One class at a time. How can I?

I am enrolled in Excelsior as of last month. I just now got everything together that I need to start taking classes. Someone had told me that most of the classes are taken at my own pace. What I thought I would try to do is take the classes one at a time, but take each one as quickly as I could. With work and family, I dont know how much spare time I would have to try to balance 2 or 3 classes at once, but thought that I could 1 really quick as I would only have to study and work on that one particular subject at a time.

What I dont know is, is this feasible with Excelsior? It seems their classes are available on CDrom, web or webct, but do they still only offer classes during terms? If so, that wouldnt work as I would only be able to take 1 class per term instead of several per term back to back.

Are there certain type of classes this would work for; cdrom vs web vs webct, or are some only geared towards being taken during set terms?

I hope this makes sense and I am asking the question right.

Thanks for any feedback you can give.

Brian

 

I am a graduate of Excelsior College.

I enrolled last spring/summer 03....I needed 9 courses to graduate with a BS degree.

I completed 9 courses in 9 months...all upper level undergraduate courses!!! Not one grade was below a "B"!!!
And these were all Meteorology & Geology courses!

It was hard work, and a lot of time devoted to getting them completed...but I graduated this past July/August. Plus, I was working full-time (40 hrs/wk).


If you want it bad enough...you'll make it happen.

Cheers!

 

Thank you for your reply Noby. To answer my question though, is it possible with EC's course structure?

I understand from your reply that you must be a determined individual, and I commend you for it. However, please dont underestimate my determination or ambition by one simple posting. I am simply looking at possibly taking courses in a different way than you. I have wanted many things bad enough, and I have made them happen as well.

Thanks again for your reply.

 

Are you intending to take classes ONLY through Excelsior? I think the typical method is to find a few colleges that offer DL courses and sign up and take those and then transfer them over to Excelsior.

 

At EC's tuition rate it would be very expensive to take many classes through them!

 

I have no problem taking classes through other schools. Do you have any schools you would recommend? Someone has told me about LSU, but I checked in to them, and didnt see a lot of info on their DL classes. I am also limited to classes I can take exams out of the country with. I am an American, but living in England, so the schools have to offer classes that I can take the exams at an international testing center.

Thank you kindly for your help.

Brian

 

Greetings.

One enrolls with Excelsior College (www.excelsior.edu) for the purpose of obtaining an Excelsior degree, not for the purpose of taking Excelsior college courses: one needn't be a matriculated student to take Excelsior college courses, and the main advantage of Excelsior College over most other colleges is their unlimited acceptance of qualifying transfer credits.

While the wisdom of your (and sometimes my) decision to take college courses one at a time is debatable, it is *certainly* both permissible and doable. Be warned, however, that the longer it takes you to obtain your degree, the more yearly tuition fees you will need to pay (AFAIK).

It is often the way of regionally accredited colleges that they take a particular delight in hiding information on their distance learning programs. Here are direct links to some of the most prominent, "regionally accredited" colleges with substantial DL programs. Unless I made a mistake, all of the programs I am directing you to are of the "open enrollment" sort: they are not term-based, so you can enroll at any time.

Some major DL providers, listed alphabetically:
-----------------------------------------------
Brigham Young University (BYU):
http://ce.byu.edu/is/site/
Louisiana State University (LSU):
http://www.is.lsu.edu/
Oklahoma University (also OU):
http://isd.ou.edu/
Ohio University (OU):
http://www.ohiou.edu/independent/
N.B. 1. Ohio University uses the "quarter hour" system, not
the "semester hour" system. e.g, a 4 Q/H OU course is
worth only 2.67 S/H credits.
2. Ohio University also offers a large number of CCEs
(College Credit by Examination).

Of course, before taking a course, you'd want to check with your advisor at Excelsior to make sure the course will apply towards your degree (unless you don't mind taking a course just for the joy of it).

Good luck!

Cordially,
Richard Kanarek

 

Thank you Richard. That is very informative. I am going to look in to classes for each of those schools to see what is offered.

Brian

 

I just contacted LSU, and was very impressed with their online offereings and their course format. Costs per credit hour are around $73, which is very cheap compared to EC. I am now going to contact EC to verify they will transfer the classes and then I must find my own exam center here in the UK to take my exams at. This may be a very viable option.
Thanks for the tip on that Richard.

Brian

 

LSU has some great programs. If they will meet your needs at Excelsior than go for it. I am currentkly taking 1 class at a time format myself due to finances through another RA institution. It can be done!

 

Brian,

Just a short note to say thanks for saying thanks. <g>

Cordially,
Richard "It's nice to be important, but it's important to be nice" Kanarek

 

Re: Plug for my employer

Are there other RA schools besides Keiser where you can complete the courses at a rapid pace?
Can you take more than one course at a time at Keiser College so you can complete more than 24 units in a year or complete 24 units in less than a year?
What would be the costs to complete one course or a year of courses?

 

I just noticed the post above with the list of schools that may let you set your own pace.
LSU looks like it could be a good choice as long as their turnaround time grading assignments isn't too slow.
The web page says courses are available only through the postal system (no e-mail or faxing).
I suppose I could send assignments in via Express Mail to save time or take multiple courses simultaneously since their tuition looks reasonable.
I need to find out if they offer courses that map to the Technology Core requirements of the Excelsior BS CIS program.