Help me plan my Excelsior BA in Liberal studies

[syslogv3]

I have completed two years at a four year school and a year at a community college. I would like to complete my degree as fast as possible with Cleps and Dssts.

Here is a list of my classes.

NOS-130 86 Windows Single User
3.00

4 Earth Sci Geog Lab
1.00

5 Intro Web Based Info Syst
3.00

6 CJC-111 Intro to Criminal Justice
3.00

7 CSC-120 Computing Fundamentals I
3.00

8 ENG-113 Literature-Based Research
3.00

9 GEL-120 Physical Geology
4.00

10 GEO-131 Physical Geography I
4.00

11 HIS-121 Western Civilization I
3.00

12 HUM-160 Introduction to Film
3.00

13 HUM-212 Humanities II
3.00

14 MAT-161 College Algebra
3.00

15 PHI-230 Introduction to Logic
3.00

16 POL-120 American Government
3.00

17 POL-210 Comparative Government
3.00

18 SOC-210 Introduction to Sociology
3.00

19 SPA-111 Elementary Spanish I
3.00

20 SPA-112 Elementary Spanish II
3.00

21 SPA-181 Spanish Lab 1
1.00

22 SPA-182 Spanish Lab 2
1.00

23 DBA-110 86 Database Concepts
3.00

24 NOS-110 86 Operating Systems Concepts
3.00

25 SEC-110 86 Security Concepts
3.00

26 WEB-110 87 Internet/Web Fundamentals
3.00

27 CTS-115 88 Info Sys Business Concepts
3.00

28 WEB-115 85 Web Markup and Scripting
3.00

29 WEB-120 85 Intro Internet Multimedia
3.00

Total: 77 credits, all LL, 43 remaining required for degree completion.
----------------------------

I will do the two depth requirements but not the major. Could yall help me figure out what I would need to take? Note that I do not have any UL classes. I know that EC requires 12 credits per Depth and 3 UL for each one.

Thanks in advance. This site has been extremely helpful.

[syslogv3]

I thought that I should add that I am also interested in a History Major, but am concerned that I wouldn't be able to test out of everything.

I need 30 UL credits, so that would be 10 cleps / DSSTs, plus another 4 LL classes.

That being said, could I take the 6 UL History exams, then get the other 4 from other, unrelated fields that I could test out of?

I'm also worried about EC not accepting my credits for my Internet / Computer classes (database admin, security concepts, etc. Does any one have experience transferring classes like this?

[NAP]

Welcome to the forum!

I am going to believe you that you want a BALS and not a BSLS which is more flexible. I am also going to assume that all of your credits will be accepted. (Applying and getting an unofficial evaluation could help you get a clearer picture of what will be accepted and which requirements have been met.)

Humanities – minimum 12 for gen ed, have 20

8 ENG-113 Literature-Based Research [This may NOT satisfy the Written English Requirement or Information Literacy. Check on this.]
3.00

12 HUM-160 Introduction to Film
3.00

13 HUM-212 Humanities II
3.00

15 PHI-230 Introduction to Logic
3.00

19 SPA-111 Elementary Spanish I
3.00

20 SPA-112 Elementary Spanish II
3.00

21 SPA-181 Spanish Lab 1
1.00

22 SPA-182 Spanish Lab 2
1.00

Social Science/ History – minimum 12 for gen ed, have 15

6 CJC-111 Intro to Criminal Justice [This may be Applied Professional.]
3.00

11 HIS-121 Western Civilization I
3.00

16 POL-120 American Government
3.00

17 POL-210 Comparative Government
3.00

18 SOC-210 Introduction to Sociology
3.00

Natural Science / Math – minimum 9 for gen ed, have 12

4 Earth Sci Geog Lab
1.00

9 GEL-120 Physical Geology
4.00

10 GEO-131 Physical Geography I [Need to make sure this transfers as Earth Science course.]
4.00

14 MAT-161 College Algebra
3.00

Additional Arts & Sciences electives – minimum 51, have 15 (see above)

Applied Professional – maximum 30, have 30

NOS-130 86 Windows Single User
3.00

5 Intro Web Based Info Syst
3.00

7 CSC-120 Computing Fundamentals I
3.00

23 DBA-110 86 Database Concepts
3.00

24 NOS-110 86 Operating Systems Concepts
3.00

25 SEC-110 86 Security Concepts
3.00

26 WEB-110 87 Internet/Web Fundamentals
3.00

27 CTS-115 88 Info Sys Business Concepts
3.00

28 WEB-115 85 Web Markup and Scripting
3.00

29 WEB-120 85 Intro Internet Multimedia
3.00

You may still need the Written English Requirement and Information Literacy.

What depths interest you? Consider History and Math for depths.

Consider A&I Lit for 6 credits-[not needed]. Check out the Student Guide to Credit by Exam for all of your testing options.

I think there are 7 UL DSST exams now in the Arts & Science categories. If you take ALEKS Stats for UL and a math depth, then you will need 3 UL credits, which could be through ECE, plus the capstone course.

If you want a History major, you do not have a lot of room for other credits. You need to start planning that now.

