Quick Second Bachelor's With Little to No New Course Work

I cannot fully explain my situation, but I need a second Bachelor's degree in any secular field (my first is in General Studies) with little to no new course work. I do not care if the school is accredited or not, as long as it is not a flagrant diploma mill. I'm under no impression that this will not cause some posters to blow their top - please, only post replies that might help me achieve my stated goal. Thanks.

Daniel

 

Well, you can earn a regionally accredited 2nd bachelor's degree in short time and at low cost via Excelsior College, Charter Oak State College, or Thomas Edison State College.


At Excelsior, the requirement is that a candidate complete at least one quarter of credits for the second degree, and that (I think) at least 21 of these be in the new major/concentration (the remaining credits for the concentration can come from prior course work or exam credit).

Now, since most bachelor's degrees at Excelsior are 120 semester hours, this translates to presenting 30 hours of new learning, where "new" learning is in the form of credit earned after completion of the first bachelor's degree.



Additionally, the 30 "new" credits will have to have COHESION with respect to the degree major or concentration (and the degree as a whole where 9 of the 30 credits are used as filler [[that is, where you present only 21 new credits in the new concentration and use 9 old credits to complete the 30, PLUS, present the other require 9 new credits as any appropriate arts/science credit]]). Note again, that I think the minimum credit in the new major/concentration is 21 credits of the 30 total required. This from memory, so should be checked.



That explanation is a bit of a dog's breakfast, but basically, in most cases, if you present 30 "new" credits comprising a new concentration that meet program requirements, you get the second degree.

If you are going for a MAJOR in, say, Business, then the requirement for new credit is still 30 semester hours, but the Business credit requirement for that particular degree, is 45 credits. If you have the appropriate 15 Business credits in your first degree, you need only apply the 30 remaining business credits.

If you do not have any appropriate Business credit, then, clearly, you are going to have to supply all of the 45 required Business credits. Additionally, in the Business program (for example), there is a 3 credit "Ethics" requirement, 3 credit statistics requirement, and a 6 credit arts/science requirement for macro and micro economics. Now, if you already have these in your first degree - fine, if not, you will have to supply them too.

So, the second degree is most economically earned as a degree with CONCENTRATION, requiring a straight 30 semester hours. The credit must meet concentration requirements in terms of depth and breadth. It cannot be just any 30 credits. A Concentration, by definition, must have structure.

Concentrations are available in a wide variety of disciplines, some of which can be completed using the 2hr 50min $130, GRE subject exams. That is, the requirements for a second degree may be met by completing one and only one test.

On another tack, if you have credit that already meets concentration requirements, and that credit was earned after your first degree was conferred, and the proposed concentration of the second degree is substantially different from the first degree, it is possible to meet requirements for the second degree without doing another stroke. Simply apply, pays your money, takes your choice, and . . . congratulations on earning your second degree. A fine achievement. Well done!

Now, few would have all their ducks lined up in a row to be in a position to do this, but many prospective second degree candidates may be part way there.

Cost? If you already have all required credit, then about $1300. Around $850 enrollment plus around $440, graduation fee. I received my two degree diplomas about a week or so after conferral.

Most easily earned and most flexible second degree for most people is probably the BS or BA with Concentration in Psychology. This is the concentration I detail this in the BA in 4 Weeks Second Degree guide. See:- http://www.geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks/2ndDegree.html
For a step by step guide through the process.



Lawrie Miller
BA in 4 Weeks
http://www.geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks

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I have a question for you Lawrie.

My situation is not the same as the first writer here, but I am interested in getting a 2nd B.A. However, my 1st B.A. is from Multnomah Bible College, which is in the process of obtaining its regional accreditation still (with Northwest Assn. of Schools and Colleges-NASC).

Do you have a gander from prior experience as to what Excelsior might do with that? That is, would my prior bachelor's be sufficient in thier view? It is presently accredited with ATS, and has been for a long time. I am certain I could do this if I waited for the accreditation process to be completed, however, that will be about 6 years from now.

I also have another incentive not to wait. I am wondering if one can substitute gradute level courses for bachelor's credit with Excelsior. I plan on enrolling in a M.A. in Literature (regionally accredited), whichever one will accept me in my area. Often, when I supply a letter from my alma mater's dean, someone accepts me. If Excelsior took my grad. credit @ bachelor's credit while I'm doing my M.A., I would surely complete the 30 units before finishing my M.A., so it wouldn't be cross applied to them when I transfer it. Then I would finish my M.A. and obtain two degrees at the same time.

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Any comments would be helpful.