Looking for info on TESC P.L.A....

[jam123]

TESC told me that the PLA process is 12 weeks long just like a class. Why is it 12 weeks? That seems like an awful long time to demonstrate my knowledge in a subject

[nbmorton]

The only reason I am considering the PLA's is because the college advisor on base told me it would be an easy way to get credit for what I know. The two PLA's I was considering are Broadcasting I and II. I need upper level classes to complete part of my major. Below are the course descriptions of the two PLA's off of the TESC PLA database.

Broadcast Journalism I (JOU-354) 3.00 s.h.
Writing, reporting, editing, and producing news for television. Production of television field reports and newscasts on closed circuit television.

Broadcast Journalism II (JOU-355) 3.00 s.h.
Continued study of writing, reporting, editing, and producing news for television. Production of television field reports and newscasts on closed circuit television.

I do this on an almost daily basis so I feel like it should be easy, My biggest concern is just the unknown factors of what it takes to show the knowledge. Is it as simple as submitting samples of my work or is there a lot more that goes into it?

[dcan]

I already posted a link to an incredibly thorough description of how to proceed through a PLA written by someone who did tons of them...

[nbmorton]

Thank you dcan, i just started reading that as soon as I posted my last post. I guess my best bet is to just go for it, I was told by the advisor that these credits will count towards the residency requirements.

[dcan]

the college advisor on base told me

Wait, base education officer or TESC advisor on base? I know there are some regional TESC counselors out there. I think there are legitimate reasons to use a PLA, primarily if you have a lot of knowledge in an area that doesn't line up with a traditional CLEP and you can get credit with minimal work required. Since you do a lot of broadcast work it makes no sense to sit in a class, so I understand your reasoning.

I strongly suggest you memorize what he says in that article. I think he does an excellent job explaining the ins and outs of PLAs. Heck, if I actually needed to fill up any computer credits I might seriously have looked at that as well.

If you do go this route I request you report back with how you fared and what strategies you used, what it was like, etc. Might be something I can put up on the wiki. More knowledge for everyone.

[nbmorton]

base education officer or TESC advisor on base?

She is a TESC advisor.

If you do go this route I request you report back with how you fared and what strategies you used, what it was like, etc. Might be something I can put up on the wiki.

Will do

[cookderosa]

The only reason I am considering the PLA's is because the college advisor on base told me it would be an easy way to get credit for what I know. The two PLA's I was considering are Broadcasting I and II. I need upper level classes to complete part of my major. Below are the course descriptions of the two PLA's off of the TESC PLA database.

Broadcast Journalism I (JOU-354) 3.00 s.h.
Writing, reporting, editing, and producing news for television. Production of television field reports and newscasts on closed circuit television.

Broadcast Journalism II (JOU-355) 3.00 s.h.
Continued study of writing, reporting, editing, and producing news for television. Production of television field reports and newscasts on closed circuit television.

I do this on an almost daily basis so I feel like it should be easy, My biggest concern is just the unknown factors of what it takes to show the knowledge. Is it as simple as submitting samples of my work or is there a lot more that goes into it?

Since those are upper levels, and you do this as a job, I'd say go for it.
Remember, you're not showing knowledge, you're demonstrating competency of course objectives.

[drewthedude]

Also, I don't know why nobody informed you of this, but TECEPs also count toward the residency requirement, and I believe there are tests in Journalism/Communications topics. DEFINITELY check it out - a PLA is a terrible way to go, in my opinion, when you have the same option to take a full class and/or TECEP test.

[dcan]

That's not a bad idea. $99 out of pocket to avoid 12 weeks is a deal to me.

[nbmorton]

So this is where I am at based on the academic evaluation I received from them.

BA General Education (60 SH)

Semester Hours Completed: 42.00
Complete all 6 subrequirements:
A: English Composition (In Progress)
> Complete one full year of English Composition with a grade
> of C or better.
Semester Hours Completed: 3.00
GPA Achieved/Needed: 4.000 / 2.000
Group 1 (In Progress)
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
1.. ENGLC100 Freshman Composition..... 3.00 A ENC-101 *CC *TE
___ ENC-102___ College Comp CLEP_____________________________ 1 course

B: Humanities (Completed)
> Complete 12 semester hours of Humanities, including at
> least two subject areas.
Semester Hours Completed: 12.00
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
1.. PHILC100 Introduction to Philosoph 3.00 A PHI-101 *CC *TE
2.. PHO-101... Introduction to Photograp 3.00 CR PHO-101 *NE
2.. JOU-130... Photojournalism.......... 3.00 CR JOU-130 *NE
2.. ART-291... Graphic Design I......... 3.00 CR ART-291 *NE

