Best path given existing hours?

[GinaFL]

Hello,

I could really use your assistance in helping me map out a degree plan. I've started to do this a few times, but ultimately get overwhelmed trying to best maximize my hours.

The idea degree would be in Business, but anything is better than the nothing that I currently have. My company will pay up to 4,000 tuition reimbursement for classes toward a Business degree though. Speed is the primary concern for me right now, as I do need one to qualify for the position that I want.

What I have:

Clep Humanities
Clep Analyzing and interpreting Literature

Brick and Mortar (circa 1998)
Government
Comp 1
Comp 2
Biology
Business Ethics

Straighterline
Medical Terminology (pre-proctor)

Brick and Mortar (circa 2012)
Chemistry

Aleks
Intermediate Algebra

About 18 FEMA courses completed.



I would appreciate any guidance you could give me.

Thank you,

Gina

[rebel100]

Well my first question is will your employer pay for exams? I suspect they will not as most don't, but if they will it may change the recommendation.

I had more credits to play with than you do, but had a situation in which I needed to maximize federal aid money to complete school. In my situation I applied to COSC, and built a consortium agreement between myself, COSC, and CSU-Pueblo. In that way I was enrolled in a degree seeking program at COSC, I took cheaper courses through CSU-P, and could avail myself of CLEP/DSST/SL with the leftover funds. Since CSU-P was self paced the courses went fast and I was able to finish quickly. If your interested I can tell you more.

The use of TECEPS at TESC to lower the cost may be another viable option for you. Worth looking into, even though TESC no longer accepts FEMA may be a cost effective way to complete your degree, especially if business is the goal....TESC's BSBA is perhaps the most straihgtforward business degree to complete of the Big 3.

[GinaFL]

Well my first question is will your employer pay for exams? I suspect they will not as most don't, but if they will it may change the recommendation.

I had more credits to play with than you do, but had a situation in which I needed to maximize federal aid money to complete school. In my situation I applied to COSC, and built a consortium agreement between myself, COSC, and CSU-Pueblo. In that way I was enrolled in a degree seeking program at COSC, I took cheaper courses through CSU-P, and could avail myself of CLEP/DSST/SL with the leftover funds. Since CSU-P was self paced the courses went fast and I was able to finish quickly. If your interested I can tell you more.

The use of TECEPS at TESC to lower the cost may be another viable option for you. Worth looking into, even though TESC no longer accepts FEMA may be a cost effective way to complete your degree, especially if business is the goal....TESC's BSBA is perhaps the most straihgtforward business degree to complete of the Big 3.

They will not pay for Clep exams or Aleks or Straighterline subscription and tests, however I was told that they would pay for exams at the institution where I am attending, if I can get a letter from the school stating that the test was used to satisfy degree requirements. Basically, I have to pick a degree at one of the schools- get my company to approve it, and any courses or challenge exams at that school that are used to fulfill the degree are reimbursable. That being said, I'm not at all opposed to paying out of my own pocket for these tests if doing so will help me go faster.

I'm not sure if I'd be able to take the courses at one school to apply to the degree at my "approved program" school- but again, I am willing to pay for these on my own in the interest of speed. (The position I want will be posted in 6-9 months, which gives me a tight window in which to qualify as an internal candidate).

Gina

[rebel100]

With that time frame I think you should consider the enrolled options plan at TESC, use their TECEPS to complete the major, other exams and SL/ALEKS

The degree plan is here BSBA in General Management Degree Program

The value of CLEP is here: CLEP - College-Level Exam Program
DSST is here : DANTES
Note that TESC counts several of these att he Upper Level, more than any other school I believe.

TESC will not take your FEMA, but there isn't much room for free electives anyway so that shouldn't be the deal breaker.

I think Sanantone has this all mapped out somewhere. Good luck!

[KayV]

Here's how your credits combined with lots of TECEPs would work for a BSBA in General Management through TESC. The two Penn Foster classes appear to be more manageable than the TECEPs, but YMMV, of course. Good luck!

