Help with my Excelsior Applicaton

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by bceagles, Aug 19, 2006.

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  1. bceagles

    bceagles Member

    Hello All,

    I’m finally gonna bite the bullet and apply to Excelsior. At this point I’m worried about duplicating credit and/or taking exams that I will not be able to use.

    Ideally what I would like to do is apply, be accepted, transfer in all my credits, figure out what degree track I’m closest to completing (With the help of an advisor at Excelsior), take the required exams and then petition for graduation.

    Here is my question. Will Excelsior allow me to apply without choising a degree track/major/program etc.?

    All I want to accomplish at Excelsior is an undergraduate degree, any undergraduate degree.

    I’ve been considering a BA or BS in General Studies/Liberal Arts. If I had to chose, I think that I would rather a BS over a BA. But I really don’t care either way. Also I guess that if given the choice I would rather have a BA or BS in something other than GS/LA. But once again, I really don’t care.

    First and foremost I just want to be a college graduate. Sooner rather than Later. Secondly, If I can relatively easily get a “Normal” major, that would be great too.

    Anyone in the same boat? Let me know what you all think!
     
  2. ShotoJuku

    ShotoJuku New Member

    Yes, it's your degree choice - GOOD LUCK!!!
     
  3. CoachTurner

    CoachTurner Member

    there's no "undeclared" at Excelsior so you'll have to declare something. I'd go with the BS in Liberal Studies as the most versatile and accomodating degree at Excelsior and then, if you find you want to change to BA or BS in "something" you can change the degree plan.

    Changing from Liberal Arts to Business or BA/BS to AA/AS will cost you some $$ -- I don't think there's a fee for declaring a major after you've enrolled. Ask an advisor to be certain.

    Good luck.
     
  4. bceagles

    bceagles Member

    I spoke with an advisor at Excelsior today, she told me that the BS in Liberal Studies is the most flexable degree program. FYI
     
  5. CoachTurner

    CoachTurner Member

    The BS in Liberal Studies is indeed the most flexible program at Excelsior. The BA in Liberal Studies is probably next.

    Keep in mind with these that the major is Liberal Studies and therein lies a problem for some people. It's not a problem from many and it is possible to build in Areas of Focus and Depths into that degree.
     
  6. I am in the same boat as you bceagles, well almost, I want my AS first. I am in the Navy and all I want a degree for is to become an officer and I keep facing the nagging of question what what will me my major. I kept coming up as political science and psychology. political science because that is what I am interested and psychology because through testing it would be a lot faster. I started talking to the excelsior military counselor last week and I am awaiting an unofficial review of my current credits. All I want is that degree and If they tell me that the BALS will be dramatically quicker or if I have already satisfied all requirements for it, i am going to do that. Anyways I know where your coming, I think...
    good luck to you.
     
  7. CoachTurner

    CoachTurner Member

    Re: Re: Help with my Excelsior Applicaton

    Take a look at the school of business too -- there's a very flexible program designed for the military person.

    You can find the program on Excelsior's page under business associate's degrees as the - Associate in Applied Science, Administrative/Management Studies.
     
  8. LearningAddict

    LearningAddict Well-Known Member

    Maybe I'm just misunderstanding here... but, I was looking at the transcript that "robertp" posted back in April and it reads:

    Degree: Bachelor of Science
    Program: Liberal Arts
    Major: Psychology
    Focus Area: Admin/Mgmt Studies


    I also remember people saying that the major was not written on an Excelsior degree, but according to "robertp", they do write the major on them:

    For anyone interested in how the liberal arts diplomas are written at Excelsior College, I received mine today and am very impressed. It's better than I expected. The diploma states:

    Bachelor of Science
    Psychology
     
  9. MGKRILL

    MGKRILL New Member

    when you fill out your application I beleave Exclesior has an (best suited option) meaning they will apply your existing credit to the degree that your closes too. Also when I applied and recieved my evaulation it stated I should look into a libral arts degree as more of my credits would apply.. I think once you get the ball rollling you'll know what direction you have to go
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 22, 2006
  10. CoachTurner

    CoachTurner Member


    In this example:

    The degree earned is the Bachelor of Science and it is found within the Liberal Arts Program -- it's not a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts (BSL) it's a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

    This person completed a major (30 hours with 15 upper level) in Psychology and a focus area (think minor) in Administrative/Management Studies.

    That example is not the same as the Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies program which will also show with "Program - Liberal Arts" but with no major (or more correctly "liberal studies" as the major). It will list the area of focus on the transcript.

    My transcript from the Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies degree program, the BSL reads:

    Degree - BS Liberal Studies
    Area of Focus - Performing Arts


    This may seem like splitting hairs but there is indeed a significant academic difference between a Bachelor Science in Liberal Studies with an area of focus in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Excelsior College. There is also a pretty fair difference between these and their Bachelor of Arts counterparts at Excelsior.

    Don't confuse the school of liberal arts with the Bachelor of Arts/Science in Liberal Studies (BAL/BSL) degrees. I'll have to let you know later what it says on the diploma this month because it's not here yet.

    The School of Liberal Arts is the department that handles such things as the sciences, humanities, and social sciences. The Liberal Studies degree option is a versatile and flexible major within that school. The BA requires more hours of arts and sciences courses than does the BS -- the BS allows application of significantly more applied and professional studies courses than the BA.

    An area of focus is not a major. It only requires 21 semester hours with six hours upper level. It truly is much more like an undergraduate minor. A major would require 30 hours with 15 upper level and has specific course requirements.

    See page 22 of the present Liberal Arts catalog for some more detail on all of this. It's really not as confusing as it sometimes looks.
     
  11. bceagles

    bceagles Member

    Once more for the cheap seats! How many Upper Level credits do i need for a BS in LS at EC?
     
  12. cederic824

    cederic824 New Member

    30 S.H. , but NO more than 9 S.H. of that 30 can be applied professional credits.
     
  13. John Scalice

    John Scalice New Member


    I just checked my diplomas and one says Associate of Science (Regents '00, Liberal Studies) the other reads Bachelor of Science (Excelsior '04 Liberal Studies/Life Sciences concentration). Neither specifies any field of study. The only mention of any area is on the transcript.

    My wife's diploma from a brick and mortar school also just reads Bachelor of Arts. But our Masters diplomas specify the field of study.
     

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