Psychology - Can I use 3/4 of a year to anything?

Hi

I have 3/4 of a year of psychology from a university in Norway that has accreditation similar to a regional US university. Took them quite some years ago.

Can I use the 3/4 of a year to anything? I.e. can I get them accepted and transferred into some kind of US psychology first year, or similar?

How is the psychology studies structured in the US? When I took these courses in Norway, the first year was a separate unit, called "basic course in psychology". If one was accepted after this, there was a 5 year study to complete a psychology degree.

 

US colleges and universities require foreign courses be evaluated, sometime by an outside agency, before granting credit. I earned my BS though Excelsior and had to have my UK college engineering courses evaluated (they were accepted).
Check with the college university that you are interested in applyingto.

One thing different in the US than some european countries is that much of the courework is in general education (my daughter took psychology in the UK and 100% of her degree was psychology - prerequites to degree acceptance were certain GCE exams).

Here is a typical degree sylabus: https://my.excelsior.edu/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=f9efcdb6-2dad-4c83-b2e0-43725d335e94&groupId=78666

 

Thanks

Thanks for your reply.

I did some searching on the Internet, and this were my observations:

1) Some universities can transfer in credits from previous courses through a separate evaluation, but the credits have to be no more than so and so many years old
2) Some universities can transfer in credits from previous courses through a separate evaluation, and the credits can be up to 10 years+ old
3) Some universities also can evaluate, and transfer in, life experience (or is this only valid for diploma mills? )
4) You can prove your knowledge through courses (clep, dantes etc.)

Does anyone know about accredited universities that allows transfer in of credits which are over 10 years old, and where you also can prove your knowledge through courses such as as clep/dantes, and where I can combine this to use towards an associate degree in psychology?

 

I don't think there are very many regionally accredited US universities that accept credits greater than ten years old unless its out of circumstance (e.g. you entered a field and took some time to earn higher education). That being said, your previous education may help you enter college quicker. Awarded credit from life experience is not solely a diploma mill thing, but you will have to look at universities that interests you and ask the question. It is a case-by-case thing as to whether or not you will earn credit.

CLEPs, DSSTs (Dantes), ECEs (Excelsior college exams), and Thomas Edison College Exams (TECEPS) are some options you have under credit by examination. Some colleges offer their own challenge exams with the same ability to help you earn your degree faster. You study (there are many resources on the internet), pay, take the exam, and if you pass earning between one and eight credit hours.

(Exam resources)
http://clep.collegeboard.org/
http://www.excelsior.edu/exams/uexcel-home
http://getcollegecredit.com/
http://www.tesc.edu/degree-completion/Testing.cfm

(Some associate level programs in psychology)
https://www.liberty.edu/online/associate/psychology/
Associate Degree in Psychology - Online Psychology Degrees - Ashworth College
Associate of Arts in Psychology | Argosy University Online Programs
https://www.kaplanuniversity.edu/programs/associates-degrees.aspx

This is only a small number of online associate's degrees in psychology, but they all offer transfer options. There is the potential for a 100% (or one course) transfer school too.

 

I don't think the Big 3 have a 10-year limit on transfer credits outside of business and IT (maybe science too). They don't offer associates degrees in psychology, but they do offer bachelors degrees. I don't know about where you're at, but in the U.S., there is almost nothing one can do with an associates in psychology. The Big 3 (Thomas Edison State College, Charter Oak State College, and Excelsior College) have very liberal credit acceptance policies when it comes to CLEP, DSST, and other CBEs (credit by exam). They will also accept foreign credits that have been evaluated by an acceptable organization. My recommendation would be TESC's BA in Psychology since it's the most test out friendly of the 3. Actually, I think it's the only one you can completely test out of with the exception of the capstone. That would make it the most test out friendly bachelors in psychology in the whole U.S.

Sanantone's BA in Psychology - Degree Forum Wiki
Sanantone's General Education Options - Degree Forum Wiki
Thomas Edison State College: Psychology

 

Excelsior accepted virtually all of my credits (some after independent evaluation) and some of which were more than ten years old.
Excelsior College | Excelsior College Program Descriptions

Excelsior also accepts CLEP, DSST, and some other challenge exams.

Although somewhat expensive Excelsior also gives credit for life-long learning.

Check the catalogs of colleges you are interested in for their requirements.

 

Thanks all three for your help and suggestions. I will look into this.