There have been some changes to the requirements, but here is a template to help you see what a BA with a major could look like:

http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...#post62468

I hope this helps you get started!

[syslogv3]

Thank you very much.

The Physical Geography class is actually Earth Science.

The college that I transferred to didn't offer an earth science course, so they renamed it to the closest that they offered. Would this count as a natural science?

So I need 30 upper level credits and an additional 13 lower level?

Would it be faster for me to do a major option or two depth requirements?

I know that I will pick history as a major if I go that route, if not, then I will choose history and psychology as my two depth requirements.

However, that means that I will have a minimum of 22 LL credits, then the additional 30 upper level needed to satisfy the requirement.

What do you think?

[NAP]

Okay, we’ll assume you’re correct. I’ll take the geography class out of Social Science and put it in Natural Science. You’ll need to be careful about this one, though, and check with EC. They will want the transcript from the school where you took the course; it sounds like that should clear up the issue.

If you can finish the depths with 6 UL and 6 LL instead of the regular 3 UL and 9 LL, that would be a better use of the rest of your credit needs.

History Depth
11 HIS-121 Western Civilization I 3.00 - done
Choose 1 CLEP/DSST - 3 LL
Civil War DSST – 3 UL
Soviet Union DSST – 3 UL

Psychology Depth
Choose 1 CLEP/DSST – 3 LL
Choose 1 CLEP/DSST – 3 LL
Choose 1 ECE – 3 UL
ALEKS Stats – 3 UL


3 LL History depth
6 LL Psychology depth
+3 LL Written English Requirement
+1 LL Information Literacy

6 UL History depth
6 UL Psychology depth
3 UL Capstone
15 UL DSST exams – Business Ethics, Ethics in America*, World Religion*, Criminal Justice*, Money & Banking

*These are not listed in the Student Guide as upper-level, but we think EC recently changed their policy on these. Be sure to double-check.

I have been talking with them about a History major for myself. Give me a few days [hours] to put some information together for you.

Also, there were several discussions a few months ago about a BA in History through TESC. At the time, it could be completed through tests except for 6 credits. There should be choices through Ohio U exams, LSU, and BYU courses, but many were choosing a 6 credit course at TESC. Check for posts by CLEP101, Elinor, and KyleH on this subject.

[NAP]

I am enrolled and still qualify for the history major under the old requirements. Based on what I have learned about that, this is my best guess for one way to meet the new requirements using mostly exams.

[SIZE="2"]History Major at EC - 15 LL and 18 UL[/SIZE]

I. Foundational – 4 courses

A1. US History I CLEP – 3 LL
A2. US History II CLEP – 3 LL

B1. Western Civilization CLEP – 3 LL
B2. World History course – 3 LL – offered at EC, also check Ohio U exams, LSU, BYU, Arkansas

II. US History – 2 courses

Civil War DSST – 3 UL
American Dream ECE – 6 UL

III. European History – 2 courses

Soviet Union DSST – 3 UL
Western Europe DSST – 3 LL

IV. Non-Western History – 1 course

Middle East DSST – 3 LL

V. Electives

World Conflicts Since 1900 ECE – 3 UL

VI. Capstone course at EC – 3 UL

This plan has 3 LL credits more than required.

I would also recommend researching the American Dream ECE, before deciding to take it.

Also, consider options through Ohio U exams, LSU, BYU, and Arkansas.

Here is some extra information:

Vietnam War DSST – 3 LL – counts as US History

HIST 317: Family & The Law In American Hist – BYU course - 3 UL in US History
BYU Independent Study - Online Courses

HIST 351: Germanic Family, Local, and Social History Research – BYU course - 3 UL in European History
BYU Independent Study - Online Courses

HIST 415: Ireland Family, Local, and Social History Research – BYU course - 3 UL in European History
BYU Independent Study - Online Courses

I know a few other people are also interested in this degree. I hope they will add more ideas for how to fulfill the requirements.

As far as which degree will be faster for you to complete, I hope this will help you compare them.

[NAP]

Here are some links to supplement the previous post:

Ohio U exams and correspondence courses - Courses A-L

LSU distance courses - LSU Independent and Distance Learning

BYU distance courses - BYU Independent Study - Online Courses

Arkansas distance courses - UAF Correspondence Course Offerings

[NAP]

Also note this new information (thanks to Peace123!):

http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...lling.html

This would change your degree plan a bit, especially the 6 credit English requirement.

[syslogv3]

I'm just trying to find a testing center open on the weekends around Charlotte NC.

I'm very excited that I only have 14 / 15 tests to go!

- I'm planning on signing up for Instantcert to prep for the tests. I'm a big history guy so I'm hoping that I'll need minimal study on those tests.

I am hoping to get 2 to 3 done every time I go to test.

If that's the case, I could test 4 to 6 per month, meaning before Christmas I would be done (if Excelsior accepts everything) and that would be the best Christmas present I could ask for.

[NAP]

Keep looking; hopefully, you will be able to find a test center that fits your schedule well.

Are you leaning toward Liberal Studies or the History major?

That would be great to be finished by Christmas.

Don't forget about planning time for the capstone course, too. That takes 16 weeks (some subjects are only 8 weeks) and has certain prerequisites.