I started this journey 23 years ago and I'm finally done... so far...

[peace123]

Norema,

Way 2 go and congrats !!!!!

would you mind sharing where you are taking the educational grad courses and how you are finding them in regards to workload,etc...

I am currently waiting for Excelsior to review my portfolio and hoping they will grant me the last 6 credits I need to graduate. Amberton is my top pick for Grad School and I thought maybe before applying I would try to get some grad credits to transfer in.

thanks and congrats again, you are an inspiration.

peace123

[norema]

Norema,

Way 2 go and congrats !!!!!

would you mind sharing where you are taking the educational grad courses and how you are finding them in regards to workload,etc...

I am currently waiting for Excelsior to review my portfolio and hoping they will grant me the last 6 credits I need to graduate. Amberton is my top pick for Grad School and I thought maybe before applying I would try to get some grad credits to transfer in.

thanks and congrats again, you are an inspiration.

peace123

I found the initial link under - graduate credits for teachers - under Sage graduate school. Looking further into it though I found that theses classes are down through them VESi software courses, then they're transferred to which ever college you wish it to be sent to within their listings of affiliated colleges. Then those colleges will provide you a letter grade, then you transfer to whatever school you like. This is basically just like the Straighterline to FHSU to EC type of thing, but with graduate courses. Here is the link to VESi Continuing Education for Teachers - Online Professional Development Courses, after clicking on 'choose a university' all of their affiliate colleges are listed. Now most of the courses are the same courses at each college. However, each college has charged what they choose to charge for each course. One school could charge say $785 for the same course costing $230 at another school. Watch out for those schools where some credits are given as quarter credit or even just as continuing education credit. Some also don't seem to give a graduate course number. Well, after making sure that the courses were 3 credit semester based courses (they also offer 1 & 2 credits), and after calling to verify, that each course had a graduate course numbers to them... like EDU750 or something. I then choose the cheapest one out of that and came up with Morningside College. Oh, I also made sure they were regionally accredited, although I think they all are. I wanted to take the credits through Chadron State College, which is where I took my first two graduate courses directly from them that I transferred to EC, but the same courses would cost $785 per course. Oh yeah, by the way Morningside cost was $230 per course. AND yes I did mean per course not per credit.... Crazy price for graduate courses, huh... Oh, yeah and I forgot to mention, the courses are extremely easy for a graduate type courses AND the earliest you can submit it in is after 2 weeks but no later than 6 months. Both courses can be done sooner than 2 weeks depending on how much time you have on your hands. I called to inquire further about them then just paid for the courses over the phone. They said they could send a CD or I could do it online. I chose online, they said I would receive an email after 4:30 that day and would be able to login and start right then. Sooooooo simple.... It seem so simple that I worry just a little bit, but it all seems to work just like the straighterline to FHSU to EC system works. Each course entail, 4 exams that can be repeated up to 3 times. Then there are 4 critical thinking questions to answer (500 - 1000 words each) and finally there are 3 journal articles to reviews (200 - 400 words each). All is required for a grade, but the exam score average is the grade you will receive. Easy huh!!!

[jacanyardie]

I found the initial link under - graduate credits for teachers - under Sage graduate school. Looking further into it though I found that theses classes are down through them VESi software courses, then they're transferred to which ever college you wish it to be sent to within their listings of affiliated colleges. Then those colleges will provide you a letter grade, then you transfer to whatever school you like. This is basically just like the Straighterline to FHSU to EC type of thing, but with graduate courses. Here is the link to VESi Continuing Education for Teachers - Online Professional Development Courses, after clicking on 'choose a university' all of their affiliate colleges are listed. Now most of the courses are the same courses at each college. However, each college has charged what they choose to charge for each course. One school could charge say $785 for the same course costing $230 at another school. Watch out for those schools where some credits are given as quarter credit or even just as continuing education credit. Some also don't seem to give a graduate course number. Well, after making sure that the courses were 3 credit semester based courses (they also offer 1 & 2 credits), and after calling to verify, that each course had a graduate course numbers to them... like EDU750 or something. I then choose the cheapest one out of that and came up with Morningside College. Oh, I also made sure they were regionally accredited, although I think they all are. I wanted to take the credits through Chadron State College, which is where I took my first two graduate courses directly from them that I transferred to EC, but the same courses would cost $785 per course. Oh yeah, by the way Morningside cost was $230 per course. AND yes I did mean per course not per credit.... Crazy price for graduate courses, huh... Oh, yeah and I forgot to mention, the courses are extremely easy for a graduate type courses AND the earliest you can submit it in is after 2 weeks but no later than 6 months. Both courses can be done sooner than 2 weeks depending on how much time you have on your hands. I called to inquire further about them then just paid for the courses over the phone. They said they could send a CD or I could do it online. I chose online, they said I would receive an email after 4:30 that day and would be able to login and start right then. Sooooooo simple.... It seem so simple that I worry just a little bit, but it all seems to work just like the straighterline to FHSU to EC system works. Each course entail, 4 exams that can be repeated up to 3 times. Then there are 4 critical thinking questions to answer (500 - 1000 words each) and finally there are 3 journal articles to reviews (200 - 400 words each). All is required for a grade, but the exam score average is the grade you will receive. Easy huh!!!

I don't mean to be a pest..........but I saw that you were still online.........I have no intentions of re-inventing the wheel, so here is my question....was Morningside the most affordable (cheapest ...smile).

I just did a quick check of the fees........and the cost should not exceed $10gs.....total.


p.s. can someone tell me how to get the big laughing icon......

