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Questions about Excelsior BSLA degree planning - Thanksforhelphere - 03-29-2023

Hi, Included is my doc below with some ideas of how to fulfill the degree plan for EC BSLA. Any help would be appreciated, the questions are in yellow on the doc and have to do with:
1. If the LL classes on there are fulfilling the correct requirements
2. If the UL classes there would fulfill the UL "arts & sciences" requirement.

I really appreciate any help anyone could offer! Thank you so much in advance! 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10yOOmNGtjC4Y5wpVxj0ufzSAugm6api98NnCn_jakqQ/edit?usp=sharing


RE: Questions about Excelsior BSLA degree planning - dfrecore - 03-30-2023

A quick note: I would set up your spreadsheet better - put the Applied Professional (or Free Electives as I prefer to call them) down at the bottom, so that you don't get them mixed in with your main requirements.

Also, are you doing the BSL, or the BSLA? The BSL is a bit easier to manage, since there are more options for UL outside of Arts & Sciences (A&S). A BSLA requires all 30cr of UL to be in A&S, while a BSL allows for 12cr of UL in the A&S area, and then 9cr of the UL in the Free Electives (and therefore, counts that UL Cornerstone course which the BSLA will not).

Then, as you plan your actual courses, put them up in the actual areas that they fall into (so Humanities, SocSci, Math, and NatSci). That's how EU does it. For a BSL, you need 60cr in A&S (top) and 60cr in Electives (bottom). For the BSLA, you need 90/30 (another reason to go with the BSL).

Also, you should have a column to keep track of UL courses/credit. And I wouldn't bother with the course equivalency, since EU doesn't really do it for the BSL/BSLA.

------------------------------------------------------------------
HUMANITIES
Spanish I
Spanish II
Conflict Resolution
Public Speaking
Developing Effective Teams
Art History II
Workplace Communication
Art Appreciation (possible duplicate of Art History II)
Critical Thinking

SOCIAL SCIENCE/HISTORY
US History I
Topics in US History
Intro to Sociology
Intro to Psychology

NATSCI/MATH
Intro to Nutrition
Biology 101

FREE ELECTIVES
Info LIt
Cornerstone (UL)
Visual Communications
Career Readiness
Intro to IT
Personal Finance
Intro to Business
Principles of Management (UL I think)
Project Management

NOT ACCEPTED/UNKNOWN
Taking Charge of Your Economic Future

---------------------------------------------------------

The Coopersmith courses you chose are not ones that I know of that have been accepted by EU - but I can almost guarantee you that they're not A&S - any ECE course will be a Free Elective. Not sure about Family Therapy, but you'd be better off either using Study.com, or choosing Coopersmith courses that others have used so we know where they're probably going to work.


RE: Questions about Excelsior BSLA degree planning - Thanksforhelphere - 03-30-2023

(03-30-2023, 11:46 AM)First, thank you so much for taking the time to respond and your help! I really appreciate it. Wrote: I have a few more questions reading through your note. 
  1. First, and primarily, the difference between the BSLA and BSL.. I guess I just don’t understand that or know where to see that on the Excelsior site?  (I only see the BSLA on p94-96 of the undergraduate catalog: http://publications.excelsior.edu/programs/Undergraduate_Catalog/?_gl=1*o9cpif*_ga*OTY1NjY4MjQ2LjE2ODAxMjAxMTU.*_ga_YNB7T901NY*MTY4MDIxMzE5OS4yLjEuMTY4MDIxMzIyOS4zMC4wLjA.)*This states that 30 credits must be UL, and 21 of these A&S for the BSLA

For example, where can I see these 2 points you brought up online? 
  • A BSLA requires all 30cr of UL to be in A&S, 
  • a BSL allows for 12cr of UL in the A&S area, and then 9cr of the UL in the Free Electives (and therefore, counts that UL Cornerstone course which the BSLA will not)
Sorry if this is a basic question! I appreciate any help you could offer! 



