Cheapest way to turn an AA into a RA bachelors?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by SurfDoctor, Dec 15, 2010.

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  1. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    If one already has a completed associates degree, what would be the most economical online schools to go to to get a regionally accredited bachelors in English? Would that be Excelsior, TESC, Charter Oak or what? I know that Excelsior is pretty liberal in accepting transfer credits, right? Would that make it the most economical?

    What do you think two years would cost? (I know I could look all this up but....)

    I emphasize that this has to be regionally accredited. I like DETC, but it will not work in this case.
     
  2. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    COSC
    Fees $1,675
    30 UD units thru 10 DSST exams $800
    30 other units thru DSST $800

    Total = $3,275 (just a rough initial estimate).

    Plus books, test fees, and any additional units.

    For California residents the 30 LD units thru a CC would cost $780 (plus some additional fees)

    Just one of several ways to earn a degree at minimum cost.
     
  3. Petedude

    Petedude New Member

    Depends. . .

    . . . on what major, and what the student's study habits are like.

    I'd say, for most majors, look at Excelsior first for a cheaper associate's to bachelor's upgrade.

    For other majors, consider WGU. I think their BS IT program would be cheaper for someone wanting an IT-related bachelor's, for example.
     
  4. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    When I looked into it, COSC was the best deal and had the best customer service. There is a lot of talk regarding "concentration vs. liberal arts" for COSC so I recommend you contact them or look at the website to be sure they meet your needs if you want the degree to read something specific.
     
  5. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    The flaws with this plan are that a COSC degree requires a capstone, and that there aren't that many exams in English, so several courses must be taken on the cheap from somewhere.
     
  6. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    If Charter Oak counts the 18 credits it gives for the English Lit GRE towards the English concentration (which I suppose it does?), then half of the concentration could be complete with one exam. In fact, three of the GRE exams, plus the remaining English courses, could lead to quite an inexpensive BA, indeed!

    There is also TESC which, while more expensive with its fees, allows for the use of fee FEMA and NFA courses toward up to 27 credits. Then, some ALEKS courses could round out the odd credits left after the English courses are taken care of. I'm not sure if the capstone is required for English. I'd find out for you, but I'm about to use my keyboard as a pillow.
     
  7. james_lankford

    james_lankford New Member

    I looked at COSC but chose Excelsior specifically because COSC requires a public speaking course.
    At least that 's what I got from reading the requirements.

    page 53 and 54 of their catalog
    http://www.charteroak.edu/PDF/Official%20Catalog.pdf
    under "Skill Area Requirements"

    and I wanted to complete the whole degree online and through testing and I didn't know how to do that with Public Speaking.

    I think a BS in psychology at excelsior is the cheapest way to go.
    You'll have to pay a lot for a couple of full length online courses.
    I think "History And Systems - 3 credits" is required and so is "Information Literacy - 1 credit"

    But you can get so many credits just by taking Excelsior exams --
    List of possible exams
    Abnormal Psychology
    Ethics: Theory & Practice
    Bioethics
    Cultural Diversity
    Foundations of Gerontology
    Juvenile Delinquency
    Life Span Developmental Psychology
    Organizational Behavior
    Psychology of Adulthood and Aging
    Research Methods in Psychology
    Social Psychology
    World Conflicts Since 1900
    World Population

    You can fulfill almost all of the psych requirements by exam, and get a few few upper level credits for your "2nd knowledge requirement".
     
  8. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    DANTES offers a public speaking test.
     
  9. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    Oooops - I missed the "English" part (but one could take English courses at Clovis (5 LD courses next Spring) and WNMU has a stack them (graduate level but perhaps an UG student can take individual courses). I'm sure there are other low tuition cost UD courses available.
     
  10. okydd

    okydd New Member

    Can these exams be taken at Exclesior without paying yearly academic fees etc.; just pay the cost of the exams?
     
  11. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    You can take ECE exams at any testing center. I think I took mine at a Prometric center (or something like that). I was not an Excelsior student.
     
  12. james_lankford

    james_lankford New Member

    yes, you take exams without yearly fees
    you can create an excelsior user id to register for the exam and download exam outlines and sample questions
    Home - excelsior.edu

    or you can just call them
    "You may continue to register for an examination online, toll free at 888-723-9267, or you may download a copy of the examination registration form (PDF)."

    I don't know if you need to have a user id to see this page,
    Excelsior Exams at other Colleges - excelsior.edu
    but its a list of schools that accept the exams

    here is a list of all exams (go here, scroll down)
    http://www.excelsior.edu/ecapps/exams/creditByExam.jsf
     
  13. james_lankford

    james_lankford New Member

    oh yeah, they've also started something sorta new
    uexcel exams
    UExcel - Exams

    I don't know what other schools other than excelsior accepts those
     
  14. ITJD

    ITJD Active Member

    Get an AA from a RA school and then change/forge the word "Associate" to "Bachelor" on the diploma ;)

    Between 20 and 120 bucks at Kinko's.

    IT
     
  15. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    You are a genius! I'm loading up PhotoShop as we speak! Do you think anyone would balk at a PhD earned at the local community college? :smile:
     
  16. okydd

    okydd New Member

    Degreeinfo is amazing. Thank you
     
  17. ITJD

    ITJD Active Member

    I think there's a rule that any discipline is terminal at a community college if you add the word "technology" to the end of it.. ex: Electronic Engineering Technology... and as such as long as you put technology at the end.. it's just as good as a Ph.D, therefore you're covered. :)
     
  18. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    LOL. Cool, so Basket Weaving Technology would work out well then.
     
  19. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    The Public Speaking Requirement can be fulfilled through BYU Independent Study. My daughter completed the course in a week.

    Shawn
     
  20. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I'm surprised someone remarked that there aren't many courses in English. Just with CLEP there's English Composition and three different literature exams, the four of which combined are worth 24 semester-hours.

    -=Steve=-
     

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