Earning an online BA degree while attending an actual School for a Degree

Hey Everyone,

I'm new here... came across this forum and have been reading around. Seems like a very helpful and informative place! I'm hoping someone can help me with this situation... I'm currently enrolled in a Bachelor's degree program. However, my school doesn't offer the General Education requirements to graduate. You either go to their partner school (a city college), or take the classes online/at a college of your choice (as long as the credits you earn line up with the programs requirements).

I am planning on starting my General Education requirements in the next few months, and started looking into some online schools. I haven't chosen one yet, as I was considering the option of getting a second BA degree online after finishing the GE credits (while attending my current school...basically working on 2 degrees at once). I know this is a ton of extra work but I feel it would be worth it. Has anyone ever done something like this? Is it even possible to do? To further complicate this... after I finish my current degree I am planning on getting a Master's degree and possibly even try for a doctorate. Is that even possible given my situation?

Any help would be great, as I am completely lost with this. I am trying to get as much info as I can before going to my school councilor, so that I can be better prepared.

Thanks!

 

An "actual school?" ORLY?

 

Hi Gyp7! A warm welcome to Degree Info! Here's why there is a delay in your posts showing up: http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/35100-new-users-ask-where-did-my-posts-go.html

You could certainly get your GE units online. Many state universities and city colleges offer most or all of their GE requirements online. You could also attend an inexpensive online only school, like Excelsior College, Charter Oak or a number of others.

I'm not sure why you want to earn a second bachelor's degree, however. If I were you, I would go straight to a master's program. Get your bachelor's done ASAP and then go straight to graduate school. Two BA's does not carry enough weight to make it worth the time and expense. That's just my opinion; others might disagree.

 

Sorry, I worded that completely wrong. What I meant was an actual Brick and Mortar school. I didn't know how else to refer to it. My apologies, obviously online and campus colleges are both actual schools.

Thank you for the reply! I saw that post before, it's actually a great idea I think to have that requirement for new members. A few other forums that I frequent could definitely use that...

The reason I am looking at two BA degrees is I am currently working on a Bachelor of Music Performance degree, and wanted to back that up with a degree in Business. My thoughts are that I could eventually open my own music store, and have both the music skills, and business knowledge to be successful. However the Masters degree is so that I can further my music knowledge, and hopefully be able to land a teaching job in a College/University setting should my other plans not work out. But regardless, a masters program can only help with overall musicianship.

 

This depends, in Canada, people that need a teaching license go for a second bachelors and not a masters. The same stands for people that need a nursing, CPA or engineering license.

Also some people opt for a second bachelors instead of a masters becomes it makes it easier to get employment. Many people heard that it is not easy to get a job with an MBA with no experience, it is a lot easier to get a job with a BS in Accounting or Finance than with an MBA. Many companies stay away from people with Masters as this means higher salaries that they cannot afford.

The same stands for a PhD, I know few people with PhDs that actually make less money than people with a BS. The reason is that many PhDs become career Post docs or adjuncts and these two careers pay very poorly.

I believe that the notion that a Masters is always better is changing, many people actually are going for an associates instead after a BS. In Canada, in order to become a radio therapy technician, you need an associates degree and the same for other careers such as an electrician or plumber. Many people finish their bachelors and take these programs after as they know the pay better than many of the masters programs.

 

Gyp7,

It is rare that one is allowed to apply UG credits to two degrees. However many schools offer a second bachelor degree for 30 additional semester units not applied to a first degree (also in this case one must complete all degree requirements).

Regarding earning GE credits there are several schools that offer courses at relatively low cost (especially CCs).

Do you need lower division or upper division credits?

List courses you need on this forum and I'm sure will receive some suggestions.

Lastly can you use CLEP and DSST exams at your current school (DSST offers some exams that carry upper division credit).

 

Hey Ian,

Thanks for the response. I was under the impression that GE credits could be applied towards 2 different degrees. Is this not the case? Regardless, my current school is strictly music degrees. That is why we can't even do our GE credits there. Basically, we do only music related classes in school there, while going elsewhere for the GE requirements. Then after everything is completed we are awarded a BA in Music Performance. But I figured that if I had to do my GE's online anyway I might as well work towards a second degree as well.

Can you explain CLEP and DSST exams? I've looked into them but I am still not entirely sure if they would work in this situation...

As far as what I need for GE's for my current school here is what the current information that they give says:

 

Gyp7,

Many of the courses you need are available on-line at the Coastline Community Coillege (CCC):
https://bannerlsp.cccd.edu/pls/PROD/pw_pub_sched.p_search?Term=201333
I have taken on-line courses here and found CCC to be easy to work with. However the tuition costs for out-of-state students is high.

For a lower tuition cost check out Clovis CC in NM.
Online Degree Programs
I have not taken courses here but I believe other members of this forum have done so.

One comment on your previous post: You do not specify whether you need any upper division courses - most UG degrees require UD courses.

You can find out more about CLEP and DSST exams by searching on the web. DSST (and maybe CLEP) has a listing of schools where their exams are accepted.

Is your school regionaly accredited? I am surprised it does not offer GE courses.

 

Hey Ian,

My school is actually located in California, so I believe in only another few months I will officially be considered a resident of CA! From what I understand as long as I have been enrolled in school full time for a year I qualify for the resident tuition rates.

From what I understand the credits I need are strictly General Study requirements for this school. But I am not 100% sure. I tried looking through the everything I could find for my current school but there is no mention of any upper division course requirements. I believe everything we need for UD courses is offered in my current school.

My current school isn't listed as accepting CLEP or DSST but I will be asking my counselor about them when I meet with him - thank you for reminding me!

It is nationally accredited, not regionally. From what I understand though they have worked out agreements with most schools that offer graduate programs around here (Los Angeles) so that we can work on a graduate program. Or because of the national accreditation I can also move back home (New England) in order to work on a graduate degree. Or does this not sound right? Sorry - I'm new to this whole thing and unsure of a lot....

From what I am gathering then, working on 2 degrees at the same time is not something I would be able to do?

Thanks!

 

Here is some info on California residentcy:
https://secure.californiacolleges.edu/admissions/california-community-colleges/residency.asp

Can you trandfer RA credits earned towards a NA degree to a RA degree? An interesting question but I do not know the answer. You need to check with the schools that you are interested in. Personally I would opt to go the grad school route assuming that school is RA.

 

Goodness, I didn't realize I had yet to earn a degree from an "actual" school...