Excelsior --- communications, journalism degree questions..

[metadetroit]

Hey everyone,

I've been browsing this forum a lot and I really appreciate the cunning and motivated people who are here to help eachother out.

I've been away from school for a few years now, when I left I had nearly completed my degree in Journalism from a large state school in Michigan (Wayne State University). Before that I attended an arts and media college (Columbia College Chicago).

Now I'm motivated to finish my degree in the most pragmatic and affordable way possible and I'm considering doing it through Excelsior.

Basically, I want to scope out my options and see what they might accept as coursework in my major before I shell out the cash to 'apply' and 'enroll'.

I sent them an email asking them about some of my classes specifically and they basically just told me that they wouldn't review any of my credits until I 'apply'. Though they did tell me specifically that I'd need to the 'capstone course' through Excelsior even though I completed a course that was the capstone course in journalism at Wayne State University (Issues in News Media Management).

Below is a copy of the email I sent them, if any of you have any insight, I'd certainly appreciate it. Thanks much.

__

Hi there,

I'm considering Excelsior College for my quest my finish my degree.

Specifically, the Major in Communication with the Journalism Specialization.

I have completed most of the liberal arts core through previous study, including 31 'upper level' credits.

Also, I have over 120 credits total under my belt.

I'm hoping you can provide me some clarity as far as the transferability of some of the course work in my major.



1. Core requirements (9 credits)

A. Introduction to Communication

I've take a 3 credit course at Columbia College Chicago which was the first course in the journalism major called, 'Survey: Mass Communication (COM1500)'. Would this fulfill this requirement?

B. Interpersonal Communications

I haven't taken a course exactly like this before. Though, I've found a 3 credit course called, 'Interpersonal Communications (CMN104)' offered through distance education at a local community college. Would this fulfill this requirement?

C. Public speaking and the Art of Persuasion

I've take a 3 credit course at Columbia College Chicago called, "Basic Public Speaking" (ENG1400). Would this fulfill this requirement?


2. Intermediate and upper level courses. (9 credits)

A. Ethics and Communication

I haven't taken a course exactly like this, though I've found a 3 credit course called, "Media Ethics, Law, and Responsibility (COMMS300)' offered through Brigham Young University distance learning. Would this fulfill this requirement?

B. Social Science Research Methods

I haven't taken a course exactly like this, though I've found a 4 credit course called, "Survey of Social Science Research Methods (SOC-283424)' offered through Empire State College distance learning. Would this fulfill this requirement?

C. Fundamentals of Journalism

I've taken a 4 credit upper-level course at Wayne State University called, 'History and Law of American Journalism'. Would this fulfill this requirement?



3. Electives (12 credits)

I've taken many journalism courses that may satisfy this requirement including:

* Intro to Writing and Reporting (3 credits, Columbia College Chicago)

* Public Affairs Reporting (3 credits, Wayne State University)

* News Editing (4 credits, Wayne State University)

* Feature Writing (4 credits, Wayne State University)

* Reporting on Race, Sex and Culture (3 credits, Wayne State University)

* Television Criticism (3 credits, Wayne State University)

* Fundamentals of Public Relations (3 credits, Wayne State University)

* Publishing on the Internet (3 credits, Wayne State University)

Will these courses fulfill the electives requirement?


4. Capstone (3 credits)

I've taken a course at Wayne State University that is the capstone course of their journalism program. It is a 4 credit course called, 'Issues in News Media Management'. Would this fulfill the capstone requirement?



The only other question I have is regarding the quantitative requirement for the gen-eds. I've taken a course at Columbia College Chicago called, 'Math for Survival' (3 credits). Would that course fulfill the quantitative requirement?

Aside from these questions, the only requirement I know I'd need to fulfil somehow is the 'upper-level' science credit.

Thanks so much in advance.

Best.

-
prospective student

[skyfall123]

It would appear at first glance that you could cover all of the credit requirements for a BA Communications or BA Journalism from Thomas Edison State College (TESC).

Thomas Edison State College | BA in Journalism Credit Distribution
Thomas Edison State College | BA in Communications Credit Distribution

[daniellevine]

For Excelsior, they look good at first glance. I'm not that familiar with your major, so your only potential roadblock would be if some courses duplicate others. You are probably okay there. You mentioned that you have additional liberal arts credits. Make sure there are have at least six in humanities, natural science, and social sciences/history, including nine in one of those three areas. If you are doing a major, you'll also need an area of depth. That area cannot be from the communications/journalism arena of subjects, so you'll need to figure out which other area you'll use for 12 credits (3 upper level.) History is a good choice since there are lots of DSSTs and CLEPs including several upper level 3 credit exams. If you do a science, which you seem to be implying by your comment, that would have to be from a specific field (you can't do "science" it would have to be something like "biology") and you would have to take a course since there are no upper level science exams from DSST.

In terms of the primary core requirements for all students:

-Your math class may or may not work. My guess is it would, but it depends on the course content.

-You would need to take Information Literacy. Most people are doing this through Penn-Foster, as it's less than $100 for the single credit.

-You're probably okay for the written English requirement, but sometimes Excelsior can be tricky with this one and needs a specific course or exam.

