Best option for GenEd. BA school?

This may be a very simple question for some of you to answer. I however have not been very successful at coming up with many options beyond COSC.

So the questions is.... What RA schools out there offer a BA degree in general studies? While cost is a factor, convenience is what I am shooting for.

I have over 100 credit hours in a valid concentration, so help me find a good home for them!

Thanks,

David

Graduate Marketing Certificate - Southern Methodist University
Oklahoma State University - OKC - AAS Public Safety (Current)

 

Excelsior is an option, they have a BA in Liberal Arts, Indiana University has a BS in General Studies http://www.indiana.edu/~scs/undergraddegrees/undergraddegrees.html. Thomas Edison - http://www.tesc.edu/prospective/undergraduate/degree/ba.php

What is wrong with COSC?

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with COSC. What I am trying to do is take a look at the field before I make a decision. I suspect that COSC would be quite flexible with my request for a concentration in Disaster / Emergency Management. I am sure they would even let me throw my CJ credits for fun as well.

My AAS will be done next semester, and I am really looking towards a Masters program. However I am compelled to complete a BA vs. looking for a MA program that will accept students without BA degrees.

I have amassed a great deal of credit hours that I would like to turn into a degree.

Thanks,

David

 

I found COSC to be the most flexible. I got my BS in Individualized Studies - Technology & Business. I combined business credits, computer credits, electronics credits, Microsoft exams, and traditional classes for my concentration.

Best of luck.

 

I just wanted to bump the post for a little more exposure. The knowledge and insight of the group is very valuable to me.

Thanks,

David

 

Hi - You may wish to check out Athabasca University. Athabasca offers a Bachelors in General Studies. This is a THREE year degree, meaning that you only need 90 credits (it doesn't mean that you need to take three years to complete it). In fact, for this degree, you do not need to meet a residency requirement at the school (meaning that you need not take any classes through Athabasca). You may transfer 100% of your credits (provided that they are deemed acceptable).

Several points worth noting here:

1. Athabasca is a Canadian university, however they are regionally accredited thorugh Middle States.

2. You might run into trouble gaining acceptance into SOME master's program, since your BA would be only 90 credits.

3. Don't despair too much about number two though. Athabasca (for one) has a Master's in Integrated studies and the BGS will qualify for admission. Also, there are many foreign (and likely U.S.) graduate programs that will accept this type of degree.

4. You could go with the Athabasca 90 credit BGS as a stepping stone to a 4 year, degree (also offered through this school).

5. I'm not sure if Athabasca will accept CLEP or Dantes exams. I would check with the University, if this is a sticking point for you.

Just a suggestions. If Athabasca meets your needs and you have the right distribution of credits, you could have your degree before the end of the year!

BGS - General Information:
http://www.athabascau.ca/calendar/05/page03_07.html


BGS - Applied Studies: http://www.athabascau.ca/advising/Advising%20Program%20Plans%202005/05%20Program%20Plans/bgs3ap05.htm

BGS - Arts and Science:
http://www.athabascau.ca/advising/Advising%20Program%20Plans%202005/05%20index%20files/bgs05.htm

- Tom

 

Re: Re: Best option for GenEd. BA school?

Very interesting! Good post Tom. I am going to tuck this away into my bag of tricks. Regional U.S. accreditation as well, wow!

I emailed them asking how much the fees would be if someone transfered in all of the required 90 credits into their BGS program.


Take care,

Abner

 

You might also want to look at the BA in General Studies offered by LSU and University of New Orleans.

http://www.is.lsu.edu/uidegreeop.asp?nid=105

 

Re: Re: Best option for GenEd. BA school?

Which means that it's not on-par with a 120-hour US, regionally-accredited bachelors degree... and cannot be substituted for one anywhere in the US. The fact that Athabasca offers a three-year degree does not mean that it's interchangeable with a four-year one. They're not both "bachelors" degrees in the eyes of most in the US. Read on...

And that's the reason Athabasca offers both three-year and four-year bachelors programs. In some places in Canada, secondary education is one year longer than in the US. A three-year bachelors for such students means that they still end-up with the same number of years of schooling (as US students) by the time they complete their K-16 careers. To achieve the 16th year in the K-16 cycle, US students need a 120-hour, four-year bachelors degree. Therefore, all US students should get the four-year version of any of Athabasca's bachelors degrees.

Some? I'd wager all... or at least most... at least in the US. I repeat: The three-year Athabasca bachelors program is not recommended for US students wishing to obtain a US regionally-accredited bachelors degree that will be treated just like any other US regionally-accredited bachelors degree by those (colleges/universities, and public/private employers) in the US.

