BSBA Marketing (possible dual degree CIS)

[ThePA]

I am very thankful for having found this message board! In the past few days, I have found it to be filled with useful information in helping boost my confidence in continuing with my BSBA. I recently applied to TESU and plan to transfer all my general education credits by mid-July and start TESU in August of this year. I plan to connect with an advisor regarding credits this week to go over my degree plan. 

I am in my early 40s and have not taken any college-level coursework in many many years. I have a few professional certifications (CompTIA A+, etc) but they have since expired as I changed job roles. I have 6 credits (Eng Comp I & II) from a 4-year private university but unsure if I have to retake these courses as it's been over 20 years. 

For general education credits, I plan to utilize study.com and Sophia.org. I am not confident I will test out via CLEP.  I do want to maximize taking 4 courses per month. I work a 12-hour job M-F so I think 4 weeks should be manageable with my current work/life balance. I signed up for 4 courses on study.com but there are so many quizzes! 

Should I lean into Sophia.org courses or continue with study.com for general education? 

Appreciate any advice you can provide!

[rachel83az]

For gen eds, don't bother with SDC if possible. Most of them are available both cheaper and easier on Sophia. Possible exceptions are English Comp I/II and maybe American Government. We do not yet know the format of the Sophia American Government class. It may or may not be easier than the option available at SDC or even Saylor.

SDC is where you'll take UL classes and about half of business core. Are you following the wiki for your degree plan(s)?

[ThePA]

Thank you for your advice!

Since I paid for this month on SDC, I'll finish 2 courses/exam and pause my membership until I'm ready to take UL courses. I will move on to Sophia for gen eds.
I did start with the wiki area for my degree plan, but I was curious to see if I could add CIS as a dual degree. I was always interested in that field.
I'll speak with an advisor to see if my English Comp I/II credits from previous university are transferable.

[allvia]

Thank you for your advice!

Since I paid for this month on SDC, I'll finish 2 courses/exam and pause my membership until I'm ready to take UL courses. I will move on to Sophia for gen eds.
I did start with the wiki area for my degree plan, but I was curious to see if I could add CIS as a dual degree. I was always interested in that field.
I'll speak with an advisor to see if my English Comp I/II credits from previous university are transferable.

If you know you're going to do at least the BSBA try to get more (UL) complete at SDC this month - maximize your membership while you have it. This is not traditional path - you do not need to earn your LL before completing UL credits. Plus if you earn ULs while you have the new start momentum the LLs will seem like a walk in the park later . Next thing, Don't Ask the Advisor about your Comp I/II - they are often unreliable. I personally transferred into TESU RA college credits for Comp I & II that were (well) over 20 years without issue (I'm not alone in this). Comp I/II require a C or better at TESU, so as long that is where your grades are you should be fine. If you have already applied you'll know for certain this works for you once your evaluation is complete.

[rachel83az]

FWIW, there is nothing stopping you from doing the UL classes early and then filling in the gen eds later.

You can do both CIS and Marketing, yes. Advising will probably tell you that you cannot, but there are only 3 credits of overlap in the AOS. It's fine.

Do not talk to advising. They will lie or give you misinformation. Send in your old transcripts from whatever college or university that you previously attended. You need to do that anyway. Outside of the AOS, TESU will accept RA credits of any age. If you already took English Comp, you shouldn't need to take it again.

[bjcheung77]

Hi ThePA, yes, I also suggest completing Sophia.org first and then move to Study.com, you can put your SDC membership on pause. You may also want to fill us in with more detail by filling out the template and last post addendum here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

[dfrecore]

Skip the advising meeting with TESU and use the Wiki and the forum, you'll thank us later.

Yes, TESU will take your English Comp I & II credits, as long as you got a C or higher on each. Doesn't matter how old they are, they will take very old Gen Eds, Free Electives, and the Business Core; even the AoS allows up to 9cr of courses greater than 10y old.

