Newbie needs help with planning how to finish degree by testing out

[fcnew52]

Hi guys I need help figuring out what credits I need left to get a Bachelor's Degree. I plan on testing out through CLEP and transferring everything to one of the Big Three Schools.

A little backstory:
I was one of those people that spent way too many years at a community college because I couldn't figure out what I really wanted to do. I took many classes there preparing for a Computer Science degree and finally transferred to a 4 year university in 2014. I thought I had figured out what I wanted to do for my major but last year I went to Japan and fell in love with the place. Consequently, I lost interest in Computer Science and gained interest in teaching English to children. So much so, that I am currently volunteering at a Japanese preschool teaching English. This volunteer opportunity is not really paid and kind of "hush hush" and the only way I can become an English teacher over here is by getting that elusive degree.

Unfortunately, if I remain in my current program at my school I will need around 2 years to finish my computer science degree. I feel like I just want to get back to Japan as quickly as possible so any degree will do in order to get a Visa sponsorship. So I need help figuring this out. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Here are my current units/credits. I would just like to find the degree that I could complete in the shortest amount of time. I am planning on going to one of the Big Three schools once I've taken enough CLEP exams. If my transcripts are not clear enough, I'll be glad to clear up any confusion. Thanks in advance!

*side notes: My current school is Cal State Los Angeles and they are on a quarter system instead of semesters. Might make things more complicated unfortunately but thank you to whoever can help!
*Incoming Course = East Los Angeles Community College semester course
*One of my Calculus classes was incorrectly transferred as Calculus III but I only took Calculus II. Also struggled there :nopity:

[fcnew52]

Transfer Credits

Transfer Credit from East Los Angeles College
Incoming Course
JAPAN 001 ELEMENTARY JAPANESE I 5.00 A 2012 SPR
JAPAN 002 ELEMENTARY JAPANESE II 5.00 C 2012 FALL
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
JAPN 100A ELEMENTARY JAPANESE 3.75 A 15.000
JAPN 100B ELEMENTARY JAPANESE 7.50 C 15.000
JAPN 100C ELEMENTARY JAPANESE 3.75 A 15.000

Incoming Course
CO SCI 201 INTRO COMPUTERS & THEIR USES 3.00 A 2011 FALL
CO SCI 291 PROGRAMMING LABORATORY 1.00 P 2011 FALL
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
CIS 100 BUSINESS COMPUTER SYSTEMS 4.50 A 18.000
CIS 100 BUSINESS COMPUTER SYSTEMS 1.50 P

Incoming Course
PHYSICS 011 INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS 4.00 B 2012 SPR
CHEM 065 INTRO GENERAL CHEMISTRY 4.00 A 2011 FALL
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
NATS 180 MOTION & ENERGY FOR ELEM TEACH 6.00 B 18.000
NATS 181 STRUCTURE & PROPERTIES/ELEM TE 6.00 A 24.000

Incoming Course
SPEECH 101 ORAL COMMUNICATION I 3.00 A 2010 FALL
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
COMM 150 ORAL COMMUNICATION 4.50 A 18.000

Incoming Course
PSYCH 001 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY I 3.00 A 2013 FALL
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
PSY 150 INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY 4.50 A 18.000

Incoming Course
POL SCI 001 GOVERNMENT OF UNITED STATES 3.00 B 2009 FALL
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
POLS 150 GOVT+AMER SOCIETY 4.50 B 13.500

Incoming Course
POL SCI 002 MODERN WORLD GOVERNMENTS 3.00 W 2013 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
XFERNA NA Trnsfr Crse Not Acpt 0.00 W

Incoming Course
PHYS ED 096 COMBINED ACTIVITIES 1.00 A 2010 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
XFERLD LD Lower Division Transfer Course 1.50 A 6.000

Incoming Course
PHILOS 001 INTRO TO PHILOSOPHY 3.00 A 2011 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
PHIL 151 PHIL IDEA:KNOW+REAL 4.50 A 18.000

Incoming Course
MUSIC 111 MUSIC APPRECIATION I 3.00 A 2013 FALL
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
MUS 150 MUSIC IN WORLD CULTURE 4.50 A 18.000

Incoming Course
MATH 173 INTRO TO MATH PROGRAMMING 4.00 W 2014 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
XFERNA NA Trnsfr Crse Not Acpt 0.00 W