TESC BSBA General Management
I. General Education Requirements
1. Comp 1
2. Comp 2
3. ALEKS College Algebra
4. SL Business Communication
5. ALEKS Intermediate Algebra
6. SL/CLEP Macroeconomics
7. SL/CLEP Microeconomics
8. ALEKS/DSST/SL Statistics
9. Biology
10. Chemistry
11. Government
12. Business Ethics
13. TECEP Marriage and the Family
14. TECEP Psychology of Women
15. Clep Humanities
16. Clep Analyzing and interpreting Literature
17. TECEP Intro to Political Science (or any other gen ed)
18. TECEP Intro to Journalism (or any other gen ed)

II. Area of Study: General Management
A. Business Core
1. DSST Principles of Finance
2. CLEP Business Law
3. TECEP Business in Society
4. TECEP or Penn Foster Strategic Management
5. TECEP Computer Concepts and Applications
6. DSST Principles of Marketing
7. TECEP Principles of Financial Accounting
8. DSST Principles of Management
9. TECEP Principles of Managerial Accounting
B. Finance 3
1. TECEP Federal Income Taxation or PF Corporate Finance
C. Marketing 12
1. TECEP Public Relations: Thought and Practice
2. TECEP Marketing Communications
3. TECEP Sales Management
4. TECEP Advertising
D. Management 3
1. DSST Organizational Behavior
E. Business Electives 9
1. DSST Intro to Business 3
2. TEEX Cybersecurity series 6
III. Free Electives 6
1. Medical Terminology (pre-proctor)
2. Kaplan PLA

[KayV]

I would suggest the Pay Per Credit tuition plan, since you will have enough TECEPs to count for 24 hours. This should reduce your fees over the enrolled options plan.

[GinaFL]

Thank you all so much. I was stuck in the "should I TESC without FEMA" or Should I Excelsior and ECE or Should I COSC and portfolio loop and couldn't escape.

I am going to follow the above plan for TESC and look into the Pay Per Credit plan.

I really appreciate your help.

Gina

[dfrecore]

You might want to go back to your company and show them that CLEP and DSST exams count towards your degree plan from TESC. I think they don't want to pay for exams and courses that don't apply towards your degree, but they may make an exception if you can show that they specifically do apply, and exactly where, and how many credits you get. And when you show that they are cheaper than a class anywhere else, that might help as well.

I had a friend do that at his company, and the company not only approved it, but changed their policy! At least it's worth a shot.

I would do it though with all of your ducks in a row - the list of courses you need to take, what you've already taken, and what you plan to take and how (CLEP/DSST/Straighterline/ALEKS), and the info from TESC on course equivalencies (CLEP and DSST is on their website, SL has it on their website). Companies always seem to be more willing to look at things when you've done your research and bring them things in writing, with the justification to back up what you're asking for. Just my experience.

Good luck! Even if you have to pay for some things yourself...

[GinaFL]

You might want to go back to your company and show them that CLEP and DSST exams count towards your degree plan from TESC. I think they don't want to pay for exams and courses that don't apply towards your degree, but they may make an exception if you can show that they specifically do apply, and exactly where, and how many credits you get. And when you show that they are cheaper than a class anywhere else, that might help as well.

I had a friend do that at his company, and the company not only approved it, but changed their policy! At least it's worth a shot.

I would do it though with all of your ducks in a row - the list of courses you need to take, what you've already taken, and what you plan to take and how (CLEP/DSST/Straighterline/ALEKS), and the info from TESC on course equivalencies (CLEP and DSST is on their website, SL has it on their website). Companies always seem to be more willing to look at things when you've done your research and bring them things in writing, with the justification to back up what you're asking for. Just my experience.

Good luck! Even if you have to pay for some things yourself...

I'm willing to give it a try.

One area where I'm a bit confused is when I should actually enroll, or if I should actually enroll at TESC. I know at a minimum that I will need a letter from someone at the school stating that my proposed tests will be applicable to my planned degree. And I won't qualify for any tuition reimbursement without actually being enrolled in the program- as far as I can tell from our company literature on the tuition-reimbursement program.

[KayV]

If you are doing the Pay Per Credit plan, you might as well go ahead and enroll. Taking one TECEP every year keeps you enrolled.