I'm new and could use some advice and help.

[Attie]

Hello everyone! I have been lurking here for quite some time, trying my best to work out a college plan for myself. I feel overwhelmed, so I thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and join. Maybe you guys can help me out a little bit, if you don’t mind.

I would really like to get a Bachelor’s degree in English or something related (like Literature or Creative Writing). I completed an AA in English at a local state college before I knew much about alternate ways to get credit, though I did do college algebra through Straighterline back when it was partnered with Fort Hays.

After I graduated from my state college (I would have stayed there, but they don’t offer a BA in English), I enrolled at American Military University. I took one course there. I like the school a lot so far, but I can only take one class at a time because of the cost (I don’t qualify for aid), so it will take me a long time to graduate! I would prefer something a bit faster and cheaper if possible. I looked over the tests that APUS accepts for credit and was/am planning to take some CLEPs and a DSST, but I haven’t started studying for them yet. I am not sure if I would still benefit from those particular tests (listed below) if I do change schools.

I guess I am just hoping someone could recommend me one of the Big 3 (if any would be a better option than APUS), and maybe some CLEPs or other exams to take. Or just give me some kind of direction on how to complete my degree.

COSC looks like it might be my best option, but there are some class requirements that I’m not sure I would be able to fill since there aren’t tests for everything and COSC doesn’t offer all of the classes needed for their English degree (Shakespeare, for example). I was interested to see that they have a GRE option, but I wish they gave more information about it. Would that be a better way for me to go?

Excelsior looks good, but I am not sure about the degree actually being Humanities--Literature rather than just Literature or English--Literature.

TESC is out because I absolutely can’t/won’t do online proctoring, and it looks like they require ProctorU. I don’t really want to go into my reasons, but I strongly prefer in-person proctors. I would have no problem with either finding my own proctor or going back to my state college and paying a small fee to use their testing center, but I don’t think those are options at TESC.


Below is my transcript thus far:

English and Literature:
ENC1101 ENGLISH COMP I……………..A
LIT2330 CHILDREN'S LIT……………… A
ENL2022 ENG LIT-AFT 1798 ………….A
LIT2120 WORLD LIT:ENLIGHTENM….A

Math:
MGF2106 MATH LIBERAL ARTS I………...A
MATH110 MAC1105 COLLEGE ALGEBRA……B (done through Straighterline, but is recorded on my college transcript from the state school.)

Science/Technology:
CGS1060 COLLEGE COMPUTING…..….B
BSC1009 THE LIVING WORLD…………B
ESC1000 EARTH SCIENCE……………….A

Social Sciences and Humanities:
PHI2630 INTRO TO ETHICS…………….A
PSY2012 INTRO PSYCHOLOGY………..A
SYG2010 SOCIAL PROBLEMS …………A
HUM1533 HUMANITIES-PHILOSOPHY….A
SYG1250 MULTICULTURAL ISSUES.……A
SYG2000 INTRO TO SOCIOLOGY………….A
PHI1930 EASTERN PHILOS………………….A

History:
EUH2000 WESTERN CIV:ORIGINS…...A
EUH2001 WEST CIV:1485-1815………A

Other:
SLS1101 STUDENT SUCCESS…………..A
HSC2100 PERSONAL AND COMM HEALTH….A
COLL100 Introduction to college class, only class taken at APUS so far (required).…A

Tests I Plan to Take if I stay at APUS:
CLEP: American Government, College Composition (because it gives you credit for Eng. 1 and 2--I have only taken 1), Eng. Lit (again because you get credit for 2 classes--I have taken one), Natural Sciences, American Lit.
DSST: Technical Writing.

Thanks for any thoughts or ideas everyone!

[rebel100]

The beauty of the big 3 is that most of the credit can come from anywhere. You can likely cobble together an affordable plan using English courses from BYU or the University of Idaho. You only need 9, 3 credit courses to fill out a Major....the three credit capstone would bring you to the magical 30 upper level courses you need. You can probably do this at say Charter Oak for around $6000, at TESC and EC for just a little bit more.

Look at all the titles from BYU, 9 courses at $450 or so each your at half the cost of the AMU/APU degree. Depending on the plan you could reduce this further in some instances...the remaining 30 or so hours will be to pick up any Gen eds you might have missed and free electives (those might be completed via FEMA for free):


University Online Course Catalog - BYU Independent Study

312: PERSUASIVE WRITING
Expository and persuasive writing focusing on practical reasons for evaluating audiences, generating and structuring an argument, and making stylistic decisions.

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ENGL 313: EXPOSITORY WRITING FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MAJORS
Learning to write as professional educators and to teach writing to children.

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ENGL 314: WRITING ABOUT LITERATURE
Writing about the functions, meanings, qualities, and contexts of literature for specialist and nonspecialist audiences using selected critical theories.

