Penn Foster College....Continue On?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by sideman, Oct 14, 2017.

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  1. sideman

    sideman Well Known Member

    Just beginning my 6th semester in the CJ bachelors program. It has worked quite well for me so far, especially with all my life changes over the past year. I absolutely could not have done it if it wasn't self-paced and prefer to study, read then re-read, outline, etc. as that's the best way for me to learn. I have just retired, or semiretired, which is the description I prefer. So now I have more time to dedicate to the program. I will continue on and complete this semester but wondering if I should finish out the string (I do get a free semester on semester 8) or transfer to another school since a lot of schools require 30 semester hours under their flag. I chose the major because I like the content even though I know I probably won't ever use the degree as I have no desire to enter LE and of course here in Texas I have aged out or they want an RA degree. If I have any interests in the field it would either be in Court Administration, Probation/Parole and/or working with Juveniles (I have worked with teens throughout my life) and Victim Advocacy. I've considered Peru State, the Big 3, etc. and changing the major to Social Science or Liberal Arts.

    So there you have it. Just wanted to put it out there to see what my distinguished colleagues think. Thanks for taking the time to read this thread and thanks in advance for any insight you might have.
     
  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    If it's not broken, don't fix it.
     
  3. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    TDCJ (department that covers parole) only requires that the school is accredited by an organization recognized by CHEA.
     
  4. bceagles

    bceagles Member

  5. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    I've often said that it is better to have an NA degree than no degree at all.

    If you could only have come this far by self-paced courses like PF offers then have circumstances sufficiently changed to allow for a change of major at an RA school?

    If this degree will meet TDCJ requirements and that is a direction your career might take then I'd say you might consider staying the course.

    That RA degree will only afford you more options if you complete it.

    Besides, many of the CJ courses appear to still be ACE recommended at PF. What I would do is take stock of which courses are recommended and see how it lines up at one of the Big 3 (my own personal bias is toward TESU). Then work on meeting the requirements however you need to (ACE, exams etc).
     
  6. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    If I were in your shoes, I stay the course with Penn Foster. If you were 25 and starting a career? Heck yes- go for RA instead of NA. But there really is no point to change- you have a whole resume full of degrees. Enjoy PF and your freebie they'll give you. ')
     
  7. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member


    You can do both, no? Finish PF and transfer what credits they'll take to Excelsior for the RA?
     
  8. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    The rules for transfer change when you try to transfer in credits from an awarded degree.

    If I try to transfer 119 credits to TESU or Excelsior, that's one transfer policy.

    If, however, the credits I'm trying to transfer have already resulted in my being awarded a degree from another school then I'm in the "second bachelors" transfer policies which, at TESU as I recall, means you need more credits post bachelors to even be considered.

    And I believe, but don't quote me, that the Big Three will award you a second bachelors degree using coursework from a first but will not award a third bachelors.
     
  9. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member


    Hmm...changing the subject a bit...

    A school not recognizing an NA degree might still consider their subsequent RA a second bachelor's?

    -Only if they are accepting credit from the NA degree?

    -Depends on the school?


    Tough questions considering the variables but the matter could be important to some people.

    My understanding has been that a second bachelor's in a separate field is usually okay but that a third bachelor's is rarely so.
     
  10. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    All of the Big 3 require about 24-30 credits for second and third bachelor's degree programs (TESU has a limit of two associate's and two bachelor's). It looks like Sideman already has one bachelor's. The credits have to be earned after the conferral of the last degree. Also, the new credits need to be in the major. This means that earning a CJ degree at Penn Foster will make all the CJ credits unusable for a CJ degree at the Big 3. Plus, TESU will not award a second bachelor's in a similar field. Excelsior requires justification for a third bachelor's, so I'm pretty sure they would deny a third degree that is a second CJ degree.

    TESU and COSC will not accept NA credits unless they have ACE or NCCRS approval. COSC only made an exception for ITT Tech students. Excelsior accepts ACE and NCCRS too, but they will also accept a limited number of NA credits on a case-by-case basis.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 18, 2017
  11. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    A degree from an NA school is still a degree. RA schools don't declare them to be null and void. They might not consider them acceptable for admission to a graduate program. They might not accept a transfer of those credits. They might not hire a professor with credentials that are from an NA school. But it's still a degree.
     
  12. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    Agreed! I have RA and NA degrees, and they have worked out very well for me in my particular situation. So, yes, a degree from an NA is still a degree.
     

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