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TESU - starting from (nearly) scratch! (OUCH!) - janehill - 06-09-2016
So....I live in NJ and I have 6 pathetic credits from Rutgers from 20 years ago.
Desperately need to get myself in gear and get my degree to advance my current job and make myself marketable otherwise.
My career has been in advertising/marketing for 10 years and I'm hoping to get my degree in Marketing (would love a double major in Psychology).
Anyway, I know absolutely nothing about this system and how to proceed and am really hoping someone here could help (and explain this to me like I'm 3).
The one thing I understand is CLEP and testing out, which I would LOVE to take advantage of.
Does anyone know how I could get a detailed plan of coursework and how to proceed?
Thanks everyone - you all seem to have really good camaraderie on here and so I feel somewhat encouraged.
Jane
TESU - starting from (nearly) scratch! (OUCH!) - happydayruth - 06-09-2016
Hi Jane! Welcome! I'll let others give you information and direction, but I just wanted to say that I began my journey three years ago as an adult working professional with NO college credit and finished a course-heavy (not a test friendly) degree in under three years. My degree from TESU is being conferred tomorrow!! This forum is an incredible resource and plenty of people on here will help you. You can do it!!
TESU - starting from (nearly) scratch! (OUCH!) - dfrecore - 06-09-2016
I know there's a Beginner's Guide from bjcheung, but my first recommendation would be to go to TESU's website and check out the degrees and see what interests you. You will notice for most of them that the first 60cr are almost exactly the same, so you can just scroll down and check out the bottom part of the degree requirements - that's what will show you the courses you need for the degrees. Online Degree Programs | Thomas Edison State University
For instance, the BSBA in Accounting will show the Core Professional Requirements (the same for all BSBA's no matter the Concentration) and then the required courses for the Accounting Area of Study (AOS) and the electives, which will be listed (although it's not exhaustive). Then there's 6cr of Free Electives (basically almost anything you want to take).
In the BA in Communications on the other hand, there are just 2 required courses, the Capstone, and then 24cr of Electives in the Comm area. Then you can take 27cr of Free Electives. Much more flexible in that area.
The 2 most popular degrees here are the BSBA and the BALS (Liberal Studies); the BSBA has the most cheap, easy to get courses out of everything (including the Capstone) so it's the least expensive of all degrees. You can transfer in 117cr, and take their Strategic Management (capstone) TECEP exam for $114. The BALS also has cheap easy to get courses, but it's about $1,155 more expensive because you can't test out of the capstone. You pay full price for that course. Otherwise, it's incredibly flexible.
So start with a little research, and then come back and let us know what you want to do. We can lay out a plan from that point forward.
TESU - starting from (nearly) scratch! (OUCH!) - janehill - 06-09-2016
You guys are so nice, thank you.
It's kind of overwhelming.
Totally open to a BA in Communications (ironically what I wanted to Major in 20 years ago).
I just really find the direction complicated/confusing.
Is there a page that provides the courses for a BA in Communications along with CLEP (and other) options for testing through as much as possible?
I've spent the past ten years in Marketing (Advertising, specifically) for a national company, so Communications is my strength to begin with.
TESU - starting from (nearly) scratch! (OUCH!) - janehill - 06-09-2016
So...on the TESU site, it indicates the below as the General Education Requirements. But I don't understand which CLEP exam corresponds to "Written Communication" or "Oral Communication" or "Quantitative Literacy." So that's what throws me off. There's no direct connection that would alert me that by taking certain CLEPs, those would provide me with credit for the course requirements of a Communications BA.
Any advice?
A. Intellectual and Practical Skills 15
Written Communication (6)
Oral Communication (3)
Quantitative Literacy (3)
Information Literacy (3)
TESU - starting from (nearly) scratch! (OUCH!) - KayV - 06-09-2016
Welcome!
Here are the CLEP equivalencies:
CLEP - College-Level Exam Program
And the DSSTs:
DSST (formerly DANTES)
And the TECEP list:
Thomas Edison State University | All TECEP® Tests
If you are interested in Communications, CSU Global Credit by Exam has lots of credits available:
https://csuglobal.edu/undergraduate/programs/alternative-credit-options/cbes
Here is the beginner's guide referenced above:
http://www.degreeforum.net/general-education-testing-discussion/26144-beginners-guide-getting-cheap-fast-college.html
(Note that the Kaplan PLA mentioned is no longer available)
And here is a success story from a forum member who used Straighterline online courses to complete his degree:
http://www.degreeforum.net/general-education-testing-discussion/26145-ultimate-route-earning-bachelors-degree-business.html
This should get you started (and you are not starting with a "pathetic" 6 credits; that's nearly half a semester you've earned already!).
TESU - starting from (nearly) scratch! (OUCH!) - bjcheung77 - 06-09-2016
Janehill, there's only one question from me, are you close to a testing center for CLEP/DSST?
If so, then yes, you can test out with the information/links provided by KayV for equivalency.
If you are a little farther away, or if you prefer online testing from comfort of own home, then there are other options.
Either way, the pricing would be much much cheaper than taking the courses at the Big 3.
Essentially you will take only the capstone/cornerstone at the Big 3, and the rest are transferred in.
Welcome to the board, just read along and the gents/ladies here will help you through.
TESU - starting from (nearly) scratch! (OUCH!) - janehill - 06-09-2016
I thought the CLEPs could be taken online, no? (but I believe I am close to testing centers)
TESU - starting from (nearly) scratch! (OUCH!) - janehill - 06-09-2016
Thank you so much. Sweet of you to help me, really.
TESU - starting from (nearly) scratch! (OUCH!) - dfrecore - 06-10-2016
Which 2 courses did you take 20 years ago?
Read through the Beginners Guide to see how you want to get your credits. There are so many ways, it's incredible.
I've created 2 generic spreadsheets - 1 for the BSBA in Marketing and 1 for the BA in Communications. The Marketing degree will be $2200 less. For the BSBA, you can take the Capstone as a TECEP exam for $114, with the BA you have to take the Capstone as a course at TESU and it's $1155. Plus, you can't find all of the COM courses you need as cheaply as the business courses, so you will have to take some at CSU-Global, which are $250 each. Most of the business courses can be found for $100 or less.
Also, the 2 spreadsheets are very similar, because I've done both of them trying to utilize Saylor courses. You may or may not like them (most of us on this forum have used very few just because it's not a great study resource), but the exams are only $25. After that, utilizing SL or CLEP/DSST is most popular. There are also some free resources you may want to knock out right up front to get you started.