Update / Excelsior IC Requirement

Hello all,

I've not posted here for a while, but wanted to pop my head in and say hello. I read the messages once in a while. I anticipate my degree completion to be done in a year now with a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy. I will most likely be merging over to Excelsior by mid summer to begin that final year - while taking courses at Portland State University as I have for the last two years (simply avoiding undesired PSU requirements). It has been up to this point a six, and what will be a seven year journey to getting this degree - if I count only the time since I was 28 (34 now) and not previous attempts at college earlier than that going back to when I was 19.

What I would like to know, is what people who have attended EC thought about the Information Literacy requirement of the school? Is it tough, a yawn, does it really take 15 weeks (if I go slow)...? I mean, its only 1 credit, how tough could it be?

Input appreciated. Thanks. I'll keep ya'll posted.

- Shawn

 

I didn't have to take it (having enrolled prior to this requirement) but by all accounts you can complete it online in literally a few hours.

Cheers,
Mark

 

Hi Philo,

I've just recently completed the Lit Info course and it's pretty interesting. The course completion took me a total of three days ( 1 to 2.5 hours each day). Just do the required reading which is provided via links and you'd be fine. The course is pretty straight forward and if you're half way competent behind a computer with surfing the web, you'll walk away smiling.

Hope this info helps! Good luck to you!

 

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Hey there,

Thanks for the feedback! That really helps. Just one question, how many hours did you take over that three day period? I am looking forward to being done.

Oh, I have some "D" grades from back when I was young and never went to class. Do you know if EC will take those automaticly? I want to make up those bad grades with better ones.

Thanks again.

- Shawn

 

Hey Shawn,

I finished the Info Lit course in approximately 7 or so hours spread over 3.5 days. This included taking the quizzes and the final exam which took me about an hour to complete. It all depends on the pace you take with the reading materials. I recall reading somewhere in this forum where some folks finished this course in less time. It's a pass/fail course, so it will have no impact on your GPA.

As for the "D" grades, it all depends on the type of courses and the program you are enrolled in. The BS in Business will require a minimum "C" grade for all core business courses (i.e. macro and micro economics, princ of acctg 1 & 2, statistics, etc.) in order for it to count towards the business degree and major. The BS and BA in Liberal Studies is generally the most flexible in maximizing the utility of all acceptable credits ("D" grades and better). However, one thing you have to remember is that a minimum GPA of 2.0 and the right mix of UL credits is required to complete any degree requirements.

I haven't tested out on any courses, so I won't be much help to you in that area. I'm sure other folks in the forum are much better at providing info on CLEPs and DANTES over at EC.

Have you contacted EC on any of these questions about the grades/credits? In my case the admission folks were pretty helpful, especially one lady that gave me some pretty good sound advice along with a pep talk because I was really embarrassed about my own academic past life. The advisors have also been fantastic so far.

I hope this information helps. I found that most of the folks here have helped me plenty in the past...I was a silent lurker sponging in all the necessary info.


Again good luck to you!

 

Shawn, if you prefer what you can do is have Excelsior accept all your grades (including "D" grades for elective credit) and then over time you can replace them with better ones taken via examination. Excelsior will then remove the old ones from your transcript at your written request.

Cheers,
Mark