Help with an Associates Degree Plan

[rcsaint]

My son is graduating high school early in December 2015. He will have completed 37 credits when he graduates high school. He has already joined the Air Nation Guard and departs for training in May of 2016. He can take DSST and CLEP tests for free. He has a personal goal of earning an associates degree before May of 2016. Any help would be appreciated. I am leaning towards COSC since it looks like he can do it with only the cornerstone class.

CLEP

Natural Science (6)
College Math (6)
Analyzing & Interpreting Lit (3)

B&M

College Algebra (3)
English Comp 1 (3)
Principles of Mgmt (3)
Principles of Supervision (3)
Computers Info Sys (3)
Emergency First Resp (5)

ACE

PADI Open Water Diver (2)

[Life Long Learning]

TESC has no cornerstone class.

[dfrecore]

If I were him, I would do the TESC ASBA (AS in Business Administration). If he wants to maximize CLEP/DSST's, but still take the 4 TECEP's required for residency in the Per-Credit-Option, here's an option:

CLEP
Intro to Marketing (Business req)
American Government (Civic Engagement req)
Financial Accounting (Business req)
Business Law (Business req)
1 additional test for Section D (like Macroecon)

DSST
Public Speaking (Oral Comm req)
Business Ethics & Society (Ethics req)
Ethics in America (section c)

TECEP
English Comp II
Marriage & the Family (Diversity req)
Managerial Accounting (Business req)
1 additional test for Section C (like Microecon)

The reason I say Micro & macro economics is because they're required for the BSBA (they'd get moved to the Business Core later). I suggested Ethics in America because that would be an easy one to study for along with Business Ethics.

With the free DSST's/CLEP's, it would only cost $650 to get his ASBA - $444 for the TECEP's, $75 app fee, $131 Tech Services fee, and $312 grad fee.

I would also continue to take Business DSST exams: Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, Principles of Finance, Principles of Statistics - all required for BSBA; Intro to Business, Management Info Systems count as Business Electives. I would also take any additional DSST's/CLEP's that could be worked into the BSBA as well, after I finished the ASBA.

Good luck!

[dfrecore]

If he wants the COSC degree, he will have to take the Cornerstone ($750 for military), and a science with lab 4-cr course - which even through Straighterline will run $295+. There's still the app fee ($75), the student services fee ($193), the technology fee ($52) and the graduation fee ($205), for a total of $1570 minimum.

[Prloko]

Your son can get an Associates degree from the Air Force through the CCAF. With all the credits he has, I wouldn't be surprised if all he needs is his technical training, social science course and his 5-Level upgrade (in 12 months).

Is there any reason why he would want a civilian associates degree? He can jump straight into a Bachelor's program and then work to get his commission in the Guard.

[rcsaint]

Thanks for your reply. He has been working on his general education requirement for the CCAF and only has American Government and Public Speaking left. After his training and quals he will have is AAS in Fire Science. I was looking for a cheap way to get him another associates degree before he leaves for bootcamp. I think you are right he will be better off just working on his bachelors.

[Prloko]

If he's looking for a Bachelor's in Fire Science, he can check out COSC where they have a concentration. Also Empire State College (another CLEP friendly school, but has a residency) has an AU-ABC agreement with CCAF for a BS in Fire Science. This will maximize his Fire credits.