How To: Upper Level Credits for Major

[bjcheung77]

A few people have messaged me wondering how best to get Upper-Level credits for their Major or Area of Study.  It depends on where you want to get your parchment, the degree of your choice, and which state you reside.  For the Big 3, if you can transfer them from ACE/NCCRS or other exam/test out options, that would be ideal and the Compentency Based Degree providers, I would just take the courses from them directly (transfer the max 60-90 credits before enrolling in the CB Degrees).

What if you are going into a "STEM" field or want to Major in Biology, Computer Science, Engineering, Math, or maybe/perhaps another field that have very less ACE/NCCRS or exam/test out options?  You pretty much are limited to 4 year college/university course transfers - I usually recommend APUS/AMU for their "STEM" courses and for most other specializations, your local 4 year college or any state university with online courses.

An example of using the local/state university (it could be the largest or smallest), as long as they have the online courses to grant a complete degree.  Let's choose Florida and a few random colleges - University of Florida, University of Central Florida and Florida International University.  Each of them have online degree offering and for their online degrees, they are cheaper than their residential degrees (they remove campus-related fees and provide discounts but fewer perks).

U of Florida Degrees: https://ufonline.ufl.edu/degrees/undergraduate/
U of Florida Tuition FL R $175.39 / NR $598.83: https://ufonline.ufl.edu/tuition/
U of C-Fl Degrees: https://www.ucf.edu/online/majors/
U of C-Fl Tuition FL R $179.19 / NR $383.86: https://www.ucf.edu/online/costs/undergr...-and-fees/
FIU Degrees: http://fiuonline.fiu.edu/programs/online.../index.php
FIU Tuition FL R $212.71 / NR $329.77: http://fiuonline.fiu.edu/tuition-and-aid...n-2017.php

**Active service people or resident veterans from the Army/Navy/Military, etc can possibly get "In State tuition by waiver" and it would be much cheaper than the Big 3 or almost half the price of taking them at APUS/AMU.**

So, you want that BA Biology or BA Comp Sci from TESU and you need those 15-18 credits or 24 credits for a second concentration?  Sure, go for it at U of FL if you're in Florida, or if you're elsewhere in the US, find that local college/univ with online offerings... 
The majority of courses you can test out of for TSEU, but not the AOS/Major.
Biology (Click Undergrad Catalog for courses): https://ufonline.ufl.edu/degrees/undergraduate/biology/
Comp Sci (click undergrad catalog again): https://ufonline.ufl.edu/degrees/undergr...r-science/

To recap, for the Big 3 - Major in Biology, Computer Science, Engineering, Math, or maybe/perhaps another field, take it at a local university with online offerings.  18 UL credits would equate to $175.39x 18 = $3,157.02 in a hard to find Major/AOS for your dream degree (if you are in FL and taking courses at UofF).

Basically, you need to know what degree you want and the program/school to get you there, you might want to complete your degree at the State University of choice.  The Big 3 & Competency-Based degree programs are geared for adults who have limited time and are working professionals.  If you plan on going to school full time, the local colleges would be better.

Let's take look at a different example:  Someone on TechExams and in NY State created a thread and asked about getting a degree in Networking/Security, IT/Programming and wanting to get the CompTIA certifications along with it.  BS Security Systems - https://www.farmingdale.edu/academics/cu...tems.shtml

They liked the Farmingdale Security Systems degree and wanted feedback.  Instead of advising WGU as an option, I recommended them the other offerings at the exact same school that may be more suitable.

My reply was this: The security systems degree seems more like a Criminal Justice mashed into an IT degree, it would be great if you're doing Criminal Forensics or something.   There are other programs from them that may be more suitable for you, the two below would be my choice over Security Systems unless you are going into the Police Force as a Criminal Forensics expert.

Programming & Info System, Certs such as CCNA - https://www.farmingdale.edu/academics/cu...tems.shtml
Software Technology, this shows in the works of obtaining ABET (Engineering accreditation) - https://www.farmingdale.edu/academics/cu...logy.shtml