Explaining a Thomas Edison degree on a resume'...?

I'm kind of in an odd situation here, I'm sending out resumes and have just finished my coursework at TESC for a BA. There are a few issues i'm trying to consider:

My degree is officially titled "Social Sciences/History"(I was told by one advisor that they will even list the Concentration on the diploma if I'm hearing correctly). All of my upper level credits However, and most of my coursework used in my concentration is in the BEHAVIORAL sciences (Psych, Soc...). Because the jobs I'm looking at are mainly Social Service I definately want to let them know that my coursework is mainly behavioral sciences and not Economics or Ancient European History. Conventional wisdon would say to put a relevant coursework section under the names of the schools I attended.
Here are some problems with that:

*I never took one course from TESC. Most of my credits are from B&M or Exams (Most of my upper level courses I tested out of) TESC is a unique school and few people in my area of PA ever even heard of it. I don't want them to think it's a degree mill. I wasn't even enrolled there that long.

*Second I'm not yet sure what TESC will end up using for my degree program- it's all up to the computer. I have well over 120 credits and only 120 will show up on the transcript. This is why I want to credit bank the rest at Excelsior or COSC. If I list a relevant course though and it's not on my transcript will they even look to the credit bank or will they think YOU LIAR! you never took that course!... NEXT!!! Credit Bank will also grade my exams, but where would a credit bank fit on a resume'.

*Can I even call a DANTES exam "relevant coursework"? it's misleading.

*I thought of just saying under my degree that majority of my credits are in the behavioral sciences (I cant even say how many until I know what TESC's computer will use). I was told NONONO that's unprofessional. I don't even know my final GPA yet. One of my transcripts got lost somewhere and I had to get Chauncey to resend my scores to TESC.

*Also my credits are all earned and scored for my degree BUT It won't become official until June 10 (I hope they submit my paperwork on time) and diploma sent weeks later... I wonder if it would help if I offer to show a degree audit in an interview.

*Concentration GPA- if I'm asked for one or for how many 300 and 400 level credits are in my concentration... it may not be indicated on my transcript- which is said to be chronological order. I have more than enough credits for the concentration and not sure how the EMPLOYER would verify and compute it.

You can go to 10 different resume' websites and talk to 10 different professionals; ALL with passionate opinions as to what is either appropriate or unprofessional on a resume'...All will say "this way is the only right way" yet they will all disagree on the details. ADD TO THAT I have a unique situation and graduated from a very unique yet VERY legitimate school.

 

L J, L J, L J . . . haven't you learned the system yet???

If you did not do a specific major in history, then your degree is in the Social Sciences, which, at TESC, includes both psychology/behavioral sciences and history. Remember this as you go through life: K.I.S.S. ("Keep It Simple, Stupid.") Don't complicate things - you will have a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, period. And all that people will be concerned with is that you have a bachelor's degree that is appropriate to your field.

In Wikes-Barre? Hell, most people have heard of nothing except for Wilkes, King's, and LCCC. Most people anywhere have not heard of most colleges and universities. Few people in New Jersey have heard of TESC; that doesn't make it any less credible. Don't worry about what other people have heard of - that's their issue, not yours.

Why will only 120 show up on your transcript? TESC will transcript as many credits as you have submitted to them, and it's not unusual for transcripts to show far more than 120 credits. If you want to limit your transcript to the 120 credits that will meet your degree requirements, you should have established which ones to use with your advisor - and the ultimate decision, in conjunction with your advisor, is yours. Take control, dude!

Yes. And no, it's not misleading at all - you did as much to learn the material that resulted in your passing the DANTES exam as some numb-nut in a classroom who had to learn it from scratch to pass a course.

Then don't say it. Just stick to Social Sciences - that's all you need anyway. If you want to expand it, use the term "human services" (as long as it's not bullshit) - it's nice and generic. And remember that "TESC's computer" doesn't decide anything - people do. And the strongest voice in those decisions should be yours. Hell, man, if you're going to be in a human services field, the time to learn what self-advocacy is about is now.

Don't bother. Just say, "B.A. work completed, graduation pending 6/05."