[metadetroit]

Thanks for the thoughts.

I'm looking at the Thomas Edison program and it does seem like I have most of that curriculum completed. I'd perhaps only need another science/math course.

Also, I'd definetely need an 'upper-level' science course for Excelsior.

I have six psychology credits (one of which is from a 3000 level course from a university) so I'm thinking about doing the online 'Child Psychology' course from Clovis Community College to complete that depth.

So another question if I may: If I decide to do the journalism major at Excelsior I don't need a 'depth'...is that true?

But if I decide to do a general liberal arts degree, then I'll need to depths...One can be psychology and the other can be journalism...is that true?

[NAP]

Welcome to the forum!

I don't understand. What is the upper-level science course for?

When you choose a major at Excelsior, you also need one depth in a single discipline, which is 12 credits including 3 upper-level. Do you have that in your other credits already? If not, psychology is a good choice. Are there any CLEP/DSST/ECE exams that you could choose instead of a course?

Here is a degree plan template for a BS at Excelsior to help you see where your credits fall:

http://www.degreeforum.net/62322-post10.html

It will be a little different for you since you will be choosing 33 credits for the major instead of the first depth.

[metadetroit]

I don't understand. What is the upper-level science course for?

I was under the impression that each area required an upper-level course.

Seeing that blank degree form really helped me understand exactly how the requirements break down. Thanks!

So it now seems I haven't almost everything I need for the degree. Does this seem to pan out for either a B.A. or a B.S. ?

____

1. Social Science and History

*CLEP History of the US I - 3 credits
*CLEP History of the US II - 3 credits
*Introduction to Sociology - SOC1501 (Columbia College Chicago) - 3 credits

2. Natural Sciences & Mathematics

*Math for Survival - MATH1705 (Columbia College Chicago) - 3 credits
*Introduction to Life - BIO1050 w/lab (Oakland Community College) - 4 credits

3. Humanities

*CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature - 6 credits
*Introduction to Ethics - PHI2320 (Wayne State University) - 3 credits

4. English Composition I

*ENG1151 (Columbia College Chicago) - 3 credits


******************
5. Information Literacy

I may not have this one covered. From reading this forum it seems my best bet is either Penn Foster or LSU....is that right? Or would perhaps one of my research-heavy journalism courses cover this requirement? Courses like Public Affairs Reporting or Writing and Reporting I...
******************


6. Depth #1 - Psychology

*Introduction to Psychology - PSY1010 (Oakland Community College) - 3 credits
*CLEP Educational Psychology - 3 credits
*Child Psychology - PSY201 (Clovis Community College) - 3 credits
*Cognitive Psychology - PSY3080 (Wayne State University) - 3 UPPER LEVEL credits

7. Depth #2 - Journalism/Communications

*Introduction to Mass Media - COM1010 (Columbia College Chicago) - 3 credits
*Introduction to Writing and Reporting - COM1015 (Columbia College Chicago) - 3 credits
*Public Affairs Reporting - COM3100 (Wayne State University) - 3 UPPER LEVEL credits
*Reporting on Race, Sex and Culture - COM4250 (Wayne State University) - 3 UPPER LEVEL credits

8. 15 more upper level credits in the Arts & Sciences

*News Editing - COM3210 (Wayne State University) - 4 credits
*Feature Writing - COM4100 (Wayne State University) - 4 credits
*History and Law of American Journalism - COM5080 (Wayne State University) - 4 credits
*Fundamentals of Public Relations - COM3170 (Wayne State University) - 3 credits

9. Additional upper level credits (9)

*Issues in News Media Management - COM5250 (Wayne State University) - 4 credits
*Television Criticism - COM3010 (Wayne State University) - 3 credits
*Publishing on the Internet - COM5500 (Wayne State University) - 3 credits

10. 60 free electives

*I have 60 additional random credits that aren't the courses listed above.


So that's my current situation. I've completed everything above except for the Educational Psychology CLEP test, the Information Literacy requirement, and the Child Psychology course from Clovis Community College (I'm registered to take that for Spring 2010).

I'm basically looking to complete my Bachelor's degree in the most timely and affordable way to set myself up for graduate work.

All advice/guidance is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[NAP]

I was under the impression that each area required an upper-level course.

Seeing that blank degree form really helped me understand exactly how the requirements break down. Thanks!

So it now seems I haven't almost everything I need for the degree. Does this seem to pan out for either a B.A. or a B.S. ?

No, you don’t need an upper-level science specifically. A BA requires 30 upper level credits that are all arts and sciences (same as gen ed categories). A BS at Excelsior requires 30 upper level credits also. 21 must be arts and sciences; the other 9 can be arts and sciences or applied professional. At least 15 of your upper-level credits will be from the major and another 3 will be from the depth.

For a quick overview of the other differences between a BA and a BS at Excelsior:

http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...#post59730

I’m sorry I can’t help you with your questions about your major.

If you apply ($75), Excelsior should be able to tell you how close you are to a degree in Liberal Studies and which requirements are still needed. I don’t know when in the process they would talk over the major (since you are so close, you should ask), but hopefully they could give you some insight after you apply but before you have to enroll.