Which College/Degree? A lot of credits.

[allvia]

It looks to me like the OP is also close to meeting the needs for the TESU BS Technical Studies https://www.tesu.edu/ast/programs/bs/technical-studies

[rachel83az]

It looks to me like the OP is also close to meeting the needs for the TESU BS Technical Studies https://www.tesu.edu/ast/programs/bs/technical-studies

Possibly, in which case a decision would need to be made to drop either the BSBA or BA.

[dillpickles]

I'm liking this idea - can you clarify what the Medical Terminology TECEP is? Credits are from more than 2 schools (4). 

TECEPs are something like CLEP exams, except they're created and administered by TESU. Other schools have (often) non-transferrable challenge exams, but TESU's exams can be transferred to other schools. They cost $50/credit for LL exams and $75/credit for UL ones. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Th...am_Program

What does this have to do with you? When you apply, you only get 2 credit evaluations. If all of your transcripts don't arrive at exactly the same time, TESU may only process 2 or 3 transcripts before those evaluations are used up. In order to unlock unlimited evaluations, you have to become a fully enrolled student. There are two ways of doing this: taking a class, any class (expensive) or paying for a TECEP. The Medical Terminology TECEP happens to be the only 1-credit TECEP, so it's the cheapest way to do this. You don't have to actually pass (or even take the TECEP), but I do recommend making an attempt with the exam. This is simply so you are familiar with the ProctorU proctoring environment that Coopersmith & TESU use. Again, you don't have to take the TECEP if you don't want to/don't have time, but I definitely would. 

Can you clarify what you mean by TESU counting it as ONE degree (vs two?)?  That would be pretty epic to get CS, ES, and CIS - I'd at least feel like all my time spent in college was worth something 

As long as both degrees are completed at the same time, TESU counts two BA or two BS or two BSBA degrees as a single degree. If you were to graduate with the BA Environmental Science, then come back for the BA in Computer Science later, TESU would count those as two separate degrees.

TESU allows you to get 2 degrees total per level, with up to 2 AOS each. Certificates are unlimited. So...

• AS in Computer Science + AS in Mathematics = Associate #1
  
• AS in Business Administration OR AA Meteorology = Associate #2
  
• BA Computer Science + BA Environmental Studies = Bachelor #1
  
• BSBA CIS = Bachelor #2
  
• Certificate in Operations Management; If you do everything above, this will only require a single additional course in Operations Management from Saylor or Study.com
  
• Certificate in Marketing; not free, but you said you're in Marketing, so might be useful. Could also add Marketing as an AOS for the BSBA and get the equivalent of four Bachelor's degrees at once.
  

The Marketing certificate would require 5 additional Marketing courses beyond the Intro to Marketing required for every BSBA. The BSBA Marketing would require 6. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan Since you're already in Marketing, you can probably finish most of the Study.com courses in a week or two.

Let's say I go this route. What can I take right now using Sophia to get a head start while I go through the process?

At Sophia, I would do: Ancient Greek Philosophers (I think this is technically useless for your degree plan, but it makes Intro to Ethics significantly easier). Intro to Ethics. Environmental Science. Algebra, Calculus I, Intro to College Math, and Introduction to Statistics. If you want the BSBA CIS, go ahead and take all of the available Business classes. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/So...lency_List Wait until your evaluations are complete to see if you should take Intro to IT. Do not take Public Speaking, even if you lack the Oral Communication requirement. There is a much easier/faster course on Study.com. There may be more to do on Sophia, but we need to see what happens with your evaluation. 

I would apply today, if at all possible. Pay for the TECEP and send in all of your transcripts. Depending on how your previous schools send their transcripts, your evaluation should be completed by the 1st or 2nd week of next month. That will let you see where you stand with each degree.

When your evaluation is complete, take screenshots (Fireshot recommended) of all 3 or 4 degree plans and we can help you with further class suggestions.

This is perfect. I've applied, going to do the TECEP and will order e-transcripts today.

