Western Governors University

[IrishJohn]

I've been looking into signing up for the Teacher Preparation Program, Social Sciences (5-12) through WGU mainly because of the financial aid (money is very tight right now). The program itself looks good and I particularly like that I'll be able to finish a master's degree through them using "credits" from this program later. I decided to make this post of what I'm going through to get into the program mainly for those who are also considering WGU for their teacher license as well as for anyone who may wish to pursue a master's degree through them. There may be something in here that will help you.

I have a BA in History from TESC but unfortunately do not have everything they consider to be prerequisites to entering the program so am scrambling to finish them. Each teacher prep or master's program is different so be sure to find out the particulars for your area. For the program I'm entering this is the list of requirements to start, in addition to having a bachelor's:

1. Macroeconomics (Economics I) - I took this & ECON II through Straighterline but unfortunately missed the cutoff requiring proctored final exams by just a few days! banghead So I'll have to spend the time and money, as well as grit my teeth about ProctorU, and take the exams. Since only a 70% is needed to have them accepted though, it looks like I could fail both exams and still be okay since I received high scores in both.
   
   
2. Microeconomics (Economics II) - See ECON I.
   
   
3. US History 1 & 2 - The CLEP tests are acceptable, both of which I've passed.
   
   
4. World History 1 & 2 - The CLEP tests Western Civilization 1 & 2 are acceptable, both of which I've passed.
   
   
5. American Government - The CLEP test is acceptable, which I've passed.
   
   
6. Geography - The DSST text is acceptable, which I'll need to take soon.
   
   
7. 2 courses in Anthropology, Psychology or Sociology - The CLEP and DSST exams are acceptable; I've taken CLEP Sociology and am waiting to find out if the CLEP Social Sciences & History exam fulfills the other course requirement. If not, I'll be taking Anthropology or Psychology soon.
   
   
8. 2 courses in Political Science - The TECEP Introduction to Political Science is acceptable for one course, which I'm going to take soon.
   

Unfortunately, WGU will not take NCCRS-approved courses which rules out Introduction to Western Political Thought or The Politics of Anti-Semitism in the United States (Political Science 350) to fulfill the other Poli-Sci requirement. Darn. I'm waiting for a response on these possibilities:

I’d like to know about one of these possibilities to satisfy the other:

1. UExcel Political Science (170) exam (more info in this pdf), which is also ACE-approved.

2. SSC150 – Foundations of Political Science (pdf; see p. 87 of Undergraduate Catalog & Student Handbook) from Penn Foster College which has DETC accreditation and this course is also ACE-approved.

3. The Iraq War: An Insider’s Look course through Advancement Courses for Teachers through California State University, Monterey Bay. These are supposed to be graduate-level credits on a CSUMB transcript, although they are not allowed to be used in their degree programs.

Will any of these be acceptable and if so, will they duplicate the TECEP I’m going to take or be accepted as satisfying the other Poli-Sci requirement?

I'll post later on what I find out from them about this. In the meantime, if anyone has another suggestion on what I can do to fulfill the other Poli-Sci requirement I'd appreciate it. Time and money are factors here. Thanks!