COSC Degree Plans 2016-2017

[KayV]

We have had several inquiries about Charter Oak State College recently, so I thought I would share some degree plans.

Before we begin, remember that COSC will "double dip" on requirements, so that upper level Business Ethics could fulfill both a general ed and a concentration area requirement.

We have to fulfill five general areas:
1. The general education requirements;
2. The concentration area requirements;
3. 30 hours of upper level credits;
4. At least 60 hours of liberal arts for a Bachelor of Science;
5. 120 hours total.

All of these degrees have a general education component explained in detail by the excellent Rebel100 in this thread:
http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...total.html

and for convenience copied here.

General Education Requirements (40-43 hours)
1. (a) CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature 3
2. (b,g,n) DSST Human Cultural Geography 3
3. (d) DSST Business Ethics 3UL
4. (y) COSC Cornerstone 3
5. © CLEP College Composition 6 AND SL Intro to Communication 3
6. (u) DSST Civil War and Reconstruction 3UL
7. (q) CLEP College Mathematics 6 OR ALEKS Beg/ Int/ College Algebra 9
8. (s) SL etc. Science with Lab 4 plus another Science 3

[KayV]

COSC BSBA Core

Financial Accounting: CLEP/ TECEP/ UExcel/ /CSU/ (SL ACC 101 *AND* ACC 102) 3
Managerial Accounting: CLEP/ UExcel/ CSU/SL 3
Business Law: CLEP/ UExcel/ (not Saylor) 3
Principles of Management: CLEP/ UExcel/ Saylor 3
Management Information Systems: DSST/ CSU 3
Principles of Marketing: CLEP/ UExcel/ CSU 3
Finance Management: BYU has an Ind. Study course 3
Organizational Behavior: DSST (LL)/ UExcel (UL) 3
BUS-499 Capstone 3 UL
Prerequisites: Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Business Stats 9

And pick one of the following concentrations (COSC lists more, but these are test-friendly):

BSBA Concentration in Human Resources 9 UL
1. Human Resource Management: (not DSST)/ UExcel (UL)/ CSU (UL) 3
2. Managing People in a Global Economy: CSU 3UL
3. Employment Law: CSU 3UL

BSBA Concentration in Organizational Management 9 UL
1. Communication Strategies for Leaders: CSU 3 UL
2. Organizational and Group Dynamics: CSU 3 UL
3. Organizational Theory: CSU 3 UL

BSBA Concentration in General Business 9 UL
(develop with advisor, but these are the ones COSC lists)
1. CSU Managing the Supply Chain 3 UL
2. CSU International and Multi-Cultural Marketing 3 UL
3. Business Ethics: (not SL) / DSST (UL)/ UExcel (UL)/ (not Saylor) 3

[KayV]

COSC General Studies with Communications Concentration

DSST/ SL Intro to Communication 3
CSU Global Exam Interpersonal Communication 3
CSU Global Exam Intercultural Communication 3 UL
CSU Global Exam Research and Writing for the Communication Professional 3 UL
TECEP Intro to News Reporting 3
TECEP Public Relations Thought and Practice 3
Saylor Corporate Communications 3
TECEP Advertising 3 UL
TECEP Marketing Communications 3 UL
CSU Global Exam Communication in the Global Information Age 3 UL
CSU Global Exam Mass Communication and Society 3 UL
COM-499 Communications Capstone 3 UL

[KayV]

COSC General Studies with History Concentration

CLEP/ SL HIS 101: U.S. History 1: New World-Reconstruction 3
CLEP/ SL HIS 102: U.S. History 2: 1877-Present 3
CLEP/ SL HIS 121: Western Civilization 1 3
CLEP/ SL HIS 122: Western Civilization 2 3
Non-Western History: DSST Soviet Union 3 UL
Non-Western History: DSST Vietnam War 3
History elective: Civil War and Reconstruction 3 UL
History elective: UExcel World Conflicts since 1900 3 UL
History elective: CSU Global Exam US History from 1945-Present 3 UL
History elective: CLEP Social Science and History 6
HIS-499 History Capstone 3UL

[topdog98]

I think overall what you have would work well. I have just a couple of observations.