Incoming Course
MATH 260 PRE-CALCULUS 5.00 B 2010 FALL
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
MATH 102 COLLEGE ALGEBRA 7.50 B 22.500

Incoming Course
MATH 241 TRIGONOMETRY WITH VECTORS 4.00 W 2009 FALL
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
XFERNA NA Trnsfr Crse Not Acpt 0.00 W

Incoming Course
MATH 241 TRIGONOMETRY WITH VECTORS 4.00 B 2010 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
MATH 104B PRECALCULUS: TRIGONOMETRY 6.00 B 18.000

Incoming Course
MATH 125 INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA 5.00 A 2009 SUMR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
XFERNX NX Non-Transfer Course 0.00 T

Incoming Course
MATH 120 PLANE GEOMETRY 5.00 A 2009 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
XFERNX NX Non-Transfer Course 0.00 T

Incoming Course
MATH 115 ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA 5.00 A 2009 WINT
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
XFERNX NX Non-Transfer Course 0.00 T

Incoming Course
HUMAN 001 CULTURAL PATTERNS WEST CIV 3.00 W 2013 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
XFERNA NA Trnsfr Crse Not Acpt 0.00 W

Incoming Course
HEALTH 011 PRINCIPLES OF HEALTHFUL LIVNG 3.00 B 2010 FALL
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
PH 150 HEALTH AND WELLNESS 4.50 B 13.500

Incoming Course
ENV SCI 017 GEOGRAPHY OF CALIFORNIA 3.00 C 2009 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
GE D SOCIAL SCIENCES COURSE CERTIFI 4.50 C 9.000

Incoming Course
ENGLISH 103 COMP & CRITICAL THINKING 3.00 C 2011 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
ENGL 102 COMPOSITION II 4.50 C 9.000

Incoming Course
ENGLISH 101 COLLEGE READING &COMPOSITION I 3.00 C 2009 FALL
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
ENGL 101 COMPOSITION I 4.50 C 9.000

Incoming Course
ENG GEN 121 PROGRAMMING FOR ENGINEERS 3.00 A 2010 FALL
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
CS 290 INTR FORTRAN PROG 4.50 A 18.000

Incoming Course
ENG GEN 101 INTRO SCIENCE, ENGR & TECH 2.00 A 2010 SUMR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
ENGR 150 INTRO TO HIGHER ED FOR ENGRS 3.00 A 12.000

Incoming Course
CHICANO 037 CHICANO LITERATURE 3.00 C 2009 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
GE C1 LITERATURE CERTIFIED 4.50 C 9.000

Incoming Course
CHICANO 007 MEXICAN-AMER IN HIST OF U.S. I 3.00 A 2009 FALL
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
GE AM1 U.S. HIST CERTIFIED 4.50 A 18.000

Incoming Course
BIOLOGY 003 INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY 4.00 B 2010 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
BIOL 156 PLANT BIOLOGY 6.00 B 18.000

Incoming Course
MATH 262 CALCULUS II 5.00 W 2012 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
XFERNA NA Trnsfr Crse Not Acpt 0.00 W

Incoming Course
MATH 262 CALCULUS II 5.00 F 2012 FALL
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
XFERAC AC Academic Renewal 0.00 X

Incoming Course
MATH 262 CALCULUS II 5.00 C 2013 FALL
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
MATH 208 CALCULUS III:Sequences, Series 7.50 C 15.000

Incoming Course
MATH 261 CALCULUS I 5.00 W 2011 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
XFERNA NA Trnsfr Crse Not Acpt 0.00 W

Incoming Course
MATH 261 CALCULUS I 5.00 C 2011 FALL
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
MATH 206 CALCULUS I:DIFFERENTIATION 7.50 C 15.000

Incoming Course
JAPAN 004 INTERMEDIATE JAPANESE II 5.00 W 2014 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
XFERNA NA Trnsfr Crse Not Acpt 0.00 W

Incoming Course
JAPAN 003 INTERMEDIATE JAPANESE I 5.00 C 2013 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
GE C4N LANG OTR ENGL CERT 7.50 C 15.000

Incoming Course
ENGLISH 103 COMP & CRITICAL THINKING 3.00 F 2010 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
XFERAC AC Academic Renewal 0.00 X

Incoming Course
ENGLISH 101 COLLEGE READING &COMPOSITION I 3.00 D 2009 SPR
Transferred to Term Fall Quarter 2014 as
XFERAC AC Academic Renewal 0.00 X

