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Is Coursera underutilized?
#1
I feel like Coursera isn't discussed or recommended as much as I'd expect, am I missing something?

TESU has said that the course I'm already taking anyway for a professional certificate through Coursera is eligible for credit through ACE.

When I look through the wiki for TESU it never recommends Coursera, but when I do the math, it seems more cost effective than whatever is recommended like all the S's (Study, Saylor, Sophia, Straigherline, etc.)

What am I missing? 

Since I'm already doing the $60 a month Coursera Plus which lets me do multiple programs at once, I want to explore this further but am having trouble finding detailed information about TESU and Coursera, and I don't want to keep badgering my advisor with every question that comes up.

I have looked over the ACEnet.edu site and their recommendations for coursera credits but it doesn't tell you what specific schools will do with them, and again, don't wanna badger the advisor whenever I get an idea lol.

Is it just a newer option that hasn't been utilized that much yet? Am I doing the math wrong on cost per credit? Are the other sites a lot easier to complete? What am I missing?
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#2
There is a page on the wiki dedicated to Coursera so I recommend starting there. If you are finding Coursera courses that could be listed on specific TESU degree plans but aren't, feel free to add them to the wiki degree plans yourself. It likely means that the last person who updated the degree plan didn't know about the Coursera options, or the Coursera options were not available at the time that they updated it.

And honestly, the only way to know for sure if a Coursera course is going to fit into your degree plan is by asking your advisor, so don't feel bad about contacting them.
-------
Current
MBA—UMass Global; University of the People—B.S. Health Science
TESU—BA Biology & Psychology, AS Mathematics

Completed
BA in Linguistics, traditional route

Online traditional credits (undergrad & U.S. unless otherwise stated)
Eastern Gateway Community College (28); ASU (10);  New Mexico Junior College (8); Strayer (3); Purdue University Global (3); TESU (6); XAMK Finland (57 ECTS + 10 grad ECTS), University of the People (3 grad)

Alternative credits
Sophia (81), Study.com (27), Saylor (6 credits), Onlinedegree.com (12), CLEP (6)

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#3
Things change so often that it can be hard to keep up. Sometimes no one on here knows a change took place because they haven't tried to transfer in the same course since the change took place. It's challenging keeping the wiki's updated all the time.
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#4
(10-11-2025, 02:40 PM)JayKosmos Wrote: I feel like Coursera isn't discussed or recommended as much as I'd expect, am I missing something?

TESU has said that the course I'm already taking anyway for a professional certificate through Coursera is eligible for credit through ACE.

When I look through the wiki for TESU it never recommends Coursera, but when I do the math, it seems more cost effective than whatever is recommended like all the S's (Study, Saylor, Sophia, Straigherline, etc.)

What am I missing? 

Since I'm already doing the $60 a month Coursera Plus which lets me do multiple programs at once, I want to explore this further but am having trouble finding detailed information about TESU and Coursera, and I don't want to keep badgering my advisor with every question that comes up.

I have looked over the ACEnet.edu site and their recommendations for coursera credits but it doesn't tell you what specific schools will do with them, and again, don't wanna badger the advisor whenever I get an idea lol.

Is it just a newer option that hasn't been utilized that much yet? Am I doing the math wrong on cost per credit? Are the other sites a lot easier to complete? What am I missing?

Coursera is not discussed enough on here. It may be a close tie compared to SDC in terms of credits available, it's dirt cheap (even cheaper if you use a VPN to lower the price), possibly free if you just do a free trial, and the completion of a single cert usually ranges from 6 - 18 credits. In addition, they are some of the best ways to knock out electives, complete CS/IT courses, business courses, all the while taking away some great information. In addition, the certs are not very difficult to complete as you only have to complete (usually only 1) graded assignment per module. The Ace National Guide should do a good enough job in outlining what each credit is worth. From there, you have to infer what that course/cert would be eligible for at your respective school. For TESU, pretty much every cert and its credits will go towards something. What I will say is that it is quite obvious that people try to gain the system via the peer-graded assignments and AI options. For discussion questions, people usually just put a "." or say something along the lines of "wow" "cool" "awesome", and continue on to the next assignment. I have no idea how ACE gave the green light on offering them credits, but they're there for the taking.
Thomas Edison State University
2026: Doctor of Bus. Adm
UIUC
2026: Master of Science in Management
William Paterson University
2024: M.Ed - Educational Leadership
2025: B.S Information Technology
UMPI:
2024: M.A.O.L.
2024: BABA - PM/IS
2023: B.A. - History & Political Science
2023: B.L.S. - Management
2023: A.A. - Liberal Studies
Rowan College of South Jersey:
2022: A.A. A.S. - Sociology
2023: A.A. A.S. - History
2023: A.A. A.S. - Philosophy
2023: A.A. A.S. - Psychology
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#5
Mint Berry Crunch
[quote pid='446210' dateline='1760211606']
  I have no idea how ACE gave the green light on offering them credits, but they're there for the taking.
[/quote]

This is why I was reluctant to post about it and was like huh maybe that's why no one does... lol are we afraid it's too good to be true and if we talk about it it will go away? lol  Big Grin


Thanks so much for your response, I was worrying that I was somehow missing some major downside.
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#6
I was able to get my work to pay for a year of Coursera and in like 5 months knocked out 4 google certs getting me like 39 total credits (granted only like 12 of these will be useful to my major and I don't need more free elective) but there is a ton of value there, especially for people who need to just fill up elective credits.
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#7
Coursera, Sophia.org, Study.com and the other ACE recommended resources for alternative credit are great options to fit the general education, electives, and even some portion of the major/minors. It really depends on the institution and how they'll accept these alternative credits, and if they apply to the degree or not. Coursera is not underutilized for those who know how to use them... They're worthy competition to Sophia.org and Study.com by providing classes/content that's not as common.
Study.com Offer https://bit.ly/3RTJ3I9

Pre-Med Online, MSc Biomedical Sciences (Starting Jan 2026)
In Progress: UoPeople BS Health Science

Completed: UMPI BAS & MAOL (2025)
TESU ASNSM Biology, BSBA (ACBSP Accredited 2017)

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