When does second degree rule kick in?

[Sunny21]

To get a second degree at Tesu looks more credits than a first degree.
What if the first degree is only a NA one?  Does the rule mean second degree If the first degree is RA or does it include an NA as a first degree as well?

[Jonathan Whatley]

The rule includes RA and NA degrees alike. Now that TESU counts RA and NA credit alike as “institutionally accredited” in their transfer credit policy, they also count RA and NA degrees alike as institutionally accredited in their second and subsequent degree policy.

Earning a Second or Successive Baccalaureate Degree

Students who have earned a baccalaureate degree from TESU or an accredited institution recognized under the Thomas Edison State University Transfer Credit Policy and wish to earn an additional baccalaureate degree must:

• Complete a minimum of 24 credits including the required capstone for the degree. These credits must be in the area of study and/or core of the degree. These credits must be earned after the date the most recent degree, regardless of academic level, was conferred.
  
• Additionally, students must complete all other degree requirements as listed in the current Thomas Edison State University Catalog.
  

[Sunny21]

The rule includes RA and NA degrees alike. Now that TESU counts RA and NA credit alike as “institutionally accredited” in their transfer credit policy, they also count RA and NA degrees alike as institutionally accredited in their second and subsequent degree policy.

Earning a Second or Successive Baccalaureate Degree

Students who have earned a baccalaureate degree from TESU or an accredited institution recognized under the Thomas Edison State University Transfer Credit Policy and wish to earn an additional baccalaureate degree must:

• Complete a minimum of 24 credits including the required capstone for the degree. These credits must be in the area of study and/or core of the degree. These credits must be earned after the date the most recent degree, regardless of academic level, was conferred.
  
• Additionally, students must complete all other degree requirements as listed in the current Thomas Edison State University Catalog.
  

Thanks, that makes me think that doing something like ace with Newlane and then transfering those credits to TESU might be a cheaper route than trying do 30 credits at Tesu to start with.

[bjcheung77]

Just an FYI, TESU doesn't need 30 credits for residency, it's 15 credits. For those who already have a Bachelors, you just need the capstone. Decide on the flat rate fee for 15 credits, or the Edison Accelerate Fee for just the capstone itself...

[Sunny21]

Is it not 30 new credits you need?

[Jonathan Whatley]

As the quote from TESU above explains, for a second or subsequent bachelor’s degree you need 24 new credits, new meaning “earned after the date of your most recent degree.”

Typically at other institutions you need 30 new credits for a second or subsequent bachelor’s degree.

The residency BJ mentions is a different requirement. To fulfill this requirement you either need 15 credits in coursework from TESU, or to pay the Edison Accelerate fee (formerly named the residency waiver fee).

[JayKosmos]

Not the OP but...


Is it also 24 extra credits that you need if you do two bachelor's at the same time?

I haven't been able to settle on ONE , it's been hard enough to get it down to two, I'm thinking Psychology and Religion for example, which I was going to just settle for a Humanities degree instead but I'm souring on that now too.

If I wanted to do both at the same time, it's still two capstones right? And... I still have to do two completely separate area's of study?

Or could I do a dual major and not have to do so many extra credits? Is that a thing? One degree in two subjects?

[Jonathan Whatley]

Is it also 24 extra credits that you need if you do two bachelor's at the same time?

The Award of Degrees Policy is the basis to answering most of your questions. Two different TESU bachelor’s at the same time is under the First Simultaneous… heading.

I haven't been able to settle on ONE , it's been hard enough to get it down to two, I'm thinking Psychology and Religion for example, which I was going to just settle for a Humanities degree instead but I'm souring on that now too.

Because Psychology and Religion are both majors under the same degree title (BA) from the same school within TESU (Heavin School of Arts & Sciences), you can take them as Two Areas of Study within One Degree: in other words, a double major rather than a double degree. Two Areas of Study is covered under its own heading.

Note that you have a lifetime limit of two associate’s, two bachelor’s, and two master’s from TESU. With this double major, you could still come back for a second TESU bachelor’s in the future.

If I wanted to do both at the same time, it's still two capstones right?

It depends what they are in. For example, if you take a double major in Philosophy and Art, they share a single Liberal Arts - Humanities capstone. You would only take this once.

TESU has only recently divided the Heavin School Liberal Arts capstone into three different courses, one for Humanities, one for Social Sciences, and one for Natural Sciences, Math, and Computer Science. Because this is new, you should ask TESU for an authoritative answer about a combination of AOSes from two of these areas, such as Psychology (Social Sciences) and Religion (Humanities).

And... I still have to do two completely separate area's of study?

TESU will not award you, for example, one BA in Religion then another BA in Religion even if you will have taken a new and different set of religion courses. However, there can be light overlap between AOSes, within limits described in the Award of Degrees Policy. For example, a Psychology of Religion course could count toward both Psychology and Religion AOSes.

Or could I do a dual major and not have to do so many extra credits? Is that a thing? One degree in two subjects?

Yes, as described under Two Areas of Study within One Degree. These must be programs under the same degree title and are typically from the same school. For example, they cannot be Finance (from the BS, from the business school) and Political Science (from the BA, from the Heavin School). If you want TESU bachelor’s in both Finance and Political Science, you’ll have to use either the First Simultaneous policy (to graduate with a BA and BS at the same time) or the Second or Successive policy (to graduate from one, then later complete most of your credits for and graduate from the other).

[bjcheung77]

Most institutions would allow you to transfer the max of 90 credits and you'll have to complete the requirements of the major (generally 30 credits) for a second degree. Once you complete the requirements of the first degree, when you apply for the second degree, that's when the new requirements for the second degree major kicks in, you'll have the general education and electives (up to 90 credits) already completed as they're practically the same for the second degree, you will need to complete the prerequisites and the requirements for the second major to finish off the second degree.