---

Transcripts all sent to TESU!

[dillpickles]

Considering how close @dillpickles is to multiple TESU degrees, I would definitely recommend applying there and sending in transcripts. (If credits are from more than 2 schools, also pay for the $50 Medical Terminology TECEP.) This would allow access to the "what if" tool to compare different degree options.

Also, you can have multiple degrees & certificates added to your degree plan so that you can track progress more easily. So, if you think "yes to environmental science, maybe to Computer Science and BSBA CIS", you can add all 3 to your account and decide later.

If you DID get the BA CS and the BA Environmental Science at the same time, TESU would count that as ONE degree. Throw in the BSBA CIS for only slightly more work and get three degrees for the price of two.

I just read in the TESU forum that they will only award two Bachelors degrees to one person - so I can't get three degrees, or did I read that wrong?

[rachel83az]

They will only award 2 Bachelor degrees to one person, yes. Same with Associates.

But, as already stated, they do NOT count a BA Environmental Science and a BA Science to be two degrees if they are graduated at the same exact time. They are ONE degree with two Areas of Study (Majors). That leaves you free to get a BSBA CIS (with or without the additional BSBA Marketing). Those two BSBA degrees would also count as one degree.

[allvia]

If you DID get the BA CS and the BA Environmental Science at the same time, TESU would count that as ONE degree. Throw in the BSBA CIS for only slightly more work and get three degrees for the price of two.

I just read in the TESU forum that they will only award two Bachelors degrees to one person - so I can't get three degrees, or did I read that wrong?

Correct 'If you DID get the BA CS and the BA Environmental Science at the same time, TESU would count that as ONE degree.' - basically it is a single BA with a double major. In this example the BSBA would be degree number two.

I just want to make sure you keep your eye on the prize (what you said your objective is), a bachelor's degree - so you can move on to get a MBA.  It is easy to get sucked into all the degrees you could get, and end up so distracted you end up with none (again).  Make sure you pick the one that is most important to you - which should be clearer once your credit evaluation(s) are complete (important to you then may be easiest, or quickest, or cheapest to complete - just whichever gets you to the next 'master's' level). If you don't go the business degree route (aka BSBA, which is fine) just make sure you get any undergrad requirements that the MBA program you're interested needs (all MBA programs vary here - some don't care as long as you have work experience, some require specific courses, some don't care at all)

[dillpickles]

They will only award 2 Bachelor degrees to one person, yes. Same with Associates.

But, as already stated, they do NOT count a BA Environmental Science and a BA Science to be two degrees if they are graduated at the same exact time. They are ONE degree with two Areas of Study (Majors). That leaves you free to get a BSBA CIS (with or without the additional BSBA Marketing). Those two BSBA degrees would also count as one degree.

Ahhh, understood!  I thought it meant that they didn't count it as two cost-wise. But now I see in general it's one. Nice!

[dfrecore]

My advice is always to get the degree that is the one you want first, and then add on if you want later. Because the goal is to get a degree, not to get 2 or 3 or 4 degrees - or worse yet, be partway to 2 or 3 degrees, but not done with any of them. Life happens, and if it does, you do not want to be partially done with several, you want to be 99% done with 1.

So, decide which degree is the most important (and you get to decide which way to judge that, either by which one you're closest to, or which one will cost the least, or whatever), and then get to working on that one. If you can pick up an AA or whatever on the way without any additional effort, do that if you want - but do not get sidetracked! You have WAY too many credits to do this and end up with nothing.

[dillpickles]

My advice is always to get the degree that is the one you want first, and then add on if you want later.  Because the goal is to get a degree, not to get 2 or 3 or 4 degrees - or worse yet, be partway to 2 or 3 degrees, but not done with any of them.  Life happens, and if it does, you do not want to be partially done with several, you want to be 99% done with 1.

So, decide which degree is the most important (and you get to decide which way to judge that, either by which one you're closest to, or which one will cost the least, or whatever), and then get to working on that one.  If you can pick up an AA or whatever on the way without any additional effort, do that if you want - but do not get sidetracked!  You have WAY too many credits to do this and end up with nothing.

