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+--- Thread: Is it possible to just take CLEP classes and get a degree? (/Thread-Is-it-possible-to-just-take-CLEP-classes-and-get-a-degree)
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Is it possible to just take CLEP classes and get a degree? - edwardfurlong - 07-25-2014
Hi, I am new to this whole process, I have been reading up on it, but am not sure on the details.
I have an associates degree from 2004, and have some credits from two other schools.
Looking at the associate of business programs it seems about all I would need would be 4 classes that could be covered by CLEP.
I see one program requires a capstone and one a cornerstone though, are there other requirements I am missing? Is it possible to test out of these? And what sort of costs am I looking at? I am just sort of trying to get a general feel for exactly how all of this would work... thanks in advance.
Edit.. maybe the better question would be, what is the least amount of money a degree would cost, assuming best case scenario. Am I reading their pages correct that 12 credits need to be earned at their school? Is that at $491 per credit? I don't see how this would save any money if my community college is $132 per credit.
Is it possible to just take CLEP classes and get a degree? - KayV - 07-28-2014
If you are interested in a BSBA in General Management from Thomas Edison State College, you can still test out of the degree completely, using CLEP/DSST/TECEP exams. For most other degrees, you would need to take at least a Capstone course directly from the school. Excelsior also requires a 1-hour Information Literacy class and COSC requires both a Cornerstone and a Capstone. None of these schools count community college credit as upper level credit.
Our usual advice is to list out the credits you have ("ENC-101 English Comp I (3)") and whether they are community college or university credit so we can help you find the most expedient/ cost-effective plan for your situation. Good luck!
Is it possible to just take CLEP classes and get a degree? - KayV - 07-28-2014
By the way, if you already have an associate degree, under most circumstances you should focus on getting a bachelor's degree instead of another associate, especially if you have over 60 hours.
Is it possible to just take CLEP classes and get a degree? - cookderosa - 07-29-2014
The answer is "yes" but don't take that to mean you should just go nuts and start accumulating credits.
-You'll need to choose a school and look at their exit requirements- yes you may need a cornerstone and or capstone. (that's an online class, you don't have to "go" to the campus)
- You'll need to use brands other than CLEP to do this. CLEP courses are only 100/200 level, and if you're trying to earn another associate's degree, you're fine, but if you want a bachelor's degree, you'll need upper level credits which come from upper level (not CLEP) exams. But, testing out is an option (as is taking online classes).
- You can't duplicate credits in your earlier degree. If you already have English 101, you can't take the CLEP exam and earn credit again.
Is it possible to just take CLEP classes and get a degree? - edwardfurlong - 07-29-2014
Hi again, thanks for the replies, my post probably should have said test out in general, not necessarily just CLEP. I am mostly wondering at the moment "best case" what I would be looking at, to see if it would be a worthwhile pursuit. I will post my class list below, thanks again for the help.
Four Year College 00-01 (Quarters)
64 Quarter Credits / 42.67 Semester Credits
ART EDUC-160 ART & MUS SNC 1945 5
ARTS&SCI-481.01 CRDT COOP EDUC PRG 2 (PASS/FAIL)
CHEM-121 GENERAL CHEMISTRY 5
CHEM-122 GENERAL CHEMISTRY 5
CPTR/INF-200 CPTR PROB SOLV BUS 5
ECON-200 PRIN MICROECONOMICS 5
ELEC ENG-281 REGN IV CPTING FAC 1 (PASS/FAIL)
ENGINEER-100 ENGINEERING SURVEY 1
ENGINEER-181 INTRO TO ENGR 3
ENGINEER-182 INTRO TO ENGR II 3
ENGLISH-110 FIRST-YR ENGL COMP 5
MATH-150 ELEMENTRY FUNCTNS 5
MATH-151 CALC & ANALYT GEOM 5
MATH-152 CALC & ANALYT GEOM 5
POLIT SC-145 POLTX GLOBL PROBLM 5
STAT-133 STAT BUSINESS SCI 4
Community College 01-04 (Quarters)
81 Quarter Credits / 54 Semester Credits
ACCT-106 INTRO ACCOUNTING I 5 (FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING)
ACCT-107 INTRO ACCOUNTING II 5 (MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING)
BMGT-101 PRINCIPLE OF BUSINES 5
COMM-105 SPEECH 3
CPT-108 CIS CONCEPTS 3
CPT-211 SYSTEMS ANALYSIS 1 4
EET-144 PC HARDWARE 3
EET-146 COMP NETWORK COMM 3
ENGL-204 TECHNICAL WRITING 3
HUM-111 CIVILIZATION I 5
MCT-093 PROJECT MANAGEMENT 1
MCT-106 PC APPLICATIONS II 3
MCT-121 PC OPERAT SYS 3
MCT-122 WORKSTATION OPERATNS 3
MCT-131 EXPERT EXCEL 3
MCT-205 E-PUBLISHING 3
MCT-211 ADV INFO PRESENT 3
MCT-215 PC MAINTENANCE 3
MCT-221 LOCAL AREA NETWORKS 3
MCT-231 WEB ESSENTIALS 3
MCT-235 WEB PUBLISHING 3
MCT-241 GROUPWARE 3
MCT-281 FIN PROJ MICRO 5
OADM-131 KEYBOARDING I 3
Four Year College 13-14 (Semesters)
6 Semester Credits
MIS-310 INFO SYST ARCH & TECH 4
PF-321 LEARNING STRATEGIES 2
Community College 14 (semesters)
3 Semester Credits
CSCI-1103 INTRO PROGRAMMING LOGIC 3
Is it possible to just take CLEP classes and get a degree? - KayV - 07-29-2014
If you are looking for just an Associate in Arts in General Studies (no Capstone), you could finish it with 4 TECEP exams, which would allow you to reduce costs by enrolling in the Pay Per Credit plan. You would need English Composition II, Environmental Ethics, and 2 ethics and diversity electives.
