Multiple Degrees Together

[dejarose21]

Hi, all; I've just recently started at TESU and am currently enrolled in my first 18 credits but have not finished them yet. I've come to realize that there are several programs I am really interested in and I need help planning. I've read the official policies, but I am unsure if I fully understand them correctly. I've interpreted it to mean that you can take multiple certifications, two Associates in different areas (like AA and AAS), and two Bachelor's in different areas (like BA and BS). I can see that if taking them simultaneously, there has to be a higher number of unique credits than if you complete one and then the other. 

Are only two programs allowed to be done at the same time, or can the maximum be done all together? How would that affect the credits needed? Can all degrees be double majors?

For reference, I am looking to do the following programs: CIS Cert, CS Cert, HRM Cert, AAS CS and MD Tech (double major), AA Human Services, BA Psychology and English (double major), and BS Human Services Criminal Justice and Sociology (double major).

Is it possible to do all of these (technically 7 majors/4 degrees and 3 certs) at the same time? Is there any difference in going the AA or BS with concentration route for Human Services? Can I take all of the same General Ed courses for all of them or will I have to take more? Can credits be applied to both Associate's and Bachelor's programs taken together? If I were to take the maximum credits every single month, but only 9 credits for the summer term to qualify for the GO TESU, how long realistically would it take to finish? 

Thank you so much for any insight!


Edited to add question: If I take alternative courses on other websites, is the 90 transferrable credits in total or is it per major/degree? Thank you!

[wow]

Have you checked which of the bachelors degrees require capstones and if any of the associates degrees require one? If so, you will need to do a separate capstone for each major. Assuming all of your bachelors degrees require capstones and none of your associates degrees do (I am making an assumption, I haven't checked this), that means you would need to complete 4 capstones in one term at TESU while you also complete your cornerstone (unless you have a previous bachelors degree). That's a lot for one term unless you are really into research and quick with writing.

Your general education courses can be used to toward all degrees. For your majors, though, you can only have minimal overlap. You can not apply most of the courses from one major to another major.

Someone with deeper knowledge of how TESU works will likely chime in with more specifics. But that should get you started.

[bjcheung77]

Welcome to the board, that's a good intro post to get the ball rolling and start getting some feedback, it's great you're asking questions and trying to get answers. It would be best for you to provide more details so readers can get a better understanding of what you bring to the table and what is remaining for possible degree requirements. We don't know what classes you have, which university you attended, your budget, commitments, study habits, etc..

Having said that, we don't know much about your situation, it's best to complete the addendum and template to provide a bigger overview of your scenario. With these extra details, we'll know your budget, commitments, study habits, etc. Please update us and we'll try to provide you advice or point you in a direction to streamline your educational journey... Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

[sanantone]

Is TESU now allowing people to earn two similar degrees at the same level? In the past, they wouldn't allow multiple bachelor's degrees in the social sciences.

OP, have you thought about how your resume will look? You would have a CIS certificate, CS certificate, and AAS in CS. What would the certificates add in value?

[dejarose21]

Is TESU now allowing people to earn two similar degrees at the same level? In the past, they wouldn't allow multiple bachelor's degrees in the social sciences.

OP, have you thought about how your resume will look? You would have a CIS certificate, CS certificate, and AAS in CS. What would the certificates add in value?

From my understanding, yes and no. The requirement is that they have to be different "schools." So, while Psych and Sociology/Criminal Justice are similar and are both actually offered in the same schools, they are different in this case. I would not be able to take Pysch/English with Sociology/Criminal Justice as a Bachelor of Arts. However, the Human Services concentrations of Sociology and Criminal Justice fall under the Bachelor of Science instead. The Human Services Associate's falls under the Arts, but that is okay because it is an Associate's. However, I spoke to an advisor and was told I could not pursue the BA HS because it requires current employment in the field before starting the program, but the AA does not.

Personally, I just want to take many varied computer/IT courses, so I wanted to do all of the certs. I was told I cannot dual major with the multidisciplinary technology degree, so I can only do the Computer Studies, which appears to be very basic at TESU.

