had started before they changed that requirement. One nice not to difficult course at TESC is Global Environmental Change it is 6 upper level credits and I did not consider it that much harder then a 3 credit course.

I do not know where TESC would out the Straighterline Calculus, but I do not think they will give you 300 or above credit for any of the Aleks courses.

[ryoder]

Funny thing is my physics was calculus based but it transcribed as general calculus. Watch out for that.

[steelogre]

Thanks again for all of the feedback.

One question though:
I was looking at TESC's degree layouts, and the Mathematics BA seems to be a major, while the Nat Sci/Math degree is a "concentration." Is this akin to the COSC/Excelsior practice of giving out degrees in Liberal Arts/General Studies with concentrations? A big reason I wanted to go with TESC is that I'm looking for a degree that will actually transcribe as "BA, major in..." and not the Liberal Arts/General Studies degrees the other schools dole out.