Looking for some guidance on my situation. 42 year old small business owner for the last 5 years. 18 years manufacturing management experience (including new product/plant start-ups and plant management responsibilities) prior to that. Looking to obtain a business degree, probably along operational lines. I have been and will be paying my own way (no loans etc) for this adventure (if that makes any difference). Have been taking two or so classes per quarter at a couple of the local community colleges. We will call them cc#1 and cc#2. I have 78 credits total between the two colleges. Had given consideration to Washington State University's distance business degree program. http://wsudegree.edcc.edu/degrees/ba/ba_ba.html WSU has a transfer degree program set-up with one of the local community colleges (the one I'm attending now) cc#1. However, it looks like in order to get the magical transfer degree I need 90 or so credits from cc #1. The problem is only about half my 78 credits are from cc#1, the other half from cc#2 which is not on the transfer degree program. I'm not familiar with the application processes for these places, Can I just apply to the WSU program with my credits from both cc's without having an actual transfer degree? How does the application process work? Do I just match up the requirements with my completed classes as best as possible and then once I'm close I fire off an application? Second question is in regards to other distance learning options for a business degree. I'm not so hung up on having to go to a name school necessarily, but of course want an accredited one. Given my age and work experience I have been getting the impression that employers "want" a business degree, but more so to get past the "degree requirement". Most of them have been very interested and happy with my specific work experience but can't get by the lack of a degree in todays environment. At any rate, what other online degree programs should I be looking at? Seems like much of the stigma of online learning has slowly but steadily worn off. And certainly there have been a bunch of players in the online education game. Has the industry matured enough now that a hand full of online institutions constantly stand out as providing the most value?? Thanks Wayne
Wayne, a lot of possibilities for you, but start here: www.bain4weeks.com www.excelsior.edu www.cosc.edu www.tesc.edu go to www.geteducated.com and download free business school guide. hopefully some of the folks will stop by and give you more advice regarding the transfer credit question but there are many variables that go into credit transfer and where those credits will fall in a degree plan so don't get discouraged at this point. Regards, Kevin
<<I'm not familiar with the application processes for these places, Can I just apply to the WSU program with my credits from both cc's without having an actual transfer degree? How does the application process work? Do I just match up the requirements with my completed classes as best as possible and then once I'm close I fire off an application? >> Trying to match up the classes can provide an idea of what will transfer but it's no guarantee. Even if you are able to match up your courses exactly to the new school all of your credits may not be accepted. Some schools, for example, want you to take THEIR english courses even if you have already taken an equivalent course elsewhere. I would select the school you intend to graduate with and make application now. The new school will perform a transcript evaluation and let you know exactly what transfers into their program and exactly what you still need. <<At any rate, what other online degree programs should I be looking at?>> That's tough. It depends on what your needs are and how much you want to spend. My opinion is that unless you are looking to graduate from a school with a REALLY big name...it just doesn't matter. Any regionally accredited school will suffice as long as it has the program you want. Excelsior college is extremely flexible. If you prefer an online degree from a school that also has a traditional campus...there are TONS. <<Has the industry matured enough now that a hand full of online institutions constantly stand out as providing the most value??>> I think value is very subjective. Some institutions are less expensive than others, yes. Again, it really depends on what your goals are and exactly for what you intend to use the degree. If your goal is simply to "get past" the degree requirement I would go with the most flexible, least expensive school I could find. In my opinion that might just be Excelsior. One caution: You mentioned that you have 78 credits so far that have all been earned from local community colleges. Any school that is going to award a 4-year degree is going to require a certain amount of upper level credits. If I were you I wouldn't take too many more community college classses until you picked school and a degree program. Pug
Also, if you go the way of Excelsior you can continue to take VERY inexpensive classes at schools like LSU (like $226 a class I believe), just get them approved by your school in advance so you can be sure they will transfer. BYU and FHSU also have very affordable classes....BYU has quite a few upper level classes. If you prefer to spend a little more money but have piece of mind and a clear finish line, try Bellevue. With 78 credits to your name you can enter directly into their accelerated bachelor program and graduate in 15 months. Pug
Wayne, if you are going to Edmonds Community College (am I correct?), then the way I understand it is that a Washington State course is a Washington State course, especially at the community college level. That doesn't mean that they will all meet general ed requirements (for that you need to complete a degree meeting the requirements of the Direct Transfer Articulation in Washington State), but as long as they are not vocational courses, they would likely be transferable. I have done a lot of research on Washington schools since I considered doing what you are considering, as well as St. Martins, Chapman, UW etc. I decided to go to an out of state school simply because the accreditation was the same and the hassle factor was almost nil. I attend Bellevue University, and they took a lot more lower division credits than WSU would have. And since they are a private, not for profit, brick and mortar school with an online presence, and since the tuition is quite reasonable, I felt comfortable making the choice. So far I am very pleased. Bellevue also offers an online business degree. Sean
Pugbelly wrote: One of the tricks to Bellevue is transfer in with an Associates degree (any one is fine) and 82 lower division credits. Then you are left with the 36 hour major and the Kirkpatrick series of courses. If you choose to double up and do the Kirkpatrick series along with your regular studies (they don't recommend this, but I'm doing it), then you can graduate from Bellevue in only twelve months. Sean
