Elementary Education Degree (Indiana)

[uncoolbilly]

After seeing me progress though Sophia, IC and Study to get to the last 10 classes at UMPI my Daughter who has a AAS (and 2 early child certs) from IvyTech is deciding to go back to school. We are not sure but WGU might be a good fit. The core issue is WGU is only accepting her English I and Intro to Bio credits... everything else doesn't carry to their BA Elementary Education (difference between Early childhood and Elementary).

Building her plan out I noticed InstantCert is not listed on the WGU Partners site. Does IC transfer to WGU and if so if there a list?

[ss20ts]

WGU is far more selective when it comes to providers than UMPI. WGU has transfer pages on their website that list out which classes can be taken from an ACE provider and which ACE provider they accept. WGU has few gen eds so there's less you can transfer in for them compared to UMPI. InstantCert is leaving the ACE credit world. They have already closed 2 classes. They won't be renewing the classes in the future.

[LevelUP]

IC will no longer be ACE approved after 2022. Though if you took ACE-approved courses before 2023, then can still be transferred after 2023.

[uncoolbilly]

I am helping my daughter figure out her next education plan. She has completed a AAS in Early Childhood Education and a Certification in Elementary Education from Ivy Tech (community college in Indiana). She has decided working in the public school system is more rewarding then working in Private child care, so she needs to work towards a BA Elementary Education or something comparable.

The AAS from Ivy Tech doesn't have the majority of the gen ed credits at WGU as they were geared towards Early Childhood vs Elementary education.

I am looking for an inexpensive college program that is a elementary education degree that accepts alt credit or life experience credits. She has been a elementary substitute teacher for the last year with over 500 hrs of elementary instruction currently.

Indiana does offer an alt teaching certification, but would like to work towards something that might not become obsolete if teaching shortages don't continue. 

[Vle045]

Look at ACE. They are affordable, in Indiana, and their are primarily all about Education.

https://www.ace.edu/

[bjcheung77]

Basically, as a recommendation, I would stick with Sophia.org and Study.com if you want to get the bulk of your general education requirements done with WGU. You should create a spreadsheet and review the WIKI for your degree plan. Here's the one for WGU Education, it's a basic or generic overview, you should verify on the website for the specifics: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/WG...egree_Plan

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Update: I've merged the two threads as it's in regard to an education degree from WGU.

[uncoolbilly]

Maybe WGU isn't the best option...

I couldn't find financial info on ACE.

Are there other schools I should be taking a look at?

[bjcheung77]

You can always check some CBE program providers here: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Co...d_Programs

[dfrecore]

WGU is the only inexpensive option here that has an actual teaching degree - although I think with student teaching, you have to do at least 2 full terms there.

Another option is to get a degree in whatever you want, and then to get that alternative teaching cert, which normally allows for you to have a degree in anything, and then you spend time doing the cert, and then you can get your teaching certification. I was thinking about doing it (started the process) and for elementary education, I did not need anything but the BSBA I already have, plus the alt-cert courses, and to pass the exams.

Some programs want/need more, so she would have to research that to see which will be the best fit. From my perspective, the best option is whatever gets you in the cheapest/fastest.

[rachel83az]

IMO, the alt-degree route is probably the best for most people. Teaching indefinitely isn't something that everyone can do. If you decide to leave teaching in the future, with an alternate degree then you've got more future career options. If "all" you have is a teaching degree, that's not going to look as nice on an application for non-teaching jobs.