TESC BA Psychology degree plan

[Anyamatopoeia]

Hey everybody,
I've been researching my options for a little while now, and I'm 90% convinced that the best (i.e., fastest, most affordable, most interesting, most relevant) way to achieve my goals is with a B.A. in Psychology from Thomas Edison State College. I have no college credits at all, so I'm starting completely from scratch. I haven't registered with InstantCert or applied to TESC yet because I'm currently short on cash, and I want to have a clear plan laid out before I put down any money. (Also, it's been 10 years since I took any math classes, so before I take any college-level math tests, I'll have to spend some time on Khan Academy reaquainting myself with all the high school math I've completely forgotten.)

I came up with this degree plan based on TESC's website and the advice I've found lurking on these forums. I based some decisions on three assumptions that may or may not be accurate:
1) A course/test can't be used in two different categories. (e.g., I can't use TECEP Principles of Statistics to fulfill my college-level math requirement because it's a Psychology major requirement.) I really hope I'm wrong about that, because I'd much rather take a social science or humanities elective than a second math test. :p
2) TESC's requirement for at least 18 upper-level credits applies to all credits in the degree, not just credits in your major. (The website wasn't clear on that point.)
3) TESC has a residency requirement of 24 credits, which can be fulfilled with TECEP tests.

If any or all of these assumptions are wrong, please correct me! And if you think it might be cheaper to pursue a Psychology degree from COSC or Excelsior, or if I'm on the right track but just need to tweak my plan a bit, please don't be shy in telling me. What do you think?

B.A., Psychology Plan:

I. General Education Requirements: (60)
A. Intellectual and Practical Skills: (15)
CLEP English Composition (6)
TECEP Applied Liberal Arts Mathematics* (3)
Uexel ECEP Interpersonal Communication (3)
CLEP Information Systems and Computer Applications or DSST Introduction to Computing (3) (what's the difference?)

B. Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World: (18)
Humanities: CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature (6)
Social Science: CLEP Introductory Sociology (3)
Natural Science: DSST Environment and Humanity (3)
Electives: DSST General Anthropology (3)
DSST Human/Cultural Geography (3)

C. Personal and Social Responsibility: (9)
Diversity/Global Literacy: TECEP Marriage and the Family* (3)
Responsible Ethical Leadership: TECEP Environmental Ethics* (3)
Elective: DSST Ethics in America (3) UL

D. General Education Electives: (18)
CLEP American Literature (6)
CLEP English Literature (6)
CLEP Humanities (6)

II. Area of Study: Psychology (33)
A. Required Courses: (9)
CLEP Introductory Psychology (3)
TECEP Principles of Statistics* (3)
Uexcel ECEP Research Methods in Psychology (3) UL

B. Capstone: (3)
LIB-495-GS Liberal Arts Capstone* (3) UL

C. Psychology Electives: (21)
CLEP Human Growth and Development or DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology (3) (again, what's the difference?)
CLEP Educational Psychology (3)
TECEP Psychology of Women* (3)
TECEP Abnormal Psychology* (3) UL
Uexel ECEP Social Psychology (3) UL
DSST Fundamentals of Counseling (3) UL
DSST Substance Abuse (3) UL

III. Free Electives: (27)
CLEP History of the United States I and II (6)
CLEP Western Civilization I and II (6)
DSST Here’s to Your Health (3)
DSST Principles of Public Speaking (3)
DSST Foundations of Education (3)
DSST Introduction to World Religions (3)
TECEP Introduction to Critical Reasoning* (3)

[sanantone]

1. Any course or test accepted by TESC can be used for the statistics requirement.

2. The 18 upper level credits need to be in the psychology area of study. The required liberal arts capstone counts toward that requirement.

3. TESC only has a 24-credit residency requirement under the Per Credit Tuition Plan. This plan can save you a lot of money if you don't need to use financial and will use TECEPs to fulfill the residency.

I am going to link to my test out plan for psychology, test out options for the general education requirements, and free sources of credit that can be used as free electives.

Sanantone's BA in Psychology - Degree Forum Wiki
Sanantone's General Education Options - Degree Forum Wiki
Free Sources of Credit - Degree Forum Wiki

[Anyamatopoeia]

Thanks for your feedback and your links! I was using your gen ed wiki page, but I missed the Psychology one. Doy. That could have saved me a lot of effort.

1. Any course or test accepted by TESC can be used for the statistics requirement.

I think you misunderstood me. I was asking if I could use a single statistics test to fulfill both the statistics requirement in the psychology major and the college-level math requirement in general education, thereby freeing up a space for another elective and requiring me to take only one math test.

2. The 18 upper level credits need to be in the psychology area of study. The required liberal arts capstone counts toward that requirement.

Oh, good! If the capstone counts, then I still have enough.

3. TESC only has a 24-credit residency requirement under the Per Credit Tuition Plan. This plan can save you a lot of money if you don't need to use financial and will use TECEPs to fulfill the residency.

Yeah, I've been assuming I'll use that tuition plan. You only have to pay tuition for credits earned from TESC courses you take, right? (Not for credits earned from TECEP or any other sort of test?) And you don't have to pay the annual enrollment fee or the technology services fee?

[sanantone]

Statistics does not count as mathematics at TESC. Yes, there is no enrollment fee or technology services fee under the Per Credit Tuition Plan. If you're not a New Jersey resident, the Comprehensive Tuition Plan is a flat rate of $8,647 per year for up to 36 credits. You could possibly complete the BA in Psychology for around $5,000 using the Per Credit Tuition Plan. You can use financial aid under the Per Credit Tuition Plan, but you need to be at least a half-time student to receive it. Half-time at a school that does not have a traditional school year is 6 credits per 6 months. Only online and guided study courses count for financial aid purposes. The tuition for online and guided study courses under the PCT Plan is $491 per credit hour; that's why it's advised to take TECEPs instead.

[bluebooger]

1. Any course or test accepted by TESC can be used for the statistics requirement.

so I could use the DSST Criminal Justice exam for the statistics requirement ?
cool

[Anyamatopoeia]

Statistics does not count as mathematics at TESC.

Well, that's a shame. Can't blame a girl for trying, though.

Yes, there is no enrollment fee or technology services fee under the Per Credit Tuition Plan. If you're not a New Jersey resident, the Comprehensive Tuition Plan is a flat rate of $8,647 per year for up to 36 credits. You could possibly complete the BA in Psychology for around $5,000 using the Per Credit Tuition Plan. You can use financial aid under the Per Credit Tuition Plan, but you need to be at least a half-time student to receive it. Half-time at a school that does not have a traditional school year is 6 credits per 6 months. Only online and guided study courses count for financial aid purposes. The tuition for online and guided study courses under the PCT Plan is $491 per credit hour; that's why it's advised to take TECEPs instead.

Yeah, my own calculations (with only one course and testing out of everything else) added up to $5,855. That is a really great deal.

[sanantone]

so I could use the DSST Criminal Justice exam for the statistics requirement ?
cool

Don't be smart.