Does Charter Oak grant 3rd degrees?

[bjcheung77]

Oh wait, this is not for the OP - as Sanantone is the OP.... this is for 4dog, there's nothing to worry about at all... just do it, mix things around until you get it for cheap/easy/fast - but your main thing is, you do what you want to do, not because your parents want you to have an English degree. If you're looking for a Major in Chem/Physics, there is the option of doing so but...

[mysonx3]

If I'm not mistaken, CLEP, DSST and military training are exempt from the 90 credit rule. I know CLEP is, but can't remember for sure about the other two.

[4dog]

This is what I would recommend the OP to do instead of having 3 degrees, you can have two and hit all three areas with one fee at TESU!  Get a BA Comp Sci/English degree at TESU, at the same time, get the BALS with a NSM concentration, you can place the concentration with a majority of Chemistry & Physics courses.  You get two degrees at the same time, you pay 1 fee for graduation/residency waiver and pay just 1 capstone for both degrees.  

It's a secret, not many people know it.  If you review the template I have for "My Degree Plan!.xlsx" file, it has a sentence.
The total you can move over is actually not 90 credits, but 99 from the previous degree.  To be on the safe side, I usually just tell people that the most of the time, 90 credits from the first degree can be moved to the second degree - depending on what degree you're going for.  

Final Note: The COSC and the TESU concentrations are just that, they're concentrations, not majors at either school as the Big 3 nor EC/WGU offers majors in Chemistry or Physics.

This sounds fantastic! My parents are ecstatic. All of us will get what we want this way! I'm busy making a list of my courses with credits and will post them tomorrow for your help with a degree plan. Thank you so much!

[cookderosa]

I, generally, agree that it's easier, and sometimes, faster and cheaper to get a master's degree instead. One thing to note, however, is that COSC gives a lot of credits for the GRE subject tests. They give a good amount of UL credits for biology, chemistry, and physics.

GRE used to have a computer science exam, but they discontinued it. I predict that GRE might get rid of all their subject tests eventually due to low demand. I don't see many graduate schools asking for them.

But I've heard that the GRE subject tests are incredibly difficult and require immense studying. And you'd need to score really high to get the max credits. And they are only offered three specific dates a year in September, October and April and only at specific test centers. Might be more trouble than its worth.

COSC gives 24 credits as long as you score at the 40th percentile or higher. They don't base the number of credits on your score. You either scored high enough to get credit or you didn't.

And that used to be a thing here- if you go wayyyy back in the archives, people here used to do that often enough that it's worth considering. Not sure why people dont do it anymore though.

[sanantone]

I, generally, agree that it's easier, and sometimes, faster and cheaper to get a master's degree instead. One thing to note, however, is that COSC gives a lot of credits for the GRE subject tests. They give a good amount of UL credits for biology, chemistry, and physics.

GRE used to have a computer science exam, but they discontinued it. I predict that GRE might get rid of all their subject tests eventually due to low demand. I don't see many graduate schools asking for them.

But I've heard that the GRE subject tests are incredibly difficult and require immense studying. And you'd need to score really high to get the max credits. And they are only offered three specific dates a year in September, October and April and only at specific test centers. Might be more trouble than its worth.

COSC gives 24 credits as long as you score at the 40th percentile or higher. They don't base the number of credits on your score. You either scored high enough to get credit or you didn't.

And that used to be a thing here- if you go wayyyy back in the archives, people here used to do that often enough that it's worth considering.  Not sure why people dont do it anymore though.

It seems the newer members prefer online courses. Even CLEP and DSST have gone down in popularity. Other than free, you can't beat the price per credit hour possible with with GRE subject tests.

---

There's a difference between the BALS with a natural science concentration at TESU and a BS in General Studies with a concentration in physics or chemistry at COSC.

What's most notable is that you'll have to put natural science on your resume instead of chemistry or physics. Also, TESU's concentration is only 18 credits. You can choose to take more natural science courses, but the degree does not force you to take the courses typically seen in a chemistry or physics program.

Charter Oak makes you take 36 math and science courses, and you have to take lab courses. You also have to take calculus. COSC's concentrations are almost the equivalent of majors, TESU's concentrations are not.

If you ever decide to complete a master's program, TESU's natural science concentration will likely not meet the prerequisites. You also won't have all the skills to be successful in a hard science position.