---

Welcome to the board, that's a good intro post to get the ball rolling and start getting some feedback, it's great you're asking questions and trying to get answers. It would be best for you to provide more details so readers can get a better understanding of what you bring to the table and what is remaining for possible degree requirements. We don't know what classes you have, which university you attended, your budget, commitments, study habits, etc..  

Having said that, we don't know much about your situation, it's best to complete the addendum and template to provide a bigger overview of your scenario.  With these extra details, we'll know your budget, commitments, study habits, etc. Please update us and we'll try to provide you advice or point you in a direction to streamline your educational journey... Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

Thank you

Your Location: NJ
Your Age: 27
What kind of degree do you want?: I want to attain as many degrees as possible in a few different fields to keep my options open. I'm interested in Psychology, Criminal Justice, Sociology, Education, English, and learning programming to help with the new AI/tech boom. I'd like to get a master's or doctorate eventually.
Current Regional Accredited Credits: None
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: None but I am looking to get as many Study.com and Sophia credits as possible.
Any certifications or military experience?: No
Budget: Cheaper than a traditional university but no specific budget
Commitments: I run a business and have kids but I typically work/do schoolwork all night
Dedicated time to study: 20-30 hours a week
Timeline: Within 2 years hopefully
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: Full Pell eligible for another 7 terms if I remember correctly--I might be at 215% of the 600%
Amazon tuition assistance: $1,700 left for 2024, $5,300 for 2025
GO TESU max eligible for next part-time term (3-9 credits) (up to $2,700)
Federal Loans eligible at $9,500 per term

I'm currently take SOC-1010, PSY-1010, and 4 of the university mandated gen ed courses.

---

Have you checked which of the bachelors degrees require capstones and if any of the associates degrees require one? If so, you will need to do a separate capstone for each major. Assuming all of your bachelors degrees require capstones and none of your associates degrees do (I am making an assumption, I haven't checked this), that means you would need to complete 4 capstones in one term at TESU while you also complete your cornerstone (unless you have a previous bachelors degree). That's a lot for one term unless you are really into research and quick with writing.

Your general education courses can be used to toward all degrees. For your majors, though, you can only have minimal overlap. You can not apply most of the courses from one major to another major.

Someone with deeper knowledge of how TESU works will likely chime in with more specifics. But that should get you started.

I believe all of them need a capstone, so I will be taking 3 total. My advisor told me I couldn't do the BS Human Services because of specific eligibility for that program and there are no other BS degrees I'm interested in that don't require Physics. The writing and researching doesn't really phase me. I usually just bang out full papers in 4-5 hours in one sitting.

[bjcheung77]

Wow, you've got the trifecta of Fin Aid, Tuition Assistance, and GO, that can get you the education freebies!  I guess you read a bit in regards to getting multiple degrees, nice initial research!  Did you read the Beginner's Guide where I have linked a thread for residency waiver vs taking classes at TESU?  That thread explains how to do multiple degrees using fin aid, tuition assistance...

Basically, I would slice things a little differently and add the extra cost, energy, time, but you get graded graduate credit for free instead! It goes like this... X certs, 2 associates, 2 bachelors, X Masters credit (not degree) using their Bachelors to Masters option...

Associates: AAS Applied Computer Studies & Environmental Safety Security Technologies and whatever else you want
Certificates: All the certificates you wanted, and add the Operations Management one as well
Bachelors: BA English/Psychology double major, you can do another BA CJ/Sociology double major or what I suggest is the BSBA.

Masters credits, you can do 4 classes at the undergrad tuition rate for each Bachelors, thus that's 8 classes of graduate credit (24) free because of your tuition assistance.  For the BA, you can get 4 classes that go towards the MALS or other options, for the BSBA, you can get 4 classes that go towards the MBA or MSM, etc.  

Final note: Some future institutions may not take the Masters level credit if it's been used for the first degree, to circumvent this, I mentioned before to complete the requirements entirely using alternative credit first, then do the 4 classes afterwards, and having these 4 classes added to the bottom of your transcript list (showing that it's not used in degree).