Degree Plan for BALS at TESC - Need help / advice

[jtalama]

Please help me put together a solid degree plan for a BALS at TESC. Below is the academic eval from TESC. I believe I copied and pasted all relevant info.

**Be advised that I'm a total and complete newbie to TESC, CLEP, DSST, Penn Foster, etc...

My plan:

* I am pursuing a BALS
* I want to test out (CLEP, FEMA, Penn Foster, etc) as many classes as possible
* I am most likely not going to use Financial Aid
* I would like to put together an aggressive plan so I may finish quickly

---

!! Exception
Over .33sh FEL

S.H. S.H. Applied S.H. Comm Coll S.H to Overall TESC
Required to Degree Req Remaining S.H. Applied be Planned GPA Met GPA
120.33 73.33 47.00 63.33 44.00 YES

BA General Education Distribution (42 SH)
Semester Hours Completed: 37.00
Complete all 5 subrequirements:
A: English Composition (Pending)
> Complete one full year of English Composition with a grade
> of C or better.
Semester Hours Completed: 7.00
GPA Achieved/Needed: none / 2.000
Group 1 (Pending)
!! Exception
Replace Block

Semester Hours Completed: 7.00
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
1.. LAC1 Language and Communicatio 2.00 CR ENC-103 *TE
1.. LAE1 Language and Communicatio 2.00 CR ENC-104 *TE
2.. ENC-102 English Composition II... (3.00) --- ENC-102 *PL *TE

B: Humanities (Completed)
> Complete 12 semester hours of Humanities, including at
> least two subject areas.
!! Exception
Over 1sh ENC. 11sh allowed here

Semester Hours Completed: 11.00
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
3.. MCDR1835 Communications........... 3.00 A- COM-120 *CC *TE
4.. HUMA1740 Ethics................... 2.67 C PHI-180 *CC *TE
4.. HUMA1710 Fund of Speech........... 2.66 C COM-108 *CC *TE
4.. COMM1730 Report Writing........... 2.67 D ENG-216 *CC *TE

C: Social Sciences (In Progress)
> Complete 12 semester hours in the Social Sciences,
> including at least two subject areas.
!! Exception
Over in NAS. 11.66sh allowed here

Semester Hours Completed: 5.66 Required: 11.66 Remaining: 6
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
3.. ADS1818 Human Relations Personal. 3.00 A PSY-260 *CC *TE
4.. SOCS1740 Psych Human Beh.......... 2.66 A SOC-336 *CC *TE
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits

D: Mathematics (Completed)
> Complete a 3 semester hour college-level Mathematics
> course.
!! Exception
Over in NAS. 2.67sh allowed here.

Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
4.. MATH1720 College Algebra.......... 2.67 A MAT-121 *CC *TE

E: Natural Sciences (Completed)
> Complete 9 semester hours in the Natural Sciences,
> including at least two subject areas.
Semester Hours Completed: 10.67
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
3.. ADS1820 Introduction to Computer. 3.00 A COS-101 *CC *TE
4.. CVNP1934 Pc Programming........... 2.67 C COS-111 *CC *TE
4.. COPR1800 Data Proc Princ.......... 2.00 B CIS-101 *CC *TE
1.. TEV1 IT Fundamentals II....... 3.00 CR CMP-299 *TE

================================================================================
BA General Education Electives (18 SH)
> Complete 18 semester hours from any of the following
> General Education subjects: Humanities, Social Sciences,
> Natural Sciences or Mathematics.
!! Exception
Over 1sh NAS. Take 17sh Gen Ed Electives

Semester Hours Completed: 4.00 Required: 17 Remaining: 13
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
4.. OISS2912 Sys Op As400............. 2.00 D COS-352 *CC *GPA *TE
4.. COPR2960 Sys Analysis I........... 2.00 D CIS-320 *CC *GPA *TE
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 1 credits
================================================================================
BA Liberal Studies 2010 (33 Sh)
Semester Hours Completed: 8.00
GPA Achieved/Needed: 4.000 / 2.000
Complete both subrequirements:
A: Lbrl Stds 18 upr lvl (Not Started)
> Complete 18 semester hours of 300 and 400 level Liberal
> Studies coursework. At least TWO or more different areas
> must be included to provide breadth of knowledge in the
> Liberal Studies Area (e.g., AREA I: Humanities courses:
> 18 semester hours; AREA II: Social Sciences courses: 9
> semester hours; AREA III: Natural Sciences courses: 6
> semester hours). The two areas can span the 15 credit and
> 18 credit requirements. **It is highly recommended that
> course LIB-495 be completed to satisfy 3 semester hours of
> this requirement.**
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes

