Finding and Validating Alternate Sources of Credit

[JonW]

Hello.

A few questions for those who are adept at creating DIY degree plans.

1.      How are you finding and validating alternate sources of credit?
2.      How do you know with certainty, which alternate credits map to a particular class or requirement?
3.      Have any of you had your degree plan reviewed by one of the Big Three prior to starting it to ensure it is valid?

I ask because I would hate to do all this work completing the alternate sources only to find out that the credits are not accepted, and/or they do not map to the classes/requirements that I thought they would.


BTW, I’m trying to plot a course for completing the TESU BA in Comp Sci.

Thanks,
Jon

[davewill]

This is one of the reasons I recommend that people apply earlier rather than later. You can ask advising at TESU to plan your alternative credit into your academic evaluation before you take it. That way you'll already have the equivalency verified.

[JonW]

This is one of the reasons I recommend that people apply earlier rather than later. You can ask advising at TESU to plan your alternative credit into your academic evaluation before you take it. That way you'll already have the equivalency verified.

Dave,

Thanks for the quick response.

Could you be a little more specific regarding applying early? I have zero credits right now.

[davewill]

You can apply to TESU for a $75 fee. That gives you access to advising and locks in your catalog, shielding you from future changes to degree requirements. From that point, you have one year to become an enrolled student by taking a course or TECEP. If you work very quickly, that course could be your Capstone, but starting with zero credits, you'll probably have to take a TECEP. TECEPs are exams for credit similar to CLEP. They cost $114 for the typical 3 unit course, so they are comparable in price to other alternative credit. In one way they are better, being actual college credit instead of just recommended for credit.

Anyway, once you have access to advising, they can plan courses, including alternative credit, into your academic evaluation, showing you exactly what the equivalency will be and what degree requirement it will fulfill before you take them. Takes some of the anxiety out of the process. It's not that the degree plans you get on here aren't accurate, they are pretty much spot on because we've seen so many people successfully earn these degrees, but having TESU confirm can help.

http://www.tesu.edu/degree-completion/Testing.cfm

[dfrecore]

The way I personally plan these out is from prior knowledge here on this website. Some are easy: American Government or College Algebra for Example. Coming from anywhere, they will come in as the same thing every time. Also, people post on here what TESU has evaluated their credits as, so some of us keep track of it. I have a 1000-line spreadsheet listing every course from every provider we normally recommend here, and I keep it updated on a daily/weekly basis, with more updates annually (I just went through each provider, ACE, and NCCRS to see if anything has changed, been deleted, or added).

Another way is that some are posted on TESU's website:
https://www.tesu.edu/academics/catalog/C...rogram.cfm
https://www.tesu.edu/academics/catalog/DSST.cfm
http://www.tesu.edu/academics/cal/acp.cfm

Last but not least, some credit providers have info on their website (they've worked with TESU directly):
http://www.straighterline.com/colleges/t...uivalency/
http://study.com/directory/school/Thomas...ransferTab
http://www.davaracademy.com/business.html or http://www.davaracademy.com/general-education.html

Between all of these, we have a pretty good idea of what things are going to transfer in as.

For less common courses, we always recommend that you get your courses pre-approved from TESU before paying for them.

[Murdockb]

For less common courses, we always recommend that you get your courses pre-approved from TESU before paying for them.

Do you have to apply before you can have a course pre-approved?

[Ideas]

Do you have to apply before you can have a course pre-approved?

Yes, because it's based on your degree program, and a little related to your prior credits. Or you might take something which duplicates a different credit.