- - - - - Beginning of Undergraduate Record - - - - -
CA State Los Angeles
Fall Quarter 2014
CS 101 INTRO TO HIGHR ED-COMPUTR SCI 2.00 CR
CS 120 INTRO TO WEB SITE DEVELOPMENT 3.00 A- 11.100
CS 122 USE RELATIONAL DATABASES & SQL 3.00 A 12.000
JAPN 200A INTERMEDIATE JAPANESE 4.00 C 8.000

Winter Quarter 2015
CIS 100 BUSINESS COMPUTER SYSTEMS 4.00 A- 14.800
CS 201 INTRO TO PROGRAMMING 5.00 A 20.000
ENGL 379 GNDR & SEXUALITY IN POP CULTUR 4.00 B 12.000
UNIV 400 WPE/GWAR 0.00 CR

Spring Quarter 2015
CIS 283 INTRO TO APPL PROGMNG WTH JAVA 4.00 A- 14.800
CS 202 INTRO TO OBJECT ORIENTED PROGR 5.00 A 20.000
PHYS 211 MECHANICS 0.00 W

Undergraduate Career Totals
CUM GPA : 3.110 CUM TOTALS : 167.50 167.50 510.200

[dfrecore]

In looking at this and translating it to TESU, here's what I see:

1) You have all of the LL units you could possibly ever want/need. You almost have your GenEd's completed except the following:
1a) Info Lit Requirement - take World Religions (SL or DSST), Tech Writing (SL or TECEP) or A&I Lit (CLEP)
1b) Ethics Requirement - take the free Insurance Ethics course

2) For the CS degree, you are going to have to take the following:
2a) Data Stuctures
2b) Discrete Math or Linear Algebra (Linear Algebra is UL, so that's a better option)
2c) 5 additional UL CS courses (Linear Algebra would count for one, so 4 if LA was the choice over DM)
2d) Take the Liberal Arts Capstone, and you're done

3) If you switched to the BALS degree (Liberal Studies) for speed, you would need the following:
3a) 5 UL courses in almost anything except Business - there are a ton of options through DSST, SL, study.com and UExcel
3b) the Liberal Arts Capstone, and you're done

If you are going for speed, then the BALS is your best bet. If you're going for cost, same. If you really want the CS degree, then it's going to take a while, as you have to take all the UL courses at your college. I suppose you could take them all in 1 semester, and take the Capstone this summer at TESU. But it's totally up to you as to which way you go.

If I were you, I would apply at TESU now, as a CS student, to see where they put your courses. Then, you can do the what-if scenario to see how it changes if you do the BALS. In the meantime, while you wait for the eval, take Insurance Ethics and World Religions (if you opt for the BALS, this is UL and will go down to your Area of Study, in which case you should take another option for the Info Lit).

[bjcheung77]

+1 apply now to TESU, get an evaluation on where you stand and what is missing, decide on which course of action to take with your advisor... They will provide you your options and give appropriate guidance to completing your degree.

[TrailRunr]

First of all, you are short a lot of courses for the CS degree at TESU. BALS is way faster but the CS degree is a lot more valuable in the workplace than a BALS. Before you give up on CS, take a look at the immigration path to Japan with a CS degree vs. teaching English. And I'm concerned about your plan.

Teaching English in a foreign country is a stop-gap job to help folks to help pay for a stay overseas during a gap year equivalent to working for Starbucks while going through college. It's for a working holiday. It's not a career. For a long term stay in Japan, you should look for a sustainable career such as IT and CS. Japan is an expensive country. Many countries will let you immigrate into technology jobs. I have no idea if Japan is one of them. I'm not a person who is all about following rules and always obeying your priest, but I'm strongly suggesting you to return home ASAP before you get caught. If you already violated your tourist visa by staying too long, I think you can forget about Japan. Mention nothing about the under-the-table stuff in subsequent immigration applications. You're going down a big rabbit hole if you don't do this legitimately.

There is also the issue of you being in the "puppy love" phase of living in a foreign country. It takes about a year before you get out of that phase and fully face reality.

BALS is faster, but you might want to reconsider all of your plans.

[dfrecore]

I'm not a person who is all about following rules and always obeying your priest, but I'm strongly suggesting you to return home ASAP before you get caught. If you already violated your tourist visa by staying too long, I think you can forget about Japan.

The OP said that they "want to get back to Japan as quickly as possible" and is currently attending college here in Los Angeles. I don't think he/she overstayed his/her visa.

