Going back to school and changing careers

I have an AS in Nursing although I haven't worked as a nurse for ~5 years. Been busy with family and foster care. However, I'm starting to reach the point of wanting to go back to work (I think). I'm thinking of going into some sort of social services, because I really enjoy working with foster children and families. It looks like I need a Bachelors in human services or social science or behavioral science.

I'm thinking of taking online classes. I know Excelsior has a bachelors in general studies, but I don't know if I would be able to get a job in the areas I want with that.

A private college in our state offers an online human services bachelor's degree at ~$500/credit hour.

My other concern is the math requirements. Although I have an AS Degree, I didn't have to take any math. I just took a general (health) chemistry as part of the nursing prereqs in 1990. My ds has taken college algebra and stats, and there's no way I would/could pass the courses. He wouldn't be able to help either since math is not a strong area for him.

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions? Is it crazy to start over at 51?

 

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You should look at Thomas Edison State College.
My degree will be in social science, that's not the degree you want. Look at the human services option. Social science doesn't include (or allow) human service courses in the major. TESC has a TON of human service concentrations for you to choose from. Here is the direct link: http://www.tesc.edu/1829.php

Also, TESC's math requirement is only that it be 100 level. I took a course called "Mathematics for Liberal Arts" which was painless. TESC classes are around $160 per credit, but you can test out of many of them for a lot less.

Additionally, there are now a few masters of social work online programs if you do go into the field. All the best!!

 

You could go through Thomas Edison State College, they should transfer in your associates fine.

Then take FEMA fee online courses for two or three weeks to knock out 28 credits, for free, of free electives.

With this combination of FEMA classes (my wife went through them with no online experience) and your associates, and the ability to take one very low level math class to meet your bachelors requirement, you should be set!

 

The BS in Human Services or the BA in Psychology at Thomas Edison State College would likely be your best route. With the AS in Nursing most, if not all, of the general education requirements will have been met.

Mathematics for Liberal Arts Majors is probably an easy a mathematics course that will certainly fulfill the 3 credit hour mathematics requirement.

No. You already have the hands-on practical experience from nursing and foster care to know going into human services exactly what to expect. With an associates degree already completed you are well within reach of earning a bachelor degree in 12 to 24 months.

 

I know people here have talked about FEMA, but I've never gone to their website before. Just to make sure I have this right...Thomas Edison will accept FEMA courses and count them for credit? (I couldn't find any documentation of this on their website.)

Also, it looks like before my transcript can be evaluated I have to actually apply at TESC. (Ha, now I know what the acronym is!)

So...it sounds like I should just start taking the FEMA classes, and then submit my transcript with my AS and the FEMA info to TESC? Glancing at the FEMA site, it would be a lot easier to get my feet wet by starting with 'free' courses.

And by the time I get my bachelors, it will be easier to go back to work due to our son leaving home--unless we end up adopting a little one that has been with us from birth for 2 years.

 

For my wifes bachelor or arts in art from tesc, they accepted 25 credit hours towards her degree in the "free electives" area.

 

Humph! I just did one FEMA course and I passed, but nothing shows what I did or didn't get right!

Also, looking at TESC again, I'm not sure which focus would be better- health services, community services, or child development services. In speaking to an employee from our local foster care organization, they've hired people with various bachelors: human services, English, communication, social science, etc. She didn't really think it would matter what I had a bachelors in especially having the experience of being a foster parent.

I also saw TESC midterms and finals can't be taken online (at home) and are proctored. Do most of their courses offer study guides prior to the tests?

I didn't see if there was minimum amount of credit that had to be taken from TESC to get a degree. It looks like I can also take classes elsewhere and transfer the credits in. If given a choice, I would rather do extra work than take a test for a grade. I remember when I took microbiology I had the choice of a term paper or the final. I didn't hesitate a bit to do a term paper although the professor thought I was crazy. I'm much more comfortable with being graded on papers vs. tests.

 

Inactive RN options

A MOM,

Have you ever thought about taking a RN Refresher course to re-activate your RN Licenses.

PURPOSE: Once you have re-activated your RN license, then get a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in ANY interdisciplinary HEALTHCARE related field (EMPLOYER WOULD PAY FOR IT Vs LOANS/OUT OF POCKET).

Because of your prior nursing experience and foster parenting skills, any community health related agency would WELCOME you with open arms.

The active RN license could help you get a foot into a variety of Bachelor or Master of Social Work or Counseling programs.

Also go to ALLNURSES.COM located at http://allnurses.com/ to find out excellent advice from your nursing peers on what they where able to do after leaving nursing.

This is just my two-cents worth.