The word "resident" or "residency" in the world of distance learning does not always mean that. Indeed, that's what it means in the brick-and-mortar (B&M) world since all coursework in that world is, by definition, "resident" in the sense that the student sits in a classroom on campus rather than takes courses via distance learning. In the B&M paradigm, "resident" or "residency" refers to exactly what you said: The number of hours/courses that one takes from the school from which s/he intends to get the actual diploma.

But in the world of distance learning, "resident" or "residency" can also refer to a requirement by the school that the student must attend classes on campus for some small percentage of the distance learning program's overall coursework. An example of this is most any distance learning degree from St. Joseph's College of Maine. Every degree has a brief summer intensive requirement. Such a requirement, in the world of distance learning, is sometimes referred to "residency"; and, when so, the school's requirement that a certain minimum number of hours (and/or that a certain number of the degree's final hours) must be obtained from it in order for it to be willing to grant a diploma is usually referred to as exactly that: The minimum number of hours (and/or the number which must be the very last hours that the student earns toward the degree) that the student must earn in order for the institution to be willing to grant a degree.

But it's playing with fire, in any case. Some higher degrees -- many doctoral programs, for example -- state their entrance requirements as "X" number of postsecondary semester credit hours, which includes both one's bachelors and one's masters degrees. When that is the case, the bachelors -- at least in the US -- is presumed to be at least 120 semester hours of credit, and the masters is typically considered to be at least 30 semester hours... for a total of 150 postsecondary semester credit hours. Someone with a 90-hour Athabasca bachelors, and a 32-hour Athabasca masters, will be at least 28 hours of postsecondary semester credit hours short of the requisite for such a doctoral program.

I repeat: Those in the US should not obtain the 3-year Athabasca bachelors degree and expect it to be viewed the same as a 4-year bachelors from a US regionally-accredited college/university. It may not even be viewed as a bachelors degree at all; and someone trying to use it to gain entry into a US regionally-accredited masters program may well find himself/herself having to take 30 hours of undergraduate coursework alongside the 30 or so hours of masters coursework before the masters degree will be granted.

The 120-semester-hour requirement for a US regionally-accredited bachelors degree cannot be fudged. It's 120 hours, not 90. The Athabasca 3-year bachelors is not a shortcut... and will likely be a problem if proffered in the US.

Maybe. Maybe not. Why tempt fate. Get the 4-year version. Period.

That's true... and, if so, you could, technically, say you got a bachelors from Athabasca with just the 3-year version. But if looked-at by a potential employer or college/university beyond that simple declaration, you might find yourself being asked some questions. Just get the 4-year version.

A degree which, if the 3-year version, would be short 30 hours of what would be needed to call it a regionally-accredited bachelors degree in the US, for US purposes.

Those in the US should get the 4-year version. Period.

 

Re: Re: Re: Best option for GenEd. BA school?

So, are you saying that the BGS 3-year degree from Athabasca Univ. is not regionally accredited? My understanding of regional accreditation is granted to an entire school, not individual degrees within a school. Now, this is different from professional accreditation (i.e. APA or ABET), which is certainly applied to individual degrees within a school.

I would think it quite appropriate to state that a person receiving this degree, earned a Bachelor's degree from a Regionally Accredited institution. Would there be caveats? You bet there would - Canadian school, three year/90 credit degree in general studies. However, I do believe that Middle States will assert that the Athabasca three year BGS, is in fact a valid regionally accredited qualification. I will contact them directly to confirm this fact and I'll report my findings back here.

I urged caution in my original post and I will do so again. If you have any inkling of attending graduate school in the future, contact the schools in question first, to see if this degree will meet their admission requirements.

Any issues regarding acceptance into a graduate program, could be cleared up by contacting the school(s) that you wish to attend and ask them if they accept a three year degree from Athabasca. And yes, you should do this prior to pursuing the BGS.

Also, I'm not sure what the issue would be in submitting the BGS degree as qualification to potential employers.

This does bring up an interesting (at least to me) question though:

How common is it for employers to ask for transcripts from job applicants?

I am currently pursuing my first Bachelor's degree, so I cannot answer this question. Anyone?

Just for sake of argument (and I'm using this term loosely here, as I'm not really trying to argue here), let's say I am applying to company X. With all else being equal (job experience, "right fit", etc..), what would be the issue of presenting a BGS degree from Athabasca Univ. to this company as my educational qualification? Now, if asked, I would not lie to the potential employer and state that my degree was anything that it wasn't (i.e. a 4-year degree). But, I would leave the assumptions to them and clear up any questions that they might have.