Think like a witness in a court case: When possible, answer questions with a yes or no, and answer only what is asked - do not volunteer additional information unless and until someone asks for it, or you risk putting your foot in your mouth. Anyone you speak with will realize you have a legitimate accredited degree in the Social Sciences coming to you - it's time you realized it yourself.

No employer will bother computing it - they're only concerned with the degree and its concentration. And no employer will ever make an inquiry as to course numbers or credit level. If they do, it's an employer for which you wouldn't want to work anyway.

L J, you sound like you're still trying to convince yourself that TESC is legitimate. It's a regionally accredited state college - and that's all you need to be concerned about. And what is appropriate on a résumé is what works for you, period.

Last, but not least, if you think I'm being a prick, get over it. I have faith in you and your accomplishment - now it's time for you to do the same.

And do consider grad school, if not now then in the future. You've come a long way, and it actually does get easier down the line.

Now be a good boy and take your Adderall.
______________________

Okay, the last line was below the belt. But I'm an ADD-er, so I can get away with it.

 

Steve's advice is all valid. Especially the KISS part.
And don't forget the very process of earning a degree tells an employer that you can start and complete a project while complying with lots of rules and bureaucracy.

 

Some years ago I might agree that TESC is a "unique" school. These days, DL is far from "unique" or even inovated.

The number of B&Ms that offer DL coursework grows every day as do the number of B&Ms that offer degree complateion programs. DL coursework has become very common these days. It sounds to me like you feel the need to make excuses or justify your degree route. In reality, you probably don't.

TESC is not a diploma mill in any sense of the word. They are an RA state college, that's more than can be said of Bob Jones University for example.

In another thread I wrote that there are over 6000 RA colleges and universities in the United States. No employer is familiar with all of them. I'm betting that few folks in your area have heard of College of Charleston either -- that doesn't diminish the value of a CoC degree (they're pretty well respected).

As for what major to put -- use whatever it says on the diploma. Social work type employers know that "social sciences" is a generalist multidisciplinary major.

 

NO, actually I don't think your being a prick, at least not on this thread ...

Only thing is it was my advisor who told me that only the 120 credits used for the degree will be on the transcript and that how my courses are placed is decided by a computer software made to paint the student in the best light. You would think with the extra tests I took it would then knock the D's out of my free electives but instead it knocked the good grades out. The advisors can be rather elusive there, which is one of the reasons why I use this forum so much.

As for the title I know state civil service jobs (at least in PA) talk about a degree in a behavioral science related field. Not sure if Social Science would do. My only work experience is minimum wage food service jobs. (think Krusty Krab...lol) I wonder though is a BA in Social Science would open other doors in Government jobs besides group home worker.

Steve: I'm surprised you or anyone else even heard of Wilkes or Kings...and yes I take my Straterra very religiously. (I miss Adderall though) The reason I got a little concerned about TESC's acceptability was some old article I found about that lady in the white house and Hamilton University and phoney credentials... The author very rudely forgot to mention that TESC was accredited- and it got me wondering about the general attitude.

Actually for the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Hazleton Metropolitan area, only 17% of adults 25 or older have a Bachelor's Degree of higher. So that puts me in the mid 80's percentile of educational attainment. YAY (In Montgomery Cty, MD on the other hand where 60% have degrees I'd be nothing special...lol)

Coach Turner: I have heard of College of Charleston, not so much for academic reasons but more historical and because Charleston, SC is a famous city. TESC I mainly call unique because it has no residency requirement. (one of only 3 schools I think)

Thanks for the advice though guys...

 

There's something that doesn't jive here . . . TESC may use a computer program to place courses in their proper distribution area. However, when it comes to final transcript decisions, human beings can still override computers.

Yes, Social Sciences would do. The social sciences are the behavioral sciences; the name simply implies more of a research component. You will have no problem if you merely tell a prospective employer that your focus area was the behavioral sciences. Also, remember that "group home worker" generally does not require a degree, merely high school graduation. That's especially the case in Northeast Pennsylvania, where, as you probably know, Allied has a corner on the market.

No surprise - I spent four years doing a program on WRKC Radio at King's, and lived just off River & Academy, three blocks south of Wilkes. As for the article, you should be aware that one of the more notorious degree mills at one time was a Florida mill called Thomas Edison University, which has more than once been a thorn in the side to TESC. Either the author was talking about TEU, not TESC, or didn't know the difference between them.

