Degrees and certs at the same time, TESU

[icampy]

Hi all,
I was curious to know if one could graduate from TESU with a double major (I don't think you can do 2 bachelors at once, correct?) and a certificate or two at the same time? Or within the same year under the same residency fee? Like a BSBA/History degree, with a operations management and CIS certificate? I know it sounds crazy, but the certs don't seem like that much extra work!

[SolarKat]

Sort of, yes. You can do an undergrad cert and a degree. (If you're getting federal student aid, there may be complications - if you've filled in your GenEd/FreeElective spaces already, I don't know that you'll qualify for aid for outside subjects.) Some certs roll into a degree (eg. CS cert into CS major).

You *can* do 2 areas of study within 1 bachelors. The issue with what you mention, BSBA/History, is that they're not the same "flavor"...you have a bachelor of science and a bachelor of arts. Since they're separate degree structures, you couldn't combine them. The 2 areas of study can only be within one degree (BS *or* BA).

In some cases, grad credit might be accepted towards an undergrad degree. In my TESU undergrad degree, half of the approved electives are grad classes. They also fulfill requirements for TESU's grad cert. However, I have to be awarded the BS before I can apply for conferral of the grad cert...even though they'll both be done at exactly the same time. *shrug* Rulez iz rulez.

[davewill]

You can get a second AOS, which is basically the same thing as a double major. Here's the link that explains that and second degrees:

The Secret to Earning a Second Degree | Thomas Edison State University

[icampy]

I have no financial aid. So, certs along with a degree are no problem.

But 2 bachelor's degrees at the same time is a no-go....well that's a bummer!

[dfrecore]

I think there is a requirement for certs that can't be met with a residency waiver. So, you would instead have to get the BSBA in CIS and Ops Management, which is doable. If you do this, then you don't need 24cr additional after the first degree - instead, it's a dual degree, and you only need an additional 18cr in the AOS. So, you'd do the BSBA degree, and get 18cr in the CIS AOS, and another 18cr in the OpsMan AOS.

If I was going to get a cert, I would actually look for one that meant something outside of the school environment. Like in the CIS realm, a CISSP or something equally highly regarded. In the OpsMan realm, that would be the CPIM certification, or something that meant something to a hiring manager in that area. Both of those actually get you credit, as well. The CPIM gets you 12cr of UL at TESU. The CISSP gets you 16cr (12 UL, 4 LL) if you "launder" it through COSC (I've heard that's possible).

Also, if you get a cert first, that you want to bring into your degree, you actually get to put that on your resume well before you get your degree. So there's that to consider as well.

[icampy]

Thanks. It's not that the ops management would apply to my career, just that the certs seem fairly simple and would look good on a resume.


Basically, I need to forget about getting a history degree, unless I do 24 MORE history degree credits after graduating from TESU? The BSBA would apply a little, the BA in History would apply none whatsoever....it's because I really want one.

[bjcheung77]

ICampy, this might work for you.
You can complete the AA with a "concentration" in History, since you like it so much: Associate Degree in Arts at Thomas Edison State University

Then use the same credits to ladder to a BSBA, by using the History courses for your General Education component.
http://www.tesu.edu/business/bsba/Genera...gement.cfm

If you read that carefully, there's 17/18-20 credit overlap, you can add 3/6 credit to that as the free elective.
Further to that, you may just want to also get the BSBA with a double concentration, CIS & Organizational Management

[dfrecore]

Thanks. It's not that the ops management would apply to my career, just that the certs seem fairly simple and would look good on a resume.


Basically, I need to forget about getting a history degree, unless I do 24 MORE history degree credits after graduating from TESU? The BSBA would apply a little, the BA in History would apply none whatsoever....it's because I really want one.

Do you really want the degree? Or really want to take the courses? Because you can always take courses just because you like the subject matter.

[swalke321]

I believe the residency requirements do not apply to certificates as long as you are a degree seeking student so it may be possible to graduate with a bachelors degree, an associates degree and a certificate at the same time. For non-degree seeking students there is a residency requirement for certificates. You would have to check with TESU. If you want to do the history degree as a second bachelors then you would need 24 new credits in history, some of which have to be specific classes, and a capstone course.

[icampy]

Thanks, all. Great info.

Is a AA at tesu with a "cincentration" official, or an AA with lots of history courses?

Would COSC allow 2 degrees at one time? Or a BSBA and GS with history concentration?