Benefit to graduating with well over 120 credits?

I have more than one possible career path (undecided), and think I should do extra undergrad work at Excelsior. For example if law school required certain undergrad courses, and psychology programs required others, I think I could major in psychology but also take as many law-related courses as possible. Just an example, assume that they are looking at the undergrad courses.

Does this make sense? Would it work? What I'm trying to do is like a double major although Excelsior won't list this as a double major, so I have to pick one to show up.

Thanks for your help.

 

Once you have met the distribution requirements for the undergraduate degree you will be in a good position to obtain more than one degree. While they will not allow you to "double-major", in the past they not only allowed multiple degrees, they encouraged it. If you are really taking that many courses of another specialty it will only be a matter of re-applying for the second degree. Do as many courses/credits as you can before you apply since you also "on the clock" at Excelsior.

 

Excel,

Although I have never attended Excelsior, I think it makes perfect sense to accumulate additional undergraduate credits depending on the situation. For example, let's assume you want to apply for a government job in a specific field such as social work or accounting. To be able to apply for this job, the government might specify that a certain amount of social work or accounting credits are needed. If you do not have a major in the specific field, but want to apply for this job, it makes perfect sense to accumulate the additional undergraduate credits. Also, if a certain graduate program dictates a certain amount of undergraduate credits in order to be admitted, then your idea makes sense.

Other than these two specific situations, I can't think of a tangible reason to accumulate addditional undergraduate reasons for earning undergraduate credits after earning a Bachelor's Degree. However, many people accumulate additional credits for one very important intangible reason: the love of learning.

Anyway, I hope my opinion helps you at least somewhat. Good luck!

 

re: Deb's post...

Well apparently Excelsior will only let you get one degree from their Liberal Arts program So students could get a Business degree and second one in Physics. But not Physics and Chemistry for example.

 

Ahhaa... It's always something. Thanks for the info.

 

I have a question for you Debtormey.
How are you enjoying your Phd at NCU?

 

If they are upper diviion credits ther may be some advantage, but very little (IMO). Most law schools that I have looked at, do not care about what your undergrad was in (some do not even care if you have an undergrad at all). GRad schools will only allow you to transfer in senior year level courses, and then usually limit the number of them.

IIF (math notation meaning if and only if) you have a specific goal or need should you even consider it (IMO).

 

levieuxnegre,
Thank you for asking. I have just started the program so the first-hand experience is limited, however, so far I am very happy and feel I have found a perfect match for my needs. I searched every B&M school in NYC and could not find a program that had the right combination of coursework and dissertation focus. That is what actually sent me into the DL search mode. Once I started looking and discovered the variety, I went through many changes and envisioned myself in any program that had the coursework/focus I desired. I was never really satisfied until I found the independent learning offered by NCU (and with a payment plan I could handle quite easily). I learn really, really well on my own (with guidance) and the first course is a good example of how someone like myself will blossom. It is a very basic course to ensure that the student knows, right from the start, how to use the computer to do basic searches and begins to think in terms of the dissertation, right from the beginning. I started researching my topic about 6 months before starting the program and I couldn't really find a system. This little course is a great little appetizer that has helped me pull it all together. The other really big reason I chose NCU is because the dissertation portion is extremely well designed to take the student through every stage in a step by step way - just my style.

 

I took two bachelor's degrees from Excelsior's predecessor, the USNY Regents program. I earned a B.S. in Business and a B.A. concentrating in Sociology. In that process, I earned more than 200 semester hours of credit. (In less than two years and before the age of 21.) I've never experienced one iota of advantage in that. (To tell the truth, I also never experienced a bit of advantage in having earned the 2nd bachelor's.) That said....

It doesn't do any harm to accumulate as many credits and degrees as possible with Excelsior. Also, there are government jobs (and others) that will specify a certain number of required hours of credit required in certain areas. Accumulating all your credits might actually help.

