I have searched this site for a while now and come up with some ideas, so let me share some information and let you experienced people chime in I'm an adult student, currently age 37. I've been self-employed for 4 years, I have a teenage son and I'm married. I've been going to school off and on since 2000 and I've got 49 hours towards a BA in English Literature from a local 4 year school in Georgia. My cumulative GPA is 2.4. Due to finances and car issues, I wasn't able to return to school this year. I'm hoping to return in fall 2009, but would like to finish online instead of at the B&M school due to distance. These are my goals: Complete the BA in either English, English Literature, Writing or even General Studies. I can only take maybe 2 classes a semester due to work and family issues as well as cost. I already owe too much in student loans, so I cannot take out any more loans. I have to pay this out of pocket. My goal for completion is age 42. That gives me 5 years to complete the BA. Schools I'm looking at include: Excelsior College Liberal Arts Oregon State University Liberal Arts Thomas Edison BA in English Once I complete the BA, I want to apply to the Library Science program at Valdosta State University and get a Masters in Library Science with the option for Media Specialist as well so I can work in the school system. That will take another 2-3 years, so I will be about 45 before I can work as a library specialist. My career goals include writing and publishing novels, working for at least 10 years in a school setting, working with the homeschool community on the side, and then working maybe another 10 years at a DOD school or library in Europe so I can travel. I just hope the DOD will hire a 56 year old librarian Does this sound like a reasonable plan? There are so many schools out there it's difficult to know which one to pick. Christina in GA
Go with the BA in English from Thomas Edison: http://www.tesc.edu/1995.php Then, go with http://www.abcte.org/teach/georgia , so you can teach English Language Arts in Georgia (grades 6-12). Earn credits using these exams: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/exams.html http://www.getcollegecredit.com/downloads/examlist.pdf Earn credits through these courses (if you need English credits): http://is.lsu.edu/courselist.asp?cat=English&nid=102&pg= Cheap ways to earn credits here: http://degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?t=29508 Then, begin working on the master's degree. Then, live happily ever after, just like in a fairy tale.
Oh, by the way, I am working on the BA in English from TESC. Let me know if you have any questions; I would be happy to help in any way I can.
I second those suggestions! Have you used CLEP before? You can take those while you are or are not enrolled- and they are cheap, expect to pay $80 for 3-6 credits! It's a basic multiple choice format, and the exam is pass/fail. You need roughly 50% to earn the credit, and TESC (and Excelsior) both accept all CLEP exams. They just can't duplicate a class you already took. (unless of course you want to replace a bad grade) There are 4 English exams, each worth 6 credits. English Comp (ENG101, 102) Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, English Literature, and British Literature. TESC awards partial credit as well, so if you took 3 credits of Brit lit already, you can take the Brit lit exam and pick up the remaining 3. Oh, and I wanted to say that if you already have those credits, you could use CLEP exams for your gen ed classes that you still need. There are exams for almost everything you could need in gen ed- that would allow you to focus your coursework on classes in-major. From another homeschool mom,
I have earned about 7 of those 49 credits with CLEP. I still have a science class I need and then I will be done with general requirements. I tried taking the CLEP Natural Science and missed it by 1 point! Pretty much everything else I need, according to the college I attended, is junior and senior work. I just finished my British Lit requirement over the summer. I went to England for 3 weeks with the college. It was a great experience!
Hi - you could take a peek at this http://www.ctdlc.org/DegreeOffer/programs.cfm You do the General Studies route through Charter Oak and then straight into the Master in Library Science at Southern Connecticut. I have to say though that Valdosta does get some mention around here. All positive. There are lots of general studies programs around, fewer English programs. Other English undergrad options include UMUC http://www.umuc.edu/programs/undergrad/engl/ Judson http://www.judson.edu/content.asp?id=85819 Caldwell http://www.caldwell.edu/adult-ed/external.html A Masters degree in Library Science brings us to another level: Drexel http://www.drexel.edu/admissions/difference/online-education.aspx University of Northern Iowa http://www.uni.edu/continuinged/programs/degrees/index.shtml Good luck
This is great information! I'm leaning toward Thomas Edison for the English because they are closest in price to my local college. If I really pushed it I could finish in 2 years if I did full time, but I don't know if I could handle it with work and family. I'm planning to do 18 credits each year and I may start in summer 2009 instead of fall. Do they have a payment plan? My next choice would be the Oregon State Liberal Arts if I did my math right. I never thought about getting a teacher certification, even for teaching in a charter school. However, that may be an option to do and then make extra money tutoring or running a homeschool co-op. Thanks everyone!
Hi there. You might also consider Eastern Oregon University. They have a BA in English Literature and Film in which my significant other is currently enrolled. We both use financial aid, so I'm not sure about a payment plan. You might also consider the University of Illinois - Springfield. Good luck with your decision! - TwentySeven.
Thanks! That English / Film looks interesting. I was going to take a film class last fall before my car broke down and I couldn't attend. The cost is reasonable as well, so this school is going on my short list. Is your SO ready to do the capstone yet? It says you have to do a presentation. How is the capstone done if your degree is online? Thanks!
You know, the capstone is coming up in the Fall, I believe. It's so close now. Either way though, the academic counselor is going to get back to us about that since she wasn't particularly sure (since she didn't normally deal with English department students). From what we can tell (and imagine), it's probably something similar to a thesis on the Master's level but diminished. Think research paper on a topic of choice related to the degree plan that has an a faculty mentor. I think, after it is completed, that the paper goes on display at the University for the world to see. I'll definitely let you know more about this, though, when we find out for sure.
I finally found some time to do a little research (actually took about ten minutes) Here is a BA English (technical and professional writing)completion program: Indiana University East they also have a BA in Communications Studies with different concentrations: Communicatin Studies Tuition I recommend you call and see what the diploma will state. Regardless, this program is cost effective and would be a good lead into a masters in English(of which there are several available). I'll post others as I come across them.
American Military University Saint Mary of the Woods Southern New Hampshire University University of Illinois Springfield
That sounds like a very reasonable plan to me. I was 31 year old mom and employed full-time when I received my first degree in '03 through NSU. I took me about 7 years of part-time study and a handful of CLEP credit, but I did it and so can you! I went the Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA. They have a General Studies program that is excellent (design your own pretty much), hundreds of classes are offered entirely online, they're liberal with credit acceptance (even my police academy credit transferred), have an "open" admission policy, they're accredited by South Assoc Colleges & School, charge no out-of-state tuition for online students. If I remember correctly, the last time I graduated in 2007, tuition for 6 hours was under $600. Whew! This school really helped me reach my goal of being a college graduate and I can't say enough nice things about them - did I mention they have a Pontiac Scholarship for Adult Students? I was a recipient a few years ago and this scholarship is funded by the Alumni Association and is ear marked for "older" students going part-time. Hope this is encouraging to you. The link is: Northwestern State University (http://www.nsula.edu) Good luck to you!
Well, I thought I had decided. Then I read over the BA in 4 Weeks site again and looked at TESC's English program. I believe I could complete this BA with TESC if I take the GRE in Literature and finish my science classes with the CLEP general science. I may only have to take 1 or 2 actual classes to finish everything. I think I could have this done within the year. Thoughts?
