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[GeorgiaPeachie]

I found this site late last night after starting to research College Plus! We were looking for a way to do this without paying someone to "guide" us through and "advise" us.

I've been reading off and on ever since. I am now a stay at home, homeschooling mom of four blessings (8, 5, 2, 1.) I do a small amount of contract work for slush money/savings. I have quite a bit of college credit at two schools back home in Georgia.

My husband is interested in gaining a college degree to help with promotions/job hunting. He is a customer service manager for a major company. But now his company is being sold and we are nervous. (I have no plans of saying what company he works for, just in case.) So we are hoping for him to earn an associates degree first and eventually a bachelors. That plus his leadership experience should make his resume look better. (We were thinking business management, but then the healthcare administration degree caught our eyes too. Any thoughts?)

But then I got to thinking that I have alot of credits too. I've taken time off as needed. But having a degree would make it slightly easier to homeschool in my state. Also, if I ever wanted to go back into the work force, it would be easier with a degree. I have alot of general ed courses, so I was thinking maybe the Liberal Arts degree would be my catch all?

I can't find my transcripts right now (have I mentioned we just moved? And I have four children LOL!) but I know I can order them.

Roughly, this is what I remember having:

English Composition I
English Composition II
American Literature II
Speech
US History
World History
Introduction to Political Science
Introduction to Anthropology
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Physical Science (w/Lab)
College Sucess (it was a study skills class required.)
Wellness (it was a health/safety class)
Ethics
Accounting I
Microeconomics
Business communications
Introduction to Computers (application based class: Excel , Access, Powerpoint, Word.)
Medical Terminology
College Algebra (I got a C, I was VERY sick that quarter.)

Any thoughts?

[frankiebleyes]

Welcome to the board and I'm sure you will get lots of advice from others who are more proficient at suggesting a game plan for your family. Looks like you have the basics for general education. Question is how well does your husband do at testing? Each test is a fraction of what it would cost for one class. If he is just starting out and would like to try to get some of the basics under his belt with a regular class I would suggest checking out the Straighterline monthly. Check on the web and you can find a promotion for the first class free. Basically you pay $100.00 per month plus $39.00 for each course. You can complete as many courses as you can in one month. Some have finished two or three in a month.

Personally, I had a lot of college experience but it was very old and I enjoyed testing out. I took American Literature and got 6 credits, I took A&I and got another 6 credits. I took biology (took me to attempts, but got 6 credits). For the price of four tests I got 24 college credits. I failed english comp by one point and took english one through straighterline the same month I took algebra 1 so got six hours for the price of one month (back then they did not charge the extra $39.00 per course).

All total I tested out of 45 hours and got my associates through my local community college. TESC charges around 3,000 if you have your 120 hours to graduate. I had to save that money but finally managed to get my fees paid. My son and I worked at the same time and finished about the same time. Best of luck in whatever you decide.

[GeorgiaPeachie]

He's highly motivated and usually tests pretty well.

[ryoder]

Go take a look at the TESC site and memorize some of the degree plans. Print them out. Understand them. Try to see yourself and your husband checking off those requirements and completing the degree. Also, send your transcripts to TESC for evaluation. Start by applying online.

This site has a wealth of knowledge so spend some time reading old forum posts. I found this site last November and it put me on the right track to finishing a couple of degrees.

I highly recommend testing out with CLEP and DSST tests and studying for CLEP tests with REA books that you can get at your local bookstore.

Your options are many since you have a lot of general ed classes under your belt and a couple of business classes. If it were me, I wouldn't bother with an associates and go straight for the bachelors. Set an interim goal to complete all the requirements for an associates but don't actually enroll at TESC, pay the graduation fee and get the associates degree. Just keep going toward the bachelors.

I recommend TESC's BSBA General Management to everyone because it is something that you can test out of, it is flexible and for working adults it is VERY relevant. The knowledge you will gain will serve you well and may learn as much as an average MBA student since MBA programs are typically only 12 classes anyway.

There is no limit to what you can learn and achieve so get excited and start working. For you I would recommend getting the CLEP macroeconomics and marketing REA books to start with. Your husband can read them too and you can both finish BSBA degrees together.

Amazon.com: The Best Test P CLEP Principles of Macroeconomics with TestWare (REA) (CLEP Test Preparation) (9780738603070): Richard Sattora: Books
Amazon.com: CLEP Principles of Marketing w/ CD-ROM (REA) -The Best Test Prep for the CLEP (CLEP Test Preparation) (9780738601175): James E. Finch, James R. Ogden, Denise T. Ogden MBA: Books

[GeorgiaPeachie]

Let's see here.. I didn't think of management for myself. Possibilities...

