New degree plan on the wiki - TESC ASBA

[alzee]

I've put my degree plan up on the wiki, along with what has been completed/accepted so far. I've tried to format it nicely as well since many of them are rather difficult to read. I started work on this in early January, and have completed 28 of the 60 required credits so far. I will be taking three more Straighterline finals through proctorU this week (Business Law, Accounting I, Accounting II) which should bring the total to 37.

My approach is a bit different from most, but so far it's working for me. I'm taking the majority of courses through Straighterline. If you put the effort into it, it can be both faster AND cheaper than most other options. The key is in completing enough courses every month to ensure that the cost of your subscription doesn't come into play. The SL courses typically cost $60 or less, so every 4 you take only cost as much as 3 CLEPs. The cost of the 4th CLEP is about the same as the subscription to SL ($20 difference) but you don't have to leave the house. As an added bonus, the SL courses are open note/book, and you get feedback as you go since they are usually 5 or 6 graded exams to take before the final.

The wiki link is here: Alzee's TESC degree plan for ASBA - Degree Forum Wiki - Wikia

If I can keep up my current pace, I'll be done with everything except the 12cr I need to meet residency by the end of next month.

Hopefully the rest of you get some use out of this. I know most people here are pursuing a BS, but the GenEd requirements are the same, so it should be useful to you as well. Understand however that I am not actually interested in "learning" the material, and that's the only reason I can go this fast. I "just want the paper" as the saying goes. If you plan to put the knowledge to use in the job market, or want to eventually move on to a masters, this probably isn't for you.

[dfrecore]

I would suggest that you take the following TECEP's: English I & II, Technical Writing (Info Lit Requirement), and Applied Math (easy to take after College Algebra). The first 3 are easy to pass as well.

[jsd]

You inspired me to post one of the degree plans I mocked up onto the wikia as well. I have a second one I'll add later as well.

Nice work.

[alzee]

I would suggest that you take the following TECEP's: English I & II, Technical Writing (Info Lit Requirement), and Applied Math (easy to take after College Algebra). The first 3 are easy to pass as well.

I've already paid for the College Comp CLEP, but I've been slacking off on studying for it since I want to finish with SL as soon as I can in order to cancel it and stop the monthly charge. Applied math is not going to fit anywhere in my plan; my Quantitative Literacy, Mathematics, and Elective requirements are all met already.

Technical Writing is on my short list for meeting the Info Lit requirement, and I'm evaluating options for the rest.

You inspired me to post one of the degree plans I mocked up onto the wikia as well. I have a second one I'll add later as well.

Nice work.

Can't wait to see yours.

[NC Coach]

It's nice to see updated plans and also nice to see one more geared toward using Straighterline as I think a lot of people (myself included) will use that method for as many credits as possible. Thanks for posting.

[dfrecore]

Technical Writing is definitely easy to pass, even without studying.

Also, keep in mind that you can take the 4 easiest TECEP's you can find, even if they don't fit into your degree plan. I know it's a waste of money, but for instance, if Environmental Ethics is your "thing" (you just love it and can't get enough of it), you could take the TECEP even if you already have another Ethics course. Sure, you'll have a few wasted dollars, but for me, it's worth it to not have to study for something I don't know. They just replace a course with your TECEP, move the other course somewhere else it fits, or else throw it into "other courses". I wouldn't suggest this for ALL of your TECEP's, but for one or two, it can't hurt.

[alzee]

It's nice to see updated plans and also nice to see one more geared toward using Straighterline as I think a lot of people (myself included) will use that method for as many credits as possible. Thanks for posting.

No problem. I'm not doing it for "as many credits as possible" but just to get "guaranteed" credits as fast as possible. When I say guaranteed, I mean that with proper note taking and focus, you won't possibly fail even if you bomb the final. My scores on the proctorU finals are almost always lower than on the other exams, something about the pressure of having someone watching you through the webcam and pausing the exam if you just look away for a few seconds or talk to yourself is stressful; I usually don't get above an 85% or so on the proctored finals. Hardly "bad" but the other exams are all 90+.

So for example, this week I'm taking finals for Accounting I, Accounting II, and Business Law. I currently have a 93% in Accounting I, and I am done except for the final. I could submit it without answering a single question, get a 0, and still pass with a 74%, since the final is worth just 20% of the overall grade.

Technical Writing is definitely easy to pass, even without studying.

