Stick with current college or go TESC?

[morfritz]

Alright, so I contacted their Military Help Department. I talked with a rep and she gave me two options. 1. BA Social Science - 15 more credits until complete in a 200 level Social Science (18 credit residency requirment). 2. BA Liberal Studies - completely satisfied, however, would have to pay $1500 out-of-pocket as the military would not cover that. Also, the email said: "...for a degree in Liberal Studies, you will have completed all of the requirements (or very close)". So, I have to find out what the very close means.
So, what to do? Option 1 = Free plus 6 more classes, Option 2 = $1500 and I have a degree. I talked to my wife and she said that maybe down the line I would kick myself in the butt because I was going for a BA Social Science and not BA Liberal Studies. I just want a degree, dammit. :-)
So, I don't know. I am gonna talk to them again regarding the "very close" in parentheses.
Any input from this group?

[cookderosa]

Alright, so I contacted their Military Help Department. I talked with a rep and she gave me two options. 1. BA Social Science - 15 more credits until complete in a 200 level Social Science (18 credit residency requirment). 2. BA Liberal Studies - completely satisfied, however, would have to pay $1500 out-of-pocket as the military would not cover that. Also, the email said: "...for a degree in Liberal Studies, you will have completed all of the requirements (or very close)". So, I have to find out what the very close means.
So, what to do? Option 1 = Free plus 6 more classes, Option 2 = $1500 and I have a degree. I talked to my wife and she said that maybe down the line I would kick myself in the butt because I was going for a BA Social Science and not BA Liberal Studies. I just want a degree, dammit. :-)
So, I don't know. I am gonna talk to them again regarding the "very close" in parentheses.
Any input from this group?

This isn't as hard as you make it.
Option 1 is the clear winner.

I know you want to be done now, but let's run the numbers about how long this will take you. Yo might need 18 credits. (I think you need the CLEP English too, wait and see if your advisor "forgot" to tell you that.) Can any of the TECEP exams fill the military residency requirement? I don't know- you'll need to ask. If so, you can maybe just take 1 semester (12 credits- let me help you pick your classes- use the Social Psychology for sure, it's a single 6 credit class, but not double the work) plus 2 TECEP exams tucked in. (You don't need perfect grade in exams they are pass/fail-no grade- pile on the work and knock it out in 12 weeks) I think you can get the degree YOU WANT for FREE in 12 weeks.

[morfritz]

Well, thanks for the advice and suggestion. I really don't care what degree I get. After the military I am looking into teaching, so a BALS or BASS weigh the same. I'll wait and see what the advisor says when I talk to her again. The idea of being finished does sound so sweet. I'll keep you posted, as you've been helping me along through this.
Thanks again.

[cframe]

If it is not too late to chime in ...
For Social Science degrees, an advisor for TESC told me all PE credits must be put in the Electives catagory, not the General Eds.

I did find it in their catalog: Gen eds have to be from these categories (humanities, soc. Science, nat science, math)

[morfritz]

Not too late, thanks. I am not worried about electives at all. I went to college 8 years ago when I didn't have to worry about paying for it. :-) All electives are covered.

[creationstory]

Alright, so I contacted their Military Help Department. I talked with a rep and she gave me two options. 1. BA Social Science - 15 more credits until complete in a 200 level Social Science (18 credit residency requirment). 2. BA Liberal Studies - completely satisfied, however, would have to pay $1500 out-of-pocket as the military would not cover that. Also, the email said: "...for a degree in Liberal Studies, you will have completed all of the requirements (or very close)". So, I have to find out what the very close means.
So, what to do? Option 1 = Free plus 6 more classes, Option 2 = $1500 and I have a degree. I talked to my wife and she said that maybe down the line I would kick myself in the butt because I was going for a BA Social Science and not BA Liberal Studies. I just want a degree, dammit. :-)
So, I don't know. I am gonna talk to them again regarding the "very close" in parentheses.
Any input from this group?

liberal studies and social science... same thing... there really isn't much of a difference. just go for your masters...

[1MP4Life]

Originally Posted by cookderosa

This isn't as hard as you make it.
Option 1 is the clear winner.

I know you want to be done now, but let's run the numbers about how long this will take you. Yo might need 18 credits. (I think you need the CLEP English too, wait and see if your advisor "forgot" to tell you that.) Can any of the TECEP exams fill the military residency requirement? I don't know- you'll need to ask. If so, you can maybe just take 1 semester (12 credits- let me help you pick your classes- use the Social Psychology for sure, it's a single 6 credit class, but not double the work) plus 2 TECEP exams tucked in. (You don't need perfect grade in exams they are pass/fail-no grade- pile on the work and knock it out in 12 weeks) I think you can get the degree YOU WANT for FREE in 12 weeks.


TECEPs do count toward the military residency requirement, and as long as you purchase (and read) the required text book, the tests are not terrible.

