BS in Science

[CrayCat]

Hi all, 

I posted in the degree planning part of the forums earlier today and I a keeping my options open but after looking around a little more I came across Excelsiors BS in Lib Arts and BS in Nat Sci degrees.
I am wondering if it's possible to complete all the requirements for either of those degrees using alternate credit sources (except for the mandatory Cornerstone and capstone at Excelsor)? If so, could someone help me find a degree plan or assist me in making one?

Thank you ^^

[rachel83az]

Liberal Arts, yes. It's actually easier to complete a BS Lib Arts at Excelsior than it is to complete a BA Lib Arts. Natural Science, I don't think so. The requirements are not easy to meet. I think that some people have taken courses from UoPeople's Health Science degree to transfer to Excelsior's Nat. Science degree, but I don't remember if we've had any reports of complete success yet. https://www.uopeople.edu/programs/hs/hea...or-degree/

[dfrecore]

For the BS in NatSci, it's difficult to come up with those courses inexpensively. If you wanted something like that, you'd be better off doing a full degree somewhere that has a Natural Science degree with lots of UL course options, but also takes 90cr of ACE (and since you already have 36cr of RA, you only need one that takes 54cr of ACE). APU has one, I'm sure there are more.

[bluebooger]

I had considered this natural science degree before
https://www.apu.apus.edu/academic/school...ences.html

but it just seems way too complicated

this one is less complicated, but would be more expensive because there are fewer alternative sources
https://www.apu.apus.edu/academic/school...udies.html

wgu has some teaching science degrees
https://www.wgu.edu/online-teaching-degr...grees.html

[Jonathan Whatley]

The Excelsior BS in Health Sciences might be underrated as an alt, NA, and transfer credit friendly degree with a STEM title.

[dfrecore]

The Excelsior BS in Health Sciences might be underrated as an alt, NA, and transfer credit friendly degree with a STEM title.

I don't think you can get the required courses via alt-credit.  How do you propose someone gets those?

[Jonathan Whatley]

The Excelsior BS in Health Sciences might be underrated as an alt, NA, and transfer credit friendly degree with a STEM title.

I don't think you can get the required courses via alt-credit.  How do you propose someone gets those?

Excelsior College BS in Health Sciences
Based on the Undergraduate Catalog published January 2022

Health Sciences Core (15 credits)

HSC 310 Writing and Communication in the Health Sciences Professions
this one might be hard to find outside Excelsior

HSC 320 Health Care Issues in Culturally Diverse Populations
Ashworth College HE400 Cultural Diversity in Healthcare
or transfer from another low-cost college

PSY 305 Research Methods in Psychology
UExcel Research Methods in Psychology
Columbia Southern U HCA 4308 Research Methods for Health Professionals
Liberty U BUSI 418 Research & Evidence-Based Practice in Healthcare
either if this is UL at Excelsior or if Excelsior accepts an LL here Coopersmith PSY 201 Research Methods in Psychology (NCCRS recommendation is LL)
if Excelsior accepts an LL here Study.com Psychology 105 Research Methods in Psychology (SDC lists as LL at Excelsior)
see other psychology or social science degree plans for other options

HSC 432 Introduction to the Health Care Delivery System
Study.com Health 307 Healthcare Delivery Systems (SDC lists as UL at Excelsior)
Ashworth College HE330 Healthcare Delivery Systems
possibly Coopersmith HCA 201 Health Care Management
possibly UoPeople CPH or HS 3810 Health Systems and Structures (though that has a prereq there)
possibly Columbia Southern U HCA 4303 Comparative Health Systems

HSC 445 Introduction to Health Care Informatics
Study.com Health 309 Healthcare Informatics (SDC lists as UL at Excelsior)
possibly Columbia Southern U HCA 3308 Health Information Principles and Practice

Area of Emphasis Requirements (9 credits)
and Health Sciences Electives (32 credits)

For No emphasis, use 9 credits UL from any approved Health Sciences electives. An optional emphasis is available in Health and Wellness, or Management, or Public Health.

"Elective credit in the health sciences includes coursework from fields such as: radiology, dental hygiene, cardiovascular technology, pharmacy technology, nursing, and medical laboratory technology. Arts and sciences credit that is supportive of the health sciences may also be applied to this area." That last point seems key to this degree's flexibility. I think it's likely that courses similar to those stipulated for the Health and Wellness, Management, and Public Health emphases could also be used as electives by students not taking those respective emphases.

