Looking for advice on Bachelor's Degree

[AlbaTiVo]

Hi all,

Just discovered this site the other day and have been reading as much as possible and love all of the advice offered.

I have been to college 4 times now and still cannot decide what I want to be when I grow up. Having said that I would love to get a Bachelor's Degree in something, anything, in order to improve my chances of keeping my current job or finding another should I have to.

I have collected the credits below along the way and would like to know how I could achieve my goal the most straightforward way? Reading links posted on here it looks like the BSLS at Excelsior College could be the one to maximize the credits I have accumulated already, but I am open to any suggestions and advice.

Thanks!

Steven


Building Technology & Environment IA 1.25
Learning Strategies 2.00
Art Workshop I 2.50
Chemistry Laboratory Techniques 2.50
Multi User Operating System 2.50
Software Development Life Cycle 2.50
Stand Alone Computer System Support 2.50
Software Development: Procedural Language 2.50
Communication 2.50
Computer Architecture 2.50
Data Analysis and Database Design 2.50
Information Technology Applications 1 2.50
Information Technology Applications 2 2.50
Information Systems and Services 2.50
Introducing the Internet 2.50
Building Engineering 1 4.00
Building Design 1 4.00
Building Performance 4.00
Math, Statistics & IT 4.00
Cost Studies 4.00
Economics 1 4.00
Legal Studies 4.00
French 4.00
Business Law 4.00
Financial Accounting 4.00
Total 75.75

[rebel100]

Hi Steven,

Where did you take all the classes? Was the School accredited? Regionally or Nationally? Quarter hours or semester hours? I'm curious as you don't typically get 2.5 hours of credit.

Any of the Big 3 will work for you. Your going to need some general education classes like English 1 and 2, you will also need at least 30 hours at the upper level, this means 300 and 400 level classes...are any of your classes UL?

Typically a Liberal Studies degree will make the most of your existing credits...though you might look at a computer related field of study considering the credits you already have.

[jam123]

I would start by acquiring general education requirements via CLEP, DSST, Aleks and Straighterline until you make up your mind on a degree. You have to do these no matter what degree you choose. I would definitely invest in an InstantCert membership when you start doing CLEP/DSST exams.

You didn't give us any information on your current job so we can't give advice on a degree that will help you keep it. Also I realize you haven't narrowed down a degree but do you have certain areas you think you'll like? Computers, Business, History, Teaching, etc. Like rebel100 stated, what accreditation do your existing credits have? RA, DETC, ACE, etc.

I have been to college 4 times now and still cannot decide what I want to be when I grow up. Having said that I would love to get a Bachelor's Degree in something, anything, in order to improve my chances of keeping my current job or finding another should I have to.

[AlbaTiVo]

Thanks for the replies!

Most of my classes were taken at nationally accredited Universities in Scotland two of which would give 12 credits towards a year of study hence my translating that as 30/12 = 2.5 credits. The IT courses were all taken over 10 years ago, so I don't believe they could be counted towards an IT degree today and all of my classes were taken in the first 2 years of any school I was at - so none of them would be considered upper level.

Unfortunately the fact that I have to get my transcripts from overseas and then have them evaluated by WES means that I am adding at least $300 onto my application fee, so I am hoping to get as much planned as I can before pulling the trigger. I am enrolled locally at Franklin University, but they are accepting so few of my credits that I got online and found this site.

Looking at it in more depth I think I could tentatively apply the following:

Written English Requirement
_____________ 6.00

Humanities
French 4.00
Communication 2.50
______________ 2.50

Social Sciences/History
Economics 4.00
______________ 5.00

Natural Sciences/Mathematics
Math, Statistics & IT 4.00
Chemistry Lab Techniques 2.50
Computer Architecture 2.50

Capstone
________________ 3.00

Additional Arts & Sciences Electives
Art Workshop 2.50
IT Classes above 21.50

Applied Professional Credits
Other classes above 29.25
_______________ 29.75

I work as a Business Analyst in the insurance industry just now, but really don't know what I would be interested in studying. I just feel like every job posting today requires a Bachelor's Degree and I do not want that being the only thing holding me back from getting my foot in the door somewhere - even although like most on here my work experience and skills should be the most relevant qualifications.

Thanks all!

Steven

[NAP]

Welcome to the forum!

It looks like you have a good understanding of how this works already. I'll be interested in following your progress to learn more about how international credits transfer.

What subjects are you considering for your 2 depths (9LL and 3 UL each)?

Also, note that computing and IT credits are likely to be considered Applied Professional at EC.

