TESC BSBA Accounting degree plan review

[Kones]

Would anyone mind giving my proposed degree plan for a BSBA in Accounting from TESC the once over?

I'm starting from scratch. I don't have college credits to transfer over.

You'll notice that I've included some TESC courses and my reasoning is that I am eligible for 80% tuition reimbursement for job-related courses. I work in an Accounting department so I've reserved those for hard or impossible to test out of UL Accounting courses. However, there is a $4,000/year reimbursement limit for undergrad courses (must be enrolled in a degree program or the limit drops to $2,000/year), so I am trying to limit the courses I take to 4 so that 80% of the cost fits into $4,000.

I'm not currently an NJ resident, but I will be within the next 4-6 months. I am hoping to work on my ASBA this year and wait until I qualify for NJ resident tuition (12 mo.) before I begin my UL Accounting courses. I know the rates will differ by that time, but using the current rates I estimate that paying 20% of the tuition for TESC courses would cost around $245/course which is cheaper than the popular Penn Foster, LSU, etc. alternatives. If TESC rates are so much higher in 1.5-2 years that it doesn't make sense then I'll reevaluate the course options.

Is this the easiest/cheapest way to go about this? Does anyone has any advice/suggestions/replacement options? I greatly appreciate any and all help.

I. General Education Requirements 60
A. Intellectual and Practical Skills 15
English Composition I (ENC-101) & English Composition II (ENC-102) --> CLEP College Composition 6
College Algebra or Quantitative Analysis --> ALEKS College Algebra 3
Managerial Communication --> Saylor Corporate Communications 3
Electives in Intellectual and Practical Skills --> Kaplan Documenting Your Experiences for College Credit 3
B. Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World 18
Macroeconomics (ECO-111) --> CLEP Principles of Macroeconomics 3
Microeconomics (ECO-112) --> Saylor/CLEP Principles of Microeconomics 3
Statistics (STA-201) --> ALEKS Introduction to Statistics 3
Humanities, Social Science, Natural Science or Interdisciplinary Electives (9)

• CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature 6
  
• Sophia Introduction to Psychology 3

C. Personal and Social Responsibility 9
Diversity/Global Literacy --> DSST Introduction to World Religions 3
Responsible Ethical Leadership --> DSST Ethics in America 3
Ethics or Diversity Elective --> CLEP Introduction to Sociology 3
D. General Education Electives 18
DSST Here's to Your Health 3
CLEP Human Growth and Development 3
DSST Environment and Humanity 3
Saylor Introduction to Mollecular and Cellular Biology 3
Saylor/CLEP American Government 3
Saylor/TECEP Introduction to Political Science 3
II. Professional Business Requirements 54
A. Business Core 27
Business Law --> Saylor Business Law and Ethics 3
Computer Concepts and Applications/Introduction to Computers/CIS --> Saylor Introduction to Computer Science I 3
Principles of Financial Accounting --> Saylor/TECEP Introduction to Financial Accounting 3
Principles of Managerial Accounting --> Saylor/TECEP Managerial Accounting 3
Principles of Finance --> Penn Foster Financial Management 3
Introduction to Marketing --> Saylor Principles of Marketing 3
Business in Society or International Management --> DSST Business Ethics in Society 3
Strategic Management --> TECEP Strategic Management 3
Principles of Management --> Saylor Principles of Management 3
B. Area of Study: Accounting 18
Required Subjects
Intermediate Accounting I --> Straighterline Financial Accounting 3
Intermediate Accounting II --> TESC Intermediate Accounting II 3
Recommended Subjects
Federal Income Taxation I --> TESC Federal Income Taxation I 3
Federal Income Taxation II OR Tax Accounting II
Advanced Financial Accounting --> TESC Advanced Accounting I 3
Advanced Managerial Accounting
Accounting Information Systems
Analysis of Financial Statements
Auditing --> TESC Auditing 3
Cost Accounting --> Straighterline Managerial Accounting 3
Fund, Government OR Public Accounting
C. Business Electives 9
DSST Introduction to Business 3
DSST Money and Banking 3
DSST Principles of Supervision 3
III. Free Electives 7
TEEX Cybersecurity for Everyone 2
TEEX Cybersecurity for Business Professionals 2
TECEP Introduction to Critical Reasoning 3
Total 121

[HorseManiac]

I think your plan looks good. My only question is do the TECEPs count as part of your tuition reimbursement? The reason I ask is because there are other/easier tests you could take. For example, there is a DSST for Financial Accounting. Also, you could pick another CLEP/DSST/Saylor instead of taking the Political Science TECEP. But if you need it for tuition reimbursement than that's fine.