I'm currently going to Bellevue CC, but half of those 78 credits are from Cascadia CC - so there is no associates degree, and of course I really would rather not throw away half those credits if possible. Even if it means paying more for a program that will accept those credits. Is having an associates degree an absolute requirement to get into a BA or BS online degree program these days? How does the whole in-state/out of state tuition thing work with online programs? Is there much difference in tuition between in state and out of state programs? Here is what I've got so far, it's all low level stuff: Algebra - elements of (math 090) 5 Cascadia Algebra - elements of (math 085) 5 Cascadia Algebra - intermediate (math 095) 5 Cascadia Algebra - college algebra business and life sciences (math 115) 5 Cascadia College strategies (coll 101) 3 Cascadia College composition (eng 101) 5 Cascadia Writing from research (eng 102) 5 Cascadia Multicultural communication (cmu 150) 5 Cascadia sub total cascadia 38 Cascadia Calculus - elements of (math 157) 5 BCC Fund of accounting I (acctg 210) 5 BCC Fund of accounting II (acctg 220) 5 BCC Accounting analysis (acctg 230) 5 BCC Intro to microeconomics (econ 201) 5 BCC Basic macroeconomics (econ 200) 5 BCC Statistical analysis (BA240) 5 BCC Business law (BA200) 5 BCC sub total BCC 40 BCC Grand total 78 Thanks for all the input, please keep it coming! Wayne
You don't need the associates. They require the associates or 60 hours of credit. If you have the associates they don't require any additional general ed requirements. If you have 60 or more credits they'll look at the credits to make sure the general eds are met, but with 78 hours down i imagine they would be. Pug
Wayne, It looks like these schools are using the quarter unit/credit system instead of the semester hour/credit system. Am I correct? If so, the credits need to be divided by 1.5 to convert them to the semester system (78/1.5=52 hours). Now before you get discouraged at what appears to be a credit loss, you only need 120 hours to graduate on the semester hour system where you need 180 on the quarter unit system. It's a wash...there is no difference. Either way, this should all transfer into Bellevue or virtually any other school without loss of credit. If some of your credits can't be used to meet specific requirements at the new school there should be plenty of elective room where they can go. As far as in state/out of state tuition - I have found that most schools do not make a distinction for their online/distance programs regarding being out of state. You should check with the school to be sure. Bellevue, for example, makes no distinction. Pug
Wayne, have a look at the transfer pages at WSU and see how much of what you've already got would transfer over. http://salc.wsu.edu/transfer/ It looks as if most of what you've already got (with the exception of BA200, MATH090 and COL101) is already listed by WSU as acceptable credit. (math 090) 5 Cascadia - no match (math 085) 5 Cascadia - math 100 no degree credit (math 095) 5 Cascadia - math 101 no degree credit (math 115) 5 Cascadia - math 201 (coll 101) 3 Cascadia - all COLL courses non-transferable (eng 101) 5 Cascadia - eng 101 (W) (eng 102) 5 Cascadia - eng LXX (W) (cmu 150) 5 Cascadia - com LXX (I) sub total cascadia 38 Cascadia - which translates into 12 semester hours of degree credit at WSU (plus six hours of non-degree credit) (math 157) 5 BCC - math 202 (N) (acctg 210) 5 BCC (acctg 220) 5 BCC - 210 & 220 together map to acctg 230 (acctg 230) 5 BCC - acctg 231 (econ 201) 5 BCC - econ 101 (S) (econ 200) 5 BCC - econ 102 (S) (BA240) 5 BCC - mgtop 215 (BA200) 5 BCC - no direct match but transferable as an elective. Your 40 hours from Bellvue translates to 18 semester hours, plus another 3 hours of elective credit. You don't need a full associates or a complete first two years of college to transfer, but you should have 27 semester hours or more, which is not a problem in your case as you've got 33 hours. However, a look at the lower level general ed requirements http://distance.wsu.edu/courses/gerbydate.htm suggests that you're short on the arts and humanities, science and world civilizations requirements, but that you've already fulfilled some of the lower level requirements for the major in business admin. If you're certain you want to go to WSU. I'd knock out the gen-ed requirements, either at your community college, with some CLEPS or online at WSU as soon as possible. Alternatively, have a look at the schools listed on Gus Sainz's DL business education page http://collegedegrees.tripod.com/ to see if there's anything you like. Angela -- rather obviously avoiding her classics essay!
Wayne, you are short on arts and sciences credits, which is why I recommended getting the associates. Bellevue Community College has an associates in general studies. Believe it or not, this will transfer into Bellevue University and they will waive the rest of the general ed requirements (I did the very same thing at Pierce College). That's why the associates, while not required for admission, can save you a bunch of time and money in your case. The requirements are listed below: Associate in Arts in General Studies (A.A.G.S.) Completion of 90 quarter credit hours, three of which are recommended to be activity courses in physical education. At least 60 credits must be taken from courses numbered 100 or above. At least 30 of the 90 quarter credit hours for the A.A.G.S. degree must be completed in residence at BCC. Minimum completion of English 092 or above AND Math 075 or above to satisfy communication and quantitative or symbolic reasoning requirements. Recommended total of 30 credits or a minimum of 10 credits each in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences areas. Although the degree may contain transferable courses, the transferability of courses remains the sole prerogative of the institution to which students are transferring. If you have an associates, any associates, those credits count toward Bellevue University's 127 credit reuirement. To calculate semester hours, divide your quarter hours by .68 (Bellevue U does this, don't ask me why it's not .66). I spent a lot of time figuring out this same route (and eliminating many, many other routes), and I'm going from 0 to 127 credits and a B.S. degree in 24 months flat this October. If you want advice on this particular route, just PM me. Sean
Just wanted to thank everyone for taking the time to reply, I really, really appreciate it. I'm trying to go through all the links you've posted today and tomorrow. I obviously don't understand the college systems very well. It's all a bit overwhelming. Keep the input coming and thanks again. Wayne
Hey, Wayne, I just replied to your PM. Sorry I didn't see it sooner. I am not in the habit of checking those things. Sean