I. General Education Requirements 60
A. English Composition 6
I have English Composition I and II- Done!
B. Humanities 12
■Managerial Business Communications (3)
Business Communications- 3 hours
■Other humanities (9)
[COLOR="#008000"]American Literature II- 3 Credits
Need 6 more. [/COLOR]

Must include at least two subject areas
C. Social Sciences 12
■Macroeconomics (3)
■Microeconomics (3)
Microeconomics- Done!
■Other social sciences (6)
[COLOR="#008000"]Intro to Sociology- Done!
Intro to Psychology- Done![/COLOR]
Must include at least two subject areas
D. Natural Sciences and Mathematics 9
■Precalculus Mathematics or Quantitative Business Analysis
(3)
■Principles of Statistics
(3)
■Other natural sciences (3)
Enviromental Science
Must include at least two subject areas
E. General Education Electives 21
II. Professional Business Requirements 54
A. Business Core 27
■Principles of Finance (3)
■Business Law (3)
■Business in Society or International Management (3)
■Business Policy (3)
■Computer Concepts and Applications/Introduction to Computers/CIS (3)
Intro to Computers- Done!
■Introduction to Marketing (3)
■Principles of Financial Accounting (3)
■Principles of Management (3)
■Principles of Managerial Accounting (3)

B. Area of Study: BSBA in General Management (choose from below) 18
Area #4: Management
■Advanced Labor Relations & Collective Bargaining (TESC examination)
■Advanced Organizational Behavior
■Advanced Organizational Theory and Analysis
■Advanced Traffic Management
■Contemporary Labor Issues
■Comparative Management Systems
■Employee Training
■Human Resources Management (TESC course OR DANTES examination)
■Industrial Psychology (TESC examination)
■International Management (TESC course)
■Introduction to Entrepreneurship
■Introduction to Human Resources and Public Policy
■Introduction to Operations Management (TESC course OR examination)
■Labor Law
■Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining (TESC examination)
■Management Information Systems (DANTES examination)
■Management Quality Control
■Manpower Planning and Operation
■Materials Management and Inventory Control
■Office Management
■Operations Planning and Scheduling
■Operations Research
■Organizational Behavior (TESC examination OR DANTES examination)
■Organizational Theory (TESC examination)
■People and Organizations (TESC course)
■Production Systems Management
■Project Management
■Public Sector Collective Negotiations
■Purchasing Management
■Quantitative Managerial Decision Making
■Small Business Management (TESC course)
■Social Problems–Impact on the Workplace
■Sociology of Work Organizations
■Supply Chain Management
■Transportation Traffic Management
■Wage and Salary Administration
■Work Methods and Measurements

C. Business Electives 9
III. Free Electives 6
Total 120

I'm not sure where the following may go: American and World History, Medical Terminology, Intro to Political Science, Speech, Anthropology, Ethics, Wellness or Algebra.

Where can I find what is a Business Elective? Free Elective?

Anything we can do together will be a plus. It will provide accountability and make the best use of our resources as far as buying books, etc.

[kayla.paige]

I'm not an expert by any means, but I think that Speech and Ethics might be Humanities, that History, Political Science, Anthropology, and Algebra would be General Education Electives, and that Medical Terminology and Wellness could be Free Electives. Not exactly sure, but it looks like you could mainly focus on business courses then!

[PonyGirl93]

Where can I find what is a Business Elective? Free Elective?

My guess is anything business related that they don't find too "technical" or "hands-on" would be a Business Elective.

Free electives are your compost heap of anything. Really. Anything.

[ryoder]

All of us adults will benefit from business knowledge. If I were you guys, I would start with going to the library and looking for CLEP books ASAP. Set a goal to take your first CLEP test 2 weeks from now. Take one every 2 weeks and you will knock these out quickly. Get the REA books, read them cover to cover, take the practice tests, study the problems you get wrong until you totally understand it and then take the test. Rinse and repeat

[GeorgiaPeachie]

All of us adults will benefit from business knowledge. If I were you guys, I would start with going to the library and looking for CLEP books ASAP. Set a goal to take your first CLEP test 2 weeks from now. Take one every 2 weeks and you will knock these out quickly. Get the REA books, read them cover to cover, take the practice tests, study the problems you get wrong until you totally understand it and then take the test. Rinse and repeat

Just my luck! Our library has the Marketing book availble. It happens to be the only CLEP book in stock. The library is closed today, but I'll go in the am.

[LaceyLady]

Let's see here.. I didn't think of management for myself. Possibilities...