If you are interested in taking DSST exams, here is a list for using them to get 30 UL credits needed:

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

[bldclot2]

Welcome Steven,

One thing to consider is that a BALS at Excelsior requires 30 UL credits to include a Capstone, while TESC BALS only requires 18 UL credits and no capstone, by going with TESC you could completely test-out of the remaining course. Also, it's hard to say how many of your courses will actually transfer stateside, but regardless you should start planning to test on general education requirements, like English, Math, Humanities and Science. Also, go to this website and take a look at other degree plans, the page was put together by a member of this forum and others. Degree Forum Wiki Ultimately your first step should be to get your transcripts evaluated by WES and then EC or TESC. Once you know what will transfer over, then we can help you put together a solid course of action.

-bldclot2

[AlbaTiVo]

Well, I have requested all of my Scottish transcripts be sent to WES to get them evaluated and have applied at both EC and TESC. I have requested that my transcript from Franklin University be sent directly to EC & TESC. Franklin University gave me gave me 69.50 in transfer credits when they evaluated my transcripts, but unfortunately a lot of them could not be used - I guess why a lot of others are on here too.

I am holding off on taking any classes yet as the "lesser" evaluation I had performed for immigration to the US said that my high school exam results were "equivalent to approximately one year of lower division undergraduate transfer credits in a bachelor's degree program at an accredited university in the United States." So I do not want to duplicate anything that may be applied from the studies I did in English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Geography and Physics.

Thanks for all of the advice so far!

Steven

[Yenisei]

You've got A-Levels in all of those subjects? That's pretty impressive.

I think you should consider a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in CIS from TESC since you can test out of most of the remaning business requirements, which, BTW, wouldn't duplicate your A-Levels.

[AlbaTiVo]

You've got A-Levels in all of those subjects? That's pretty impressive.

I think you should consider a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in CIS from TESC since you can test out of most of the remaning business requirements, which, BTW, wouldn't duplicate your A-Levels.

They are actually Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers - the A-Levels are English. I read recently that the US education system is based on the Scottish one which maintains it's autonomy in the UK.

Well, only 3 months later have I received my evaluation from WES and here is how they credited my Scottish qualifications, all at lower level due to them being taken in high school and first year of colleges:

High School

Higher Exams
Chemistry 4.0
English 4.0
Geography 4.0
Mathematics 4.0
Physics 4.0

Advanced Higher Exam
Chemistry 4.0

Scottish Colleges

Building Engineering 5.0
Building Design 5.0
Building Performance 5.0
Mathematics, Statistics & Information Technology 5.0
Cost Studies 5.0
Economics 5.0
Legal Studies 5.0
French 5.0
Art Workshop 3.0
Building Technology & Environment 3.0
Chemistry Laboratory Techniques 3.0
Software Development 3.0
Information Systems & Services 3.0
Stand Alone Computer Systems Support 3.0
Computer Architecture 3.0
Data Analysis & Database Design 3.0
Information Technology Applications I 3.0
Information Technology Applications II 3.0
Multi-User Operating Systems 3.0
Introducing the Internet 3.0
Communication 3.0
Software Development Life Cycle 3.0

Then I have these classes I have taken since moving to the US.

US Colleges
Learning Strategies 2.0 (U)
Business Law 4.0
Financial Accounting 4.0
FEMA 30.0

I think I would like to try for the BSBA in CIS at TESC as you state, but most of my computer classes are more than 10 years old so I am not sure if TESC will accept them?

I completed the FEMA credits just to get me back into the swing of studying, but I would like to move on and work on some classes while I wait for TESC to post the evaluation from WES. I think I can work on English, Humanities and Social Sciences to flesh out my General Education Requirements while I wait to see where they will place the majority of my building and IT courses to see which degree maps out best (quickest ) for me.

I believe I need 2 more English credits, 1 more Humanities and 7 more Social Sciences based on the below being applied:

English

English 4.0

Humanities

Art Workshop 3.0
French 5.0
Communication 3.0

Social Sciences

Economics 5.0

I think I have Natural Sciences covered and any Free Electives no matter what the degree should be covered by the FEMA credits. If any of you see any classes you think I could apply to any of these areas or have any other input I would be grateful.

Thanks!

Steven

[AlbaTiVo]

Hi all,

If I am right in my assumptions above I think I will be able to use the following in italics to fulfill my General Education requirements:

English Composition
English 4.0
Straighterline English Composition II 3.0

Humanities
Art Workshop 3.0
French 5.0
Communication 3.0
Straighterline Business Communication 3.0 Would this overlap Communication?

Social Sciences
Economics 5.0
Straighterline Introduction to Sociology 3.0
Straighterline Introduction to Psychology 3.0
Straighterline Macroeconomics 3.0 Would this overlap Economics?

Natural Sciences & Mathematics
Chemistry 4.0
Geography 4.0
Mathematics 4.0

Free Electives
FEMA 27.0

I believe that will give me something to get started on until I find out exactly how EC and TESC will apply my credits. Any input anyone can offer would be great!

Steven