need help with degree planning for son for Bachelor's in Business Admin or Finance

[EducationSeeker]

@bjcheung77

Which course providers are video vs. voice or other types of proctoring? I don't think he minds proctoring and has already experienced some of it through online courses on Blackboard and Canvas, but, he gets turned off by the "big brother" idea of video proctoring. If there are ways to meet lower level and upper level course requirements through non video proctoring, that is preferable.

I know you asked bjcheung77 but:

• CSM Course: Authentication based on typing patterns/style
  
• Davar Academy: Live video proctoring with ProctorU ($25), recorded video proctoring with RPnow ($15), or approved in-person proctor (no fee paid to Davar)
  
• LawShelf: Recorded audio proctoring with Voice Proctor
  
• Saylor Academy: Recorded video proctoring with SmarterProctoring ($5/attempt)
  
• Sophia Learning: Authentication based on typing patterns/style
  
• StraighterLine: Live video proctoring with ProctorU
  
• Study.com: Recorded video proctoring with RPNow
  

@Carrythenothing

Thank you for this very useful summary on the types of proctoring for course providers. From the earlier thread, if I have understood correctly, is Sophia Learning good for getting lower level (LL) credits and LawShelf and Davar or better for upper level (UL) credits? Are certain providers better for LL vs UL credits?

Also, does TESU or UMPI also require video vs. audio proctoring services if you take the course at the respective university? If so, what proctoring do they require?

Thanks,

Education Seeker

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@ss20ts

I noticed in your signature line that it looks like you graduated from UMPI. So far, it looked like the best/cheapest/quickest option for him was likely TESU. I was wondering what your experience was at UMPI or what you think of Amberton? If the type of major is less important than say cost and the speed to which someone who is diligent can complete the Bachelor's degree, what school would you recommend?

Thanks,

Education Seeker

I can't speak about TESU. I did look at them but I needed graded RA credits to get into grad school. I transferred to UMPI from CSU Global. I'm not sure how TESU would be cheaper than UMPI. I guess if it takes someone more than 3 sessions it would be. I only spent 3 sessions at UMPI for my BLS because I completed 3 minors and didn't transfer in all 90 usable transfer credits. 

UMPI and Amberton are VERY different. Amberton is not CBE. There are deadlines every week in each course. Your course content is on Moodle and the books you buy to read. UMPI is self contained so you don't buy books. All of your reading is in the Strut Learning Platform. Amberton charges per credit whereas UMPI is per session. You can complete as many credits as you can in 8 weeks at UMPI.

I'm partial to UMPI because CBE worked well for me. I also enjoy writing papers. If someone just wants tests only and struggles with papers then UMPI is probably not their best choice. Not matter where you go you have to be a self motivator. All online programs require you to motivate yourself. There's rarely someone there to remind you of deadlines and upcoming assignments. One other thing about UMPI that I liked is that it has an actual campus so it's not an online school. Some people still have weird ideas in their heads about degrees earned online.

@ss20TS

From what I have read earlier in this thread, it looks like the cost of a Bachelor's at UMPI in Business is roughly about $3000-4000? Is this how much it cost you or what were your costs breakdown?

Thanks,

Education Seeker

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Sophia is not video proctored. The only proctoring is via a typing sample taken at the beginning of the milestones. Exams are open book.

LawShelf is not video proctored. They have a voiceprint analysis to confirm that you're you. All exams are open book.

Some Arizona State University Universal Learner (RA credit) courses do not have proctored exams. This can be a relatively inexpenisve way to get non-proctored UL credit for some degrees.

Everything else is proctored. Coopersmith and SL use live proctors. Davar and Study.com use recorded proctors.

