TESC ASBA to BSBA

[NC Coach]

I have decided to pursue a BSBA from TESC and along the way I'd like to pick up the ASBA from them also. My reasoning is mainly for personal satisfaction and accomplishment...I'm not worried about any additional costs I'd incur as a result. Their ASBA should seamlessly transfer into the BSBA according to their website, meaning I'd have no worries about certain credits not transferring in like I would if I was coming in from another school.

However, I have just a couple of questions I hope someone on this wonderful forum can answer. First, if I enroll at TESC after I've already achieved the needed 60 credit hours and meeting all requirements of the ASBA then from my understanding I'd pay the graduation fee and could graduate with the ASBA. If I do that, my thinking was that I'd have 12 months (or up to 15 based on the ability to get three months of extensions if needed) to complete the other 60 credits for the BSBA. Then I could pay the graduation fee and have the BSBA from TESC and the ASBA on the same annual enrollment fee. Is that possible or am I missing something?

Also I have a question regarding the needed 60 hours for the ASBA. I have mapped out all the courses and the methods I wish to complete them (ALEKS, Straighterline, CLEP, DSST, FEMA) except for one. I am not sure where I can get "Legal Environment for Business"...or is this the same as Business Law? Can anyone shed some light on that subject?

One other question...if I take a test that transcribes as upper level credit as a business elective while working on the ASBA, will that upper level credit count toward the minimum number (18 I believe) of upper level credits needed to get the BSBA, or do I have to have 18 upper level in addition to whatever was used in the ASBA program? I think as long as I have 18 total I am OK regardless of when earned but I wanted to be 100% sure.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to help! I hope to be able to provide assistance to others soon based on all I am currently learning from my new classmates!

[NAP]

.....

However, I have just a couple of questions I hope someone on this wonderful forum can answer. First, if I enroll at TESC after I've already achieved the needed 60 credit hours and meeting all requirements of the ASBA then from my understanding I'd pay the graduation fee and could graduate with the ASBA. If I do that, my thinking was that I'd have 12 months (or up to 15 based on the ability to get three months of extensions if needed) to complete the other 60 credits for the BSBA. Then I could pay the graduation fee and have the BSBA from TESC and the ASBA on the same annual enrollment fee. Is that possible or am I missing something?......

I think the answer to this part of your question is that this will not work. [Edit: Multiple degrees can be earned at TESC with one enrollment fee. See Bricabrac's post below.] If you do not hear from a TESC student, try searching the forum for a similar question. Also, you should be able to find a written policy on TESCs website.

At EC, I had all of my credits completed for an AS. I paid the enrollment fee ($900) and the graduation fee ($500). I then had to pay to reenroll for the BS degree program. There was a discount (half price - $440) to reenroll within a year after completing the first degree. Maybe TESC has a similar offer.

Also, check to see if there is a discount for the first enrollment fee by having your credits completed. (There is not at EC.)

Note to EC students: There was no advantage for me to wait so long to enroll. I could have had 1 year of advising, if I had enrolled earlier, while I was working on my AS.

[bricabrac]

Hello NC Coach, I was waiting for someone who did the ASBA/BSBA to chime in. I started my journey as an ASM/BSBA then changed to and completed AAS/BASS and am currently enrolled in the BSBA so I'll jump in to help answer a few questions.

Their ASBA should seamlessly transfer into the BSBA according to their website, meaning I'd have no worries about certain credits not transferring in like I would if I was coming in from another school.

Correct, but be sure to work through the your degree plan with an advisor as soon as you are enrolled and have the courses planned. When you are doing an Associates and Bachelors at the same time you will have access to both evaluations so you can see how each course applies to both.

First, if I enroll at TESC after I've already achieved the needed 60 credit hours and meeting all requirements of the ASBA then from my understanding I'd pay the graduation fee and could graduate with the ASBA. If I do that, my thinking was that I'd have 12 months (or up to 15 based on the ability to get three months of extensions if needed) to complete the other 60 credits for the BSBA. Then I could pay the graduation fee and have the BSBA from TESC and the ASBA on the same annual enrollment fee. Is that possible or am I missing something?

This is correct. Once you begin you will be surprised how fast you can complete sixty credits with clep/dsst/independent courses (straighterline, penn foster...etc...). You are required to take business policy at TESC either the course or tecep (exam).

Also I have a question regarding the needed 60 hours for the ASBA. I have mapped out all the courses and the methods I wish to complete them (ALEKS, Straighterline, CLEP, DSST, FEMA) except for one. I am not sure where I can get "Legal Environment for Business"...or is this the same as Business Law? Can anyone shed some light on that subject?

