150 credits before Bachelor's degree

[dzaloum]

I am currently seeking a BSBA in accounting from TESU using 30 RA credits and 90 ACE/transfer credits. Looking at my state requirements (NJ) for becoming a CPA, I need "150 semester hours from accredited school. Credits can be obtained within or beyond a degree program." I may or may not end up sitting for the CPA exam, but I'd like to know if I can get the 150 credits onto my TESU transcript while I'm already enrolled at TESU. I do not believe ACE, CLEP, etc. transcripts will be accepted to show the extra 30 credits, as those are not accredited colleges. They do accept these sources of credit if they are transferred to and on an accredited school's transcript.

Can I take 30 extra ACE credits (CLEP, Sophia, etc.) and transfer them to TESU before graduating with my bachelor's degree? TESU has a 90-credit transfer limit, but I have heard on the forum that since I wouldn't be using the extra 30 credits for my degree it wouldn't go against the 90-credit limit, and since I'm transferring them, they will still appear on my transcript. Is this true? Is it a good idea to accumulate 150 credits before finishing my bachelor's degree?

[rachel83az]

Yes, you can transfer as many alternate credits to TESU as you want. The only issue is that there is a limit of 90 credits being used per degree. As long as you're aware of that, continue to transfer in as many credits as you want/need to hit the 150 credit requirement.

Might I suggest that, since you have to do this anyway, you might want to get a couple of Associate degrees from TESU, too? https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...gree_Plans Math would possibly be a good choice, maybe computer science if you don't mind calculus.

[bjcheung77]

*Ding, Ding* I would recommend using the credits for an Associates in Comp Sci and Math, since you can take more credits this way and each AOS is only 18 credits. You can add another Bachelors (BALS and NOT finish it), this way you can leave the credits hanging in your TESU account for transcript uses later on, even after you graduate the Associates and original BSBA Accounting.

[dfrecore]

Not sure why you'd want an AA in Math or CompSci, as I don't find either of those appealing as someone who used to work in accounting - and they're probably not going to make a difference for any jobs you'd look at.

Another option might be to go to UMPI and get a BA in Accounting, with a couple of minors in Project Management, MIS, or Mgmt. It would probably be cheaper than TESU, and you'd have the same issues there - ability to bring in a ton of ACE credit, no need to bring in RA credit.

[bjcheung77]

Since you're in NJ and you're not sure if you're going the CPA route or taking the CPA exam, you can try and follow the TESU BSBA Accounting/CPA option, or take courses at the Masters level. It may be beneficial to take more courses in Accounting or a close field such as Finance, so you can take an Accounting & Finance double AOS for the BSBA. You can also go for additional certificates, such as CIS.

There are so many different options in adding 30+ credits into your transcripts, but if you're taking courses towards that 30 or more credits, why not get something out of it, such as an Associates, in case you're going into other fields or interested in something else. That was just my example, you can take certs in other BSBA AOS option too, it won't matter, options are endless to get credits on the transcript.

If you decide on staying with TESU, you might even consider a second degree, since the 30 credits can be in "anything", you can get something you're interested in, or if you're wanting something interdisciplinary, the BALS with some concentration, be it Humanities, Social Science, or Natural Science & Math.

If you're not staying in NJ, you can decide on the UMPI BA or BABA Accounting and adding other minors to that degree, anything that floats your boat and 'adds' excitement, interest, knowledge, and keep it simple, you again can go for the extra credits in anything they offer on the YourPace platform, several are possible.

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Again, there are so many ways to play the credit game with transcripts, it depends how and where you want the credits...
Forgot, the links:  TESU site: https://www.tesu.edu/business/bsba/accountingcpa
Catalog: https://tesu.smartcatalogiq.com/en/Curre...unting-CPA

[rachel83az]

Not sure why you'd want an AA in Math or CompSci, as I don't find either of those appealing as someone who used to work in accounting - and they're probably not going to make a difference for any jobs you'd look at.

Sometimes, working towards an additional degree is easier/more interesting than just taking random extra classes for no particular reason. Nobody HAS to get an additional Associate's, but if you have to take more classes anyway, why not put them to something meaningful when possible?

[dzaloum]

Would I still be able to transfer in credits after graduating with a BSBA? Would I remain an enrolled student for 1 year after last being enrolled in a TESU course? If I wanted to graduate with my BSBA and then transfer in credits after, would I need to add another degree to my TESU profile? And it doesn't matter whether or not I finish that degree, correct?

Thank you for your help answering my questions! It's greatly appreciated 

[davewill]

Would I still be able to transfer in credits after graduating with a BSBA? Would I remain an enrolled student for 1 year after last being enrolled in a TESU course? If I wanted to graduate with my BSBA and then transfer in credits after, would I need to add another degree to my TESU profile? And it doesn't matter whether or not I finish that degree, correct?

Thank you for your help answering my questions! It's greatly appreciated 

Yes, you would add another degree or certificate before you graduate. An associate's would do fine. No need to ever finish it or even add courses that apply to it. You can even extend past one year by signing up for a TECEP before the one year mark.

[dfrecore]

Would I still be able to transfer in credits after graduating with a BSBA? Would I remain an enrolled student for 1 year after last being enrolled in a TESU course? If I wanted to graduate with my BSBA and then transfer in credits after, would I need to add another degree to my TESU profile? And it doesn't matter whether or not I finish that degree, correct?

Thank you for your help answering my questions! It's greatly appreciated 

If you don't have any other degrees listed in your account at graduation, then everything kind of "disappears" at that point.  You no longer have access to look at anything at some point soon after you've gotten your last grade.  It happens pretty quickly IIRC.

So, add another degree, THEN graduate.