RE: Questions about Excelsior BSLA degree planning - dfrecore - 03-31-2023

(03-30-2023, 08:02 PM)Thanksforhelphere Wrote:
(03-30-2023, 11:46 AM)First, thank you so much for taking the time to respond and your help! I really appreciate it. Wrote: I have a few more questions reading through your note. 
  1. First, and primarily, the difference between the BSLA and BSL.. I guess I just don’t understand that or know where to see that on the Excelsior site?  (I only see the BSLA on p94-96 of the undergraduate catalog: http://publications.excelsior.edu/programs/Undergraduate_Catalog/?_gl=1*o9cpif*_ga*OTY1NjY4MjQ2LjE2ODAxMjAxMTU.*_ga_YNB7T901NY*MTY4MDIxMzE5OS4yLjEuMTY4MDIxMzIyOS4zMC4wLjA.)*This states that 30 credits must be UL, and 21 of these A&S for the BSLA

For example, where can I see these 2 points you brought up online? 
  • A BSLA requires all 30cr of UL to be in A&S, 
  • a BSL allows for 12cr of UL in the A&S area, and then 9cr of the UL in the Free Electives (and therefore, counts that UL Cornerstone course which the BSLA will not)
Sorry if this is a basic question! I appreciate any help you could offer! 

They used to have a BA in Liberal Arts and a BS in Liberal Arts, but it looks like they now only have a BS, so you can disregard the info on the differences.

And it looks like I transposed the number of credits in the 2nd part - you need 21cr of UL in A&S, and 9cr of UL in anything.

So, for the BSL, you just need to get 21cr of UL in A&S (so things like Psych, Soc, History, English, etc).  3cr of the capstone will count here, so you just need to find 18cr. And then 9cr of UL in anything, and 3cr of the Cornerstone will count here, so you need to find 6cr (business courses are the easiest UL to find for cheap).


RE: Questions about Excelsior BSLA degree planning - Thanksforhelphere - 03-31-2023

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this help! Really appreciated and hopefully it can help others too.

(03-31-2023, 03:14 PM)Thanksforhelphere Wrote: Thank you so much for taking the time to write; this help! Really appreciated and hopefully it can help others too.



RE: Questions about Excelsior BSLA degree planning - bjcheung77 - 04-03-2023

@OP, have you fully decided on EU? Excelsior has been busy with a few things, it seems they've recently had to deal with downsizing (again). From looking at their fast facts, the BSLA still remains as their most popular degree, and they did remove the BALA out of their list of programs since January 2023 program catalog doesn't have it anymore... Just checked their reviews and it's 50/50 on GlassDoor and other sites...


RE: Questions about Excelsior BSLA degree planning - bjcheung77 - 04-03-2023

Hey OP...My question was, have you decided that you're going with EU? The reason I am asking is you've got a very short introduction to your first post and it doesn't indicate if you've looked at other institutions. My post was more a query to see if you've exhausted your options and came to the conclusion that the Excelsior BSLA is what you're looking at.

For a similar cost, ease, speed to get the degree completed, you have other options, such as COSC or UMPI, etc. It really depends on your answers to the template and last post addendum where I ask for more details, such as budget, commitments, study habits, etc. Essentially, have you decide on the degree/school and why are you going for the EU/BSLA?

Template/Addendum: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-New-to-DegreeForum-How-this-Area-works


RE: Questions about Excelsior BSLA degree planning - dfrecore - 04-03-2023

(04-03-2023, 06:55 PM)bjcheung77 Wrote: For a similar cost, ease, speed to get the degree completed, you have other options, such as COSC or UMPI, etc.  It really depends on your answers to the template and last post addendum where I ask for more details, such as budget, commitments, study habits, etc.  Essentially, have you decide on the degree/school and why are you going for the EU/BSLA?

COSC can no longer be completed via alt-credit, there's nowhere to get the 30cr of UL you need (they accept almost none of SDC's courses as UL any longer).