Online Degrees and CLEP and DSST Exam Prep Discussion
Just getting started... Finally. TESU Finance degree plan. - Printable Version

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Just getting started... Finally. TESU Finance degree plan. - TBtheCooler - 10-09-2022

I've finally decided that having a degree might be more beneficial than just having a piece of paper saying I did it. It's not necessary, but I've decided it's something that I actually want, and I don't want to go about it in the traditional fashion. I have recently found a position as a broker for a major online brokerage, and I've found a passion for the finance world I never knew existed. My reason for wanting the paper is to fuel an excellerated learning process to develop a better understanding of the industry I find myself in and to get the degree I know I'll more than likely need for future advancement.  Below is my info and the current plan I have written out. Any suggestions would be most appreciated as even though I've been doing a fair amount of research (mostly through this forum and the TESU site, I'm sure there are several angles/options I've missed in my haste to get everything figured out. So thanks in advance.

location: Texas
Age: 29
Degree : Finanace undergrad
Current RA Creds : Minimal if any, I went to a 4 year for one semester, but that was many moons ago, and I think I failed most of those classes, I need to see if I can find a transcript. I also took some AP courses in hs, but again, many moons have passed.
CBE's: none as of yet, but I intend for this to be my primary mode of accumulating credits as I have always been a strong test taker and traditional coursework generally fails to hold my attention for long. I do have my S7, S63, and SIE (all in 2022)
Budget/timeline: I'm grouping these two because the answer is mostly the same. I don't have any specific values set for either of these because I know I don't yet know enough to set it accurately. In general, I would like to move through this as efficiently as possible, and I have flexibility both ways. I'm sure there will be situations where it will be more advantageous to go slower and save money just as it will be to spend extra to save some time. The more time I spend researching, the more I'm sure I'll be able to zero in on reasonable answers to these questions
Commitments: outside of work, relatively few. This will probably be one of my main areas of concentration for the time being.
Study time: 1-2 hours at work 2-3 days a week. 2-3 hours in the evenings 3-4 nights a week. 6-12 hours on weekends. 15-30 hours a week all total would probably be my max most weeks.
Tuition reimbursement: This is one that I'm not certain of yet. I know my firm offers it, but I still need to do some digging on the limits/rules.

The current plan I have built is based on the suggested course list on the TESU site for finance. I'm sure it has lots of holes/ missed opertunities, which is exactly why I've come to you fine scholars for help. It goes as follows:
[Anything listed with the cbe moniker is offered as TECEP, although I'm sure several may have alternatives that will be a better option.
Anything listed with a * is not offered as a TECEP only as a course or ePACK; again, I'm sure I'll have more options, but I haven't gotten that far yet.

I . General education

A. I & P skills

1. ENC 101 (cbe)
2. ENC 102 (cbe)
3. MAT 105 (cbe)
4. MAT 121 (cbe)
5. SOS 110 ~ The way I'm understanding the TESU site, this is a required course you have to take at TESU?

B. CIVIC & GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

1. ETH 210 (cbe)
2. SOC 210 (cbe)
3. POS 282 (cbe)

C. KNOWLEDGE OF HUMAN CULTURES

1. PHI 130 (CBE)
2. COM 210 (CBE)
3. HIS 126 (CBE)
4. JOU 110 (CBE)
5. MAN 373 (CBE)

D. SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE

1.BIO 101 (cbe)
2. Here I have BIO208 or EAS113 (both cbe)

II. Professional Business Requirements

1.ACC101 (cbe)
2.ACC102 (cbe? Not a TECEP, but I think it can be CLEP'd)
3.CIS107 (cbe)
4. LAW 201 (I believe this is taken care of by s7 or s63; however, on the website, it says 63 only counts as 2 credits. I've also read the s7 comes in as both LAW201 AND FIN331, could someone clarify as to whether it counts as BOTH or one or the other)
*5.MAN 210 (this appears to only be available through ePACK)
6. MAR 201 (cbe)
7. FIN 301 (SIE?)
8. ECO 111 (cbe)
9. ECO 112 (cbe - I was only able to find the TECEP for 111, but I think 112 [microecon] can be CLEP'd? Some clarification here would be awesome)
*10. BUS 210 ( quantitative skills for business, course only at TESU still need to research alt options if available.)
11. STA 201 (cbe)
12. MAN 373 (cbe)
*13. MAN 372 (international management, again need to research if there are cbe or other alts)
**14. BUS421 (Business Admin Capstone. I believe this is a required course that is mandatory however I'm not sure because in the TESU site the disclaimer says the strategic management course is the required capstone so I'm not sure if these are the same thing or not. I'm assuming that with the title "requirements" these are not interchangeable with other similar courses like in the GenEd section.

III. AoS

*1. FIN314 (course)
*2. FIN334 (course)
*3. FIN382 (course)
4.  FIN321 (cbe)
5. FIN 331 (S7 covers this if I understand correctly
*6.FDR440 (course)

Some clarification on the AoS section would be great as I was reading another thread that mentioned only 4 of these need to be UL but there isn't a link to FIN courses like I found for those in the GenEd sections (A deeper dive is required I'm sure). So if there are some LL fin courses I can cbe or take as a non tesu alts, that would be super. I haven't yet dipped my toes very far into sophia,SDC,etc. YET.