B: Liberal Studies 15 (In Progress)
> Complete 15 semester hours of Liberal Studies coursework. A
> maximum of 6 credits can be at the 100 level.
Semester Hours Completed: 8.00 Required: 15 Remaining: 7
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
4.. CCMC2900 Internship............... 6.00 A COS-299 *CC *TE
4.. CCMC1850 Micro Sys Maint.......... 2.00 A COS-299 *CC *TE
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 1 credits

================================================================================
BA Free Electives (27 SH)
> Complete 27 semester hours of Free Electives.
Semester Hours Completed: 27.33
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
1.. WFV1 IT Fundamentals I........ 3.00 CR CMP-202 *TE
3.. MCDR1805 Engineering Graphics..... 5.00 C+ GRA-101 *CC *TE
4.. OISS2910 Desktop Publish.......... 2.00 A SES-213 *CC *TE
4.. ACCT1801 Acct Prin I.............. 2.00 A ACC-181 *CC *TE
4.. CCMC1855 Windows Softwre.......... 1.33 A SES-179 *CC *TE
4.. OISS2911 Present Graphic.......... 0.67 B SES-299 *CC *TE
4.. CCMC1805 Micro Dbase.............. 2.00 B CAP-123 *CC *TE
4.. CCMC1802 Windows Graphic.......... 1.33 B SES-176 *CC *TE

4.. CCMC1807 Micro Spreadsht.......... 2.00 B CAP-113 *CC *TE
4.. CVNP2920 Data Comm I.............. 2.00 B CAP-380 *CC *TE
4.. CCMC1863 Local Area Net........... 2.00 B CAP-347 *CC *TE
4.. OISS2904 Dos Hard Disk............ 2.00 B SES-181 *CC *TE
4.. ADMN1811 Wp Conc & Appl........... 2.00 B SES-131 *CC *TE
================================================================================
OTHER COURSES:
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
--- ---------- ------------------------- ------- --- ---------- ---------

4 CVNP1907 Cabling Tech 2.00 D CAP-384 *TE*GPA*CC
4 MATH0825 Develop Algebra 0.00 CR DMT-002 *RI*TE*DEV*CC
4 MATH1730 Intro Computer 2.67 D CAP-101 *TE*GPA*CC
4 CVNP2934 Lan I 2.00 C CAP-282 *TE*CC
4 GSCL0812 Dev Compos 0.00 A DEC-001 *RI*TE*CC
4 CVNP2935 Lan Tech II 2.00 D CAP-382 *TE*GPA*CC
4 SOCS1760 Intro Mgmt Prin 2.67 C MAN-301 *TE*CC
1 EWOB Education Without Boundar 1.00 CR FEL-199 *TE
(Credits in parentheses are anticipated earned)

12/01/11 Thomas Edison State College will accept a maximum of 80 semester
hours (s.h.) of transfer credit from junior, county or community
college toward a baccalaureate degree. Students are responsible for
adhering to this policy.

[Lindagerr]

I am not an expert on Liberal studies, but thanks to SandraNC these great resources can help with your plan.

Equivalencies by Area: http://degreeplanners.com/media/TESC_Equivalencies.pdf

Equivalencies by Course Number: http://degreeplanners.com/media/TESC..._By_Course.pdf

I think you can pick from the test below to fulfill your upper level requirements in the Liberal studies area. I would suggest it might be best to take the recommended Capstone course to fill 3 credits and give you a GPA from TESC. You have to take a course from them or you will not have a GPA on your transcript. You would need 5 test and the course if you went that way.





Introduction to World Religions 400 3 REL405-DE

DSST
A History of the Vietnam War 44 3 HIS351-DE
An Introduction to the Modern Middle East 47 3 HIS309-DE
Fundamentals of Counseling 45 3 PSY331 Ask advisor to plan in as
PSY331; otherwise defaults
to COU262

DSST
Money and Banking 48 3 ECO332-DE
Organizational Behavior 48 3 PSY361-DE
Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union 45 3 HIS386-DE
Substance Abuse 400 3 SOS305-DE


For your Social sciences under section C you could use the Social Science and History CLEP and finish that requirement with 1 exam

For your general education electives you can take any 4 or 5 of the CLEP/DSST/TECEP/ECE that interest you unless it is a business course.

