differnce betw. TESC and NDU?

What are the differences between TESC (Thomas Edidon State College) and NDU (North Dakota University).

As far as I can tell, both are RA accrediated (I might be wrong). But, only NDU has ABET accrediation. (I might be misinformed, here too)

With NDU the labs are taken on campus, in North Dakota.

With TESC, the classes are not taken tradionally....you recive your degree only through CLEP, life portfolio assesment, or by college transfer. (or am I wrong about that too? )

Also, you need to have complted your GED or IGETC w. TESC. With NDU, you can complete these deficiencies.

Comments? Suggestions?

Ive requested information from both. But while waiting....

 

Are you referring to the BSEE/ME/CE DL program at UND?

If so, like I said in the other message, the BSEE and TESC's BSAST in Electronic Engineering Technology are a little different.

TESC's program will have less math (only a year of calculus I believe and the engineering courses are applied in nature rather than theoretical like the BSEE's curriculum).

As for TESC, they are RA. Their engineering tech program is NOT ABET accredited, however, they do offer advise on what courses to take towards qualifying for the PE exam in New Jersey (if thats why you want an ABET accredited). I guess you would take more lab courses and possible an additional math class.. I don't know. You can earn credit through TESC a number of different ways. Yes, you can CLEP/DSST/ECE, portfolio, ACE recommended credit, credit transfered from different colleges, etc. They also have online classes you can take through them as well.

If an engineering technology degree is an option to you (as opposed to the regular engineering degree), Excelsior College has an ABET accredited BSEET. You get your degree the same way you would at TESC (Assessment). Better for people who have some prior college, military, experience, etc.

Your right about the UND program.. They are RA and the engineering programs are ABET accredited. You have to take the lab classes at the school in North Dakota. They are accelerated courses, however. So, it may not be a big deal to go a couple times a year to pop off some lab classes.

So, what do you do for a living? Do you need a BSET or a BSEE? You want to do field work or design? You mentioned about continue to a masters degree. I admit that its a bit harder to get into an MSEE or ME from a BSET (lot of bridge work involved). Some people swing over to computer science or engineering management when they pursue a masters degree from an engineering technology undergrad.

Best Regards,
Bill

 

In regard to the stigma issue it is important to point out to folks that seem to have such biases towards online programs that their own institution may be offering online courses and degrees. If not, you typically just have to point to the online opportunities already being offered at similar schools.

For example, here is an announcement for Stanford's online masters in EE. http://www.stanford.edu/dept/news/report/news/july29/webdegree.html


Most of the doctorates you call online are really short residency programs with online components. One could easily point to short residency progams offered by Columbia University, Colorado State, and other institutions to dispell this fallacy.

Yes, bias does exist and I also think it is a responsibility of the DL community to wipe out any stigma. I really wonder that in today's world of growing online and DL opportunities what percentage of academics on traditional campuses really think that online or nontraditional is "no good," "not as good," etc? My guess it is much smaller than one would imagine.

John

 

Couldn't agree with you more. For the most part, insofar as acedemia goes, some graduate progrmas insist that your BS degree be RA accredited. Take cal-poly for example. I'm hard pressed to find a master's program that would excpet a BS degree from a DETC school. It really is unfortunate that such a stigmata exits. Perhpas, over time, as more and more traditonal universities offer there programs "at-a-distance" then this stigmatta will go away.

Depending on how the courses are administered, I would suggest that there are "just as good". I've had some pretty rotten professors who lecture hours on end and really have nothing to say about the material we are studing. With a online course, howver, I find that assignments can require more reasearch and be more "in depth" than a residential program. In additon, depending on the school, and how the classes are administered, you have the added benefit of "one-on-one" instructors.

For anyone aspiring for an engineering degree, I have found only 3 schools that offer such a thing (through the DETC..RA is another matter)..and only one of those 3 that offer a master's. I'm probably not telling you anything you dont know, but perhaps someone would like to.