[norema]

It was the most affordable for 3 semester credit hours that met all of the requirements I stated. I wanted to try and make sure I wouldn't have any problems later after they were transferred. Some schools had cheaper fees but they were either 4 quarter credits for the same 3 semester credit course. With 4 quarter credits only equaling out to 2.67 semester credits. Then there were some that had the courses not allowing actual college credit at all. By only allowing continuation education credit. Therefore, long story short Morningside College was the cheapest cost per course that I more than likely would not have a problem transferring. They also had 2 semester credit hour courses that were $190 but of course the 3 credit hour fees were more economical. 2 courses @ $460 vs. 3 courses @ $570 for 6 credits. Now $460 for 2 graduate courses is awfully cheap that is basically $76.67 per graduate credit hour.

[jacanyardie]

Thanks for taking the time........I will be done in about 3-6 months, and plan to go straight unto the Masters.......I know you will be very busy.....but can you please keep posting updates of your progress.


Jah Bless

[norema]

Thanks for taking the time........I will be done in about 3-6 months, and plan to go straight unto the Masters.......I know you will be very busy.....but can you please keep posting updates of your progress.


Jah Bless

Sure! One thing just came to me today... I promised myself that I would finally take my dream trip to Paris after I got my Masters. My mistake is I didn't count on being this close to it... I'll try and see if at all possible I could make this dream come true or not... even if it's in going through a study abroad type way.

[alissaroot]

Oh I can't believe I missed this post until now, I'm too busy! Anyway, girl

[SIZE="7"][SIZE="7"]CONGRATULATIONS!![/SIZE][/SIZE]

Outstanding job!

[Degreeasap]

Way to go Norema! Congratulations!

[Julie S.]

Wow!! I've been thinking about starting my master's (my youngest just graduated from homeschool), but since getting laid off this summer, wasn't sure I could afford it. But at these prices...all I can say is Wow! My BS is in Elem. Ed. so this is perfect! Norema, I have a couple of questions. First, how are the essays graded and how do they figure into the final grade? All I could find in the syllabus was a mention that the exam scores were averaged to determine the final grade.

Second, what is the best way to insure a graduate level number is assigned to the course? In comparing some of the various college, I noticed that sometimes they have a course number and sometimes they don't. If they don't already have one, how do you get that inscribed on the transcript?

Third, does it seem to matter which college you choose? I understand that Morningside is the cheapest, but I also notice that NYS United Teachers gives credit through Sage. My teaching credential is CA, but I now live in NY. If I decide to transfer my credential here, would it be better to have Sage or Morningside listed as the granting institution or does it really matter since I would have to transfer the credits somewhere to complete the degree anyway? When you transfer a credential, you usually have to do so many hours of coursework every 5 years, so I'm wondering if that would count as well. Humm.... my questions are probably too specific for this forum, but I'm just trying to think it through and you guys are all so knowledgeable and informed

Thanks again for such fantastic information!!!
Julie S.

[norema]

Wow!! I've been thinking about starting my master's (my youngest just graduated from homeschool), but since getting laid off this summer, wasn't sure I could afford it. But at these prices...all I can say is Wow! My BS is in Elem. Ed. so this is perfect! Norema, I have a couple of questions. First, how are the essays graded and how do they figure into the final grade? All I could find in the syllabus was a mention that the exam scores were averaged to determine the final grade.

Second, what is the best way to insure a graduate level number is assigned to the course? In comparing some of the various college, I noticed that sometimes they have a course number and sometimes they don't. If they don't already have one, how do you get that inscribed on the transcript?

Third, does it seem to matter which college you choose? I understand that Morningside is the cheapest, but I also notice that NYS United Teachers gives credit through Sage. My teaching credential is CA, but I now live in NY. If I decide to transfer my credential here, would it be better to have Sage or Morningside listed as the granting institution or does it really matter since I would have to transfer the credits somewhere to complete the degree anyway? When you transfer a credential, you usually have to do so many hours of coursework every 5 years, so I'm wondering if that would count as well. Humm.... my questions are probably too specific for this forum, but I'm just trying to think it through and you guys are all so knowledgeable and informed

Thanks again for such fantastic information!!!
Julie S.

I don't know why they are requiring people to do the essays, because it only states that the grade given is the average of the exams. I like that point actually, easy 'A'. The courses having a graduate level number was important to me as well. I know Morningside's course number is not listed, that is why I called them to ask what they would be. I unfortunately did not write them down, I just wanted him to run them down to me and I did hear something like EDU 750 or something like that. I know I heard the seven first anyway, that's all that mattered to me. It doesn't matter which college you choose, because the courses are the same for all colleges. Although as I mentioned the price is not the same, why I don't know. It really looks like many colleges are seriously price gouging though. These prices are really just for administrative cost when you think about it. They aren't teaching the course, they are just providing a grade according to what the course already calculated. Then putting it on their transcript. Well anyway, I don't think it would matter, that's why after sorting through those that met all of my requirements I chose the cheapest out of them. I would have preferred to transfer my credits to Chadron State College since I just took graduate classes from them to be consistent will all of my graduate credits. Although since it wouldn't hurt me to transfer to Morningside instead and they were almost 3 and 1/2 times cheaper, I went that route. However for you, I don't know about credentialing guidelines and all that. I'd suggest to make all your calls before making a move. I think NYS United Teachers mentioned SAGE because it is also located in NY. Even though I don't know about the 5 year credentialing part, it does sound like having the credits transferred to a NY school for that reason would help you in that respect. Sages fees are not that bad though, so hey, what is the price of piece of mind? It's priceless!