More Questions.

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by cclark123, Mar 11, 2002.

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  1. cclark123

    cclark123 New Member

    I posted a message here last week titled "New User..... Feeling Confused". I took the advice of this board and ordered John Bear's book. After reading the book I feel a bit more knowledgeable about what options are available to me but I still have some newbie questions that I hope you guys can help me with. I was looking at the business degrees offered by a variety of different colleges listed in the book. I took a look at Excelsior College at the recommendation of one of the people here. If I understand their program correctly they do not actually offer classes but they help me get the credit required for a degree through other means, is that correct? If that is how it works then do I basically study on my own and then take the CLEP or Excelsior tests and apply them to a degree as well as using past college credits earned? If this is how it works then will I be able to earn all of the credits required for a specific degree just by testing? To be honest with you this type of studying sounds very appealing to me. All of my previous computer certifications were earned through self-study and I just feel much more comfortable studying on my own and then taking a test. I never really cared for the classroom environment and that is ultimately why I stopped pursuing a college degree before. My only concern is that if I enroll in a program like the one offered by Excelsior, in order to get all of the credits required I'm going to end up right back in class doing what I was trying to avoid through distance learning in the first place. I'm still sifting through all of the school names in the book and checking more about the programs they offer to see if any other ones suit my needs so if anyone has any recommendations of schools that would help me speed up my search I would appreciate it. Thank you again for all of your help.

    Cory, [email protected]
     
  2. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Cory: My only concern is that if I enroll in a
    program like the one offered by Excelsior, in order to get all of the credits required I'm
    going to end up right back in class doing what I was trying to avoid through distance learning in the first place.

    John: The three main differences between an Excelsior/Edison/Charter Oak/etc. approach and ending up right back in class:

    1. Credit for prior learning. Be sure to read Steve Levicoff's portfolio in my book, to see how a virtuoso did this.

    2. Credit by exam. Still possible, I believe, to get up to 30 semester units (that is, an entire year of on-campus work) for one 3 1/2 hour exam.

    3. Flexibility to choose courses that fit your learning style and preferences: all exam; no exam; fixed curriculum; independent study; etc.
     
  3. kgec

    kgec New Member

    FWIW, when I got my Regents (Excelsior) business degree in 1997, there were only two courses I was not able to satisfy by prior credits, certifications or testing:

    1) I took one "correspondence course" from Western Michigan University in quality control to satisfy the last upper-division requirement for an operations management specialization. If I had selected general business or the information systems specialty I wouldn't have needed it.

    2) I took one "butt-in-seat" course in strategic management (the senior capstone course) offered by Siena Heights College at the community college where I worked at the time. I wouldn't have had to do that either since there was a Regents exam covering the material, but I flunked it and thought it better to take a class than try to re-take the exam.

    One caveat is that this was a second bachelor's degree for me, so everything that was not business-related transferred from the first degree program. But that was all general-ed stuff that's quite easy to find tests for.

    Good luck.

    Tommy K
     
  4. Lawrie Miller

    Lawrie Miller New Member

    Credit may be granted by the three main assessment colleges for courses taken and passed at other accredited institutions. Credit can also be earned via the portfolio process and by examination. A quick review of the various methods by which credit can be earned is available at http://www.geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks/introduc.html

    That is one method.
    The BS in General Business, the BS in Computer Information Systems, and the Liberal Arts BA/BS degree with certain concentrations can be earned ENTIRELY by examination.

    See the BA in 4 Weeks web site for comprehensive instructions on completing a bachelor's degree by examination.

    Lawrie Miller, author BA in 4 Weeks
    a non commercial resource for adult learners
    http://www.geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks

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  5. Lawrie Miller

    Lawrie Miller New Member

    30 semester hours credit awarded by Ecelsior College for a pass above the 80th percentile in most 2 hour 50 minute, $130, GRE subject exams.
     
  6. Lawrie Miller

    Lawrie Miller New Member

    Re: Re: More Questions.

    As noted elsewhere in this thread, the Excelsior College (formerly Regents College) Bachelor of Science in General Business can be earned in full, by way of proficiency examinations. The exact methods and requirements are detailed in the BA in 4 Weeks Business Degree guide, accessible from the following URL: http://www.geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks/Busdegree.html

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