My TESC Evaluation

Well to be fair there are approximately 3 programs that I'm aware of here in the U.S. but this is still a very small number. I'm seriously considering doing this if I meet their qualifications and the more I think about it I just can't find any major negatives. Aside from having to travel to take two exams, and my uncertainty of the degree here in the U.S. I think it may be a very good decision. I'm still going to think about it some more but in the meantime I'll keep moving forward with TESC and put together my application for UCD.

 

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VERYYYYY exciting!!
Hey- unrelated to anything- I see you are in Maine, we are taking our kids to Grandma's house in Kennebunk and dropping them off for 5 weeks. We leave next week!

 

Well actually I put that in my profile because from what I could gather it's the Eastern and Western most cities in the U.S. I travel a lot so I thought it was funny.

Also feel free to give me any other potential negatives you might think about this master's. I thrive on debating with myself (not literally ) and I just can't come up with a whole lot of negatives so far.

 

staying unrelated but in the neighborhood (sort of)...I'll be at Whitlocks Mill Lighthouse in about 5 weeks. Enjoy your non kid time...

 

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Thank you kindly And enjoy your trip too!

 

I found this article from 2007. The more I research this place the more I like it. I wish I knew for sure the U.S. would look favorable upon it. UCD is partnered with the ILR Cornell Business School.



The ILR/UCD Semester in Dublin Program launches inaugural class
October 30 2007

New student blog provides a personal look at their international experiences


Thirteen ILR School undergraduate students, all juniors and seniors, are now spending a semester abroad at the Quinn School of Business at University College Dublin (UCD) in Ireland. The ILR/UCD Semester in Dublin Program is an evolving collaboration between the ILR School and the Quinn School of Business.

The students' international experiences and first impressions of Dublin can be viewed on the Dublin blog. Check it out, see how our students are doing, and find out how this program is changing their lives.

In this new program, students are learning from leading scholars at UCD, which is regarded as one of Europe's premier universities. The curriculum exposes them to some of the most critical work, workplace and labor relations issues affecting the 27-member nations of the world's largest trading bloc, the European Union.

ILR students are taking four courses during their stay:

European Industrial Relations & Human Resource Management
Irish History & Culture
Multinationals in the Global Economy: Managing People
An elective class to supplement the required courses.
The Multinationals in the Global Economy course was created specifically for Cornell ILR students. In this course, the students gain important perspectives on globalization and European labor relations by undertaking several fieldwork projects under the direction of professionals at large multinationals, including Microsoft and Ulster Bank and at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). Students also will be given the opportunity to network with professionals at the Irish Development Agency (IDA), the Irish Business & Employers Confederation (IBEC), and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living & Working Conditions.

UCD also takes students out of the classroom to connect them with Ireland’s rich history and culture. Each weekend a different trip is planned to allow students an opportunity to travel throughout Ireland. Events include: a visit to the National Theatre, evenings of traditional Irish music and dance, visits to ancient historic sites & castles, a visit to the presidential residence, and a visit to Belfast.

During the Spring2008 semester, three graduate students from UCD will be attending ILR as part of the exchange program. The next ILR class will go to Dublin in the Fall 2008 semester. The application process will begin in February 2008.

To learn more about the Dublin program and to get an application, contact Brigid Beachler, Assistant Director, Off-Campus Credit Programs, 607-255-2266 or [email protected].

 

Traveling to Ireland can actually be quite inexpensive, especially from the East Coast. I noticed you're in Maine, you can get round trip flights out of Boston to Dublin for between $300-$400 with Aer Lingus. I travel to Dublin and Galway twice a year and it is suprisingly cheap. I'm just mentioning this because if the travel expense was going to be your deterrent I would advise that it isn't as expensive as you might think.

Also, UCD actually sits a little way out from city center so accommodations near the university shouldn't be terribly expensive either. I would say that you could do both of your visits (flight, hotel, shuttle to/from airport) for under $2000.

UCD does have a strong reputation overall. It is the second highest ranked university in Ireland, behind Trinity College-University of Dublin.

 

Thanks I will look into that. At those prices it would not be that much more expensive plus I could make a vacation out of it while I'm there. I'm very cloe to making a decision. I've been told that my initial looks very good for entrance so I'm just trying to weigh the final pros and cons. Does anyone have any other CONS to throw at me or at least have an opinion of this degrees acceptance here in the U.S.? I won't get upset by what any of you say because I'm asking for honest opinions. Thanks again for the guidance!

 

UCD/DePaul Coop program
http://www.law.depaul.edu/programs/study_abroad/dublin.asp

They also have several study abroad agreements with universities within the U.S. Don't mind me over here. I'm just convincing myself with research and I want to add it to the thread so when I look back at it one way or another it will be documented....

 

Well last night while completing my training documentation for UCD I really got to see how many hours I have in law enforcement training. Let me just say that it is a lot of hours. So it got me thinking again and yes I know what that usually leads to. Anyway i started messing around with the TESC Academic Evaluation (which is in beta right now) and I entered it for the BA in CJ.



