Fastest way to General Education Req's

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by soupbone, Feb 7, 2008.

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  1. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member

    Hey guys it's been a while since I've been on here. I was able to start school and then as always issues came up with B&M and I am now looking again at distance education. I found a program I am REALLY interested in. The (George Washington University Online Police Science Degree) looks really good and GWU is a pretty nicely ranked University. Has anyone here had any experience with them? I know they are expensive but I am willing to take the plunge since it's only 60 hours. They require you have your 30 general education requirements completed to enter and at some point finish your 30 elective hours. So my question is this....what do you think would be the fastest way I could finish my general education requirements? Here are some of the limitations. The credits MUST be from a regionally accredited university or college. It cannot be CLEP or any type of testing like that. I would also like it to not cost an arm and a leg if possible. I have access to LSU Independent Study courses as well but I was wondering if you guys knew of a quicker way within those guidelines. Thanks as always....:D
     
  2. japhy4529

    japhy4529 House Bassist

    Independent/correspondence courses (such as LSU) are a good way to knock out some gen. ed courses. However, why not take some CLEP and/or DANTES exams as well? GWU does accept credit by examination (albeit, with some restrictions).

    Here is the GW webpage that details the policy:

    http://www.gwu.edu/~bulletin/ugrad/adms.html

    Scroll down to the section "Credit by Examination, from Service Schools, from Noncollegiate Organizations, and by Nontraditional Methods." You can knock out a maximum of 24 credits with this methods.

    Good luck.
    - Tom
     
  3. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member

    Thanks Tom. I think that is only for B&M admission. The reason being it is required that you have 30 hours before being accepted into the program. I'll have to check and see though. Thanks again...
     
  4. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member

    Also Tom...If they do accept 24 hours like it says on the main page which ones would you suggest toward the genertal education req's? I want to make sure I take the right ones so I get the proper credit. Thanks...;)
     
  5. japhy4529

    japhy4529 House Bassist

    This is a question that I would pose to a GW academic advisor. It appears that they do not accept the CLEP english comp exam. There may be other restrictions too. Check w/ GW before taking any CLEP or DANTES exams.

    I would imagine that the 30 credits can come from most regionally accredited schools and/or CLEP/DANTES exams (at least 24 of the 30).

    Just get all of the details in writing from GW, before plunking down money on exams (or courses, for that matter!).

    - Tom
     
  6. japhy4529

    japhy4529 House Bassist

    I doubt that GW would disallow CLEP/DANTES exams to online students, only to accept them for B&M students. But who knows. Universities do have some "interesting" policies. ;)

    I would recommend giving them a call to get a definitive answer. Be sure to mention the particular program that you are looking to enter. It appears that some of the CLEP/DANTES restrictions are based on the program you are enrolled in.

    - Tom
     
  7. skidadl

    skidadl Member

    I know that you stated that the courses must be RA, but do you think that ACE reviewed would suffice? ACE reviewed courses are pretty widely accepted.

    If the answer is yes, I would try to take the individual courses through Penn Foster. You have to call the number on the Business and Industrial side to order them. The cost would be $55 per credit hour and they can be finished in as fast as you can get throught them.
     
  8. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I would double-check with an academic advisor concerning CLEP/DANTES; it seems rather silly that GWU would accept non-traditional credit for traditional students but not for non-traditional students. Also be sure to check exactly which exams are accepted, if any, because my undergrad college accepted CLEP Freshman College Composition but wouldn't accept CLEP English Composition.

    If CLEP/DANTES are out, then I would go with LSU or Brigham Young Independent Study. Last I checked, there is no limit as to how many courses you can take at once and you can finish them as quickly as you're able.
     
  9. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member


    Thanks Bruce. Lucky for me I live here in Baton Rouge right down the road from LSU. I might have to look into Penn Foste like Skidadl suggested too. I need to make sure though that GWU would accept them. I surely don't want to spend the moeny only to be told I can't use them. Thanks guys!
     
  10. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    You may also want to look at Clovis Community College. You may be able to complete courses faster through independent study with Penn Foster or LSU, both great choices, but independent study also allows for procrastination. Clovis Community College works on a 16 week format, but you could take multiple classes at once at a price of $122 per 3-hour class.

    If you're a very motivated person, Penn Foster is probably your best bet. They're ACE reviewed (for most courses) and the cost of tuition also includes books.

    A much faster option, although much more expensive, would be AMU ($750 per course), Liberty ($750 per course), Fort Hays ($444 per course). All offer 8 week formats.

    Pug
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 8, 2008
  11. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member

    Thanks. The 8 week format is something I would be interested in for sure but man that is way too expensive for me. I agree with you about the independant study courses too. It's tough to stay motivated when you have 9 months to complete the course. I'm trying to do this as fast as humanly possible without killing my brain in the process too. I want to start that GWU program and I'm motivated to start it. Thanks for the advice! :)
     
  12. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member

    Another quick question. Since I'm going back and forth between LSU (Independent Study courses) and Mountain State does anyone know if either of these schools would acdept ACE evaluated course from Penn Foster. Since they can be done quickly I would be able to get quite a few done for my prereq's.
     
  13. skidadl

    skidadl Member

    Mountain State does accept ACE reviewed course. I could not say for sure which courses they do accept, but I know that they have accepted some before.
     
  14. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    Pug,
    A cavaet about Clovis - if you are not a NM resident, you can only enroll for 6 credits per semester at that rate - then the tuition jumps a great deal.

    http://www.clovis.edu/AdministrationandFinance/TuitionandFees/index.asp

    In addition to the fee schedule - there is a $50 online class fee.

    http://www.clovis.edu/ecampus/Registration/Index.asp

    Shawn
     
  15. GeneralSnus

    GeneralSnus Member

    While that is true, keep in mind that the price listed for 6 credit hours is a total, not per credit hour. As an out-of-state student, it's hard to beat 6 credits each semester from a regionally accredited school for around $160 total.
     
  16. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member


    Totally agree! Clovis is a great deal!

    Shawn
     
  17. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    Or you could take 18 hours per semester from Clovis for $740, plus the online fee of $50 of course. Six courses, each worth 3 hours, for $790! I defy anyone to find a better deal.

    Pug
     

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