100% - great advice!  I was moving through my Info Sys/Web Dev degree well and then I got offered a job, and that was the last time I went to school (8 years ago). I'm determined to wrap this all up and find the best way to get one degree, and if two degrees takes a class or two more, get two. All of my transcripts are sent and hoping that I get some answers in the next few weeks. 

Now to decide what to take on Sophia in the meantime.

[dfrecore]

My advice is always to get the degree that is the one you want first, and then add on if you want later.  Because the goal is to get a degree, not to get 2 or 3 or 4 degrees - or worse yet, be partway to 2 or 3 degrees, but not done with any of them.  Life happens, and if it does, you do not want to be partially done with several, you want to be 99% done with 1.

So, decide which degree is the most important (and you get to decide which way to judge that, either by which one you're closest to, or which one will cost the least, or whatever), and then get to working on that one.  If you can pick up an AA or whatever on the way without any additional effort, do that if you want - but do not get sidetracked!  You have WAY too many credits to do this and end up with nothing.

100% - great advice!  I was moving through my Info Sys/Web Dev degree well and then I got offered a job, and that was the last time I went to school (8 years ago). I'm determined to wrap this all up and find the best way to get one degree, and if two degrees takes a class or two more, get two. All of my transcripts are sent and hoping that I get some answers in the next few weeks. 

Now to decide what to take on Sophia in the meantime.

I think people are all excited by all of your courses and throwing out SO MANY options, and though they're not all bad, they're not all great either.  It's just way too much. Skip the AA's and just worry about the BA that you're closest to.  Everything else is just fluff, or things you really shouldn't be wasting your time on.  Not trying to be mean to others, but honestly, there's just no need to do all of this.

Pick ONE degree.  That is it.

And just an FYI, I think your UL needs to be in your major/AoS.  So, Stats & Database SQL will not count.  Even if they will count either of those, they will only count 1 because there is only space for 4cr of non-Environmental Studies courses in the plan, meaning just one of those UL courses.

That means that you have to take a 16cr term at TESU, and you have to take Global Issues and Society (GLB-301) as one of your courses.  If they will not let Stats or Database count towards your UL, then you cannot get this degree because they don't offer the courses you need to get it.  So, if this is your first choice, be practical about whether or not it's doable.

My second choice would be a BALS, as crazy as that may sound - because honestly, a BSTS is just as generic, but in a different direction.  There is no reason to go out of your way to get this degree if it doesn't matter.  With a BALS, you are practically done.  All of your AoS, including LL & UL is done.  All of your Free Electives are done.  Most of your GE is done.  You can do Sophia, Study.com, whatever to get the 4 GE courses you need and do the Cornerstone and Capstone at TESU and be done.  Or you can do a single 18cr term there, and cover everything you need.  Or you can do a couple of classes to get the requirements done and then do a 16cr term.  Whatever makes you happy.

I might go to Saylor right now, and take ENVS203: Environmental Ethics, Justice & Worldviews - it's $5 to take the exam, and if you pass, there's your Ethics requirement, done.  Then, take GEOG101: World Regional Geography or SOC101: Intro to Sociology - there's your diversity requirement, done.  Finally, POLSC201: Intro to Western Political Thought or POLSC221: Intro to Comparative Politics, and there's your Civic Engagement requirement, done.  All for $15.

Then, instead of the 1cr TECEP you were going to register for, do the COM-209: Public Speaking TECEP or the ENG-202: Technical Communication TECEP.  Oral Communications requirement, done.

Obviously, if you do a 16cr term, you could incorporate any of the above into the plan.

But it really does not pay to reach really hard for a degree that won't get you much, when there's one that's RIGHT there, without almost any effort.  It looks like you've been going to college for a very long time, with no degree. So, take that low-hanging fruit, and get a BALS and be done with it.  You could literally be done by the end of the year.