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ENGL 315: WRITING IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
Writing characteristic of disciplines that inquire into human behavior and institutions; correspondence, proposals, library paper, empirical research, and reviews.

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ENGL 316: TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION
Effective processes of written, oral, and visual technical communication, including collaborative processes.

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ENGL 317R: WRITING CREATIVE NONFICTION
Creations of style and technique in prose nonfiction; discipline and practice of the writer.

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ENGL 319R: WRITING POETRY
Creation of style and technique in poetry; discipline and practice of the poet.

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ENGL 320R: WRITING FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Theory and practice of writing prose and verse for youth readership.

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ENGL 336: THE AMERICAN NOVEL
Representative novels of the American tradition from the late eighteenth century to the present.

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ENGL 350: THE BIBLE AS LITERATURE
Literary artistry, human values, and cultural significance of the Bible.

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ENGL 361: AMERICAN LITERATURE 1800-1865
Major and selected minor writers and literary trends from 1800 to 1865.

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ENGL 362: AMERICAN LITERATURE 1865-1914
Major and selected minor writers and literary trends from 1865 to 1914.

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ENGL 363: AMERICAN LITERATURE 1914 - 1960
Major and selected minor writers and literary trends from 1914 to 1960.

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ENGL 366: STUDIES IN POETRY
Topics vary.

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ENGL 374: BRITISH LITERATURE 1789 - 1832: THE ROMANTIC PERIOD
Poetry, prose, and drama from Britain's Romantic period.

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ENGL 382: SHAKESPEARE
Intensive reading, discussion, viewing of plays from the comedy, tragedy, romance, and history genres.

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ENGL 385: BRITISH LITERATURE 1603-1660: THE LATE RENAISSANCE
Drama, poetry, and prose of the late Renaissance.

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ENGL 395R: STUDIES IN LITERATURE (CHRISTIAN FANTASY)
Selected readings in the fiction of J.

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ENGL 420: LITERATURE FOR ADOLESCENTS
Wide range of literature written for or read by teenagers.

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ENGL 495: THE SENIOR COURSE: DIRECTED LITERARY RESEARCH AND WRITING
In-depth study of a limited area of literature, language, or criticism.

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[IrishJohn]

Don't give up on AMU just yet. You may still be able to complete a degree through them while utilizing the "test out" option as well.

AMU/APU accept 91 credits of transfer credit, of which 30 can be "non-traditional". You already have 60 credits through community college, so that leaves up to 30 more you can earn through testing out. That's only 30 left to finish a degree at AMU (3 of which you are working on now I take it), which shouldn't cost too much.

[Attie]

That's interesting. Thank you for your fast reply.

[HorseManiac]

I'm not real familiar with TESC classes since I haven't taken any, but I did want to let you know that it looks like (NOTE: I'm not an expert!) TESC might allow you be exempt from using the online proctor. Here is the form you'd have to fill out.........

http://www.tesc.edu/documents/OPS_Exemption_Request.pdf

Like rebel said, there are lots of other places to transfer the credit in from so you might be able to go with TESC (if you want to) and only have to take maybe the capstone course.

[Attie]

Thank you for your fast reply!

Actually, I've only taken 1 course through AMU so far (COLL100), and I completed it. I have not signed up for any other courses yet.

So you think I should stay put, take the tests I mentioned, and take the remaining courses there at AMU? As far as I can tell from looking at my academic plan at APUS, I would need to take those 6 tests and also 15 AMU courses. I could possibly take 2 classes at another school to transfer in, but that combined with the 6 tests would put me at the maximum 91 transfer credits (I think--my math may be off). That is something I will consider doing, I was just trying to find out if I had any better options.

[Attie]

That's interesting. I would consider trying to go through TESC if this would work, but I would rather not have to argue or fight for something, you know? Thank you for your reply!

[HorseManiac]

That's interesting. I would consider trying to go through TESC if this would work, but I would rather not have to argue or fight for something, you know? Thank you for your reply!

I totally understand where you're coming from. I don't know that I'd want to fight/argue over something either. I just wanted you to know that there was an option if you needed it!

[Attie]

Thank you very much!

[IrishJohn]

So you think I should stay put, take the tests I mentioned, and take the remaining courses there at AMU? As far as I can tell from looking at my academic plan at APUS, I would need to take those 6 tests and also 15 AMU courses. I could possibly take 2 classes at another school to transfer in, but that combined with the 6 tests would put me at the maximum 91 transfer credits (I think--my math may be off). That is something I will consider doing, I was just trying to find out if I had any better options.

Not necessarily. I only mention this because I'm usually reluctant to switch schools after beginning a program and also just in case you aren't fully aware of the transfer credit options for APU/AMU. If it makes more sense in reaching your goals to transfer to another school, then by all means do so. I'm just not sure you'll be able to skip taking many more classes elsewhere given BA in English degrees usually require more higher level english/lit courses as part of the plan, which limits your testing out options.