Sources for these health sciences electives which include likely ULs should include UExcel, TECEP, Study.com, Coopersmith, UoPeople, Ashworth College, and others. For LLs, CLEP, DSST, Straighterline, Sophia, and OnlineDegree.

[bjcheung77]

@OP, your budget is tight, it won't be a good idea for a Natural Science degree, but the BSLA will be a good option.  
I replied to your other thread - Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid368260

[debrag]

The Excelsior BS in Health Sciences might be underrated as an alt, NA, and transfer credit friendly degree with a STEM title.

I don't think you can get the required courses via alt-credit.  How do you propose someone gets those?

Excelsior College BS in Health Sciences
Based on the Undergraduate Catalog published January 2022

Health Sciences Core (15 credits)

HSC 310 Writing and Communication in the Health Sciences Professions
this one might be hard to find outside Excelsior

HSC 320 Health Care Issues in Culturally Diverse Populations
Ashworth College HE400 Cultural Diversity in Healthcare
or transfer from another low-cost college

PSY 305 Research Methods in Psychology
UExcel Research Methods in Psychology
Columbia Southern U HCA 4308 Research Methods for Health Professionals
Liberty U BUSI 418 Research & Evidence-Based Practice in Healthcare
either if this is UL at Excelsior or if Excelsior accepts an LL here Coopersmith PSY 201 Research Methods in Psychology (NCCRS recommendation is LL)
if Excelsior accepts an LL here Study.com Psychology 105 Research Methods in Psychology (SDC lists as LL at Excelsior)
see other psychology or social science degree plans for other options

HSC 432 Introduction to the Health Care Delivery System
Study.com Health 307 Healthcare Delivery Systems (SDC lists as UL at Excelsior)
Ashworth College HE330 Healthcare Delivery Systems
possibly Coopersmith HCA 201 Health Care Management
possibly UoPeople CPH or HS 3810 Health Systems and Structures (though that has a prereq there)
possibly Columbia Southern U HCA 4303 Comparative Health Systems

HSC 445 Introduction to Health Care Informatics
Study.com Health 309 Healthcare Informatics (SDC lists as UL at Excelsior)
possibly Columbia Southern U HCA 3308 Health Information Principles and Practice

Area of Emphasis Requirements (9 credits)
and Health Sciences Electives (32 credits)

For No emphasis, use 9 credits UL from any approved Health Sciences electives. An optional emphasis is available in Health and Wellness, or Management, or Public Health.

"Elective credit in the health sciences includes coursework from fields such as: radiology, dental hygiene, cardiovascular technology, pharmacy technology, nursing, and medical laboratory technology. Arts and sciences credit that is supportive of the health sciences may also be applied to this area." That last point seems key to this degree's flexibility. I think it's likely that courses similar to those stipulated for the Health and Wellness, Management, and Public Health emphases could also be used as electives by students not taking those respective emphases.

Sources for these health sciences electives which include likely ULs should include UExcel, TECEP, Study.com, Coopersmith, UoPeople, Ashworth College, and others. For LLs, CLEP, DSST, Straighterline, Sophia, and OnlineDegree.

Thanks for this. So it is almost possible to do this with alt-credit (almost). Just wondering if SDC course being 300 will make a difference. Can you do individual courses at Ashworth?

[Jonathan Whatley]

Thanks for this. So it is almost possible to do this with alt-credit (almost). Just wondering if SDC course being 300 will make a difference. Can you do individual courses at Ashworth?

SDC course numbering tends to but doesn't always correspond with whether Excelsior or anyone takes a course as UL.

I spoke with an Ashworth College admissions rep and said I was interested in HE400 Cultural Diversity in Healthcare specifically. The following is my understanding from that conversation.

Ashworth doesn't offer individual course enrollment per se. Ashworth does offer that you can enroll per term. For college credit, $1199 if paid in full, or they have an installment plan. At this flat rate the term includes your choice of up to 5 courses x 3 sh ea = a 15-credit term. The fee includes "all ebook study guides."

You can take HE400 Cultural Diversity in Healthcare as part of either the General Track undergrad or the Health Care Management track.

If you choose the General Track undergrad, either 2 of those 5 courses in your first term at Ashworth must be English Composition or College Math, or you must have satisfied either or both requirement with prior transfer credit.

If you choose the Health Care Management track, either one of those 5 courses in your first term at Ashworth must be Medical Terminology, or you must have satisfied that requirement with prior transfer credit or with an internal challenge exam.

It seems likely that you can choose HE400 plus four other UL courses that would apply to an Excelsior BS in Health Sciences.