Just Starting Excelsior - Help!

[Joyous2012]

I just got my Degree Template back and need some help!

Out of my 26 classes that I finished (over 20 years ago) - all transferred in except 2. My only option was to pursue Liberal Studies since the business college will not transfer credits over 20 yrs old.

I am left with following credit requirements:
21 Art & Science UL
12.08 Any Academic Area LL
9 Any Academic Area UL
1.0 Information Literacy
3.0 Capstone
3.0 UL Depth 1
9.0 LL Depth I
3.0 UL Depth 2
9.0 LL Depth 2

This is more than I had hoped for but want to make sure I set myself on a path to finish as quickly as possible. I have 20+ years of specialized Technology experience and most of my work associates would be very surprised to learn I actually never finished. I am likely to be in the job market very shortly and want to at least make sure the lack of a degree does not hold me back.

I am struggling with deciding the best way to test out of the classes with the various options (ECE, Dantes, CLEP, Straighterline, etc.) Can someone shed any light on that? Also - does anyone have experience with Excelsior's portfolio assessment?

Thanks in advance!

[NAP]

It is not as bad as it looks at first glance, since the capstone, info lit, and depths can count toward the 42 total credits you need.

First plan your depths. Do you already have 6-9 credits in any subjects that you can use toward the 2 depths? If not, math, history, psychology, and business depths can be completed with exams.

Are you interested in using exams to complete your degree? If so, check this post for UL exam options:

http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...post115586

The exam versus SL choice is probably based mostly on personal learning style and topics offered.

ECEs, UExcel, and some DSSTs are graded.

What subject are you considering for portfolio asessment? The last time I checked, it required a how-to class first ($1000).

[Joyous2012]

I guess I am perhaps confused by my transferring credits....These are the courses that transferred in - can I apply these towards my depths?

Math 101/General Psych/Am Hist since 1865/Intro to BUS 101/World Civ I/Am Govt/Gen Bio I/Mus Appreciation/Gen Bio II
Bus Law/Composition I/Micro Econ/Composition II/Princ of Mgmt/Macro Econ/Accounting I/Bus Comm/Personnel Admin
West World Lit/Decision Math/Ice Skating/Reward Systems/Prin Marketing/Money & Banking

Thanks for your help!

[NAP]

Absolutely. For instance, these 2 courses - Am Hist since 1865 and World Civ I - would be a good start toward a history depth. You may be even closer to a depth in business already. Or you can start with your psychology course and build a depth from there. If you had to start from scratch (which you do not), what subjects interest you for 2 depths?

[Joyous2012]

I did not realize I could do a depth in business....! I love history and would like it very much if I could pursue a depth in business. I am not very unexpectedly back in the job market and need to finish as quickly as possible. I am definitely kicking myself that I did not push myself to finish when it was not as time critical but I have 100% to dedicate to it.

I read the degree template to say that after applying all of my credits, I needed to complete 24 credits to finish....I completed three full years at state university and after reading others experiences here, I feel like I am misinterpreting something!

Can you offer suggestions that would allow me to finish as quickly as possible? When I called admissions counseling they guided me to liberal studies saying it was the most flexible.

Thank you so much for your response!

[NAP]

This page has a partial list of some of the topics for depths:

Liberal Arts Bachelors FAQ - excelsior.edu

I have seen depths in business, but I do not know enough about them to tell you exactly what counts towards one.

For a history depth, consider UL DSSTs in Civil War and Soviet Union.

You have 24 courses x 3 credits is estimated 72 credits finished out of 120. The eval says you need 30 UL credits and 12 LL credits. To double check the total add these 2 lines together - Total Arts & Sciences Remaining plus Total in Any Academic Area Remaining. Is it 42 credits?

Yes, the BSLS is an extremely flexible degree, since it has room for 60 free electives (applied professional) credits. You can finish it quickly and inexpensively through CLEP and DSST exams. You may also want to consider an Area of Focus in History through exams.