Also, there is a DSST you can take instead of the Penn Foster class for Principles of Finance.

You'd be fine either way, just thought I'd throw out another suggestion.

[Kones]

No, I can't use the tuition reimbursement for TECEPs. Are the TECEPs known to be difficult? I had thrown them in there in favor of DSSTs because I figured the cost is roughly the same and the TECEPs I can take from home with ProctorU. I'm having a tough time finding a convenient DSST testing center. I can go out of my way to take a few, but was trying to limit how many times I have to do that. But if the TECEPs are know to be harder it may be worth the inconvenience.

I'll have to look back through some threads to see where I got this from but I may have read that the Principles of Finance DSST is particularly brutal and that some people recommend the PF class even though it costs more than the exam?

[HorseManiac]

No, I can't use the tuition reimbursement for TECEPs. Are the TECEPs known to be difficult? I had thrown them in there in favor of DSSTs because I figured the cost is roughly the same and the TECEPs I can take from home with ProctorU. I'm having a tough time finding a convenient DSST testing center. I can go out of my way to take a few, but was trying to limit how many times I have to do that. But if the TECEPs are know to be harder it may be worth the inconvenience.

I'll have to look back through some threads to see where I got this from but I may have read that the Principles of Finance DSST is particularly brutal and that some people recommend the PF class even though it costs more than the exam?

Okay, that makes sense! DSST and TECEP are about the same price depending on how much the proctor charges. I think difficulty depends on the TECEP. I've heard members say some are easier than others. The Federal Income Tax one I took was rough, but I didn't take any of the ones you have listed. Maybe try a forum search and see if anyone has any input on the difficulty.

Also, another thought. I don't know if you do well with Literature or Science, but you could take one of the 6 credit CLEP tests and that would eliminate a few of the tests in your electives section. American Literature, Biology, Humanities, and Social Sciences and History are all 6 credits. Because they are worth 6 credits they are usually broader and a little more difficult, but nothing that isn't doable. Plus, you pay the same amount and get 6 credits instead of 3!

Oh, really?!? I hadn't heard that about the DSST vs. PF class. I took the DSST and don't remember it being too hard. If you find the thread, I'd like to see it!

Good luck!

[Kones]

Okay, that makes sense! DSST and TECEP are about the same price depending on how much the proctor charges. I think difficulty depends on the TECEP. I've heard members say some are easier than others. The Federal Income Tax one I took was rough, but I didn't take any of the ones you have listed. Maybe try a forum search and see if anyone has any input on the difficulty.

Also, another thought. I don't know if you do well with Literature or Science, but you could take one of the 6 credit CLEP tests and that would eliminate a few of the tests in your electives section. American Literature, Biology, Humanities, and Social Sciences and History are all 6 credits. Because they are worth 6 credits they are usually broader and a little more difficult, but nothing that isn't doable. Plus, you pay the same amount and get 6 credits instead of 3!

Oh, really?!? I hadn't heard that about the DSST vs. PF class. I took the DSST and don't remember it being too hard. If you find the thread, I'd like to see it!


Good luck!

Thanks for the feedback! I appreciate it, especially since you've already completed the same degree I'm after.

You're right about the 6 credit CLEPs. I should really look into those more. I'm planning on taking the College Comp and A&I Lit for 6 credits each, but I could easily save myself some time and a few hundred dollars by taking a couple more.

I realize some of these threads are pretty old and the test potentially could have changed in that time, but here are some places where I read feedback about the Principles of Finance DSST being difficult. Or at least having that reputation.
http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...nance.html
http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...-help.html
http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...antes.html

[HorseManiac]

Thanks for the feedback! I appreciate it, especially since you've already completed the same degree I'm after.

You're right about the 6 credit CLEPs. I should really look into those more. I'm planning on taking the College Comp and A&I Lit for 6 credits each, but I could easily save myself some time and a few hundred dollars by taking a couple more.

I realize some of these threads are pretty old and the test potentially could have changed in that time, but here are some places where I read feedback about the Principles of Finance DSST being difficult. Or at least having that reputation.
http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...nance.html
http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...-help.html
http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...antes.html

Sure! No problem. I'm glad I could help!

Okay, I do remember a little bit about Finance being a harder test. I do think it's totally doable with diligent study though. All the Specific Exam Feedback resources should definitely be able to help. It's up to you either way. You could always use the class as a backup plan if you didn't pass the DSST!

Let me know if I can help with any other questions!!