New here, questions about BA / BS in Criminal Justice / IT / Cyber Security

[sanantone]

Analyzing and Interpreting Literature is a fairly easy exam, and it counts as 6 humanities credits. It's probably the easiest humanities test. Depending on how easy math is for you, ALEKS courses can be used to fill the natural science areas. ALEKS is $20 per month. TESC will give credit for Intermediate Algebra; College Algebra or College Algebra with Trigonometry (duplicates); Trigonometry or Pre-calculus (duplicates); and Business Statistics, Introduction to Statistics, or Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (duplicates). There is also Straighterline for self-paced courses. I made an up to date, 99.98% test out plan for the BA in Social Science. I just didn't include the general education requirements. TESC just changed them anyway.

Sanantone's BA in Social Science - Degree Forum Wiki

[Jldeen]

Analyzing and Interpreting Literature is a fairly easy exam, and it counts as 6 humanities credits. It's probably the easiest humanities test. Depending on how easy math is for you, ALEKS courses can be used to fill the natural science areas. ALEKS is $20 per month. TESC will give credit for Intermediate Algebra; College Algebra or College Algebra with Trigonometry (duplicates); Trigonometry or Pre-calculus (duplicates); and Business Statistics, Introduction to Statistics, or Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (duplicates). There is also Straighterline for self-paced courses. I made an up to date, 99.98% test out plan for the BA in Social Science. I just didn't include the general education requirements. TESC just changed them anyway.

Sanantone's BA in Social Science - Degree Forum Wiki

Thanks again. I looked at your course recommendation and I guess I just confused because I know I still need GE. I also wasn't fully sure I understood the way everything was laid out. I'm sure it's just me because there are so many options and its easy to get overwhelmed. When you say "Choose a minimum of 12 in one subject and a maximum of 18), you are referring to credits, right?

So, I could choose roughly 3 from the Psych category, 3 from Econ, take the single Geo exam, 3 from PS, take the single Anthro exam, both social science, 3 from History, all of AofJ, and make sure to take a minimum of 18 for UL and then meet the qualifications for the degree providing I also fulfill the GE requirements as I outlined in my spreadsheet, right? I'm sorry for all the questions. I just like having a good plan and I'm guessing the advisors at TESC aren't going to tell me the best way to not pay them money for a butt load of classes.

Thanks again.

[sanantone]

I tried to list all of the test options so that people could pick and choose. You need a minimum of 12 credits in one subject. This can be in psychology, sociology, political science, etc. You can have a maximum of 18 credits in one subject because this is an interdisciplinary degree. If you were to take 20-something administration of justice credits, for example, you'd might as well just get a criminal justice degree. You can't have more than 6 credits at the 100 level in the area of study. You need at least 18 credits in the area of study (and this can be in any subject) at the 300/400 level. You need to have credits in at least 3 different subjects. As long as you cover 3 subjects, you don't need to take any tests in any areas that don't interest you. Just pick and choose what interests you as long as you follow those rules. The required liberal arts capstone counts as 3 UL credits, so you only have to worry about 15.

[UptonSinclair]

If you are planning to test out of many of your credits, as many on here do, you should wait to apply to the colleges. Just work on getting your exams out of the way. When you start looking for sources of credit outside the exams, you may want to have a look at CSU-Pueblo independent study. I haven't taken a course from them yet, but I have spent a lot of time looking over their offerings. They offer many Sociology classes that have a criminal justice aspect. The more credits you have before you apply to one of the big 3, the less it will cost you in the long run.

It is easy to overwhelmed in the beginning. Just pick one CLEP and study for it. Passing the exams and building credits will motivate you toward the next test. At this point, any of the general education exams you take are going to count toward your degree.

[Jldeen]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their input on my degree pursuit. I took and passed my first DSST exam today. I started with an exam subject I felt comfortable (Intro to Computing) with so I could get a feel for the CLEP and DSST testing environment. I am hoping to follow Santantone's Degree Plan for a BA in Social Science but I didn't see the Introduction to Computing SI536 DSST test listed. I was wondering if anyone knows whether or not the Intro to Comp DSST applies towards GE or the BA in SS with TESC?

Thanks you guys for all the help!

[KayV]

Good for you for passing your first exam! Here is a list of the new Gen Ed requirements and some of the tests you could take to pass them.

New TESC General Ed Requirements

1. Intellectual and Practical Skills (15 credits)
CLEP College Composition (ENC-101/102)- 3 Composition, 3 Writing Intensive Coursework
ALEKS Intermediate Algebra- 3 Math
ALEKS College Algebra, ALEKS Statistics, DSST Technical Writing, SL Business Communication, SL Intro to Speech, and/ or Saylor Corporate Communication- pick 2 for 6 hours of electives

2. Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World (18 credits)
CLEP Social Science – 6 Social Science
CLEP Humanities or CLEP Analyzing/ Interpreting Lit – 6 Humanities
DSST Intro to Computing- 3 Natural Science
Intro to Theater- 3 Humanities elective
(need 3 any SS/Hum/NS elective)

3. Personal and Social Responsibility (9 credits)
I don’t see any 6-hour CLEPs to fulfill these requirements.
CLEP Introductory Sociology, DSST General Anthropology, and/ or DSST Human/ Cultural Geography – pick any 2 for 3 Diversity/ Global Literacy and 3 Elective
DSST Ethics in America or SL Business Ethics- 3 Responsible Ethical Leadership

4. General Education Electives
Take any 18 hours from the areas listed above.