That leaves 15 credits for electives, which I plan on finding 5 courses I can CBE out of.

This is a VERY rough 1st draft, and I'm sure there will be significant changes in the coming weeks, but I would really appreciate any opinions/suggestions on what I have so far. 

RE: Just getting started... Finally. TESU Finance degree plan. - LevelUP - 10-09-2022

TESU will take your college courses with a D or better. Your final transcript won't show the grades from your previous college, only from TESU.

I would transfer in your AP courses along with your S7, S63, and SIE.

Sign up for Sophia for free and take the 1st lesson in a couple of courses. (any course is ok)

From there, you can get an estimate of how long it would take you to do a Sophia course versus a CLEP. (add 30min for each placement test)

Use the Wiki to refine your degree plan

https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sample_TESU_General_Education_Requirements_Roadmap

https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sample_TESU_Business_Core_Roadmap

https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sample_TESU_BSBA_Finance_Degree_Plan

RE: Just getting started... Finally. TESU Finance degree plan. - dfrecore - 10-09-2022

(10-09-2022, 04:58 PM)TBtheCooler Wrote: I . General education
A. I & P skills

1. ENC 101 (cbe)
2. ENC 102 (cbe)
3. MAT 105 (cbe) THIS WILL NOT WORK HERE, SO DELETE IT; INSTEAD, YOU NEED AN ORAL COMM COURSE
4. MAT 121 (cbe)
5. SOS 110 CORNERSTONE - MUST BE TAKEN AT TESU

B. CIVIC & GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

1. ETH 210 (cbe)
2. SOC 210 (cbe)
3. POS 282 (cbe)

C. KNOWLEDGE OF HUMAN CULTURES (1 SOCIAL SCIENCE / 1 HISTORY / 1 HUMANITIES / +2 OF ANY OF THESE 3 FOR A TOTAL OF 15CR)
1. PHI 130 (CBE) - HUMANITIES - CHOOSE SOMETHING ELSE IF YOU WANT
2. COM 210 (CBE) - HUMANITIES - CHOOSE SOMETHING ELSE IF YOU WANT
3. HIS 126 (CBE) - HISTORY - CHOOSE SOMETHING ELSE IF YOU WANT
4. JOU 110 (CBE) - HUMANITIES - CHOOSE SOMETHING ELSE IF YOU WANT
5. MAN 373 (CBE) - HUMANITIES - THIS WILL NOT WORK HERE, YOU NEED A SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSE 

D. SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE

1.BIO 101 (cbe)
2. Here I have BIO208 or EAS113 (both cbe)

II. Professional Business Requirements

1. ACC101
2. ACC102 (Not a TECEP, but I think it can be CLEP'd) - NO CLEP AVAILABLE, TECEP IS AVAILABLE
3. CIS107 - EASY TECEP OR E-PACK, DO THIS FOR SURE
4. LAW 201 - COVERED BY SIE (3CR)
5. MAN 210 - TAKE THIS THROUGH SOPHIA AS YOUR UL CORE COURSE
6. MAR 201
7. FIN 301  - TAKE THROUGH SOPHIA (FIN-200, WHICH WILL WORK)
8. ECO 111
9. ECO 112 - MANY WAYS TO TAKE THIS
10. BUS 210 - TAKE FROM CSM LEARN
11. STA 201
12. MAN 373 - TAKE THIS AS COM-202 FROM STUDY.COM OR SOPHIA
13. MAN 372 - TAKE THIS FROM STUDY.COM OR DAVAR (LL COURSE EITHER WAY)
14. BUS421 Business Admin Capstone - MUST BE TAKEN AT TESU

III. AoS
FIN-301 - COVERED BY SERIES 7
FIN-311 - SDC'S FIN 301: Corporate Finance
FIN-334 - SDC'S FIN 302: International Finance

FIN-382 - SDC'S FIN 303: Financial Institutions & Markets
FIN-321 - SDC'S FIN 304: Security Analysis & Portfolio Management
FIN-314 - SDC'S FIN 306: Small Business Finance

SERIES 7 ALSO COVERS ACC-311 (3CR), WHICH WILL GO IN AS A FREE ELECTIVE

So it's rather difficult to see what you're talking about here, since I don't know where you got all this info (possibly from TESU's website?).  So I think it's easier if I give you some better info than what you're using, and then you can decide from the wiki how to get your GE credits (there are MANY more options than what you have listed, you are seriously limiting yourself here).

You probably need more help on the Core & AoS, so I'll concentrate on that.