@rachel83az

Thank you for the advice on the differ proctoring requirements. Based on the feedback I asked for in April initially, it looked like TESU Bachelor's in Finance might be the best option for him. While he is leaning towards Finance, I think this major requirement is less important and he is open to either getting a Bachelor's in Business Administration or even a Bachelor of Liberal Arts/General Studies and concentrating in something Business related. With Covid, he did not have an initially great experience with school and then his mom died in 2020. Coupled with ADD and not feeling engaged with college, I thing he got discouraged with school and the concept of taking 2-3 more years (he dropped some classes) with the traditional college route is daunting so I am trying to help him strategize about checking the box of obtaining a Bachelor's degree in a cost effective, and fairly quick manner. If the major is less important, do you recommend TESU or another school like Arizona State University, or UMPI. 

As a parent helping him out, I also want it to be affordable as I want to pay for this out of pocket and I also want the risk to be lower to me if doesn't do great academically. 

@bjcheung77 had great advice about utilizing cheaper sources of credit that build up his confidence such as Saylor or Sophia and are also a cheaper cost to me. Win/Win.

If we are looking at a cheaper and relatively quick being more of a requirement than a major, what school do you recommend?

Thanks,

Education Seeker

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Sorry to follow up on an older thread, but, regarding my older son, for the recommendation for ACE/NCCRS, do non-proctored classes or exams from these type of providers like Sophia, Saylor, Study.com, ONU exist. Since my older son has about 30 RA credits, I believe you recommended TESU. If he does the Finance or the Business Administration degree at TESU, I think this means that he would need to complete 2 courses...Capstone and one other course at TESU or are there more? What is the format of these courses and are these proctored? Are they mainly papers, how does it work? We are trying to find unproctored course/class provider options and I know they have been mentioned here.

If he were open to just doing Business Administration or even a Bachelor of Liberal Arts/General studies degree with a concentration in something in Economics, are there other cheaper options like UMPI for Business or Liberal Arts/Studies?

He has an interest in real estate and it doesn't seem like the Big 3 or UMPI, SNHU, WGU or less expensive options have an concentration in Real Estate. Since he is also looking at potentially looking at being an entrepreneur by real estate investment and flipping houses, I don't know that  it makes a huge difference that his degree is in Business vs. Finance vs. Bachelor of Liberal Studies. I think getting the degree as a credential and moving on with his life is probably more important at this point although I think a business related field makes sense. Since he is looking at getting the degree cheaply and quickly, I think achieving the Bachelor's degree and moving on is most important.

Thanks,

Education Seeker

With an interest in real estate, he doesn't need a concentration in real estate. That's not a super common concentration. A business degree with a concentration in project management, management, accounting, or marketing would serve him well. He'd need skills in all of those areas. 

Sophia is the only ACE provider that doesn't have proctors, but they are adding papers to many of their classes. Many schools also use proctoring.

@ss20ts

I noticed in your signature line that it looks like you graduated from UMPI. So far, it looked like the best/cheapest/quickest option for him was likely TESU. I was wondering what your experience was at UMPI or what you think of Amberton? If the type of major is less important than say cost and the speed to which someone who is diligent can complete the Bachelor's degree, what school would you recommend?

Thanks,

Education Seeker

@rachel83az

Is it possible to get most if not all of the UL and LL credits from Sophia, LawShelf, or Arizona State Universal Learner for either a Business Administration or General Studies/Liberal Studies Bachelors degree from UMPI or TESU? 

I am asking about the video vs. audio proctoring option because my son has a lot of anxiety issues bordering on being paranoid. Without getting into a therapy session, between Covid and his mom dying, he gets extremely anxious about thinking people are judging or analyzing him and got turned off to college, but, knows he needs it. I think he can get over the concept of "Big Brother" watching him as he has had some video proctoring before, but, I want him to have a positive experience with college and build up his confidence. I think it would be a MUCH better experience if we could do audio vs. video conferencing to the point that he would likely want to pick a program that would not require *any* video proctoring even if it means more papers to write. If not having *any* video proctoring courses is an option, I think looking at a provider that has less video proctoring options would be a more attractive way to get him back into the groove of taking classes.

Thanks,

Education Seeker