[Merlin]

It seems the newer members prefer online courses. Even CLEP and DSST have gone done in popularity. Other than free, you can't beat the price per credit hour possible with with GRE subject tests.

It comes down to convenience. Back in 2010-2011 when I first started down this path, there were far fewer online options so you had to sit for an exam most of the time. Now that is reversed, which magnifies the convenience factor of online courses.

Plus, when I first started there were a lot more open CLEP & DSST testing centers. Today, at least for me, local CLEP/DSST testing centers are no longer available... they are either closed or are part of a college and are now restricted only to active students. I'm not about to drive 2-3 hours each way to take a test when I can just take an online course that will get me the same result.

That said, sitting for a GRE is a bit different. That definitely seems like a great opportunity (particularly if you're attending SUNY where you can potentially earn up to 36 credits from one exam). Even with COSC, 24 credits is a great deal. Earning nearly a year of college credits from a single exam would be worth a few hours drive each way to me.

[sanantone]

It seems the newer members prefer online courses. Even CLEP and DSST have gone done in popularity. Other than free, you can't beat the price per credit hour possible with with GRE subject tests.

It comes down to convenience. Back in 2010-2011 when I first started down this path, there were far fewer online options so you had to sit for an exam most of the time. Now that is reversed, which magnifies the convenience factor of online courses.

Plus, when I first started there were a lot more open CLEP & DSST testing centers. Today, at least for me, local CLEP/DSST testing centers are no longer available... they are either closed or are part of a college and are now restricted only to active students. I'm not about to drive 2-3 hours each way to take a test when I can just take an online course that will get me the same result.

That said, sitting for a GRE is a bit different. That definitely seems like a great opportunity (particularly if you're attending SUNY where you can potentially earn up to 36 credits from one exam). Even with COSC, 24 credits is a great deal. Earning nearly a year of college credits from a single exam would be worth a few hours drive each way to me.

I believe there are more Pearson testing centers for Uexcels. TECEP, CSU Global ECE/SSA, Saylor, and Davar can be taken at home.

[jsh1138]

Re: DSST and CLEP exams, another reason they may not be as popular is that they aren't as available as the online classes are. I have to travel 30 min each way to take a TECEP or Uexcel test, and I have to go an hour each way to take a CLEP or DSST. There is a college in my town that for whatever reason doesn't proctor any of that, and the one 30 min away doesn't proctor CLEP or DSST's. No idea why, but as a result I have barely done any of any of those four tests.

[bjcheung77]

There's a difference between the BALS with a natural science concentration at TESU and a BS in General Studies with a concentration in physics or chemistry at COSC.

What's most notable is that you'll have to put natural science on your resume instead of chemistry or physics. Also, TESU's concentration is only 18 credits. You can choose to take more natural science courses, but the degree does not force you to take the courses typically seen in a chemistry or physics program.

Charter Oak makes you take 36 math and science courses, and you have to take lab courses. You also have to take calculus. COSC's concentrations are almost the equivalent of majors, TESU's concentrations are not.

If you ever decide to complete a master's program, TESU's natural science concentration will likely not meet the prerequisites. You also won't have all the skills to be successful in a hard science position.

Good points Sanantone, I was wondering if you have a program to recommend 4dog. The reason is, even if he decides on either school, neither school actually offer the courses required to get the degree in Chem or Physics, 4dog has to take it from another 4-year college or university then transfer it in...

If that is the case, wouldn't it be wiser to either complete a "BALS/BAGS" with some courses he would like in Chem/Physics and call it a day OR if they have the cash flow, take it at a local college/univ? If 4dog is going to think of a Masters down the road, would it be better just getting a BA/BS Chem or Physics at another college/university instead?

I was looking into a TESU BA/BS Biology, but because of the courses required, it wasn't feasible for me, too expensive as most courses I had to take weren't available at the Big 3 or other ACE test-out providers or out of my $ range at the local uni, I pay for my education without tuition assistance and that's too much $ I don't have.

[natshar]

Yeah I was thinking a similar thing. A degree in STEM from a local university would provide more opportunities and possibly be less headache in planning and practice. Doing a a whole bunch of online physics labs sounds like a headache.

I don't think TESU and alternative credits best use is a hard science degree. Plus I can only imagine that actual science courses will prepare way better for jobs, grad school and provide invaluable connections.