Question about TESC's BA programs & degree evaluations

I had decided to pursue a second Bachelors degree, in this case a Bachelor Of Arts in Natural Sciences/Mathematics from Thomas Edison State College.

I had been reading their website with information regarding their degree programs and such.

After a couple days of reviewing their website information I decided to call their admissions/academic advior to inquire further.

I explained that I had a 200+ credits, An Assoc Arts Degree, and a BSBA.

The advisor explained to me a few different ways to approach this second degree (which has me a little confused):

1) apply to the college and let them review all essential materials then take what necssary courses to finish off degree program

this next process is what has me confused

After submitting all transcripts, fill out all applications, pay the admissions processing fee:

She indiscated there was an accellerated review process for the award of a Bachelors Degree (in Arts).
What it entited was all the above, an additional application and a fee of ~$300.00 which would review an accept as many credits hours towards the full 120 cr hrs degree requirments, which then the end result is that I may need to take a course or two depending on the end result). And pay a semester or two in fees.

The interesting part was.......she said in this process, is that depending on the degree program, the amount of credits/courses that I have taken.........is that I may not even need to take any courses at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An automatic degree award!Which according to her is not uncommon in this process with TESC.

I had her explain this to me twice. And she is even going to send me a packet with all the information and applications, etc...

HAs anyone ever heard of this type of evaluation? Especially with Thomas Edison State College?

Feedback please.

Thanks
Jay

 

It is true. This is not uncommon at TESC (or Charter Oaks or Excelsior.)

Your mileage may vary.

 

I thought that you could not receive an automatic 2nd degree using that method, but that you had to complete a minimum of 30 credits after earning your first bachelors degree? In addition, the website says that only 15 credits from a previous degree can be applied to a 2nd degree, so even if you already fulfilled all degree requirements you'd still have to do coursework.

Please post updates about your situation here since within a few months I will have 160+ credits and only one bachelors degree in Industrial and Labor Relations, but have completely fulfilled the requirements for a bachelors degree in political science, have completely fulfilled requierments for a bachelors in general studies, and mostly fulfilled the requirements for a bachelors degree in sociology.

 

I'm also confused when you say that they'll review your credits to see if you meet the 120 credit requirements. 120 credits is the requirement for a first bachelors degree, but for a second bachelors degree only 30something credits are required. Why would they review you to see if you meet the requirements for a 120 credit bachelors degree when you don't need 120 credits to get a second bachelors degere?

 

I'm not sure why 120 hours was mentioned. Perhaps an admissions person more accustomed to first degrees typed it inadvertently. In any case, at TESC you have to complete 30 hours after the bachelor's and can only apply 15 from the first. It doesn't matter where or how you earn these credits. (There may be restrictions on the courses and/or levels.) But maybe nobycane has already met these criteria. It's certainly not unusual for this to happen.

Your mileage may vary.

 

Although this is true for TESC do you know if it's true for Excelsior and COSC as well? Or if any other institution deviates from this type of policy?

At the Harvard Extension School, for example, you can take 2 courses in the ALM program PRIOR to earning a bachelors degree and then have those 2 courses count towards the credits needed to earn the ALM degree. The same thing is true at the Penn State World Campus, where the course I'm taking through them to fulfill a Cornell degree requirement will count towards their 36 credit Organizational Leadership bachelors degree even though the credit for the class is being awarded prior to the completion of my first bachelors.

 

Yep, her description is accurate