We would also WELCOME you back to Professional Nursing.

 

My license is still active. My dh renews it when he renews his license and never changed me to an inactive status. I just don't think I have the stomach to go back to nursing. I did ICU/ED before becoming a hospital supervisor for 8 years prior to quitting. I was never the type of person who could just clock in and out. I was always fighting the system trying to make it better. Thanks for the website!

Just to clarify..it looks like TESC can be used as a credit bank--similar to Excelsior. I don't have to take credits through them, but I can get my degree from them? Although a BA in psychology would interest me, based on my son's exposure to stats, there's no way I could do that class!

 

Yes, you can earn a degree from TESC through transferring in the entire 120 credit hours without any academic residency requirement.

 

No, it's not. I changed careers at the age of 41, and honestly, it was the best thing I ever did.

So what if you are 53, 54 or 55 when you get your degree. How old would you be four years from now if you didn't get one?

 

Same age if you did get it, Classic line from Dr. Bear's book!

 

Thanks everyone for the support. I'm really excited about the possibilities. I took 3 FEMA courses today. I'll do an application and request transcripts tomorrow. How do I send my FEMA certs to them--by email or hard copies or does FEMA mail them?

I'm also thinking of having my ds do an application. He's waiting for an evaluation from EC. He's completed 91 credits and has a dual AS degree in IT Security and Networking. He's looking at a bachelors in communication (TESC) and their website states applicants under 21 may be accepted on a case by case basis.

I just don't know which would be better--bachelors in liberal arts from EC or bachelors in communication from TESC. He was accepted into a university for fall (would do communications degree there) but decided to defer admission until he could live in the dorm. He's not really into academics and is enjoying friends and youth group activities so much that online works out better for him. He's registered for 13 general ed credits this fall at a couple of different CC's. After that he needs to take upper division courses or courses that would work into a major.

 

Since your ds is not into academics, then online may not be the best way to go. One must be very disciplined to succeed when enrolled in an online program. With that said, if your ds decided to test out of the majority of this requirements (vs. taking classes online), then that might be a good option for him.

Good luck!

Tom


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With 91 credit hours completed and 13 credit hours planned for the autumn that is 104 credit hours. Maybe a BA in Liberal Studies at Thomas Edison State College followed by a graduate degree in communications would work. The advantage of TESC over EC is that TESC does not require upper level courses.

If communications is the area your son wants to pursue as a career, then a graduate degree would give him a leg-up. In the meantime, the BA(LS) would serve him well, especially if much of the coursework taken already includes extensive writing and researching.

 

Wow, your son is in a good position for sure!

 

Tom, I know what you're saying about online and not being into academics. Aprox. 2/3 of his courses are from a B&M college and 1/3 from DL. At this point and time in his life he really likes the flexibility of the DL classes and where he can work around the 'fun' things he wants to do including different youth group or scouting trips.

As far as the area, he doesn't care. He's just been looking for a bachelors where the majority of his credits will transfer in. He knows once he has his bachelors, we're not gong to require more school for him. I guess in some ways, we're looking at his AS and bachelors as his high school education. If and when he goes beyond that, it will be his choice. Communications, general studies, interdisciplinary studies, or liberal arts would all be fine with him.He wants something broad that can be used in whatever field he goes into.

I'm not sure if he will get his masters or not, but if he does, it will probably be in something like music ministry. Once he finishes his bachelors, he may wait a few years. Again, that's his choice. We have encouraged him to take less credits, and he gladly complied. He was adamant on graduating in 2007 and that required 18 and 19 credits his final semesters. It was a tough year.

 

A Mom: While you are considering career changes, don't forget social work as an option. I did social work (first) and nursing (second) and I have a very successful and rewarding career.

Paul S Rogers, LCSW, RN, CNS

 

The two do seem to go together don't they? Based on some research, if I went to work for the state it looks like a bachelors is entry level.

It will be interesting to find out what TESC says re: my credits. I wonder if they would do several degree audits to determine which program would accept more of my transfer credits?

 

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Uhhhhhh....technically they will "tell" you no, because they want you to enroll. First choice is to try and speak with Todd Siben or Dr. Keel. They will try and route you to a "general" adviser, but be polite and persistent. If this doesn't work (call back more than once), wait until your eval is completed, and then email to "change" your mind- they will do a second eval in your new area (but not a third unless you enroll).

Once you enroll, you can have total access to an adviser- it's trying to get good advice BEFORE you $$$ that is sticky.

On the other hand, once you have your eval, you will have a much better idea of where your credits fall, and you can probably determine -somewhat- how they would fall in a different concentration.