Degree Completion Advice Pierpont/TESU

[MNomadic]

Tesu does offer dual AOS though.

[allvia]

Tesu does offer dual AOS though.

Very good - I never looked into a BA for myself, so I was unfamiliar with this option.  I was only aware of the certificates (that could be added on or earned along side a degree).

[shadowgem]

"He sent individual inquiries for each question" - This is good news, we've learned you tend to get the most accurate response from TESU when you keep your inquiries limited in scope. 

This is a relief. I got worried there for a minute that perhaps that had not been the best approach. Thank you for the added assurance.

What you are doing in regards to his official evaluation is proper, and I'm not surprised at all that there are a few course you have to appeal placement on (especially for this degree). You are likely correct that the quarter credits award for Discrete Math are not enough to meet the 3 credits higher than College Algebra requirement and that is not why they placed it in other. (He should be able to easily get what he is missing in the math through ALEKS, if I recall correctly he still needed the College Algebra as well).  What I meant in regards to it being on the official evaluation for the Science Labs is until someone transfers in both Level I w/labs and has it show up as "Complete" I'll have my doubts (as no one here has shared this happening, possibly due to the Chem I recent downgrade with SL, I didn't know there was an issue with the Study one being lowered) - I'm holding out hope that soon someone in this degree (BSTS) will post they have their sciences COMPLETE with Chem I w/lab and Physics I w/lab. 

Ok, this is also comforting to know since it is all new for us. Honestly everything came in pretty much exactly how we expected. Three of the four courses he is appealing on the grounds that he had courses they placed in "other" that could arguably meet the general education requirements as intended even if they are not identical courses to TESUs offerings (Civic Engagement, Information Literacy, and the Cornerstone) so I think he would be making these appeals no matter which degree program he had selected. He may not have a favorable outcome, but we figured it was better to try than just spend additional time and money before at least first asking them to reconsider the placement decisions. lol

The discrete math on the other hand really makes no sense even if it is due to the quarter hours since they gave him credit for a Discrete math course, but did not allocate any credits toward the Discrete math requirement for either the BA Comp Sci AOS nor the BS Tech Studies degree requirements. He has College Algebra on his ACE transcript, but he is waiting for all of his ACE courses to be finished before forwarding it to TESU. Mostly what has me stumped is that in every other "quarter hour" situation they at least gave him partial credit for the course but marked him as not complete. When he inquired about the course, the response from advising was to forward the course syllabus ect and appeal the decision to not use it in the degree, so that is the 4th course he will be appealing. Do you think he should wait to appeal that course until after he transfers in his ACE and SDC transcripts in (that is where all of his other math courses are) or just go ahead and do it now? I read somewhere you were only allowed 30 days to appeal an academic evaluation so I don't want to miss any deadlines.

I definitely understand your hesitation with the two Level I Courses/Lab being possible. I won't 100% believe it either until I see it accomplished. If the ed4credit course is an option and could be completed for less money and time, he may opt to have that preapproved and added to his plan. So far that is the only other test out course option I could locate other than the CLEP exam for Chemistry I. Because we live in a very rural area, the nearest CLEP testing center is 1.5 hours away so he would rather avoid any CLEPs. 

What doesn't make sense to me is the 2nd eval for a dual Comp Science/Psychology - it was my understanding that TESU does not offer dual majors - you could get a degree in Comp Science and then another in Psychology - but if you add the BSTS then that would be 3 degrees (not an option, they cap at 2).

He requested an evaluation for Two Areas of Study Within One Degree in a BA with the two AOS for that specific degree being Computer Science and Psychology. From my understanding this is the closet thing TESU offers to a dual major. I also think this is why the response was very clear that he would need to complete everything at the same time and apply for graduation at the same time in order for it to be considered only 2 degrees. Atm he is just exploring what his options are in order to weigh his time/cost investment and decide what is worth it to him. But, if he does go this route he would be adding the Undergrad Certificate in Gas Distribution to his degree programs. These courses should also transfer into the BS Tech Studies lessening the current overlap of Comp Science. I know he can test out of Principles of Management, but I am not sure that there any alternative/test out options for the other courses that may be less expensive/faster than taking them through TESU. I'm in the process of researching any alternative options for those courses. 

