Natural Science and Math majors

[dblhelx]

Any of you Natural Science and Mathematics majors able to assist me with what other tests I can take to test out of as much of this degree as possible?

So far I have the following completed/evaulated by TESC:

Community College (53.5 awarded by TESC)
SPA-202 Intermediate Spanish II B 5.00
SPA-201 Intermediate Spanish I A 5.00
SPA-102 Elementary Spanish II A 5.00
SPA-101 Elementary Spanish I A 5.00
CHE-104 Introductory Chemistry B 4.00
POS-110 American Government B 3.00
BIO-113 Biology I With Lab B 4.00
COM-108 Fundamentals of Speech C 3.00
POS-101 Intro. to Political Science B 3.00
SOC-101 Introduction to Sociology B 3.00
ENC-101 English Composition I B 3.00
NUT-101 Human Nutrition A 3.00
NUT-199 Spec. Stud. in Selected Topics A 0.50
PSY-101 Introduction to Psychology B 3.00
BIO-306 Biotechnology I A 4.00

CELP/DSST: (21 awarded by TESC)
1) Natural Science 6.00
2) English Comp w/ Essay 3.00 (some overlap according to TESC)
3) Enviro. and Humanity 3.00
4) Analyzing/Interp. Literature 6.00
5) Intro. to Computers 3.00

FEMA, I figure I can get as much as 12 credits from there based on a list provided in a previous post by another generous individual. Here, by "blu2blu" http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...tives.html

I guess I can take Astronomy and Geology, but what else can I take to test out and not spend 3 months in a class? I know I need a college math, so I can go through ALEKS for that and possibly Principles of Statistics, Pre-Calculus.

What other tests that are science related or whatever I can take to satisfy the requirements to graduate ASAP? THANK YOU....very very kindly! cheersmate

[cookderosa]

You can test out of everything except for your 33 cr major entirely.

Within your major, it's going to be a challenge. Not only to find exams (Ohio exams for a few) but even classes. Enrolling in upper level distance sciences will be a challenge. You'll likely have to find a few schools and do a patch-work-quilt approach. It's going to cost some money, and you won't be able to use financial aid at multiple schools. I've tried to plan the same degree every which way- upside and back. I'm about 7 classes shy inside the major. (I can't find a way to do this without spending too much money- I'm not able to pull together a degree plan for the last 7 classes for under ~$8000 and I just can't justify spending that on an undergrad degree when I already have <cough> a few.)

If biology is your strength, going for the 18 credits UL in that area is your easiest approach. I can direct you to several places that allow open enrollment for upper level bios. I think the next easiest (in terms of access) will be environmental. Both bio and enviro are offered at HArvarad Extension- which is where I would/might/thought about doing mine. I think, but don't know, that upper level computer science would also be considered easier access. *these are 2 grand each though. (plus books )

I can't begin to imagine where you'd find 300/400 level physics or chemistry in a DL/open enrollment class/test...but if you do, I'd like to know. That's a question I've seen asked now and again.

Ohio has tests, but they have prereqs, so you'll have to take the courses to get to the exams, I looked briefly into that and it added a year to my schedule (plus $$$$).

Linda is the only one here I know of who has completed this degree. She posts here often, she might chime in. She did it before the new 300/400 requirements changed. Since then, I've not known anyone to do it. I'd like to hear about your progress as you go!


http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...light=2011

and

http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...al+science

[Yenisei]

I'm working on this degree, although I haven't enrolled yet. I can give you some suggestions in addition to the ones provided by Jennifer if you let me know what you're interested in, bearing in mind you can have only two courses at the 100 level, and as mentioned by Jennifer, 18 of the 33 credits in the Area of Study must be 300 level or above.

I disagree somewhat with Jennifer on one thing- there are enough UL math/science courses out there for us distance learners, especially in biology, but they are often relatively expensive, although you should not let that deter you. IIRC, Mountain State University, U Cal-Berkeley extension, Excelsior College and Oregon State offer enough UL courses, primarily in biology, to reach the 18 required. The University of Idaho and Chadron State College offer enough UL math courses to reach 18 UL credits.

[ryoder]

I am thinking of doing this degree also but I see that the requirements are pretty high and honestly the name of the degree isn't as impressive as something focused like a BA in Math or a BA in Biology or Chemistry.
It sounds like a watered down degree but its really not.

[cookderosa]

I am thinking of doing this degree also but I see that the requirements are pretty high and honestly the name of the degree isn't as impressive as something focused like a BA in Math or a BA in Biology or Chemistry.
It sounds like a watered down degree but its really not.

Well, technically, it's a liberal arts degree- meaning you study bits and pieces from subjects to form the degree. The subjects are governed by the title (natural science/math) but it's no where near the same as a degree in a single subject like biology or chemistry. In this degree, you can't exceed 18 credits in one area (unless you use them in your gen eds or electives) where a major includes at least 33-36 in one subject. So, very different.

Also, I'm pretty sure you'll have a defined math within a specific degree, this has no defined math. (precisely the reason I'd like it :p )

Really, the problem with this degree is tri-pronged. Cost, access to courses, and utility. No one prong (IMO) is a deal breaker because it's expensive, but not "that" expensive...it's harder to find classes, but not impossible...utility of a natural science degree vs bio/chem/etc isn't really a big deal unless it's a big deal for your field. So- no one thing excludes this degree from being "good" but all three little things keep it from being ideal (for many).

[Yenisei]

You can make this degree as rigorous as you want- there are options out there if you want to exceed the basic requirements. I'm planning on having UL Math roughly equivalent to what a BA in Math would require.

[ryoder]

I was planning on doing the exact same thing you are doing. I had four calc classes in school and also did straighter line stats and college algebra.
All my engineering calc classes were 3000 level at usf but not all went that way to thomas edition so it might not be possible for me. We will see.

[Yenisei]

IIRC, 12 credits in Nat Sci/Math are required as part of Gen Ed, so it would be possible to have at least 45 UL nat sci/math credits, and more if you use some as electives. That's why I can't understand why anyone would worry about the rigor of this area of study- it's pretty much up to you how rigorous it is. Math could conceivably look like this:

Calc I and II as Gen Ed
Calc III, Linear Algebra, Diff Eq, Real Analysis, Complex Analysis and Probability/Calculus-based Statistics in the Area of Study.

Of couse you'd need a few more math courses if you wanted to go to grad school in math, but if you aren't, the above courses are just fine.

[dblhelx]

I'm gonna avoid math like the plague if I can. If you ask me, the science courses are much easier, fun, and more interesting.

[Lindagerr]

I did this degree because I already had a lot of science/math credits from previous CC work. I was hoping for a chemistry degree, but could not find an online one that worked for me.

I had
A & P I & II with lab (8) 200 level credits
Intro to inorganic,organic and Bio chemistry w/lab (4) 100 level
General Chem II w/lab (4) 100 level
Organic I & II w/lab (10) 300 level
Physical Sciece w/lab (4) 100 level
College Algebra (3) 100 level
College Trigonometry (3) 100 level

so that was (36) math & science credits what else was I going to do with them.

So I added
Environment & Humanity DSST (3) LL,
Natural Science CLEP (6)LL,
Aleks Begining & Intermediate Algebra and Intro to Stats (9)LL
and TESC course Global Environmental Change (6)UL

So all in all I had a total of 60 Math & Science credits but only 16 are Upper level. I had applied before the requirement was changed to 18 UL.