First of all, thanks for this site. I get a lot of good information from it, it's great. I am 41 and looking , like most, for the fast track to finishing my degree so I can advance in my career. I am interested in the tesc portfolio option, but am a little confused. I found the "unofficial tesc portfolio guide" article informative because it got down to some specifics. I owned a retail business for six years, so I could probably get credit like small business management, marketing, etc. But I really don't have anything to document this except for some tax forms. I have been a performing musician for years, so music appreciation should be a snap. But again, I'm a bar musician without documentation, no CD's, or t-shirts. Any other articles, sites, or experience anyone could offer would be great. I am also checking with tesc, but I know there is a lot of wisdom here. Thanks Tom
Hello, When you are compiling a portfolio for a specific subject example Business Management use a text book as your guide. Dig out any old records that can document your business. Did you advertise at all..copies of advertisements would be great....add in the yellow pages...Let me know the specific courses you are attempting and I'll give definite suggestions. Hille
Course Description...recommended credit hours One suggestion Tom, after you determine the subjects that you wish to challenge, find course descriptions and recommended credit/semester hours from accredited schools. Ensure that you recognize whether they are upper or lower division credits. Thomas Edison, www.tesc.edu has a database that allows you to look up course descriptions based on subject....give this a try. http://www.tesc.edu/portfolio/ This is very easy to use, and you can cut/paste descriptions of several courses onto one page. Good luck Mike BA, TESC
Try looking through the course catalogs of schools that offer a variety of music classes (performance, theory, music business) and I'm sure you can find several courses to challenge by portfolio. Just make sure the schools are regionally accredited. Two good possibilities that come to mind immediately are the Berklee College of Music and the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Bruce
I understand referencing the portfolio to classes. But I owned my business seven years ago, I don't have copies of any advertising, business plan, etc. Just financial records I had to keep for the IRS. I could give a heck of a narative on music, with my experiences, but it would only be a story. Can that be used? Don't I need some kind of real documentation?
In the past U of Redlands used to accept portfolio credit and for music they suggested submitting tapes of your playing. Other ideas: Compose some music - then submit both sheet music and tape of you performing it. What about the "technical" side of music - do you know anything about the equipment used (mike, amps,etc). What about the sociological aspects of music-who listens-who plays-effects of rap music-how jazz developed(maybe a history portfolio), what about the marketing of music (radio, MTV, superstores). Go read lots of college catalogs - look at non music for courses you might challenge using your music background. Best of luck.
For the business end, I think the IRS records and any licenses, incorporation records, etc. would do the trick. For the music, I believe that TESC will set you up with an evaluator in your area. You can get credit for basically giving a performance to the evaluator (as long as the expertise you display corresponds with a course at an RA school). Bruce
