Testing out for a degree at TESC

Discussion in 'CLEP, DANTES, and Other Exams for Credit' started by GlobalBusiness, Dec 1, 2012.

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  1. GlobalBusiness

    GlobalBusiness New Member

    First I wanted to say this site has been a wealth of information and has really helped.

    I am almost in my thirties and a successful business owner. I was fortunate I was at the right time and place along with my knowledge to start my business my senior year in high school. Because of that I decided that I had the tools I needed to be successful. I haven't left much to accomplish from a professional standpoint besides a degree. I am around very affluent business men and women in which I at most times am the only one without a degree.

    With that being said I am considering going to get my BS or BA in some type of business, preferably international business. My ultimate goal in the end would be to get my Masters from a local University.

    I have read on the forums and done research that I should enroll in a RA school. Since I travel out of the country every 5-6 weeks I am unable to attend classes.

    I read a thread about TESC and that they allow you to test out of several classes in order to speed up your degree. This really intrigued me as I am able and willing to do any type of written exam or prove that I am knowledgeable enough to earn credits in a particular field.

    With that all being said my question(s) are as follows:

    The below degree interest me as its an international study.
    Thomas Edison State College: International Studies

    How many of these credits could I earn with taking an exam?
    Could I earn other credits with a portfolio (Sorry if I am not using the right term, I am new)?
    If I tested out of the credits from the above questions, how long would this degree take?
    Since TESC is RA would this BA be accepted by most Universities for a Masters?


    I really hope I did not lose your attention. All advice is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.
     
  2. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    What makes TESC unique, is not that they allow exam credit, it's that they allow 100% transfer credit. In other words, this policy allow you to price shop as well as shop for fast / short / online classes, etc. All of the methods you use can the be transferred in to complete your degree. Most colleges cap transfer credit, most cap CLEP or other test credit, but most do allow some degree of transfer and testing.

    So, the main exam people use at TESC and elsewhere is the CLEP. It's a 100/200 (fresh/soph) level multiple choice exam that issues anywhere from 3-12 credits for a passing score. These are taken locally and saved up until you are ready to enroll. Look for a testing center near you and the complete list of exams here: College Admissions - SAT - University & College Search Tool

    There are other exams, and many people will tell you (myself included) that it's easier to test out of a class than assemble a portfolio to earn credit for prior learning. There are exceptions, but in general, it's a much shorter-cheaper-faster process to simply test out.

    Without going through that degree plan for you, I can tell you that all of your gen eds can be earned through CLEP. So, that's your first 60 credits. Secondly, most TESC degrees allow 27 credits of free electives. These can be credit in anything- there is a free (literally ZERO DOLLAR) option for earning all 27 credits through FEMA classes. These are taken at home. You could knock out all 27 credits in a few weeks. Many people can complete 1-2 per day.

    So, your first 60 (CLEP) and your next 27 (FEMA) will get you through any of the TESC undergrad degrees. The remaining 33 (your major) are where things start to get interesting.

    TESC does not offer all classes to complete all degrees. So, you'll have to do a search in their course bank to see if the classes in your major are offered at TESC, or another idea is to see if they are offered at your local community college or one of the cheaper online schools. *you can find resources up the wazoo when you are ready. But, the main thing to remember, is that essentially all degrees at TESC boil down to how you'll complete your major. Your classes "in major" need to be distributed according to the degree's plan, some upper level cred (300/400) some lower level is ok (100/200) etc so you have to do some planning ahead of time as to how you'll get those credits. MANY tests exist in business, many in psychology and history and other liberal arts, making these popular choices for TESC degrees. (my degree from them is in Social Science). Don't let that dissuade you from finding courses to fit into International Studies. Perhaps you'll find others here who have completed that degree and can help you. Also, there is another board (not sure if I can mention it here- pm me) that focuses almost exclusively on how to fill TESC requirements. That board might offer the best leads for your plan.

    All the best, and welcome to the board.

    P.S. earning 60 CLEP credits took me 6 months and I would say that was average-slow in speed. MANY others tested much faster than me. 27 FEMA would take about a month. It's how you plan to get those other 33 in major credits that determine the real speed for completion. If they are all classes, you're not going to take all 33 in fewer than 2 semesters- so this will require some planning. My whole degree from 0 to 122 took me 18 months.
     
  3. ryoder

    ryoder New Member

    CLEP/DSST credit is accepted at all colleges but PLA is not. If you ever want to get into an MBA, make sure your credits are RA courses or CLEP/DSST.
    I would say to focus on getting the BSBA General Mgmt degree at TESC because you can test out of all of it.
    Check out this community wiki for some more info TESC Degree Plans - Degree Forum Wiki

    But do not suffer from analysis paralysis like so many do.

    I have a challenge for you. Go to the book store and buy REA Management, REA Macroeconomics, REA Microeconomics, and the REA Marketing books today.
    Start with the marketing book since its the easiest. Read the entire book, take practice test one and learn the answers to the questions you got wrong. Do additional research on them if you still don't understand. Then retake practice test one until you pass with 100%. Then take practice test two and repeat the process until you are ready to test. Find a local testing center now, schedule the test when ready and for $100 you have earned a whole semester worth of course credit.

    From your business experience, these business CLEP tests should be very doable but do not underestimate your need to study.

    Enjoy it. It was a blast for me. I am a TESC BSBA CIS grad and then went on to complete an MBA. I learned a LOT testing out and you will to.
     
  4. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    CLEP and DSST are widely accepted, but they're not accepted by all schools, and those that do accept it sometimes deviate from ACE recommendations when it comes to required scores and credit granted.
     
  5. ryoder

    ryoder New Member

    Yes this is correct. Almost all schools accept the bulk of CLEP tests and the CLEP test transfer in one-to-one, however there are exceptions. Find a school you want to attend and look on their site for "clep articulation". At USF, the CLEP natural science test is worth nothing, for example. The CLEP management class does not get you past intro to mgmt either, it gets you an upper level business elective. So mileage varies. Also USF has a limit of 39 credits through CLEP/DSST/AP/IB. But by and large CLEP is as good as RA credit.
     
  6. ryoder

    ryoder New Member

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