I. General Education Requirements 60
A. English Composition 6
I have English Composition I and II- Done!
B. Humanities 12
■Managerial Business Communications (3)
Business Communications- 3 hours
■Other humanities (9)
[COLOR="#008000"]American Literature II- 3 Credits
Need 6 more. [/COLOR]

Must include at least two subject areas
C. Social Sciences 12
■Macroeconomics (3)
■Microeconomics (3)
Microeconomics- Done!
■Other social sciences (6)
[COLOR="#008000"]Intro to Sociology- Done!
Intro to Psychology- Done![/COLOR]
Must include at least two subject areas
D. Natural Sciences and Mathematics 9
■Precalculus Mathematics or Quantitative Business Analysis
(3)
■Principles of Statistics
(3)
■Other natural sciences (3)
Enviromental Science
Must include at least two subject areas
E. General Education Electives 21
II. Professional Business Requirements 54
A. Business Core 27
■Principles of Finance (3)
■Business Law (3)
■Business in Society or International Management (3)
■Business Policy (3)
■Computer Concepts and Applications/Introduction to Computers/CIS (3)
Intro to Computers- Done!
■Introduction to Marketing (3)
■Principles of Financial Accounting (3)
■Principles of Management (3)
■Principles of Managerial Accounting (3)

B. Area of Study: BSBA in General Management (choose from below) 18
Area #4: Management
■Advanced Labor Relations & Collective Bargaining (TESC examination)
■Advanced Organizational Behavior
■Advanced Organizational Theory and Analysis
■Advanced Traffic Management
■Contemporary Labor Issues
■Comparative Management Systems
■Employee Training
■Human Resources Management (TESC course OR DANTES examination)
■Industrial Psychology (TESC examination)
■International Management (TESC course)
■Introduction to Entrepreneurship
■Introduction to Human Resources and Public Policy
■Introduction to Operations Management (TESC course OR examination)
■Labor Law
■Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining (TESC examination)
■Management Information Systems (DANTES examination)
■Management Quality Control
■Manpower Planning and Operation
■Materials Management and Inventory Control
■Office Management
■Operations Planning and Scheduling
■Operations Research
■Organizational Behavior (TESC examination OR DANTES examination)
■Organizational Theory (TESC examination)
■People and Organizations (TESC course)
■Production Systems Management
■Project Management
■Public Sector Collective Negotiations
■Purchasing Management
■Quantitative Managerial Decision Making
■Small Business Management (TESC course)
■Social Problems–Impact on the Workplace
■Sociology of Work Organizations
■Supply Chain Management
■Transportation Traffic Management
■Wage and Salary Administration
■Work Methods and Measurements

C. Business Electives 9
III. Free Electives 6
Total 120

I'm not sure where the following may go: American and World History, Medical Terminology, Intro to Political Science, Speech, Anthropology, Ethics, Wellness or Algebra.

Where can I find what is a Business Elective? Free Elective?

Anything we can do together will be a plus. It will provide accountability and make the best use of our resources as far as buying books, etc.

Electives are basically courses/tests that you can choose. General Education electives can be chosen from any general education subject (humanities, sciences, etc.). Business electives can be chosen from any business subject (management, marketing, etc.). Free electives can be chosen from any subject that you can get college credits for. All extra general education credits go into G.E. electives, all extra business credits (or business credits that don't fit in the area of study) go into business electives, and any additional credits that don't fit into any other category go into free electives.

U.S. and World History, Intro to Political Science, and Anthropology are all social sciences. Since your social sciences requirement is already completed these courses would go into G.E. electives. Speech and ethics would be considered humanities. Algebra would be natural science and math, but since it does not fit there, it would go into G.E. electives. I am not sure about Medical Terminology or Wellness, but if they don't fit anywhere else, they would go into free electives.

Accounting I might satisfy the Principles of Financial Accounting requirement, but you would have to check. Some colleges call Principles of Financial Accounting, Accounting I and Prin. of Managerial Accounting, Accounting II.

The BSBA General Management area of study allows you to choose courses/tests from 3 of the 4 traditional business areas (management, marketing, finance, and accounting). The area of study would not consist of only management, but would consist of at least 3 of the 4 areas. This area of study is basically general business.

For instance, for the area of study, you could have: DSST Human Resource Management, TECEP Advertising (marketing), DSST Money and Banking (finance), DSST Organizational Behavior (management), TECEP Financial Institutions (finance), and TECEP Marketing Communications. Or any other combination of tests or courses in management, marketing, finance, or accounting.

Hope this helps.