I fail to see the harm if someone wanted to cut down on the amount of time required to complete a Bachelor's degree and use this qualification to get a job. I understand the inhert limitations in a "General Studies" degree (i.e. no major area of study), however, if an employer is looking for an applicant with a general Bachelor's, then what's the harm? There are many similar applicants to jobs in the U.S. with 3-year degrees from foreign schools (albeit, many are not Regionally Accredited).

While, I would certainly urge caution in pursuing this type of degree, I would not go so far as to dismiss it entirely.

- Tom

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Best option for GenEd. BA school?

Hi - As a follow up to the above statement, I found the following information on the MSA (Middle States Association) website:

source:
http://www.msche.org/?Nav1=About&Nav2=FAQ&Nav3=Question02

Is institutional accreditation different from specialized accreditation?
Organizations which accredit entire institutions are called institutional accrediting organizations. Those that evaluate free-standing professional or occupational schools or are limited to specific programs within an institution of higher education are called specialized accrediting organizations. The most widely known institutional accreditors are the regional accrediting associations, such as the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. They examine the educational programs at an institution as well as such areas as student services, financial condition, and administrative effectiveness.

The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is one of six regional accrediting associations in the United States, each responsible for a specific geographic area. Within these six associations, there are eight commissions serving postsecondary education.

Regional accrediting associations accredit institutions as a whole, not specific programs. Academic programs are reviewed as part of the evaluation of an entire institution, and they are included within the scope of the institutional accreditation.

There are also national accrediting organizations which are both institutional and specialized in character. There are numerous other specialized accrediting organizations, which are national in scope, that accredit particular programs within a college or university. Some institutions choose to seek additional recognition from these organizations, whose evaluations often are closely linked to professional associations, such as those for engineering, law, medicine, library science, journalism, or nursing..


In reading paragraph three above, it seems clear to me that the Athabasca Univ. 3-year BGS degree is recognized by MSA as a valid, Bachelor's degree received from a regionally accredited school.

My point here is not to debate the 90 credit vs. 120 credit issue. I fully understand the ramifications (and possible limited utility of) a three year degree in the U.S. What I am simply pointing out here is that the degree is valid and should be recognized as such.

With this information in hand, I would not be so apt to make the statement:

"Those in the US should get the 4-year version. Period."

While I appreciate Greg's concern of the utility of this degree (and to some extent, I agree with this), I do not feel that the door should be slammed shut on this degree, rather it should be opened with caution.

YES, please do practice due diligence when researching ANY type of degree program.

Just my opinion. Like anything else in life, YMMV.

- Tom

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Best option for GenEd. BA school?

 

I have had to furnish transcripts for all my degrees for government (both civilian and military). In my case these were looked at for sufficient credits in a particular field and to ensure that the degree awarded (date, etc...) was indicated on the transcript.

The civilian jobs I have had did not require trancripts(with the exception of an academic institution) but did copy diplomas.

I would venture that commercial entities doing business with the government may require transcripts, especially if providing consultants or personnel on a skill basis as the pay rates are often tied to education and/or level of education.

Kevin

 

Abner & Fed,

Thanks for the answers to my question regarding employers requesting college transcripts.

I'm considering pursuing the three year BGS (Bachelor General Studies) from Athabasca (via transfer credits). Considering that Athabasca does not accept CLEP or DANTES credits for transfer, I will likely continue taking courses at my current school (National University) and when I reach the magic number of 90 credits (see below for a caveat regarding credit distribution), I will apply for the BGS. At that point, I will most likely continue with National to get the 4 year BA in Psychology, or possibly transfer officially to Athabasca and pursue the 4 year BA in Psych.

One additional item to note regarding credit distribution:

While the Athabasca BGS does not have a Math requirement, it does have a general English requirement (as it should!). In addition, only 6s.u. credits in 100 level courses may be applied to the degree (bummer!).

- Tom

 

I appreciate everyone chiming in on the 3yr. vs. 4yr degree programs. I was not even aware that schools offered 3yr. BA degrees even in Canada.

While the info is great, my situation makes the debate not so relative. I have the following credits beyond the requirements for my current AA degree.

Criminal Justice = 19hr
Disaster Management = 55hr
Military History= 9hr
Social Science= 6hr
Marketing = 9hr
Total = 98hr

The winning formula is to take the 60 hours from my AA + the 98 hours that I have not applied to a degree and stir them gently together for a BA in General Studies.

Thanks.... David

 

David,

Considering that you have 55hr of Disaster Management credits, you might be interested in THIS program from TESC.

The Disaster Management degree could possibly serve you better then a General Studies degree.

Good luck!

- Tom

 

And such degrees are very in vogue right now. In fact, I would think that for the next several years, someone with a degree like that might easily find employment at FEMA or at some agency in New Orleans.