[morfritz]

Drum roll please....

I received my evaluation from TESC today. As mentioned before, there is a residency requirement under the MDCP (military degree completion program). So, let me just cut+paste.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
S.H. S.H. Applied S.H. Comm Coll S.H to Overall TESC
Required to Degree Req Remaining S.H. Applied be Planned GPA Met GPA
120.00 102.00 18.00 74.00 18.00 YES
================================================================================

Source Institution Source Institution
1 New Mexico State University At 3 Thomas A. Edison State College
2 Campbell University

BA General Education Distribution (42 SH)
Semester Hours Completed: 40.00
Complete all 5 subrequirements:
A: English Composition (In Progress)
> Complete one full year of English Composition with an
> average grade of C.
Semester Hours Completed: 4.00
GPA Achieved/Needed: 2.300 / 2.000
Group 1 (In Progress)
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
1.. ENGL111 Rhetoric Composition..... 4.00 C+ ENC-101 *CC *TE
___ ENC-102___ _________________________ ____________ 1 course

B: Humanities (Completed)
> Complete 12 semester hours of Humanities, including at
> least two subject areas.
Semester Hours Completed: 12.00
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
1.. PHIL101 The Art of Wondering..... 3.00 A PHI-101 *CC *TE
2.. ENGL204 American Lit II.......... 3.00 A LIT-112 *TE
2.. ENGL203 American Literature I.... 3.00 A LIT-111 *TE
2.. RELG125 Intro to Christianity.... 3.00 A REL-120 *TE

C: Social Sciences (Completed)
> Complete 12 semester hours in the Social Sciences,
> including at least two subject areas.
Semester Hours Completed: 12.00
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
1.. ECON251 Prncpls of Macroecons.... 3.00 A ECO-111 *CC *TE
1.. SOC101 Intrdry Sociology........ 3.00 A SOC-101 *CC *TE
1.. PSY201 Intrdn Psychology........ 3.00 B PSY-101 *CC *TE
3.. HIS-113... American History I....... 3.00 CR HIS-113 *NE

D: Mathematics (Completed)
> Complete a 3 semester hour college-level Mathematics
> course.
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
1.. MATH180 Trigonometry............. 3.00 A MAT-129 *CC *TE

E: Natural Sciences (Completed)
> Complete 9 semester hours in the Natural Sciences,
> including at least two subject areas.
Semester Hours Completed: 9.00
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
1.. PHYS212 General Physics II....... 3.00 A PHY-114 *CC *TE
1.. PHYS211 General Physics I........ 3.00 A PHY-113 *CC *TE
1.. CS110 Computer Literacy........ 3.00 A CIS-107 *CC *TE
================================================================================
BA General Education Electives (18 SH)
> Complete 18 semester hours from any of the following
> General Education subjects: Humanities, Social Sciences,
> Natural Sciences or Mathematics.
Semester Hours Completed: 20.00
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
1.. MUS101 An Intrdn to Music....... 3.00 A MUS-100 *CC *TE
1.. ENGL218 Tchncl & Scntfc Cmnctn... 3.00 A COM-301 *CC *TE
1.. MATH185 College Algebra.......... 3.00 B MAT-121 *CC *TE
3.. PSY-350... Abnormal Psychology...... 3.00 CR PSY-350 *NE
1.. SPAN112 Elementary Spanish II.... 4.00 A SPA-102 *CC *TE
1.. PHYS110 Great Ideas Physics...... 4.00 A PHY-102 *CC *TE
================================================================================
BA Liberal Studies 2000(33 SH)
GPA Achieved/Needed: 3.750 / 2.000
> Complete 33 semester hours in the Liberal Studies area
> of study. At least TWO or more different subjects must
> be included to provide breadth of knowledge in the
> Liberal Studies Area (e.g., AREA I: Humanities courses:
> 18 semester hours; AREA II: Social Sciences courses: 9
> semester hours; AREA III: Natural Sciences courses: 6
> semester hours). Courses transferred to Thomas Edison State
> College are equated to the following levels: "100", "200",
> "300" or "400." A maximum of TWO college-level
> courses equating to the "100" level can be applied
> toward the Liberal Studies area of study. A deeper
> knowledge of subjects is provided by requiring the
> remaining Liberal Studies area college-level courses
> equate to levels "200", "300" or "400."
Semester Hours Completed: 34.00
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
1.. SPAN212 Intrmed Spanish II....... 3.00 A SPA-202 *CC *TE
1.. MATH192 Calcls Anlytc Geom II.... 3.00 A MAT-232 *CC *TE
1.. SPAN211 Intrmed Spanish I........ 3.00 A SPA-201 *CC *TE
1.. MATH191 Calcls Anlytc Geom I..... 3.00 B MAT-231 *CC *TE
1.. HIST102 Modern Europe............ 3.00 A HIS-414 *CC *TE
1.. ENGL211 Wrtng Hmnts Soc Scien.... 3.00 B ENG-201 *CC *TE
1.. HIST101 Roots Modern Europe...... 3.00 A HIS-410 *CC *TE
2.. RELG224 Christian Ethics......... 3.00 A PHI-380 *TE
3.. PSY-397... Psych. Interviewing Techn 3.00 CR PSY-397 *NE
3.. PSY-214... Psych./Soc. Asp. Helping 3.00 CR PSY-214 *NE
3.. PSY-331... Introduction to Counselin 4.00 CR PSY-331 *NE
================================================================================
BA Free Electives (27 SH)
> Complete 27 semester hours of Free Electives.
!! Exception
over 2 sh in Gen Ed Elects & over 1 sh in AOS;
24 sh required