[ThePA]

Hi everyone,

It’s been a couple of years since I last posted, but I’ve quietly followed the community throughout. After a challenging period, I recommitted to my degree journey last fall and have made great progress through Sophia and Coursera. I’m now pushing to complete my BSBA in Marketing by Fall 2025, along with multiple associate degrees and/or certificates from TESU.

Fall 2025 Grad Plan—TESU BSBA + Multiple Degrees (Need Feedback)

My progress so far:

• Sophia.org: 78 credits
  
• Coursera (Google Certs): 15 credits (Google Digital Marketing & E-Commerce; Business Intelligence Professional)
  
• Seton Hall (RA): 6 credits
  
• Working full-time, using Edison Accelerate to waive 15-credit TESU residency
  
• TOTAL: 99 credits
  

Study.com – BSBA: Professional Business Requirements & Area of Study // Love that SDC has non-proctored final exams for College Saver. 

• Managerial Communications (MAN-3730)
  
• International Management (MAN-3720)
  
• Business Administration Capstone (BUS-4210)
  
• Marketing Research (MKT-4110)
  
• Applied Marketing Practices (MKT-4790)
  
• Electronic Enterprise (MKT-3060)
  
• New Product Development (MKT-3350)
  
• Digital & Social Media Marketing (MKT-4410)
  
• Small Business Management (MAN-4320)
  

Sophia.org—General Ed & Electives

• Art History I
  
• Critical Thinking
  
• Operations Management
  
• Organizational Behavior
  
• Human Resource Management
  
• Criminology
  
• Introduction to Criminal Justice
  

Organizational Leadership Certificate (Study.com + Sophia)  // I may remove the below certification if I feel too much pressure this summer due to workload/biz travel. The fall period is HEAVY for me at work, and I may reduce study/learning time to keep my sanity intact. 

• International Business (MAN-271)
  
• Business in Society (BUS-3110)
  
• Foundations of Leadership (LDR-3050)
  
• Organizational Change (LDR-3450)
  
• Leadership Communications (MAN-3760)
  
• Change Management (MAN-4150)
  

Coursera

• IBM Data Analysis and Visualization Foundations Specialization 
  

---------
Degrees I’m aiming for:

• BSBA in Marketing (primary)
  
• A.S. in Computer and Information Technology
  
• A.S. in Criminal Justice
  
• Organizational Leadership Certificate (possible)
  
• Possibly a second B.A. (open to suggestions)
  

Questions:

1. Given TESU’s SOS-1100 Critical Information Literacy requirement, should I take it directly through TESU or consider EdX for a future second degree pathway?
   
2. Based on my coursework and credits, do you see other degrees or certificates I could efficiently pursue?
   

Additional Notes:

• Currently an "active" student at TESU until I register for final courses, and 92 credits have been applied towards my degree.
  
• Education is currently being funded out of pocket.
  
• Considering a private loan of approximately $8k to cover any additional fees and future degree planning.
  
• Employer educational assistance of ~$2.5k may be available but requires strenuous navigating of internal approval and reimbursement processes. May consider saving this benefit for a potential MBA.
  
• Remaining Budget for Future B.A. in Computer Science or MBA: ~$563–1,063 depending on final costs and loan/assistance usage.
  

Appreciate any insights—thank you all for the continued inspiration!

[bjcheung77]

Nice update, there are a few things you need to take a look at and review further...

1) At the end of the degree, you need 30 RA credits total at minimum, you currently have 6. It doesn't matter if you do the 6 credits at TESU and pay the Accelerate fee, you still need 18 more credits that are RA to complete the degree requirements.

2) A.S. in Computer and Information Technology and AAS Applied Computer Studies requires an associates capstone that can't be transferred into the degree, it also requires science labs. Another alternative is the AS/Comp Sci that doesn't require a capstone.

3) Instead of applying for a loan, do the Fin Aid first to see if you get anything or nothing at all. It won't hurt to try it, also for your tuition assistance, I would use that for the classes required at TESU, such as the cornerstone and capstone combo.

4) TESU’s SOS-1100 Critical Information Literacy requirement must be done at TESU, you can't use the EdX class for transfer credit.