BS -Concentration in Physics (COSC)

[aso]

Hi All.

Please tell me if this would possible: If I were to get a B.S. -Concentration in Physics through Charter oak, would I be able to use that to get into a master's program at a conventional university? What are your thoughts on this?
My objective is Test out GE classes and some math classes and to take all the core Physics/advance math classes at local universities and colleges (Open university/ Extensions) so I will have a solid physics background.

Thank you!

[AlbaTiVo]

Why do you think you would not be able to get into a masters program with a bachelors degree from COSC?

[aso]

Why do you think you would not be able to get into a masters program with a bachelors degree from COSC?

For example, here is UCLA's requirement:

The underlined line worries me, especially "test cores". Would a university look down on my tested out courses in any way?

"Criteria for Admission

The faculty of each graduate program evaluate applicants who meet the minimum requirements and recommend a selection from among them. The number of qualified applicants to graduate programs at UCLA far exceeds the number of students who can be admitted.

The general requirement for admission for a U.S. student is a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, comparable in standard and content to a bachelor's degree from the University of California. A scholastic average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better is required or its equivalent if the letter grade system is not used—for the last 60 semester units or last 90 quarter units of undergraduate study and in any post-baccalaureate study.

Degrees which are not considered comparable include those granted on the basis of work completed at institutions which are not fully accredited and those granted on the basis of nonacademic prior learning, test scores, or other than organized supervised coursework in academic subjects.

An international student whose post-secondary education is completed outside of the U.S. is expected to hold a degree representing completion of at least four years of study with above average scholarship from a university or university-level institution."

[cookderosa]

For example, here is UCLA's requirement:

The underlined line worries me, especially "test cores". Would a university look down on my tested out courses in any way?

"Criteria for Admission

The faculty of each graduate program evaluate applicants who meet the minimum requirements and recommend a selection from among them. The number of qualified applicants to graduate programs at UCLA far exceeds the number of students who can be admitted.

The general requirement for admission for a U.S. student is a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, comparable in standard and content to a bachelor's degree from the University of California. A scholastic average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better is required or its equivalent if the letter grade system is not used—for the last 60 semester units or last 90 quarter units of undergraduate study and in any post-baccalaureate study.

Degrees which are not considered comparable include those granted on the basis of work completed at institutions which are not fully accredited and those granted on the basis of nonacademic prior learning, test scores, or other than organized supervised coursework in academic subjects.

An international student whose post-secondary education is completed outside of the U.S. is expected to hold a degree representing completion of at least four years of study with above average scholarship from a university or university-level institution."

Personally, I think you're trying a work-around that might not yield the results you're hoping for. Seriously, a physics degree should be heavy lab/science/math, why not simply do this at your local community college and transfer into a 4 year program? I can almost promise you that CC tuition in California is somewhere around $50/credit (still the best in the USA?) and you also likely have tons of articulation agreements guaranteeing you admission into a 4 year program. (which makes you a competitive grad school applicant, not a risky / non-trad applicant)

If it were me, I'd look at EVERY (literally) community college in your state. Go one at a time and look for the best CLEP policy. Even bad CLEP policy schools accept about 15, but you could likely find one that is near or at 45 credits. In this case, start working on THAT degree. Your CC likely also has extensive online options, so it's not even necessary to "go" to campus except for the non-testable sciences. If you're going to take your gen eds and end up at COSC, you're comparing a plan that shaves no more than 1 year off a degree (based on a traditional science sequence by my best guess). I think you're risk-reward is off on this one.

I think you can do this at a fraction of the cost, in a comparable amount of time, with a significantly increased outcome by CLEPping your CC gen eds up to the max, enrolling in those you can't, use online to bump up your course load to around 18/semester+ and get into a written articulation agreement with UCLA through your local CC to earn an AS/AA degree. This takes 1 year tops, then you're off to do your 2 years at UCLA and hopefully grad school.

[Snickerdoodle]

I can almost promise you that CC tuition in California is somewhere around $50/credit (still the best in the USA?) and you also likely have tons of articulation agreements guaranteeing you admission into a 4 year program. (which makes you a competitive grad school applicant, not a risky / non-trad applicant)

Yup the CC tuition in CA is $46/credit...but I guarantee that you'll have to wait on an insanely long list to get into a class. I hope you're not in CA, aso, because I agree with cookderosa that going thru CC to a state U is the safest route.

