Thank you for all the information on your site. I've printed it out and currently studying it. Just a couple quick questions, although I hope it isn't in the literature and I just missed it...... ---Your example for the BS..what changes would I have to make in order to make it a BA? And... ---Would this process work for the other 2 schools, since your main example was for EX.? My two choices for schools are TESC and COSC. Thanks again!
If I may jump in here.... If I may jump in here ahead of Lawrie, let me add that my understanding comports precisely with Cory's on your thread entitled "Questions...advice, please?" Cory writes: "General requirements (English requirement 3cred at Excelsior, 6 at TESC and COSC, usually 12 credits of humanities, 12 of science/math, and 12 of social science), how many applied professional courses you are taking (Excelsior's BA allows for 30credits, the BS for 60), as well as depth requirements, and upper level credit requirements. Things to note are that Excelsior will not accept the CLEP English, only the ECE English (I decided to take an LSU course for English as I have never had an actual composition course, so thought it would be worth the extra time/money), but by doing that I would have to take an additional class to get a degree from COSC or TESC. "Oh, COSC is picky about the order you take the tests, if you are looking at them don't take advanced course tests before the basic ones... Best advice for any program is to start out with the basic courses, and move into the more advanced ones." What does a BA change from a BS? 12 credit distributions become 9 credits for Excelsior; one can earn either a BA in a science, social science or or humanities subject, or else a BS. A BA restricts one somewhat to arts and sciences, while a BS allows one to bain more recognition for porfessional subjects. Only Excelsior has this flexibility, but it rarely matters, I believe. (I can't generalize about COSC.) Charter Oak State College, uniquely of the Big Three, attempts to preserve traditional sequencing of subjects in the major that they nonetheless call "concentrations." At a B&M college, one normally cannot take intermediate microeconomics before one has completed intro. That's why Cory mentions that one should only take UD course credits only AFTER completing certain LD courses if one aims for COSC--check their catalog for concentration details. But nothing prevents you from beginning to accumulate LD test credits NOW, knowing that you will later convert it to recognized college credit later! With Three going intitutions, it's a safe bet that at least one will still be around in 10 years. On the contrary, indications are that they are all groing--so, get going. I too have found TESC weak on offering degree planning advice, and yes, no one is especially forthcoming (you pay to "play")--hence the great utility of this forum. But both Excelsior and COSC have planning worksheets, with the latter's being the simplest and shortest to navigate. One can use multiples of each to "map out" different sets of degree completion routes to contrast and compare what each different one would require. But the bottom line of distributions, 3/3/3 (courses for BA) or 4/4/4 (courses for a BS), with English Comps minimums of 1 or 2 courses will remain unchanged. Thems 'da basics. COSC: http://www.cosc.edu/forms/deg_plan_4.pdf Excelsior: http://www.excelsior.edu/pdf/self_rev.pdf I've used both myself both are useful in crystalizing one's commitment to carry out a long-term plan--and thus, I recommend them! --Orson
Differences are in the number of allowable applied/professonal credits. 1. The BA degree requires at least 90 Arts/Science credits and up to 30 Applied/Professional credits (or further Arts/Science credits). 2. The BS requires at least 60 Arts/Science credits and up to 60 Applied/Professional credits (or further Arts/Science credits). Within that requirement, in terms of the general ed requirement - 1.1 The BA requires 33 credit hours distributed among the Humanities, the Social Sciences/History, and the Natural Sciences/Mathematics. 2.1 The BS requires only 24 credit hours distributed among the Humanities, the Social Sciences/History, and the Natural Sciences/Mathematics. See http://www.excelsior.edu/pdf/cat_la.pdf So far as the BA in 4 Weeks BS degree templates goes, some of the business credits and psych credits should be replaced with arts/science credit. The exact configuration is a matter of personal preference. Yes, and in fact, in the case of COSC, just such a tailored degree template is provided (see later). The general process is applicable to the programs of all three schools. There are, of course, individual quirks and differences between the programs, and the example templates in BA in 4 Weeks need to be tailored to the individual program of choice. Some of the differences, such as the COSC requirement for sequential course ordering (course 101, 201, 301, etc) are noted in the BA in 4 Weeks section "WHICH COLLEGES" http://www.geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks/Whichcol.html and "ENROLLMENT" http://www.geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks/enrollment.html . Direct links are provided in the main menu to COSC and TESC degree catalogs where the detail of unique degree requirements may be inspected. Additionally, accessible from the BA in 4 Weeks main menu, there is an excellent article by Roger Habeck (copyright Roger Habeck 1998) which details the process he used to earn his degree from COSC, by examination. This too can be used as an example template. Besides that, I do have unpublished outlines of additional degree guides for COSC and TESC degrees by examination, along with other Excelsior degrees - BS CIS and BS MIS. These guides are earmarked as part of extra content for a book version of BA in 4 Weeks if it ever gets off the ground. Lawrie Miller BA in 4 Weeks - a non commercial resource for adult learners http://www.geocities.com/BA_in_4_weeks .