[alzee]

Teaching English in a foreign country is a stop-gap job to help folks to help pay for a stay overseas during a gap year equivalent to working for Starbucks while going through college. It's for a working holiday. It's not a career. For a long term stay in Japan, you should look for a sustainable career such as IT and CS.

This is 100% nonsense. There are many people from the US, UK, CA, AU, etc who started teaching English in Japan right out of college and ended up staying there and are still doing it today after 10 or 20 years. It's as sustainable a career as any other, the demand isn't going anywhere. The pay sucks, but teachers pay sucks the world over more or less.

[fcnew52]

Wow! Thanks for all the help everyone! I'll clear up some things so there's no misunderstandings.

I completely agree and understand that a CS or IT degree is definitely the way to go for future career opportunities and an increased salary. However, it is something that I have lost my passion for and honestly I am burned out with it. I previously had an IT part time job working at a Tech start-up but I was pulling almost full time hours. I liked my coworkers and that tech-startup environment but working behind a computer all day every day was mentally draining. I guess I figured out that I don't want to work in an office staring at a computer all the time for the rest of my working life. Some people thrive in that environment but for me, I felt trapped and had to get out. I became very depressed during that time. That is why I quit last year and went to Japan during the summer.

I didn't overstay my Tourist Visa and returned in the fall. Earlier this year I found a volunteer opportunity teaching English to children and quickly accepted the offer because I have always been good with kids. It is only "hush hush" because I am "being taken care of" in exchange for volunteering at the school. I am still in Japan currently but I have not overstayed my Visa. I will be returning before the 3 months are over. I agree that I might still be in that puppy love phase but honestly, I don't think I've ever been happier in my life. I love being here and it is my main goal to work and live here at least for the remainder of my 20's. Working with children is a major plus because they always put a smile on my face, even on my bad days. I hope that explains my motives for choosing the quicker route vs the more logical one.

Now back on topic, thanks again for all the help everyone! I have some questions before I apply to TESU.

1. How much does it cost to get that evaluation?

2. Will I send them my transcripts before I apply? or after?

3. Do they have to be Official transcripts? or can I send them unofficial ones?

Thanks again! I really do appreciate all the help!

[davewill]

Makes perfect sense to me. It only costs the $75 application fee to get the evaluation done.. You do have to send official transcripts. Send them the transcripts after you apply. It will take a good month before to get all that done, so meanwhile start in on some of the stuff you already know will be needed.

[dfrecore]

There are some people here that love to make great proclamations about people without knowing a single thing about them. My advice is to take the advice that makes sense to your life, and leave the rest behind. If anything is too harsh, don't listen to that either, as it's probably not helpful to you.

Since you have said that you don't want to continue on with the CS degree, then you should definitely look at a COSC General Studies degree and the TESU BALS. I can only give advice on TESU, since I don't know COSC well enough to help with that.

TESU is $75 to apply, and then you make arrangements with your 2 other schools to have your transcripts send at the same time (you have to do each one separately through the schools). The online app takes a few minutes, and then you pay and they start processing. Your schools will have their own transcript processes, and you just follow them and have them send to TESU. You can do it all at one sit-down at your computer.

Then, it will take a few days for TESU to process your application, and then another 25 business days to complete your eval after they receive your transcripts. So it will be a good month or longer before you hear much (maybe you will get a student id and password, start receiving emails, etc. but nothing helpful until after the month has passed).

In the meantime, you need to create an ACE account to be able to send any ACE-approved courses through: https://www2.acenet.edu/credit/?fuseacti...ATION.main

and then take the free Insurance Ethics course: Preserve the trust on which insurance transactions are based with an understanding of ethics and send the transcript to ACE.

Then, decide on which courses you want to take. You need 1 Info Lit course, and then 5 UL courses that will satisfy the Area of Study. There are MANY options for this, it's just a matter of what you would like to do: DSST, UExcel, study.com, Straighterline, etc. The only cheap UL course is going to be Corporate Communications at Saylor, which you could take for $25. The UL DSST's are going to be $80 each plus any testing fees. UExcel has a bunch of courses, prices will vary, I would try to stick to the ones that cost $95 rather than the ones in the $300-$400 range. SL has a few options for $99/mo plus $50ish for each course. study.com has a few, for $199/mo for 2 courses/exams during that month. There are more options, but these will be the cheapest.

Good luck!