After reviewing the academic evaluations he has received, it looks like what he would need to take through TESU to complete the BS Technical Studies, BA Comp Science/Psychology, and the Undergrad Certificate in Gas Distribution is:

• Cornerstone (unless they will either accept 150 transfer credits/College Foundations and waive, doubtful)
  
• Physics I Lab (possibly) 1 credit
  
• Current Trends and Applications (BSTS Capstone) 3 credits
  
• Discrete Math? (unless he can resolve via appeal) 3 credits
  
• Operating Systems (unless SDC Computer Science 305: Operating Systems is ACE approved b4 6/19 3 credits
  
• Computer Architecture (unless SDC Computer Science 306: Computer Architecture is ACE approved 3 credits
  
• Lib-405 Liberal Arts Capstone (BA Capstone) 3 credits
  
• Regulatory Policy and Procedure (researching for alternative/test out methods??) 3 credits
  
• Applied Economic Analysis (researching for alternative/test out methods??) 3 credits
  
• Gas Combustion (researching for alternative/test out methods??) 3 credits
  
• Gas Distribution (researching for alternative/test out methods??) 3 credits
  
• Occupational Safety and Hazard (researching for alternative/test out methods??) 3 credits
  

I think that unless I can find cheaper/faster courses, that in this case the comprehensive tuition plan would make the most sense. Since I know there is no current test out option for Current Trends, Op Sys, Comp Arch, and Lib Capstone, at $1100 per course + the $2200 waiver for less than 16 TESU credits, I think picking up the Gas Cert would be basically free even if I can not locate alternatives under the comprehensive plan. On the other hand it will definitely take more time. So I suggested for him to go ahead and add these to his official degree program, complete everything for the BSTS first, then decide whether he wants to finish anymore of just grad with the BSTS. I am assuming that if he pays the RW for the ASNSMs in Oct to graduate with those in December, and then opted for the Comp Tuition plan to finish the BS/BA/Cert programs, he would just be out the $2200 RW. So that would be one more thing for him to consider.

[MNomadic]

Does your husband work in the gas/energy industry?

[shadowgem]

Does your husband work in the gas/energy industry?

He is applying for a position within an import/export LNG facility.

[MNomadic]

Does your husband work in the gas/energy industry?

He is applying for a position within an import/export LNG facility.

Ah ok. Otherwise I'd say that's a rather expensive but limited cert.

It just seems like a lot of extra work beyond the 4 degrees with an extra AOS(which is already a lot of work). Only the two of you can decide if it's worth it to you.
Keep in mind that it may seem like saving money when you only calculate tuition but there may be additional books or other supplies required. The other cost would be the time that it takes to do another 3-5 full courses(I don't think there would be many if any alt sources) when it seems he is already getting burnt out from work/school and has a solid chunk of remaining courses. That could add on an extra 3-6 months so I'll just leave it at that.

[shadowgem]

Does your husband work in the gas/energy industry?

He is applying for a position within an import/export LNG facility.

Ah ok. Otherwise I'd say that's a rather expensive but limited cert.

It just seems like a lot of extra work beyond the 4 degrees with an extra AOS(which is already a lot of work). Only the two of you can decide if it's worth it to you.
Keep in mind that it may seem like saving money when you only calculate tuition but there may be additional books or other supplies required. The other cost would be the time that it takes to do another 3-5 full courses(I don't think there would be many if any alt sources) when it seems he is already getting burnt out from work/school and has a solid chunk of remaining courses. That could add on an extra 3-6 months so I'll just leave it at that.

I completely agree. He will be in the position of having everything done for the BSTS and both ASNSMs, excepting the capstone and possibly the Physics II Lab by the end of this month. I think he plans to take the BSTS capstone that begins in Nov. Once he reaches that milestone of being "done" he can evaluate what more he would like to do. In the meantime, I have cautioned him not to do any coursework towards the second BA degree (dual AOS) until he is 100% sure of whether he wants to complete them concurrently or come back given the 24 new credit policy. We first just wanted to confirm that earning both the BS and the BA concurrently was an option since it will probably be cheaper and easier (a few less courses) for him to do it all at once as opposed to coming back.

He is highly interested in the courses for the Gas Cert, however it is not required for the current position. While the certificate could be useful to him for additional training and promotion within the company he intends to work for, I think it is a lot of additional work (time possibly better spent) and money, if the majority needs to be taken via traditional courses at TESU. I am researching it for him so he knows what his options all are and hopefully when he gets to the point in time where he needs to decide he is both fully informed and comfortable. 

He is much happier and relaxed already with just knowing he can earn the two ASNSMs and the BSTS by NLT than March and doesn't have to do anything else if he doesn't want to after January lol Especially considering he was previously looking at a minimum of one year just to finish the one degree he was working towards.

[allvia]

If he is working for a large gas company he may be able to use tuition reimbursement to earn the credits with TESU  for the certification course requirements.  I also think that once he has the BSTS it would be wiser to look towards a Master (degree) plan vs a 2nd bachelor.

[Lewis.Yim]

If you're looking for a Chemistry or Physics Lab partner, I am all in (moving both feet forward)! I am very interested in working together on an ACE/NCCRS lab course together. I have completed the corresponding courses, just wanting to take some labs for the 1 credit each lab offers. Chem/Physics I labs can be completed with Ed4Credit and/or StraighterLine.

[shadowgem]

Update:

Discrete Math? (unless he can resolve via appeal) 3 credits - RESOLVED!

Here is an excerpt from the reply I got from advising today:

"Good news! I heard back from the Dean's office and that course can be used for your "higher level mathematics" general education requirement. I have moved the course and that requirement is now filled. Thank you!"