Rich Douglas
A.A.S., Education Administration & Methodology, Community College of the Air Force
A.A., Liberal Arts, The University of the State of New York
B.S., Business, The University of the State of New York
B.A. (Concentration in Sociology), The University of the State of New York
M.B.A., National University
Ph.D. (Concentration in Higher Education, Specialization in Nontraditional Higher Education), Union Institute and University

(whew!)

 

Rich,
You have pursued a step by step pattern yourself! I notice you have maintained an interest in education - starting at a very young age. What kind of work do you do?

 

While many jobs or grad programs don't specify a major area of study, many do. The advantage to multiple degrees is that you hold credentials in multiple specific fields.

Whether Excelsior will allow you two degrees at the same level in the same area isn't all that important. Many colleges will allow you to work on a second BA provided you produce some new coursework. Assuming that your goal is "the educational experience" in addition to credentials, you could easily earn a BA at Excelsior in one field and a BA/BS at your local State U. in another area with a minimum of additional work (last 30-45 hours).

Alternatively, you could attempt seperate undergrad degrees from each of the "Big Three" -- that might set you up in the field of Distance Ed. as a bit of a consulting "expert" having gone through the process of all three. Especially so if you followed those with an MA or MEd in adult education.... (just a thought) -- Each has very specific requirements for second and third degrees at the same level.

One consideration! If you plan to use federal or state financial aid then plan your program very carefully. Work through the degree at Local State U. first and before you apply for the BA at Excelsior. Also make certain that you can complete the degree at Local State U. before you reach 160 semester hours. Having a degree or more than 160 hours will adversely effect your financial aid prospects. Apply for graduate at Excelsior in the semester before you apply for graduation at Local State U. With careful planning, you may be able to use Uncle Sam's money to pay for coursework at Local State U. and transfer that work to Excelsior (or elsewhere) and use it for an additional degree.

On the other hand, an MA/MS requires considerably less coursework (in time) than a BA/BS but about the same time as a second BA/BS. If you can get a quick recognized BA/BS and then get into a grad program, it may be that the MA/MS has more value than two BAs... You'd have to consider the fields you're interested in. Multiple grad degrees may be the way to go.

Another possibility is the graduate certificate. If you can get a quick recognized BA/BS then you may be able to enter grad cert programs at Local State U. that will qualify you for specific areas of interest without the demands of an MA/MS.

just a few options to consider....

 

Deb Tormey,
Thank you so much for your response...

 

I don't comment on my current occupation, for obvious reasons. I began as an education specialist in the Air Force in the late 1970's, where I learned about testing for credit, distance learning, etc. It has been an avocation since, which (eventually) turned into a doctorate.

 

Rich,
I am unaware of any "obvious reasons", however I certainly respect your right to privacy.

 

Interesting, because you post there.

 

Education is Lifelong

Whew! is right, Rich. After reading your impressive list of credentials I felt as though I had been out rollerblading for half an hour. You are an inspiration. I use something else as my motivator when on skates but you seem to use education as a fine motivator. Keep up the good work.

 

I graduated from USNY/Regents (now Excelsior) with 146 semester units when I needed only 120. Sometimes I wish I had kept the excess 26 units and put them towards a second BS. However, I think the wide assortment of credits helped me get entry to my two masters programs.

 

Just trying to be friendly and form my own opinions.

 

and because I feel like I owe you one.

 

Excess credits

Excel -

I graduated from TESC last month with 159 semester hours of credit, which doesn't include another 40 credits that I have that they didn't take in transfer.

The extra credits essentially add up to an unofficial "minor" in Electronics, which is visible from a transcript. I say unofficial, because TESC does not grant minors in a field of study. Having this extra bit of coursework certainly aided in landing me a job yesterday in which board-level electronics work will be at least 25% of my job. So, it can't hurt sometimes.

Also, to comment on what somebody said about double majoring at Excelsior. I recently received this e-mail reply from their admissions department, as I am contemplating a second BS from them in Biology/Chemistry:

It's only ONE degree, but TWO majors. At Excelsior, you have to complete two depth requirements. One is a 30+ credit major, the other is a 12+ credit "second depth area" which, if you take 30 credits instead of 12, can be a second major.

Hope this helps.

-Jassen