Which Would You Choose? Have more than enough credits to make a BS I think...Costs?

[learn]

Thanks, thank you foryour suggestion about WGU. Because of my significant teaching coursework and practicum experience it would have been nice to find something online with a certification component, but nothing I found so far has that. [Well, UW-Superior has an Elem. Educ online program, but there again, we're looking at a different school, 30 credit residency requirement, blah blah.]

From the outset, WGU looks attractive. $2800 per 6 month term? Impressive. Do they have a senior credit residency requirement? I read that that they don't. Actual education degree. NCATE accredited, online, affordable, wow. Definitely have to call them and find out more. They are competency based.

[dcan]

FYI I am not familiar with education degrees, but my understanding is that working in the field requires licensing that may limit your transfer-in/test-out options for a degree. I'm assuming your 180+ credits are all/mostly B&M butt-in-seat so you should be fine, but you should check licensing requirements wherever you are to be sure you don't accidentally pull the wrong trigger.

[Lindagerr]

In NJ my test out was not a problem for licensing, but I would still have to do student teaching like any other alternate method student. WGU does not have a residency requirement as far as I know, But if you want a teaching license in any state I know of you will need student teaching. The NCATE accreditation and license is good in most states check where you want to work.

[learn]

Here's the interesting thing about teaching abroad. You generallly don't need a teaching license or certification. So, your degree can suffice, especially if it's in education. Depends on the country, what area (university level or whatnot), etc. Now, if you are able to get certification, and are willing and able to teach abroad, you are that much more valuable and in demand, and will get paid a lot more, probably will have offers flowing into your email account, etc. So I am thinking of the degree first, with or without certification, then master's in teaching (with certification) while teaching abroad. I am going to check it out more.
My 180+ credits are all B&M butt-in-seat. I did my student teaching, but it was a while ago, and I will check to see if it's still valid for licensure.

[learn]

Ay...this just gets more and more complicated...for teaching, if I want certification, I could also get the bachelor's in anything (well, you know what I mean), then get cert. as part of an online master's level program...If I do that, which to choose from? And how can I put my actual student teaching experiences to work, hmm. I need it to be entirely online. WGU is interesting, but then so are a number of alternative routes I have found, such as TeacherReady - Home , Welcome to Teach-Now.org , the accelerated online teaching cert program at St. Joseph's University, Drexel University online, etc. The choices then become overwhelming. I definitely want to pursue my master's, and online is the way I'll most likely go. So..how to do as quickly and cheaply as possible, of course.
Or I can even do the cert. part separately from a master's. Any suggestions?

[learn]

Well, some more information...

WGU would be awesome, and I wish I could attend, but...I am abroad at the moment, and their rules don't allow that unless I'm military or family serving overseas. They say that might change in the future....they look fantastic for anything undergrad education online.

So that leaves TESC, COSC, and Excelsior.

I'm leaning to just sticking with a basic degree and then getting master's in education as fast as possible.

So...

Excelsior requires the one captsone course (+ 1 credit info literacy..maybe). It's 8 weeks (or 12 if you prefer). Will take 2-3 weeks to evaluate transcripts. Cost: $2500 more or less.

COSC requires 6 credits in residence for concentration in liberal studies, a cornerstone course and a capstone course. These cannot be taken concurrently. Next class starts Jan. 23, and then in March. 8 week classes. At $310/credit x 6 = $3200 more or less, with books

TESC for BA in Social Sciences or Liberal Studies. No capstone required. Cost: $3200. 3 months. Will take about 6 weeks to evaluate transcript.

Then, for me, it's down to TESC or Excelsior.

The thought of not taking another class, and getting a degree faster is quite appealing, even if it's $700-800 more.

I've read that the capstone courses have been quite helpful to others as the pursue online master's though, so that is something to think about as well.

Thoughts?

[Lindagerr]

for you I think Excelsior is the best bet, much faster only need to take one course from them ( I think the info literacy can be done quicker through Penn Foster) and not a bad price.

Just my opinion.

[dcan]

To be honest, at this point I think all three of them come out about the same in the grand scheme of things, and all three are absolute steals considering you can pay about $3000 or so and get a piece of paper vs. the nothing (on paper) that you have now. At the end of the day, regardless of which one you choose, you will have a piece of paper validating your education and allowing you to do what is really important to you, e.g. an education grad degree.

The only issue then is (a) how much time do you want to spend and (b) what colors do you want on your diploma?

[learn]

Yes, I would agree that in the grand scheme of things, all 3 are probably more or less equal, relative to cost, time, effort, and payoff.

Yet, I think TESC, since even though it would take about 6 weeks to evaluate transcripts, would be fastest. Not necessarily the cheapest, but I think I'm able to live with the difference. The capstone course Excelsior could be wonderful, and I could learn a lot perhaps, but still adds time.

Excelsior degree has the concentration/major listed on the actual diploma, while TESC's does not (just Bachelor of Arts or Science, or whatever was applicable).

Any difference for graduate level purposes between the two that you know of? I saw some impressive graduate schools acceptances for those with Excelsior degrees....similarly so for TESC? Does either one include prior GPA's? Mine are quite high.

[NAP]

Yes, Excelsior gives 2 GPAs. One is for EC courses and exams. The other is an overall GPA and includes grades for your transfer courses and exams.