TESU Newbie Help

[vktheard]

Hi All,

Apologies if these topics have been covered but, after searching extensively, I could only find answers tailored toward others' specific paths and not really any general.  I am just getting started with TESU and am completely overwhelmed. I’m working toward a BA in History with the hopes of achieving a Master’s in either Archival or Library Science in the future (from another institution).

It’s been a very long time since I’ve been enrolled in school and I’m feeling a little dumb.  I have an Associate’s in Software Applications Programming but this is from a now-defunct school and no credits earned there will count toward anything at TESU. I did attend a regionally accredited university for a few semesters around 20 years ago.  My transcripts are currently being evaluated.  In the meantime I was hoping for some general guidance.

For General Ed requirements – are courses able to just be chosen from the categories to meet the credit requirements?  For example, three credits are needed for Quantitive Literacy.  Does this mean any of the courses listed in TESU’s Quantitative Literacy category can be chosen? Or Diversity Interculteral Literacy – can any courses from the list be chosen so long as they meet the three credit requirement? I do want to add that when I click on the links that take me to the courses that will satisfy certain requirements when logged into the student portal and looking at my program requirements I get a 404 error so that hasn't helped answer my questions.

And then there are the electives.  Can any course that hasn’t already been taken fulfill these requirements?

Will an adviser at TESU assist in coming up with a degree plan before I'm officially enrolled?

Also – when exactly should I enroll?  Just complete as many courses as possible and then enroll once I have enough to earn the TESU-only credits so long as it’s within the 12 months of applying? 

Is financial aid only considered once actually enrolled?  The financial aspect is another beast to wrap my head around.

I appreciate the guidance!

[SCYankee]

Hi All,

Apologies if these topics have been covered but, after searching extensively, I could only find answers tailored toward others' specific paths and not really any general.  I am just getting started with TESU and am completely overwhelmed. I’m working toward a BA in History with the hopes of achieving a Master’s in either Archival or Library Science in the future (from another institution).

It’s been a very long time since I’ve been enrolled in school and I’m feeling a little dumb.  I have an Associate’s in Software Applications Programming but this is from a now-defunct school and no credits earned there will count toward anything at TESU. I did attend a regionally accredited university for a few semesters around 20 years ago.  My transcripts are currently being evaluated.  In the meantime I was hoping for some general guidance.

For General Ed requirements – are courses able to just be chosen from the categories to meet the credit requirements?  For example, three credits are needed for Quantitive Literacy.  Does this mean any of the courses listed in TESU’s Quantitative Literacy category can be chosen? Or Diversity Interculteral Literacy – can any courses from the list be chosen so long as they meet the three credit requirement?  I do want to add that when I click on the links that take me to the courses that will satisfy certain requirements when logged into the student portal and looking at my program requirements I get a 404 error so that hasn't helped answer my questions.

And then there are the electives.  Can any course that hasn’t already been taken fulfill these requirements?

Will an adviser at TESU assist in coming up with a degree plan before I'm officially enrolled?

Also – when exactly should I enroll?  Just complete as many courses as possible and then enroll once I have enough to earn the TESU-only credits so long as it’s within the 12 months of applying? 

Is financial aid only considered once actually enrolled?  The financial aspect is another beast to wrap my head around.

I appreciate the guidance!

I know the feeling of being overwhelmed by all of this. But don't worry; you can do it.

First of all, you need to read the beginner's sticky threads. That will clarify some stuff about where to start earning credits (free credits).

As far as coming up with a degree plan, TESU will help you come up with something that includes ALL TESU courses : ) Don't expect a Toyota dealer to tell you where to find service for your vehicle at a cheaper price. If you want to take advantage of free credits through CLEP (Modern States) and fast/affordable credits through DSST, Sophia, Study.com and StraighterLine, you'll need to chart your own course, sort of. 

Check out the TESU site. They are very clear about what they require (subject categories) for each degree they offer. IMO they are way more transparent than Charter Oak and Excelsior. Then here are a few links (for TESU only, which is where I'm headed) that show what CLEP and DSST exams, and Study.com and Sophia.com courses, transfer in as.

CLEP transfer https://www.tesu.edu/academics/catalog/c...am-program
DSST transfer https://www.tesu.edu/academics/catalog/dsst
Study.com (SDC) transfer https://study.com/directory/school/Thoma...ransferTab  
Sophia transfer https://tesu.sophia.org/#courses

If you don't recognize any of these names, then please read the starter thread/s.

[Dowew]

Hey there. I've been helping a friend organize his degree for a couple of years. He is graduating in a matter of days. I also hold a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science if I can be of any help with that front. I think you should look into the alternative credit sources as they are fairly inexpensive and most of them are not terribly time consuming.

I would start with the free credits (see the wiki "Free Sources of Credit"). If you are in the United States you might wanna look at onlinedegree.com. The courses are videobased and the cost are about $10 per course. You can get a whole pile of the electives done thru them. Get thru 8 of these and you are 20% done your degree !.

My friends degree with BSBA, and it mostly consisted of Straighterline and Study.com courses. He MUCH preferred SDC, just keep in mind you need 120 credit for your degree, each course is usually worth 3 and you can only have 90 credits from any single provider, so you have to mix and match.

Anything else you would like to know ?