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Create a spreadsheet with the requirements, and start with a blank slate.
 - Column 1 - course # (at TESU)
 - Column 2 - Requirement (I put this in all caps)
 - Column 3 - Course name (where you're taking it)
 - Column 4 - Where you're taking the course/exam
 - Column 5 - UL (or blank if not)
 - Column 6 - TAKEN (this is where you'll start to put your number of credits as you take a course)
 - Column 7 - NEED (this is where you'll have the number of credits needed for each course)
 - Column 8 - TOTAL (I use this to total up each section)

I then have subtotals, because you need these for each section:
Gen Ed Subtotals - 1 each for Taken, Need, and then Total should be these added together - this should equal 45cr
Major/Core - 1 each for Taken, Need, and then Total should be these added together - this should equal 42cr (and at least 1 course should be UL, plus capstone is UL)
AoS - 1 each for Taken, Need, and then Total should be these added together - this should equal 18cr (and at least 12cr should be UL)
Free Electives - 1 each for Taken, Need, and then Total should be these added together - this should equal 15cr

TOTAL - you should have the 4 subtotals added together for each column - this should equal 120cr

As you finish a course, you put the credits in the taken column, and remove them from the need column.  The subtotal of that section should stay the same, and the grand total should be 120cr.  Once in a while, if you take a 4cr or 1cr of 2cr course, you may have an issue - you need to make sure that your subtotals are correct; you can't do 44cr of GE's for example, although you can go over; the only place that can be short credits is the Free Electives area.

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Here's how to plan out your degree (put these courses into your degree plan in order, then work around them to do the remaining credits):

1) Plan on your final 16cr term (if you go this way, which if you're doing tuition reimbursement, you will want to do) - take THE easiest options here, I suggest:
 - Cornerstone
 - Capstone
 - PLA-100 (1cr)
 - CIS-107: Computer Apps (e-Pack course)
 - add'l course
 - add'l course
https://www2.tesu.edu/listallc.php?type=EP
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison_State_University#TESU_Credit_Optimization

2) Plan on 14cr add'l of RA to meet that requirement.  Some suggestions (I passed all of these easily with no studying):
 - Applied Liberal Arts Mathematics - should be extremely easy after taking Stats & College Algebra (easiest exam I ever took)
 - English Composition I - no study needed, must be proficient typist
 - English Composition I - no study needed, must be proficient typist
 - Technical Writing - no study needed
 - 1 add'l exam
https://www2.tesu.edu/listalltecep.php

3) Any remaining course that you want to do via CLEP (more limited number)
https://tesu.smartcatalogiq.com/en/Current/Undergraduate-Catalog/Methods-of-Learning-and-Earning-Credit/Exam-Programs/CLEP-College-Level-Examination-Program/Listing-of-CLEP-Exams

4) Any remaining course that you want to do via Saylor (since you like testing out)
https://tesu.smartcatalogiq.com/Current/Undergraduate-Catalog/Degree-Programs-and-Certificates/Associate-in-Science-in-Business-Administration

5) Sophia courses if you're looking for inexpensive
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sophia.org_Equivalency_List

6) Study.com courses - to get all your UL and many of the business core
https://study.com/college/school/thomas-edison-state-university.html

This should allow you to make a good spreadsheet, make sure you have all required courses done, have all RA requirements met, and cover every course you need to get all 120 credits.

Good luck!

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EDIT - forgot to mention:

1) contact College Board and get your transcript sent to TESU as well as a copy for yourself - and if you post it, I can tell you what everything will come in as

2) contact your former school and get your transcript sent to TESU and yourself - and if you post your courses, I can tell you how they'll come in (include grades, as it matters)

RE: Just getting started... Finally. TESU Finance degree plan. - bjcheung77 - 10-09-2022

@TBtheCooler, you've done the template and last post addendum!  So, we've got most of the details, does it have to be a Finance degree?  Did you check other institutions as options?  TESU only?  What's your household income?  Well, to start, I would invest in a second monitor, create a spreadsheet with the TESU/WiKI links above to reference/track your courses, and work on the non-proctored courses from CSM Learn, Sophia.org first. Once done, work on your Study.com and TECEPS, then finish the degree with the required 16 credits flat term rate for residency.

RE: Just getting started... Finally. TESU Finance degree plan. - TBtheCooler - 10-10-2022

You. Guys. Are. Awesome.
Thank you so much I'll get right on these.


Dfrecore:
Almost all of this is from the TESU site, done with pen and paper, then retranscribed into a note on my phone (I didn't have my computer this weekend) and then copy/pasted to the thread. I have done a little browsing on the wiki but the navigation is suboptimal on a mobile device so I'll be sure to spend more time there while I'm rebuilding the spreedsheet digitally. Thank you for the WEALTH of insight provided on my current course list. I can't wait to get started on a more realistic/reasonable version.

Bjcheung77:
I suppose it doesnt HAVE to be finance but if I'm going to study and take courses I'd like that to be my primary focus when it comes to AoS. HI is around 50k. I looked at a few other schools but TESU seemed like it had a significantly large selection of credits by exam available do it seemed like the logical choice. That said it looks like online courses might be more advantageous in certain situations so it looks like I still have plenty of research/experimenting to do. Luckily I already have the second moniter for work and I'm sure I'll be spending a fair amount of my time there so it should work out well! I think my next step is getting the spreadsheet done and having my courses planned out. Thank you!

LevelUP: that is delightful news! I might actually have something there then! I'll be sure to do that I'll take every credit I can get! Thank you!