C: Social Sciences (In Progress)
> Complete 12 semester hours in the Social Sciences,
> including at least two subject areas.
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
1.. SOCC100 Introduction to Sociology 3.00 A SOC-101 *CC *TE
Substance Abuse DTTS
PSY-379 Social Psychology_______________________________ 6 credits


D: Mathematics (Completed)
> Complete a 3 semester hour college-level Mathematics
> course.
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
3.. MATH1101 Fundamentals of College M 3.00 A MAT-102 *TE

E: Natural Sciences (In Progress)
> Complete 9 semester hours in the Natural Sciences,
> including at least two subject areas.
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
1.. MRSCC100 Introduction to Marine Sc 3.00 A ENS-231 *CC *TE
Environment and Humanity: DTTS
Introduction to Computing DTTS

F: General Ed Electives (Pending)
> Complete 18 semester hours from any of the following
> General Education subjects: Humanities, Social Sciences,
> Natural Sciences or Mathematics.
Semester Hours Completed: 18.00
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
2.. PHO-211... Darkroom Techniques I.... 3.00 CR PHO-211 *NE
2.. ART-207... Web Page Design I........ 2.00 CR ART-207 *NE
2.. RTV-252... Video Production......... 1.00 CR RTV-252 *NE

Student: Mr. Nicholas B. Morton Staff: datatel Date: 01/15/12 Page: 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.. ART-346... Video/Digital Imaging Tec 3.00 CR ART-346 *NE
2.. ART-490... Multimedia Computer Graph 3.00 CR ART-490 *NE
2.. PHO-456... Electronic Photography... 3.00 CR PHO-456 *NE
2.. Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP
================================================================================
Area of Study (18SH must be at the 300/400 level)
Semester Hours Completed: 33.00
GPA Achieved/Needed: 4.000 / 2.000
Complete both subrequirements:
A: Commun Theory (Pending)

> Complete 6 semester hours from TWO of the following
> courses for the Communications Theory Requirement:
> Fundamentals of Speech; Mass Communications I;
> Mass Communications II; Interpersonal Communications I;
> Interpersonal Communications II.
Semester Hours Completed: 6.00
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
1.. COMMC100 Intro Mass Communication. 3.00 A COM-120 *CC *TE
2.. COM-330 Interpersonal Communicati (3.00) --- COM-330 *PL *TE

B: Commun Electives (Pending)
> Complete 27 Semester Hours of Communications
> electives. 6SH can be in Journalism. At least 12SH must be
> at the 300/400 level to satisfy the requirement of 18 SH of
> 300/400 level coursework in the Area of Study. LIB-495
> (Liberal Arts Capstone) can satisfy 3SH of this requirement.
Semester Hours Completed: 27.00
Group 1 (Pending)
Semester Hours Completed: 12.00
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
2.. JOU-352... News Writing............. 3.00 CR JOU-352 *NE
2.. COM-335 Elem. of Intercultural Co (3.00) --- COM-335 *PL *TE
2.. JOU-355 Broadcast Journalism II.. (3.00) --- JOU-355 *PL *TE
2.. JOU-354-PA Broadcast Journalism I... (3.00) --- JOU-354 *PL *TE
Group 2 (Completed)
Semester Hours Completed: 9.00
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
2.. JOU-393... Desktop Publishing I..... 2.00 CR JOU-393 *NE
2.. JOU-281... Public Relations & Public 3.00 CR JOU-281 *NE
2.. JOU-213... Feature Writing.......... 2.00 CR JOU-213 *NE
2.. RTV-251... Audio Production......... 2.00 CR RTV-251 *NE
Group 3 (Completed)
Semester Hours Completed: 6.00
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
1.. HUMC130 Hist & Appr of the Cinema 3.00 A FIL-110 *CC *TE
2.. JOU-190... Basic Editing I.......... 3.00 CR JOU-190 *NE
================================================================================
BA Free Electives (27 SH)
> Complete 27 semester hours of Free Electives.
Semester Hours Completed: 9.00 Required: 27 Remaining: 18
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
2.. MAN-201... Principles of Supervision 2.00 CR MAN-201 *NE
2.. CAP-101... Microcomputer Software Ap 2.00 CR CAP-101 *NE
2.. PEA-199... Spec. Stud. in Selected T 1.00 CR PEA-199 *NE
2.. HEA-106... Personal Health.......... 1.00 CR HEA-106 *NE
I will complete these with FEMA courses, I have 19 completed so far
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits

Student: Mr. Nicholas B. Morton Staff: datatel Date: 01/15/12 Page: 4
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_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits
================================================================================


What do you guys think? I would love to get around not having to worry about the PLA's but I trying to get this completed before this coming Nov. and I am striving for the best route possible