English Major @ Excelsior

I'm just wondering (purely out of curiosity) how CLEP exams and the Literature class I already have might transfer into Excelsior and how much (if any) of the Literature in English major it might fulfill.

For example, would Analyzing and Interpreting Literature and American Literature, along with the literature class I have already taken make 15 "lower-level" credits?

Also, how are the GRE exams applied to credit at Excelsior? I did read, at one time, that lower level credits were fulfilled first by taking the GRE. But, for those of us who might already have all of the lower-level requirements (assuming the CLEP's and the course I took fulfill all the lower-level requirements), would the amount of credit received from taking the GRE automatically apply as upper-level credit, if no more lower-level were needed?

Last, when transferring courses from my Associate's Degree, Fort Hays State University counted some of the credit as "upper-level". As the transcript from FHSU is sent, will Excelsior count the credit as lower-level (which is what my transcript from my Associate's Degree will certainly say), or will they count it as "upper-level" from the FHSU transcript?

Thanks,

Cade

 

You'll need to be more specific about the number of credits and the level at which you obtained them (and the numbering system from FHSU's catalog).

In general, if you present with CLEP English (or Am lit, or Anal and Interp) credit and GRE in English Lit, there will be duplication at the lower level - and thus, you won't maximize your possible credit with Excelsior.

(Is COSC the same? - I don't know, but I suspect...)

--Orson

 

What I mean is that some of the credits I had carried one and two hundred level course prefixes at the junior college. At FHSU, about 15 of those credits became three and four hundred level (upper-level) credits. Which of the transcripts would Excelsior be most likely to "take the lead from"? In other words, would they remain lower-level? Or, would Excelsior see that a senior-level college had counted some of those credits as upper-level credits and do the same?

Cade

 

Excelsior would likely take que from the granting community college. It is very unlikely to care how FHSU classified them. They will require the cc transcript.

 

Agreed. Excelsior and most colleges look at the granting college's transcripts. This is one of the reasons why it (and other schools) requires you to submit all transcripts. Rather a lack of trust in higher education, you might say.



Tom Nixon

 

Sorry Cade-

I'll make this one a triumverate. Excelsior very rarely grants upper-diviion credit for work done at a two-year institution. This does not mean you could not appeal, however. Yet I believe this is a firm policy.

If alternatives are down your list (e.g., testing out of the equivalent from Ohio University - a doctoral granting intitution), then look at COSC. I may be wrong, but they might be more flexible - and by all accounts, they are likely to be more forthcoming about your prospects before enrollment.

--Orson

 

Thanks everybody! I've definately found COSC to be more helpful without actually enrolling. Excelsior definitely won't tell me a thing without I enroll and it's been about eight weeks since sending the $60 for the "unofficial evaluation" that I decided to send the $175 for the official evaluation. At least then, I'm assuming I'll know EXACTLY what everything will count for (the word "official"). I'll still need English 102, but I'm assuming I can likely take one of the CLEP exams to satisfy that requirement. I really just want to go on to graduate school.

I'm kind of interested in the "Individualized Studies" option, but I still don't quite understand it and I'm unaware of how all of my business classes would "fit" into that program. I'm guessing that option might be a lot like the Liberal Studies option from Excelsior....maybe it offers maximum flexibility for completing the degree?

Cade

 

If just completing a degree is your goal, then BA/BA in Liberal Studies may well be the faster route.

It sounds like (reading between the lines) you did as AA/AS in business. All you need are the right combo of (upper) level and depth (a single arts and science) combo to get there.


--Orson

 

Right. It was an Associate of Arts in Business Administration. Shannon Anderson, the very helpful person I have spoken to on two different occasions with questions about enrolling at COSC, has recommended the "Individualized Studies" degree.

The reason I just want to complete a degree is to enable myself to gain certification to teach within my state (which I have already checked on...either the Excelsior or COSC degree will work). I'm likely going to need a Master's or some sort of Post-Bac option to become certified beyond five years.

But you know what?? I'm not sure I want to teach at that level for REAL LONG. I would have to wait and see just how much I enjoy teaching at that level. Otherwise, I would like to work toward a MBA (but realize I would likely need to fulfill some pre-requisites.

Don't y'all just love education? No matter which direction you turn in, it seems as if there is something to think about or other options to take. I guess as long as one of those options isn't out of Liberia and does hold RA, we'll all be fine.

Cade