[rvadog]

On this forum I see it as a kind of echo chamber in which everyone here is pursuing degrees from one of the big three and are seem to ignore the downsides to these schools. The benefit to COSC and the rest is that they are very cheap and allow a person to finish on their own time. The down side? they absolutely do not have the reputation of even the lowest tier conventional, accredited university.

If you want to pursue a Masters in Physics then why not simply attend a conventional college? What do you hope to do with your advanced degree?

[aso]

Personally, I think you're trying a work-around that might not yield the results you're hoping for. Seriously, a physics degree should be heavy lab/science/math, why not simply do this at your local community college and transfer into a 4 year program? ...

Thanks for the advice! I will be looking into this. I will get back to you after doing some research on this. One of the reasons I want to avoid a physical school is because I work full time and I have to travel (overseas) at least few times a year. I had to drop the last two classes I was enrolled in(at a CC) due to traveling and missing tests and class material. Another reason is to get get my degree as quick as possible. Without quitting my job (I have thought about it quitting), testing seems to be the only way to get this done relatively quicker.

Yes, I do live in Southern California and it's true, schools are over crowded and classes are being reduced to one or two per semester as supposed to four or five (few years ago).

[cookderosa]

On this forum I see it as a kind of echo chamber in which everyone here is pursuing degrees from one of the big three and are seem to ignore the downsides to these schools. The benefit to COSC and the rest is that they are very cheap and allow a person to finish on their own time. The down side? they absolutely do not have the reputation of even the lowest tier conventional, accredited university.

If you want to pursue a Masters in Physics then why not simply attend a conventional college? What do you hope to do with your advanced degree?

If I can point out, they are NOT very cheap. The process can be cheap or expensive, depending on the method by which you earn credit. If you simply enroll at TESC and take classes, which is the route most TESC students take, you're up around $40,000. TESC (the big 3) allow you to cherry pick where you collect credit. Most people don't. But for those who do....there are rewards. However, you can take that knowledge anywhere.

I would also argue against there being downsides to "these schools" when in reality the downsides can come from poor planning.

Some fields, especially professional degrees, HAVE REQUIREMENTS that must be met. Period. Labs are labs. Pass/fail credits are pass/fail credits. Anyway you do it- anywhere you do it.
In specific fields, there are prized programs, that's a fact. Graduates of those programs will have favor in their fields.
In competitive fields, there are prized programs, that's a fact. Graduates of those programs will have favor in their fields.
In fields which require a professional license or credential, there are requirements to do so. Graduates of programs that don't meet that criteria will have trouble.

What else is there? Accreditation- which doesn't even matter in EVERY case. The end.

The average Joe can't name 1% of the accredited colleges in the United States- I'd bank on that. AFTER you've researched if your field has requirements, and you intend to meet them, the rest is nothing more than picking your flavor.

[cookderosa]

Thanks for the advice! I will be looking into this. I will get back to you after doing some research on this. One of the reasons I want to avoid a physical school is because I work full time and I have to travel (overseas) at least few times a year. I had to drop the last two classes I was enrolled in(at a CC) due to traveling and missing tests and class material. Another reason is to get get my degree as quick as possible. Without quitting my job (I have thought about it quitting), testing seems to be the only way to get this done relatively quicker.

Yes, I do live in Southern California and it's true, schools are over crowded and classes are being reduced to one or two per semester as supposed to four or five (few years ago).

This is easy to deal with. You simply need to find out the transfer policy. For instance, perhaps your CC allows you to enroll in up to 12 credits, but you just can't get into everything you want, so you get into 6. You fill the remaining 6-12 with online classes from another school and transfer them back in. This takes planning, and you have to figure it out to make it work. Don't take my word for it, instead you take the idea and make it work for you.

The goal is not to bend the degree to your plan, it's to make a plan that works for your degree.

[rvadog]

Jennifer,

You might be correct that the "average joe" can't name 1% of accreddited schools but I'm not talking about average joes. If you want your bachelor's from TESC so that you can improve your career then go for it. If on the other hand your goal is to go to a prestigous or difficult to get in to Masters program, the admissions office WILL know the big three and they will know the better schools.

If your goal is an MBA you can probably get that at a lower tier school and apply it at your given job. If your career goal on the othe hand is a Masters in Physics then name recognition matters and where you get your masters is important.

Point being realize that all decsions have consequences. If you graduate from TESC with 114 transfer credits then you have to know that you are limiting your options.