If you are interested in a bachelor's degree, it gets more complicated, especially depending on what your goals are. Are you looking for a particular degree? Business, Computer Science, etc.? Or just whatever will get you a bachelor's degree quickly?
Is it possible to just take CLEP classes and get a degree? - KayV - 07-29-2014
Charter Oak has a BS in General Studies with a concentration in Information Systems Studies that looks like it would fit well with what you have. You would need to take a Cornerstone and a Capstone class with them, as well as some upper-level classes/ exams.
Information Systems Studies - Charter Oak State College
Is it possible to just take CLEP classes and get a degree? - cookderosa - 07-29-2014
I knew you meant test out
So, the magic question is what degree do you want, and or what degree would your credits best fit into?
To make your life easy, convert all of these out of quarters. Unit Converter Tool
There should be a rule that no one is ever allowed to enroll in a school that uses quarters. Okay, maybe not a "rule" but you're going to lose some hours in the conversion which might be a problem, but no reason to speculate. You need to go to TESC's site and start looking at the degree plans, pick one. You don't have to keep it, just pick one for the application.
You have 105 credits (probably, again, depends on how the conversion goes) but when you send your official transcripts, TESC will do an unofficial eval based on what you send in the degree you identify. At that point, you'll have access to a need tool that allows you to see "what if" scenarios for different degrees. Playing with that will help you see how things fall into place.
I have some counter-intuitive advice for you. You're going to think that the degree in which you have the most credits applied will be the degree to pick. That would be false. What you want to look at, is of the credits remaining, how easy/cheap is it to complete THOSE? For instance, if you were looking for a degree in science, you're going to have to shell out big bucks to find upper level science classes and labs. If you're looking at history or psychology, there are lots of exams you can knock out for very little money. Business is flexible if you don't mind price shopping, etc. So, you need to look at what's LEFT and if you can identify what's left for 2 or 3 degrees, it would take just a few minutes for most members here to help you assess the time/money required.
Hope that helps!!
PS There is no reason to look at an Associate's degree, you're too close to a Bachelors. You can finish your Bachelor's degree in under 6 months.
Is it possible to just take CLEP classes and get a degree? - edwardfurlong - 07-30-2014
Hi, I wish it was not the case but my biggest concern is probably cost.
I do not really have a specific degree in mind, my associates and field are IT, but business or anything really would be fine.
I was thinking of an associates as well because it looks like the requirements would be filled while going for a bachelors.
Is there any way to tell what the best option would be without applying to each school? I realize it's probably not possible to completely tell. I have been trying to look at plans but I am not sure exactly what would count toward what, and what would be most cost effective.
Thanks again for the help
Is it possible to just take CLEP classes and get a degree? - cookderosa - 07-31-2014
edwardfurlong Wrote:Hi, I wish it was not the case but my biggest concern is probably cost.
I do not really have a specific degree in mind, my associates and field are IT, but business or anything really would be fine.
I was thinking of an associates as well because it looks like the requirements would be filled while going for a bachelors.
Is there any way to tell what the best option would be without applying to each school? I realize it's probably not possible to completely tell. I have been trying to look at plans but I am not sure exactly what would count toward what, and what would be most cost effective.
Thanks again for the help
The application fee is about $75 per school. In my opinion, that is going to save you money in the long run because you'll have all the facts. Without all the facts, you're just speculating, which costs money AND time.
Bachelor's degree is the way to go. You've got enough credits, you'd be flushing money and time waiting (full quarter) for the graduation process and paying graduation fees ($400) for another associate's degree. Plus it's redundant. You're moving the goalpost backwards.