You could take US history I & II for your 100 level courses and if you take a 200 level course for the general elective where you need 1 odd credit it might go over to this section if it is a social science area exam.

So my suggestion is you could do this with ~12 exams and 1 course. That can all be done in 1 year if you are motivated. The cost would be ~$1200-1500 for exams including proctors fees. Plus one year tuition at TESC and 3 credit course as an out of state resident ~$4000.

I am sure others will have better ideas or suggestions I just wanted to give you a starting point.

[jtalama]

Introduction to World Religions 400 3 REL405-DE

DSST
A History of the Vietnam War 44 3 HIS351-DE
An Introduction to the Modern Middle East 47 3 HIS309-DE
Fundamentals of Counseling 45 3 PSY331 Ask advisor to plan in as
PSY331; otherwise defaults
to COU262

DSST
Money and Banking 48 3 ECO332-DE
Organizational Behavior 48 3 PSY361-DE
Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union 45 3 HIS386-DE
Substance Abuse 400 3 SOS305-DE

Where would these classes count toward?

[jtalama]

I see that I need several credits from General Education Electives and Liberal Studies.

Any guidance on how I go about choosing the right CLEP so that it fulfills the requirement under each of these sections?

[bricabrac]

Along with the information Lindagerr has already provided, look through the information below for further guidance.

TESC General Education Electives Thomas Edison State College | General Education Electives
College Catalog Thomas Edison State College | General Education Electives (see pgs 193-194)
Degree Planning Handbook http://www.tesc.edu/files/DegreePlanningHandbook.pdf

C. Social Science = CLEP exams PSY101, SOC101, SOS101/102....etc - Note once you fill this category your 200 and 300 level course would drop down to area of study.

BA General Education electives = CLEP LIT 291/292, MAT 102/103, DSST ENG201..... any courses (other than business) that you like usually at the 100-200 level.

BA Liberal Studies (A) = you will need 18 credits (300-400 level) ....see the list Lindgerr provided
This course will move to this section once Social Sciences (section C is filled) => SOCS1740 Psych Human Beh.......... 2.66 A SOC-336 *CC *TE

BA Liberal Studies (B) = DSST AOJ102, ALEKS MAT115 - you would only need 6 credits (100 level), 200 level already completed
This course will move to this section once Social Sciences (section C is filled) => ADS1818 Human Relations Personal. 3.00 A PSY-260 *CC *TE

[Lindagerr]

Where would these classes count toward?

If you look at the link to SandraNC list it will show all of these exams can be used to fulfill your upper level Liberal studies area requirements. The link will also show you what I tried to explain about the many choices for the exams to fill the other areas.

Since we don't know your areas of interest or prior knowledge it is hard to tell you which specific exams will be best for you. If you use the links we have given you and do some research on what you might test out of with the least work it will help.

With the evaluation you posted it is possible to test out of the rest of your degree without taking any classes if that is the way you want to go. Take a look at the equivalencies by area and that should clear some things up.

[jtalama]

BA General Education electives = CLEP LIT 291/292, MAT 102/103, DSST ENG201..... any courses (other than business) that you like usually at the 100-200 level.
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Why any courses "other than business?" Just curious...

[NAP]

Why any courses "other than business?" Just curious...

For a full explanation try this post:

http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...mmies.html

Note: Some info, like 200-level counting as upper-level, is out-of-date, but it is still a great description of how the credits fit the required categories.

[bricabrac]

Why any courses "other than business?" Just curious...

Because business courses are not general education electives. Why not take a look at the links I provided in my post...specifically the "TESC general education electives" and "degree planning handbook". A part of the process is educating yourself with the information provided on the forum. Keep in mind many of the same type of questions (new to the testing process) have been asked before, it may help to take advantage of the advanced search feature.

Oops, just realized I posted the wrong link for the college catalog; here is the correct link: http://www.tesc.edu/files/Catalog2011.12.pdf

[jtalama]

Taking a look at my eval below, are there any opportunities for taking any IT CLEP/DSSTs? I'm in IT and have been since the early 90's. It would be great to knock down IT-related exams.