[I just reread that your business credits are older and double-checked the policy here:

http://www.excelsior.edu/time-limit-on-transfer-credits

Nevermind on this part - Also check out a business degree catalog to see how close you are to a major and this thread will help:

http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...lan-2.html]

Edit to add: I do not know if the 20 year time limit counts on a business depth in Liberal Arts degree, too. You'll need to double-check on that.

[Joyous2012]

Do you think it would be beneficial for me to apply also to TESC? There seems to be a lot more of you going that option instead of Excelsior....

Did I read correctly for someone to say that they transfer in D's of UL's? All of credits moved over however (with the exception of my last two classes - D's) all of my classes were credited as LL - even the UL's.

Thoughts on that?

I was thinking about taking a couple of Straigherline courses to keep me busy while I sorted this out - I have a lot of time on my handsas of next week!

[cooperalex2004]

Do you think it would be beneficial for me to apply also to TESC? There seems to be a lot more of you going that option instead of Excelsior....

Did I read correctly for someone to say that they transfer in D's of UL's? All of credits moved over however (with the exception of my last two classes - D's) all of my classes were credited as LL - even the UL's.

Thoughts on that?

I was thinking about taking a couple of Straigherline courses to keep me busy while I sorted this out - I have a lot of time on my handsas of next week!

You can use D's regardless of level for anything outside of an area of study (except English comp) as long as the overall GPA is high enough. You'd have to check on their policy but you might be able to use something like a "D" in a business elective for least a free elective. As for your specific credits, it sounds like you got kind of hosed. TESC will take in your credits to where they match best without looking to much at the level they began at (or the ACE recommendation for things like Prin. of Mgmt and Prin. of Mktg which are both UL at TESC). If they have a course which matches the name and general content then they will most likely use that. If not, they have a lot of courses in their system that are shown on the PLA site (see below for link).

Using your original list of prior credits here is my guess on acceptance for TESC (which may very greatly). If it could go multiple ways then at least the level is shown and then some X's:

Math 101 (MAT-1XX)/General Psych (PSY-101)/Am Hist since 1865 (HIS-114)/Intro to BUS 101 (BUS-101)/World Civ I (HIS-101)/Am Govt (POS-110)/Gen Bio I (BIO-111)/Mus Appreciation (MUS-100)/Gen Bio II (BIO-112)
Bus Law (LAW-201)/Composition I (ENG-101)/Micro Econ (ECO-112)/Composition II (ENG-102)/Princ of Mgmt (MAN-301)/Macro Econ (ECO-111)/Accounting I (ACC-101)/Bus Comm (COM-300)/Personnel Admin (LDR-305)
West World Lit (LIT-217)/Decision Math (MAT-???)/Ice Skating (PEA-199 based on my Tennis course acceptance)/Reward Systems (???-??? not sure what that is)/Prin Marketing (MAR-301)/Money & Banking (ECO-332)

You've got lots of upper level credits, it sounds like you'd get at least 15 of them at TESC, and maybe more if you prove the content matches a different course in their list. With courses that aren't on the TESC list of courses offered, you should look at the PLA database since it has the complete list of course codes in it:
Thomas Edison State College: Course Offerings (If you don't find the course by name try searching for part of it or using a department prefix like MAN or COM)

Hope that helps.

[NAP]

There are pros and cons to each situation. Yes, create a degree plan for both (or all 3) schools and figure out what is best for you. It can help you see the requirements and expenses more clearly by having charts to compare. If you need more help with creating a TESC degree plan (Cooperalex did a great job!), consider starting a new thread with all of your credits and UL classes. Are you transferring from quarter hours?

Also, for a BA in Liberal Arts at TESC, it requires 18 UL credits within Humanities, Social Science, History, Math, and/or Natural Science. Using Cooperalex's example, Biz Comm and Money & Banking will count toward that requirement. If I recall correctly, the other UL's listed are free electives in liberal arts degrees.