Yes, legal env for bus is Business Law. Be careful with femas with the business degrees. You are not allowed as many free electives. In business admin it is only 6cr.

One other question...if I take a test that transcribes as upper level credit as a business elective while working on the ASBA, will that upper level credit count toward the minimum number (18 I believe) of upper level credits needed to get the BSBA, or do I have to have 18 upper level in addition to whatever was used in the ASBA program? I think as long as I have 18 total I am OK regardless of when earned but I wanted to be 100% sure.?

The same courses will apply to both degree plans. For example if you should take MIS-301 it will sit on both degrees.Since there are only two business electives for the ASBA you should not run into problems. If there were say 6 it could get tricky. The ASBA basically is made up of all the gened and core courses of the BSBA so you should be fine. Make sure to make an appointment (30min phone) with an advisor early on to map out your BSBA. Not all business courses will fit each specialization. By my experience it is best to map it out fully (approval from advisor) than to wing it on your own. You leave too much room for error.

Good luck !!

[NC Coach]

Wow, thanks for the very helpful replies!

Bricabrac, I was aware of the limit on free credits. I have 6 FEMA already so I guess I don't really need to focus on those anymore. According to the website free credits are limited to 6 as you said.

I was initially thinking of getting a liberal arts degree first and then go back for a business degree, but to be honest I think the business degree will be easier for me since all of the subjects are familiar to me having worked in business management roles for two decades...while the general education subjects would probably be harder for me.

[bricabrac]

I think the business degree will be easier for me since all of the subjects are familiar to me having worked in business management roles for two decades...while the general education subjects would probably be harder for me.

I agree the business courses will be easier. In my case the social science degree was much faster to test out and I was in need of a completed degree on my resume.

What I thought about after my last post is once you are close to completing all your tests, indep courses and the gened and core are just about finished get yourself enrolled. When you are sure of your concentration then take the remaining business elective six credits because they will more than likely be the courses from your bachelors area of specialization. You don't want to take courses that will not apply to both. (General Management - Org'l Leadership - CIS - HR/OL - Entrepreneurship all have different requirments for the area required/elective sections.) Certain courses may apply to all but you need to be sure what those courses are. If you already know your concentration you are already one step ahead. I would still enroll atleast 6-8wks prior to submitting form for ASBA graduation. You will need time for them to transfer all credits and set up an official evaluation. This will allow plenty of time for you to have a meeting or two with an advisor, if there are corrections or any other issues that may come to the surface that will need ample time to address.

I apologize for this long winded post but I've been caught between two programs and just learned myself of the stringent requirements on what will/will not apply within a concentration. I was under the impression if it was a MAN, BUS, MKT, LDR course it would apply to all and that is not true. Example for the general managment degree in the GMS section it states you must choose courses from 3 out of the four following areas (accounting, finance, marketing, managment). It did not state different areas in the catalog so I thought two mgmt and one marketing was ok and that was not the case. This is why meetings with an advisor is so important.

Well good luck to you! You are definitely off to a great start!

[NAP]

Hi Bricabrac!

Are you saying that it is possible to enroll once and earn 2 degrees at TESC? If so, that is great to know.

Thanks!

[bricabrac]

Hi Bricabrac!

Are you saying that it is possible to enroll once and earn 2 degrees at TESC? If so, that is great to know.

Thanks!

Hi Nap,

Yes. You can only earn one degree per conferral date. There are four conferral meetings per year so I could easily apply for a degree for three out of those four dates as long as I have met the requirements of each degree. I earned my Associates in March and Bachelors in September; same enrollment period but two separate graduation payments.

I'm working on degree #3 and just registered for the October semester using the remaining credits from last year's comprehensive tuition. The registration period opened within my annual tuition period. If you plan correctly it can be very cost-effective.

[NAP]

Wow! Thanks for sharing that Bricabrac.

I had been wondering why so many TESC students were pursuing second degrees recently. Congratulations! That's very cool. You have had quite a year!

[bricabrac]

Thanks Nap. Always happy to share what l've learned/experienced.

[bricabrac]

Thanks to Geezers recent post just read the rules have changed...even better value.

First Associate Degree
"Students who desire both a Thomas Edison State College associate degree and a Thomas Edison State College baccalaureate degree may have both degrees awarded together in the same graduation cycle."

Undergraduate Academic Policies - Thomas Edison State College - acalog ACMSâ„¢[url=http://catalog.tesc.edu/content.php?catoid=2&navoid=127#Two_Areas_of_Study_Within_One_Degree][/url]