brick and mortar schools with online options similar to TESC and COSC

[cookderosa]

What brick and mortar schools offer online degrees with flexibility similar to TESC and COSC? I've talked to several people who insist on a recognizable brick and mortar name such as, for example, Colorado State or Ohio University. Personally I think their problem is more with the name than the fully online nature of the school. In other words, if TESC was New Jersey State College, they'd probably go for it.

The only brick and mortar online programs I'm aware all require the last 30 hours to be taken with them. Is that the norm? I doubt any brick and mortar online programs are as liberal in CBE as the Big Three are.

Can we please restrict the discussion to the question at hand without getting into a discussion about why people should be okay with TESC and COSC? I already tried that with the people in question and it wasn't productive. They want any degree from any not for profit, recognizable brick and mortar the fastest way possible.

I think you're going to see 30 as the norm. That said, something like 98% of all state universities offer online degrees. If I wanted to be as traditionally looking as possible, without being traditional, I'd enroll at my CC using their CLEP policy to the fullest while taking my classes via distance learning. They'll all appear on one transcript. It's possible that your CC might not have EVERYTHING necessary to do the full AA/AS online, but it will be close. Again, using CLEP to fill in the gaps, I think greater than 75% of any CC degree can be completed this way now.

Then, simply attend your state's university. Online options are abundant. You can go through an entire "traditional university degree program without spending more than a class or two face to face. Same with grad school.

Now, I know your question was more about fastest possible, and I answered the issue of brand first, because obviously that's important to the question. So, fast is relative. Faster than 4 years? 4 years isn't even the norm, it's 5 now. Faster than people here? No way. People here rocket through 4 year degrees in 1 year. BUT, if my community college allowed me to test out of 45 credits (it does) then that timeframe is set by me (can 45 credits be earned in 1 semester? Probably.) The remaining time, also somewhat set by me. If I take 18 credits instead of 12 each term, that makes a difference. I think it's also important to point out that making sure all the classes are required (no wasted steps) and social life would be zero. I think you could do it in 5 semesters years if you hustled. I would spend an obsessive amount of time planning this ahead of time of course, because all schools operate just a bit differently, and I'm not a fan of surprises.

It's always a question of what you need. Some people need fast, some need cheap, some need self-paced, some need a brand. There is nothing wrong with getting what you want, if they want brand, then they want brand. It's all about knowing the rules so you can play the game. And I never, ever, accept the idea that you can't do something to. You can always find a better solution.