Not at all. The "big three" (Charter Oak, Edison, and Excelsior) are merely those that place no limitations on the number of credits that can be earned through prior learning assessment/portfolio, examination, or transfer into your program. There are hundreds of colleges and universities without any residency requirement, both cyber schools and traditional brick-and-mortar schools. In Pennsylvania alone, three of the early leaders in the nontraditional education millieu that offered (and still offer) degrees with no residency at all include Penn State University, Elizabethtown College, and the University of Pittsburgh. Unlike the big three, however, most other schools do limit the number of credits that can be earned in any way other than taking their own courses.

 

The ideal way to list your degree on your resume without being accused of misrepresentation would be this:

B.A. in Social Science, and History
- Emphasis of study in Behavioral Science

If your diploma/transcript lists your major as social science/history
you can't simply drop the history part because you don't like the sound of it or you didn't take many courses in it.

That being said, Behavioral science/Psychology, and Sociology/Social Services, all fall under the social sciences umbrella. Your degree is related to those fields just slightly broader in breadth. By emphasizing that much of your coursework was in the behavioral sciences, you will be letting the employer know that you have a solid understanding of that field.

You say weren't enrolled very long there. The solution to that is ONLY put your date of graduation on the resume. No need to explain why or how you were able to complete a bachelors degree in such a short period of time unless asked.

If the employer says they have never heard of the school. Just tell them that it is one of the 12 schools in the New Jersey State Public University System and is fully accredited. I wouldn't go into a big speel about how it is a non-traditional assessment college with no residencies, ect. It just confuses things.

The bottom line is you have an RA Degree, and that will allow you to qualify for and get your foot in the door at many positions in your field.

Good Luck

 

Only thing is it was my advisor who told me that only the 120 credits used for the degree will be on the transcript and that how my courses are placed is decided by a computer software made to paint the student in the best light. You would think with the extra tests I took it would then knock the D's out of my free electives but instead it knocked the good grades out. The advisors can be rather elusive there, which is one of the reasons why I use this forum so much.

A TESC advisor recently told me that yes a computer does auto-insert transcripts to make you look good (at least in its eyes) but you can have that changed (to include using more than 120 credits) by sending the request to the registrar in writing (email worked for me).

Eric

 

Nobody gives a rip about all of the your "issues". Most won't care what your degree is in, unless you're wanting to teach "Social Sciences/History" in a junior high school. (It's hard to accept the fact that all of that detail which has consumed your life for so long isn't so important to everyone else. No one has ever asked me about the course work in my B.A.)

Just be matter of fact -- lesser is better when it comes to listing academics (unless you're applying for a job in academics).

B.A. (Social Sciences/History) Thomas Edison State College, Trenton, New Jersey, 2005.

 

Between Dan Cooper's cautious approach and Dr. Levicoff's, I'd go with the latter:

"B.A. Social Sciences"

While not a commonplace degree, it is becoming more frequent than you know. Social sci does indeed cover the behavioral sciences. Feel free to mention the emphasis if it serves your purposes in self-presentation.

Remember: a resume is an advertising tool - NOT an official accounting of one's field or area of study.

TESC is merely trying to be helpful and all encompassing in their "official" "Social Science and History" designation. They aren't fishing for jobs but just serving students.

Be fair to yourself, first!

-Orson
PS Feel free to list as course titles what you've passed as testing. That's completely legitimate.
You - as a younger (or less experienced) job applicant - are trying to present appropriate and legitimate bait that will demonstrate competency or relevant training. If they they like you, these make hiring easier if you simply show that you have what they want on their list of desired qualifications. It's a matching process - KISS - make it easy and compelling for them makes it easy for you!

 

Thomas Edison (State College?)

As your school is RA, you should have no problem with employers. I have worked in Human Resource departments in several companies and hired from one public service institution, and I can tell you with some assurance that the RA status is 90% of the initial scruitiny. While specific course work can be inquired into, it just as often is not - neither is GPA unless this is your first professinal job, although there is a place for it on some applications.

Relax! you are in good shape. Most people who know of the name Thomas Edison in reference to the school, just think of it as a State College - and that's about it!

I'm sure with your degree, your interview will be the next most important part of getting hired into a good job.