COSC Chemistry Plan

[amielm]

So, I'm about 85% sure that I'm going to complete the BA in Natural Science/Math at TESC, but since I was a biochemistry major for a time I'm a tad interested in the possibility of a BS or BA in Chemistry from COSC. I have looked up the requirements for the core, but I really don't know how COSC functions compared to TESC. I have only really looked into TESC and have a sample plan together. I searched the board and didn't find any info on this particular degree, does anyone know of a sample plan for completing a chemistry degree at COSC? OR, is it possible to design my own chemistry degree at TESC? I'm trying to weigh all of my options, any info would be great! Thanks!

[rebel100]

the tough part will be getting the 27 upper level hours in chemistry....that plus the 3 credit capstone will take you to the required 30 UL credits.

You could probably put together a dual major....18 (15 plus 3 credit capstone) credits in say chemistry, 9 in another focus...biology? health? and they should allow 3 UL in an elective. You can do this at COSC, they allow it, you just gotta explain it and be able to find the UL credits. The UL credits really are the trick to this one, I don't think that COSC will require the labs at the UL....but you need to confirm that.

Oregon State has the most online UL chemistry I know of...some classes require brief residencies. There is the DO school that cookderosa and sanantone talk about...I forget the name. And your local universities. Harvard Extension might offer a few, at $250/credit they might actually be cheaper than Oregon State.

Charter Oak doesn't have the giant annual fee that TESC requires, but you will have to take a minimal of two classes there...COSC is cheaper overall by several hundred dollars. Both COSC and TESC allow up to 30 credits or so via FEMA....its basically a free year of free elective credit.

[rebel100]

Note COSC allows the Chemistry GRE for UL credit....depends on your score http://www.charteroak.edu/Current/Academ...r-list.pdf

The DSST Substance Abuse should be another "easy" 3 UL credits for you to fit in somewhere, the link above is the Master List of Exams that should help you figure it out.

[cookderosa]

I've never met anyone trying for a chemistry degree through the big 3, and really, I think it would be interesting to know your degree plan. Obviously since TESC doesn't offer chemistry courses (maybe an intro or gen) you'll have to bring them in from somewhere. You have credit now, so really, you need an evaluation of your prior chem credit. See what they assign for your courses. I hope you're bringing in lots of upper level, otherwise I'm not entirely sure where you'll get them. Linda got upper level for her organic chem, but I've seen others here get it knocked down to 200 level (maybe it's the difference between taking it at a CC and a university?) but you have to wonder several things about the logistics of this degree.
1. Who has upper level chem classes open to non degree seekers? Make a list.
2. Who has them online? If it matters.
3. Will the fact that an entirely transferred major mean anything negative? I don't know.
4. What are the added costs of attending 2, 3, 8 (!?) colleges to get your chem credit? Transcripts, application fees, etc.
5. Do you have lab work experience that allows for a PLA for upper level chem credit?

This is my two cents, and you can ignore it- I'm sure several people here will think this is the craziest thing they've ever heard, but I would suggest taking 30 credits of courses at TESC, even though they won't be in chemistry. I have the impression that you'd like your degree to "look" traditional (which is why you'd rather earn a chem degree instead of a natural science degree no?) and a traditional degree requires a residency. I've NEVER EVER EVER been asked about my degree- but I took 30 credits in house over 1 year. People accept that as normal, it doesn't stand out or raise questions. If you want your degree to "look" a little more main stream (to offset that you're transferring in your entire major) I'd consider adding courses to the plan, and score well so you have a stellar GPA. *your chem transfer courses will not have letter grades, same goes for your tests.

[amielm]

I'm not worried about the degree looking more traditional per se. Chemistry has been a passion of mine for awhile and I do have about 60 credit hours total (not all chemistry) so really I just wanted to earn that degree since it was my original major. My life is super crazy busy and it's just too insane to attend class with my butt in the seat and in the lab anymore. The chemistry requirements (that they list) for COSC seem pretty laid back considering what most schools want, but they don't really specify in enough detail to know exactly what they are looking for. This is all pretty new to me still so I'm trying to understand how it all works. The natural science/math route would be by far easier, but I can't shake the desire for my chemistry degree. I don't need the chemistry degree for a certain reason, just more of a personal goal I want to complete and complete a little easier than attending my local college for two more years. Thanks guys!

[rebel100]

I'm not worried about the degree looking more traditional per se. Chemistry has been a passion of mine for awhile and I do have about 60 credit hours total (not all chemistry) so really I just wanted to earn that degree since it was my original major. My life is super crazy busy and it's just too insane to attend class with my butt in the seat and in the lab anymore. The chemistry requirements (that they list) for COSC seem pretty laid back considering what most schools want, but they don't really specify in enough detail to know exactly what they are looking for. This is all pretty new to me still so I'm trying to understand how it all works. The natural science/math route would be by far easier, but I can't shake the desire for my chemistry degree. I don't need the chemistry degree for a certain reason, just more of a personal goal I want to complete and complete a little easier than attending my local college for two more years. Thanks guys!

COSC degrees are deliberately "laid back" if you can intelligently argue for your degree plan in the cps you develope in the cornerstone....and if that includes 30 UL credits, they will likely let you pursue it.

How many UL credits do you have?

[amielm]

I probably have about 15-18 UL credits all science, depending on whether or not they are accepted as UL since all schools are different. Only about 8 UL chemistry the rest are biology related.

[Jonathan Whatley]

There was just a thread about chemistry at COSC on the "other board." Note Athabasca University, in Canada but holding US regional accreditation, as a potential source for chemistry, and other lab science courses. For supervised lab courses, they schedule short intensive lab sessions over several days at several sites in Canada.

The interdisciplinary option rebel describes results in a concentration in either Liberal Studies or Individualized Studies; more at the links. Separately, it's also possible to take two full 36+ semester hour concentrations at Charter Oak, and have both concentration titles appear on your transcript.

[amielm]

Lots of great info, thanks guys!

[Yenisei]

It's just a thought- but check to see if your local community college offers Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry- maybe they will be inexpensive there and you can check with COSC to see how they would fit into your degree plan.