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

[Attie]

Are you sure you would need a proctored test for English courses? Forget about the GRE unless you need LL credit. The literature test only comes with 3 UL credits. I was told that the GREs mostly count as concentration electives; they either cover one or two of the required courses or none at all.

Thanks for the information about the GRE option. I guess that is not the way to go.

[Attie]

You absolutely do not have to use ProctorU!! I just finished my last course with TESC, I've completed my BA in English. None of my English/Literature have had to have any proctoring at all. I used ProctorU for one class and absolutely hated it, they were rude and talked the entire time through my test! I know it was a mistake, they forgot to turn their microphones off, but even after I said something they still didn't do anything about it. Anyway, so after that, I chose to use my local library. It worked out really well. TESC was really great, I have had a few issues with them, but nothing compared to the community college I went to. They have really helped, for instance I had one test to take and knew I wouldn't get it done before the April 1st graduation deadline, so I called them and they gave me an extra month. Good luck!

Really? Did you have to fill out the waiver (mentioned earlier by HorseManiac) for each class that you chose to use the library? Is there a way to find out if proctoring will be required or not before signing up for each individual class? What about the Capstone?

Do you think TESC would be a better option in my case?

Sorry for all the questions! It's just nice to hear from someone who completed a BA in English!

[Attie]

Im not 100% on the "english" concentration.....but the 30 UL hours is certain, note three of those would be from the required Capstone course...and that would count in your major (charter Oak calls majors concentrations...they are essencially the same thing, though people argue about what that means).

For credit by exam there are DSST (a few) that are UL, some TECEP exams are UL, and a few EC exams are UL. The master list of exams is here: http://www.charteroak.edu/Current/Academ...r-list.pdf Problem for you is that they show nothing at the UL except the GRE....the GRE is only given at certain times, and how mwny credits and at what level determines the credit award....I believe only 6-12 UL credits are even possible via the GRE....I think it's simpler to just find other sources.

You will see that there are a lot of test options in History....you might consider a dual concentration that would be 18 (including capstone) UL in English and 12 UL in History. Done that way you would need only 5 english courses, 4 history exams at the UL and the Capstone.

None of the FEMA are UL.....they would just be free elective filler in your case. COSC and TESC both accept up to 30 credits that way.....thats a whole year! at least a $1000 savings from the cost of testing out of thoses....thousands more if you took those credits as an actual class somewhere.

this is the cost effective, quick way to an accredited degree.

Thank you for your replies! I have printed out that list--it is very helpful!

I haven't seen anything about dual concentrations. That might be something to think about, but I kind of think I would prefer a degree in one subject. I actually did consider majoring in history at one point though! I only see two UL history exams though, unless I'm missing something.

Thanks for the information about the FEMAs!

[Attie]

The TESC courses I took used an in-person proctor (Strighterline requires an online proctor for any school, even APUS schools) but I have always liked the APUS system. In fact, we are about 99% sure my husband's MBA will come from there. As you're learning, more tests exist for 100/200 level, fewer for 300/400 so you'll have to choose carefully from here on out. Good luck, and for what it's worth, I think paying cash is ALWAYS the way to go!

Thank you!

[Attie]

Thanks. It's too bad that the GRE option doesn't work out better.

[rebel100]

Charter Oak will allow a "dual concentration" that's what I did. I mention History because it does have the two UL exams that are well vetted on this forum and easy to study for. Plus you can find plenty of online UL History classes to fill the remaining 6 credits....done via LSU or University of Idaho these would only be around $100/credit....keeps your costs down. You can almost certainly substitute some other exams for this if your so inclined too..like

Your 30 UL credits might look like this:

English Concentration (18 needed at UL)....$900 or so for the Capstone, then 5 classes ranging from $300-$500.....about $2000:
(3UL) Capstone COSC
(15UL) From any UL English/Writing course BYU/LSU, there are 2 courses at University of Idaho.

History (12 needed at UL)....this can be done as low as $400 or so:
(3) DSST Civil War
(3) DSST Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union
(3) ECE Cultural Diversity
(3) ECE World Conflicts since 1900
......or sub classes from the usual suspects: LSU/UofI/BYU


So around $3000 to finish out the UL requirement another $500 or so in fee's and another $900 for the Cornerstone, If your Gen Eds are done the rest can likely be FEMA.....this is a $5000 degree you can finish by the end of the year. What will it cost at AMU/APU?

