Quickest self paced course

[Rf10]

What is the quickest self paced course you have taken. I am specifically looking for graded courses from Regionally Accredited institutions, but would also like to know how quick some of you have completed any and all self paced courses. Thanks.

[TrailRunr]

What is the quickest self paced course you have taken. I am specifically looking for graded courses from Regionally Accredited institutions, but would also like to know how quick some of you have completed any and all self paced courses. Thanks.

In general, this is going to be hard to find because most professors at RA schools prefer to keep later assignments or exams locked until much later in the quarter/semester, thus preventing quick completion. I know of a very few local community college online courses that can be completed during the first week that I found via RMP. You'd also have to be lucky in finding courses that help with making progress towards your degree once you've run out of free electives.

[sanantone]

Central Texas College offers self-paced courses, but they are within terms. This means that you have 8, 12, or 16 weeks to turn everything in. Basically, you have no weekly deadlines, but you won't be finished with the course until the end of the designated term.

Your best for self-paced courses are independent study courses offered by universities i.e. BYU, LSU, University of Idaho, University of Arkansas, University of Missouri, CSU Pueblo, etc. CSU Pueblo has a minimum of 7 days per credit hour, so a minimum of 21 days will need to be spent on a 3-credit course. All you have to do is google "self-paced independent study courses" without the quotes, and a bunch of options will come up.

[SolarKat]

Adams State has print-based self-study but a minimum time of 6 weeks, I believe. Cost isn't bad, at $500-600/course.

Ohio University is $243/credit hour for distance self-paced. I don't see a minimum time frame, just an 8 month maximum.

APU/AMU are hit or miss. Some of the professors/classes are fully open from day 1 (discrete math was, as was a programming class), but some are week-by-week unlocked. So while it's $270/$250 per credit tuition, you may be locked into the full term.

TESU has Guided Study and ePacks which you can do on your own time (GS are within the semester time frame though, so you can only start at the beginning of (many, though for some classes not every) month...but they're hugely expensive compared to other options.

UWisconsin has print-based self study at $300-400/credit hour. They have loads of foreign languages (though those include oral exams as well as written). And many classes are 4 or even 5 credits (see the math/sci section), so you can knock off a number of credits in that time frame.

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Is there a specific subject area or a specific class that you're seeking? I think that affects how quickly you are going to be able to turn around the deliverables. It also may depend upon whether that class is "your thing" or not...if you hate writing papers, then any English/History, etc., may wind up taking longer. Similarly, if you're not as strong in math/sci, it may take longer to grasp a concept. It's definitely not one-size-fits-all.

I also believe that *any* of the college-based courses are going to take a lot longer than the corporate options available via ACE/NCCRS (eg. Study.com, Straighterline, etc.). If you can read/absorb/regurgitate quickly, you can do some of the ACE-accredited corporate classes in as little as a day, or even a half-day...and for a lot less money.

[Rf10]

Thanks for all of the information. I am looking to bring my cumulative GPA up, so I am looking for courses that will post a letter or number grade on a transcript. I'm unsure if Penn Foster or other Nationally Accredited institutions will be counted for the purpose I am looking for. I am waiting hear back. I believe that PF will be the quickest option if transcripts from NA institutions will be accepted.

Does TESU guided study post with a letter or number grade or are they pass/fail on the transcript? I believe the last time I checked the ePacks were pass/fail. Is that the case?

Thanks again for all of the help

[sanantone]

Guided study courses have grades. E-packs are pass/fail. Even if you can finish everything ahead of time, guided study courses are still 12-week courses. TESU will be more expensive than most of the independent study courses.