Also, keep in mind that you can take the 4 easiest TECEP's you can find, even if they don't fit into your degree plan. I know it's a waste of money, but for instance, if Environmental Ethics is your "thing" (you just love it and can't get enough of it), you could take the TECEP even if you already have another Ethics course. Sure, you'll have a few wasted dollars, but for me, it's worth it to not have to study for something I don't know. They just replace a course with your TECEP, move the other course somewhere else it fits, or else throw it into "other courses". I wouldn't suggest this for ALL of your TECEP's, but for one or two, it can't hurt.

Right. I need 10cr in Knowledge of Human Cultures, and there are plenty of options available in that area through TESC, but not so many through SL, so I will probably focus on TECEPs in that area, in addition to the Technical Writing TECEP. Overall my approach is this:

1. Take initial TECEPs where there is no SL option, e.g. Technical Writing.
2. Take one TESU course to meet GPA requirement.
3. Take remaining TECEPs to meet residency.
4. Complete degree requirements with SL.

It's just that I'm doing #4 first since I'm already paying the monthly fee to SL.

This minimizes spending, as long as I can continue to pass 4 or more SL courses every month, while meeting all the requirements from TESC. To be fair, my first SL month I only managed three courses, but my second month just started and I have four in progress, three of which will be finished this week, 3 or 4 more to be done next week.

[dfrecore]

2. Take one TESU course to meet GPA requirement.

Just to let you know, I haven't taken a single course through TESU but have met my GPA requirement through my previous schools. So, if you don't want to spend $1500 on a TESU course, you can take a class at a local CC or any of the schools we talk about on this forum, to get a GPA.

The following schools give grades:
UExcel gives grades
Penn Foster (I think) $237/course
NMJC $277/course
U of Arkansas self-paced $480/course
CSU-Pueblo IS $495/course
U of Idaho IS $510/course
BYU IS $534/course
LSU Distance Learning $619/course

There's also Foothill College (a CC in CA) that only charges $31/unit if you are taking less than 6cr per quarter. BUT if they require a proctored final, you have to go online to find a proctor in your area - so I would check first before signing up for anything.

[jsd]

Somewhat related (but sorry for the thread hijack nonetheless), I was bored today and edited some of the wiki pages to reflect the TESC to TESU changes and related minor stuff. Still a lot out there that seems pretty outdated (which makes sense, this community has been around for a very long time).

As my free time allows, I'll continue to try and update things like that, as long as I'm not stepping on anyone's toes. Not sure of the etiquette there, forgive me of any potential faux pas

[alzee]

Just to let you know, I haven't taken a single course through TESU but have met my GPA requirement through my previous schools. So, if you don't want to spend $1500 on a TESU course, you can take a class at a local CC or any of the schools we talk about on this forum, to get a GPA.

The following schools give grades:
UExcel gives grades
Penn Foster (I think) $237/course
NMJC $277/course
U of Arkansas self-paced $480/course
CSU-Pueblo IS $495/course
U of Idaho IS $510/course
BYU IS $534/course
LSU Distance Learning $619/course

There's also Foothill College (a CC in CA) that only charges $31/unit if you are taking less than 6cr per quarter. BUT if they require a proctored final, you have to go online to find a proctor in your area - so I would check first before signing up for anything.

Ahh thanks for the tip, I hadn't considered those options. I will look into them for sure. Does the GPA have to come from a course or courses that are being applied ot the degree, or can they fall outside the plan like the residency requirement credits?

Somewhat related (but sorry for the thread hijack nonetheless), I was bored today and edited some of the wiki pages to reflect the TESC to TESU changes and related minor stuff. Still a lot out there that seems pretty outdated (which makes sense, this community has been around for a very long time).

As my free time allows, I'll continue to try and update things like that, as long as I'm not stepping on anyone's toes. Not sure of the etiquette there, forgive me of any potential faux pas

I don't mind if you edit to fix things on the page I created personally, so long as you don't change anything that's related to the specific degree plan -- meaning the page I typed up is specific to the 2015/2016 ASBA. Changing it to reflect new SL course equivalencies is ok, but changing it to match the 2016/2017 ASBA requirements isn't, as that's not the track I (or others using it) are on. I assume the same would be true of most of them. They are wiki pages after all, not private google docs.

In that sense, a lot of them could use some serious editing or even retiring -- e.g. any of them that talk about using FEMA credits or things like that. Though, funny story, the TEEX Cyber courses are themselves FEMA courses and are still being accepted. Go figure.