[Attie]

Charter Oak will allow a "dual concentration" that's what I did. I mention History because it does have the two UL exams that are well vetted on this forum and easy to study for. Plus you can find plenty of online UL History classes to fill the remaining 6 credits....done via LSU or University of Idaho these would only be around $100/credit....keeps your costs down. You can almost certainly substitute some other exams for this if your so inclined too..like

Your 30 UL credits might look like this:

English Concentration (18 needed at UL)....$900 or so for the Capstone, then 5 classes ranging from $300-$500.....about $2000:
(3UL) Capstone COSC
(15UL) From any UL English/Writing course BYU/LSU, there are 2 courses at University of Idaho.

History (12 needed at UL)....this can be done as low as $400 or so:
(3) DSST Civil War
(3) DSST Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union
(3) ECE Cultural Diversity
(3) ECE World Conflicts since 1900
......or sub classes from the usual suspects: LSU/UofI/BYU


So around $3000 to finish out the UL requirement another $500 or so in fee's and another $900 for the Cornerstone, If your Gen Eds are done the rest can likely be FEMA.....this is a $5000 degree you can finish by the end of the year. What will it cost at AMU/APU?

That is very interesting, but I’m still not sure. I just wonder if having a degree like history/English would be a bad thing when it comes to getting a job. I hope to eventually make my living as a freelance writer, but if I needed to get a job elsewhere... Say I want to teach English to middle schoolers (I absolutely don’t want to teach, but it’s an example), would I qualify for that job with a dual concentration? Or if I wanted to work at a museum or something on the history side of things, would I qualify for that job? Those are just top of my head examples, but that is one worry that comes to mind when I think about having a dual concentration. If that likely wouldn’t be an issue, then it might be great, especially since I am interested in both subjects! Thank you very much for breaking things down for me like that. It is way cheaper than what my degree at APUS would cost.

If I were to stick with just one concentration, do you think getting a history degree would be easier to get than an English degree?

[IrishJohn]

That is very interesting, but I’m still not sure. I just wonder if having a degree like history/English would be a bad thing when it comes to getting a job. I hope to eventually make my living as a freelance writer, but if I needed to get a job elsewhere... Say I want to teach English to middle schoolers (I absolutely don’t want to teach, but it’s an example), would I qualify for that job with a dual concentration? Or if I wanted to work at a museum or something on the history side of things, would I qualify for that job? Those are just top of my head examples, but that is one worry that comes to mind when I think about having a dual concentration. If that likely wouldn’t be an issue, then it might be great, especially since I am interested in both subjects! Thank you very much for breaking things down for me like that. It is way cheaper than what my degree at APUS would cost.

If I were to stick with just one concentration, do you think getting a history degree would be easier to get than an English degree?

I can't speak about free-lance writing or museum jobs but as for teachers, it depends upon what your state requires. In Virginia you only need a bachelor's with any major from an RA school (which all the Big 3 and AMU/APU are), have to complete the Career Switcher Program and must pass the VCLA and subject Praxis II exams. Check with your state's education department about their requirements and see if they have anything like we do in Virginia. I hear that Texas is even easier to get licensed but I don't know for sure.

As for getting a degree with a history major from one of the Big 3, yes it would be much easier IMO to do. Here's a sample degree plan I put together for TESC: http://degreeforum.wikia.com/wiki/TESC_B...n_Template

This can be modified for COSC or EC.

[rebel100]

That is very interesting, but I’m still not sure. I just wonder if having a degree like history/English would be a bad thing when it comes to getting a job. I hope to eventually make my living as a freelance writer, but if I needed to get a job elsewhere... Say I want to teach English to middle schoolers (I absolutely don’t want to teach, but it’s an example), would I qualify for that job with a dual concentration? Or if I wanted to work at a museum or something on the history side of things, would I qualify for that job? Those are just top of my head examples, but that is one worry that comes to mind when I think about having a dual concentration. If that likely wouldn’t be an issue, then it might be great, especially since I am interested in both subjects! Thank you very much for breaking things down for me like that. It is way cheaper than what my degree at APUS would cost.

If I were to stick with just one concentration, do you think getting a history degree would be easier to get than an English degree?

Remember that the degree will simply read "Bachelor of Science" or "Bachelor of Arts" it's gonna be up to you to spin that on your resume and in interviews. I like that my degree has two concentrations....I can emphasize either concentration. Others will disagree with this...end of the day you need to be comfortable selling yourself and your education to potential employers.

Concentrating in history might be a little cheaper/easier, but only marginally so. I think you could save $1000-1500 just because of the availability of credit by exam and the lower cost of LSU/University of Idaho courses against the cost of BYU.

[rebel100]

In florida you take an exam in the subject area to qualify to teach....passing that and holding any Bachelors degree is the minimum....so I don't think English vs History is relevent in that instance.....but it depends on where your teaching.