Why no one CLEPs their degree from AMU?

[cisco4711]

Hello everyone,

I've been reading this forum for some time and I notice that AMU is not mentioned a whole lot. I've been with them for about two years and really like their system. I understand the process of the "The Big 3" and am not seeing why many don't get their degrees from AMU. Any insight anyone? I ask because I've recently started taking CLEP exams and am planning on CLEPing as many classes as possible to earn my degree.

[jsd]

They only accept up to 30 sh credits of non traditional credit.

If you're already going there anyway, it's certainly worth testing out of 10 classes. But if your plan is to test out of as much as possible, it can't hold a candle to the Big 3.

[ajs1976]

What makes the Big 3 different is the amount of transfer credit they will except and the type of transfer credit.

For a bachelors, AMU limits transfer credit to 91 out of 120 and non-traditional transfer credit to 30. AMU Help Center

[cisco4711]

Wow I did not know that. That's a big no-no for me since non-traditional apparently includes military credit. Thanks for clarifying.

[bjcheung77]

Wow I did not know that. That's a big no-no for me since non-traditional apparently includes military credit. Thanks for clarifying.

Further to this is that APU/AMU when they started were only NA, they probably got their RA status a few years ago compared to the Big 3.
I think they started the same time WGU (Western Governors University) started, sometime in the 1990's and they obtained RA in like 2005.

[cookderosa]

Further to this is that APU/AMU when they started were only NA, they probably got their RA status a few years ago compared to the Big 3.
I think they started the same time WGU (Western Governors University) started, sometime in the 1990's and they obtained RA in like 2005.

AMU used to be the only college in the country to hold both NA and RA credit, so no doubt if you look through the archives here, you'll see a lot of discussion about using them to turn NA credit into an RA degree.

[cookderosa]

Wow I did not know that. That's a big no-no for me since non-traditional apparently includes military credit. Thanks for clarifying.

Don't let that discourage you.

AMU probably has a degree closely aligned to your MOS, they will award credit for all of your credit on your JST. From there, you'll plug the holes with CLEP and DSST ($0) and then you'll be left with 15-30 credits of classes (online) to take with them. They'll charge you the current TA rate ($249?) and ebooks will be INCLUDED in the cost. It's really a fantastic military option. FANTASTIC.

The class semesters are not super long, I wish I remembered, I think they are something like 6 weeks? That said, it shouldn't take you long at all. My suggestion is to stick with them, unless you're pursuing a mainstream degree like business or liberal arts- in that case, you can get more bang for your buck through the big 3.

[bjcheung77]

+1, The OP needs to decide ultimately which options are better for them. Weigh those options.

APU/AMU is a great school, I highly recommend them for those harder to find upper level courses.
They are one of a few NA to RA institutions that still take NA courses/degrees into their RA degrees/programs.

WGU was a weird one, they held DETC NA and also decided to hold 4 of the 6 RA as they operated multi state.
Now WGU has state affiliated franchises. They still take NA courses/degree into their programs or degrees.

[tsimmns]

My plan is to go there for a Masters. They didn't give me as much transfer credit as TESU for the CIS degree, but their MS in Information Systems degree intrigues me. Them being for-profit doesn't bother me as I'm at the point in life that it's just holding the degree is more valuable than the name or such.

[cisco4711]

Thanks for the input everyone. AMU really is a great school with a great degree plan in Intelligence Studies. I'm just amazed at how feasible it is to obtain credits through CLEP, it makes life much easier for me. With that being said, I will continue with CLEPing as many gen ed classes that I can and will decide from there. If I really want an Intelligence degree, my JST and CLEP credits won't all transfer. I've noticed that Excelsior has a BS in National Security with concentration in Intelligence. If I really want an Intel degree then, I will perhaps go that route. Otherwise, the BSBA CIS from TESU is also very appealing because you can pretty much CLEP the degree. I definitely have a lot of options because of the information I've obtained from this forum. Thanks everyone and we'll stay in touch.