You need 60 liberal arts credits for a Bachelor of Science: https://www.charteroak.edu/current/acade...ements.cfm

There is a new master list now with the new catalog: https://www.charteroak.edu/catalog/curre...amlist.pdf

This includes some changes with several DSST exams now at the upper level, such as A History of the Vietnam War, Organizational Behavior, and Human Resource Management.

The Finance Management can be taken through DSST (Principles of Finance) or Penn Foster.

The Information Systems CLEP can also be used for Management Information Systems.

There are also some good offerings through Penn Foster that work well for many requirements at COSC.

You alluded to this already above, but it is true that you wouldn't have to use the CSU exams for the General Business. This is very flexible so most any UL Business exams/courses would work here.

[Prloko]

Just a quick off topic question, but relates to all the contemporary advice. What is the aversion to CLEP/DSST exams, lately? I know everyone learns differently, but I still think CLEPs are the fastest, easiest and most transfer friendly of all the Penn Foster and SL courses that people have been taking lately. Also, I didn't think I would, but while doing my MBA, I noticed I retained most of the material I learned when I studied for the business exams. My spouse is doing the SL thing, and I don't think she retains one ounce of the material using the CTRL+F method.

I'm not judging, just curious as to the mass exodus from the exam method. I know two of the main reasons are some are not near testing centers, and the also the ease of taking it at home. Any other reasons?

[alzee]

I'm not judging, just curious as to the mass exodus from the exam method.

Has there been such a mass exodus? I know I personally haven't taken any straight exams (CLEP/DSST) myself yet, but I think I'm in a tiny minority, and that is going to change as I move from the ASBA to BSBA. For my part so far though, I'll directly address your points. Understand I'll be blunt, no offense intended.

I still think CLEPs are the fastest

Strongly disagree once you factor in study time. SL almost doesn't require any.

easiest

I doubt it. How can they be easier (to pass) than a course where 70% (or more, up to 100%) of your grade is based on open book exams? How can they be easier (to take) than sitting at your computer in your skivvies at midnight?

and most transfer friendly

Not a concern for me personally.

[LaterBloomer]

As to there being a mass exodus, I can't opine. (Yeah, fall off your chair.) For me, however, I MUCH preferred tests. Anything class-like increased my chances of NOT completing the course. Regular courses, whether B&M, correspondence, etc., required a type of commitment that I found hard to fulfill. On the other hand, studying when/where/how I wanted for a one-off exam better suited my credit accumulating style.

[KayV]

Thanks for catching the 60 credits for a BS. I meant to type that and changed it above. A BA requires 90 credits in liberal arts and sciences, but even if you have that, you can still apply for a Bachelor of Science if you'd prefer.

I think the main reason people are talking about the new class-type credits (Saylor/ Straighterline/ Study.com etc.) is that they are a new option for people who do better in class situations rather than test situations. For some people, testing works well, but for others it's just not a good choice for whatever reason. The great part is that all the new options give more people a chance to complete their degree affordably from wherever they happen to be in the world.

[dfrecore]

I'm not judging, just curious as to the mass exodus from the exam method. I know two of the main reasons are some are not near testing centers, and the also the ease of taking it at home. Any other reasons?

Those are my 2 reasons; with kids at home, I don't like to have to leave in the middle of the day to drive 1 1/2 hours RT to take a test; and I am a night owl, so taking a test/class here at home after everyone has gone to bed and it's nice and quiet is a great option for me. Once I found the options other than CLEP/DSST, I never even thought about taking one of those again.

But I would certainly recommend them, especially for someone looking for portability. My friend's daughter is going to a CA State school, and she took several AP courses in HS, and then was so excited when I recommended some CLEP exams for her to take. She was able to get into college with 36cr, and was considered a Sophomore when she entered. Cutting a full year off of her studies was a dream come true since she's a Marine Biology major and has to get her masters degree.