Credit for free Independent Study courses from FEMA

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Gary Rients, Jan 26, 2002.

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  1. Gary Rients

    Gary Rients New Member

    FEMA offers 25 independent study courses for US residents (see the web site here), which appear to be free. They say that each course will take an average of 10-12 hours to complete; all that you have to do is complete the final exam on your own at home and mail it in. TESC will award 1 s.h. of credit for each of these! Charles Sturt, as well as many residential schools, will also give credit for these exams. FEMA also has an arrangement with a community college that will transcribe the courses for $60 each, but that doesn't seem very cost effective if you plan to complete all 25, since the total cost would be about the same as an initial one year registration at TESC, which would also provide additional benefit, including the possibiblity of completing a bachelor degree.

    It seems like a cheap way to pick up 25 s.h. of credit, especially if you are already enrolled somewhere like TESC. I came across the courses while helping my brother-in-law (a paramedic) figure out a way to finish a BS in Human Services with a major in Emergency Disaster Management. This should work perfectly for him. His associate degree, plus 16 (we think) credits for his paramedic certification, plus the FEMA courses and he should be very close to finishing!

    Does anyone have experience with gaining credit using these courses?
     
  2. Gary Rients

    Gary Rients New Member

    After looking back at the site, I may be mistaken about Charles Sturt and other schools awarding credit for the FEMA courses (it did seem strange that an Australian school would give credit for courses that only US residents can take). However, TESC does definitely award credit for the courses, and Fredricksburg Community College will also transcribe them for $60 each.
     
  3. Hille

    Hille Active Member

    Hello, My husband is currently taking every single course. The average time for some is less then two hours. Exams can be taken on the internet, which is great. Since they have been ACE evaluated I'm sure they will fit in somewhere. The only downside is no grade. I have e-mailed FEMA and they will not bend on this. It seems like Excelsior will take them as credit, since there is a spot for ACE credit evaluation. Our son took 4 last summer and is having a hard time getting his college to accept them. Hille


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  4. Hille

    Hille Active Member

    Hello, I found the transcript service for ACE credits. I believe all FEMA credits can be transferred there. I searched ACE College Credit. If the yearly fee is $25. and you can accumulate all FEMA credits on this transcript it's the best deal around. Have a peaceful Sunday. Hille
     
  5. SJEditor

    SJEditor New Member

    These courses look very interesting and the prospect of getting ACE credit would be a great bonus. But my perfunctory search of the ACE site failed to turn up any mention of these courses (or any FEMA courses) as having been reviewed and approved by ACE.

    Can anyone provide a specific reference indicating that these courses have ACE approval and are directly transferable to TESC/COSC/Excelsior?

    I hope I missed something. Thanks, Dan
     
  6. Gary Rients

    Gary Rients New Member

    TESC specifically lists these courses in their catalog as being worth 1-25 credits (there are 25 courses). It's in the section that lists credit values for certification/training. I don't know about COSC or Excelsior, but the first place that I'd check is in a school catalog.
     
  7. Hille

    Hille Active Member

    Hello. I have e-mailed FEMA for a quick answer. Hille

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