Semester Hours Completed: 8.00 Required: 24 Remaining: 16
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
1.. ACCT251 Management Accounting.... 3.00 B ACC-102 *CC *TE
1.. SPAN111 Elementary Spanish I..... 4.00 A SPA-101 *CC *TE
1.. PE102 Beg Wght Training........ 1.00 A PEA-199 *CC *TE
__________________________________________________ 3 credits
__________________________________________________ 3 credits
__________________________________________________ 3 credits
__________________________________________________ 3 credits
________________________________________________ 3 credits
________________________________________________ 1 credits
===============================================================================
OTHER COURSES:
Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes
--- ---------- ------------------------- ------- --- ---------- ---------
3 PEA-199 Spec. Stud. in Selected T 2.00 CR PEA-199 *NE
3 MSC-131 Marksmanship 1.00 CR MSC-131 *NE
3 MSC-101 Military Science 1 2.00 CR MSC-101 *NE
3 PSY-211 Developmental Psychology 1.00 CR PSY-211 *NE
3 HUS-101 Intro. to Human Services 1.00 CR HUS-101 *NE
3 PSY-310 Psychological Evaluation 1.00 CR PSY-310 *NE
3 FEL-200 Human Services Internship 6.00 CR FEL-200 *NE
3 COU-345 Alcoholism Counseling I 3.00 CR COU-345 *NE
1 ACCT252 Financial Accounting 3.00 C ACC-101 *TE*CC
1 PHYS212L General Phys II Lab 1.00 B PHY-129 *TE*CC
(Credits in parentheses are anticipated earned)
================================================================================
Student Remarks:
04/08/09 Students in the Military Degree Completion Program must complete a
residency requirement. Students must earn nine (9) semester hours of
Thomas Edison State College credit toward an asociate degree and
eighteen (18) semester hours of Thomas Edison Sate College credit
toward a baccalaureate degree. These credits mst be applied toward
the student's degree requirements. Thomas Edisn State College credit
includes: Guided Study/Online/Blended/e-Pack corses, TECEP exams
and/or Prior Learning Assessment (PLA).
================================================================

04/08/09 Thomas Edison State College will accept a maximum of 80 semester hours
(s.h.) of transfer credit from junior, county or comunity college
toward a baccalaureate degree. Students are responsible for adhering
to this policy.
=================================================================

04/08/09 As a member of the Navy College Partnership Program or Military Degree Completion Program you are required to complete 18 semester hours of credit through Thomas Edison State College methods of earning credit.
Since you have less than 18sh to complete your bachelors degree
program, you may prefer to switch to the Enrolled Options plan for
active duty military members. It involves paying the current in-state
tuition of $1,450.00 (which includes the required Technology Services
Fee).
In order to switch to this plan, please place the request in writing
and email/fax/us mail to the Office of the Registrar.
registrar@tesc.edu Fax: 609-777-0477
=================================================================

NOTES

*CC Community College Credit
*NE Non-course Equivalency
*TE Transfer Equivalency

Ok, so from what it looks like I will have to take CLEP English Comp w/ Essay to satisfy ENC102.

Also, I wrote an email asking about whether or not they would take the 20something extra credits as Gen Ed if I went through the Enrolled Options Plan.

Please let me know if this sounds ok. Also, what I could do, is use the nice TA to just do some random classes for free to fulfill the Gen Ed.

[morfritz]

Just as I thought:

The only difference in your evaluation, if you were in the enrolled options plan, is that the Free Elective area would be completed with courses that are now in "other courses". You would still need to complete English Composition II.

Let us know if you would like to switch to the enrolled options plan.

Regards,

Alicia Malone

Program Advisor

Thomas Edison State College

[morfritz]

The CLEP exams in English Composition and Freshman College Composition would fulfill the Composition requirement but please be mindful that for either exam, YOU MUST TAKE THE ESSAY PORTION OF THE EXAM. Thomas Edison does not accept credit for CLEP exams in English Composition without the essay portion.

Regards,

Alicia Malone

Program Advisor

Thomas Edison State College

So, English Comp WITH essay is required for credit with TESC.