Here is what came up:

BA CRJ General Education (60 Sh)



S.H. S.H. Applied S.H. Comm Coll S.H to Overall TESC

Required to Degree Req Remaining S.H. Applied be Planned GPA Met

120.00 57.00 60.00 0.00 57.00 YES



Semester Hours Completed: 24.00

Complete all 7 subrequirements:

A: English Composition (Completed)

> Complete one full year of English Composition with an

> average grade of C.

Semester Hours Completed: 6.00

GPA Achieved/Needed: 2.000 / 2.000

Group 1 (Completed)

Semester Hours Completed: 6.00

Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes

3.. ENGL1001 Engl Composition......... 3.00 A ENC-101 *TE

2.. ENC-102... English Composition II... 3.00 CR ENC-102 *NE



B: Humanities (In Progress)

> Complete 12 semester hours of Humanities, including at

> least two subject areas.

Semester Hours Completed: 6.00 Required: 12 Remaining: 6

Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes

2.. LIT-292... Analysis and Inter of Lit 3.00 CR LIT-292 *NE

2.. LIT-291... Analysis & Interpre Liter 3.00 CR LIT-291 *NE





C: Social Sciences (In Progress)

> Complete 12 semester hours in the Social Sciences,

> including at least two subject areas.

Semester Hours Completed: 6.00 Required: 12 Remaining: 6

Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes

2.. SOS-102... Social Sciences and Histo 3.00 CR SOS-102 *NE

2.. SOS-101... Social Sciences and Histo 3.00 CR SOS-101 *NE





D: Mathematics (Completed)

> Complete a 3 semester hour college-level Mathematics

> course.

Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes

3.. MATH1021 College Algebra.......... 3.00 A MAT-121 *TE



E: Natural Sciences (In Progress)

> Complete 9 semester hours in the Natural Sciences,

> including at least two subject areas.

Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes

3.. BIOL1001 General Biology.......... 3.00 A BIO-111 *TE





F: Multicultural Crse (Not Started)

> Complete 3 credits in multicultural studies.



G: General Ed Electives (Not Started)

> Complete 15 semester hours from any of the following

> General Education subjects: Humanities, Social Sciences,







Criminal Justice Area of Study (33 SH)

Semester Hours Completed: 12.00



GPA Achieved/Needed: 4.000 / 2.000

Complete all 6 subrequirements:

A: Terrorism (Not Started)

> Complete a 3 semester hour course in Terrorism

_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits



B: White Collar Crime (Not Started)

> Complete a 3 semester hour course in White Collar Crime

Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes

___ AOJ-303___ _________________________ ______________________ 1 course needed



C: Research Methods (Not Started)

> Complete a 3 semester hour course in Research Methods in the

> Social Sciences.

_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits



D: Social Policy and CJ (Not Started)

> Complete a 3 semester hour course in Social Policy and

> Criminal Justice.

Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes

___ AOJ-484___ _________________________ ______________________ 1 course needed



E: Cr.Beh & Victimology (Not Started)

> Complete a 3 semester hour course in Criminal Behavior

> and Victimology.

_____________________________________________________________________ 3 credits



F: BA.CRJ.2005 (In Progress)

> Take 18 credits from criminal justice theory courses;

Semester Hours Completed: 12.00 Required: 18 Remaining: 6

Src Course # Title S.H. Grd TESC # Notes

1.. LAWE233 Initial Investigations... 3.00 A AOJ-246 *TE

1.. LAWE231 Officer Survival......... 3.00 A AOJ-454 *TE

2.. HLS-410... Counterterrorism: Const & (3.00) ___ *IP

2.. AOJ-102 Intro. to Criminal Justi. (3.00) --- AOJ-102 *PL *TE





Now compared to the BS in Homeland Security which I'm currently enrolled in the difference is 6 credit hours in favor of Homeland Security. So my question is now would it be more beneficial and faster to attempt the BA in CJ since I have so much training? I also could test out of a few of these as well which I needed to do for the current path anyway. I was just curious if it was even worth looking into. Jennifer I know you've been outspoken about PLA's but would it even be worth it in this case? Do you think since I have so much training and experience I should challenge a BA in CJ? Since I have my AAS I'm just not sure now. I know nothing about the process except for the little I've read on TESC's site. Thanks!







Around here, However, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because were curious... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths...
- Walt Disney

 

Well as I continue my journey to finishing up my bachelor's I want to document each step so that it may help others. As most of you know I've second guessed myself along the way but I'm rounding out the home stretch. I thought December was a go but it looks like it might end up being March or June because of how early TESC needs the graduation documentation.

So here is hopefully my final dilemma. I'm enrolled in the BS in Homeland Security and have tested out of the majority of the degree. I have taken a few courses through TESC as well. I'm left with the core courses and I'm reviewing my options. TESC offers 12 weeks courses which start once a month but in order to be considered for March graduation the courses have to be completed by Jan. 1, 2010. If you look at the classes that start in November they do not end until Jan. 31, 2010 so that leaves me exhausting myself making sure there are no other options. Here are the courses I have left:

Do any of you know either some testing out options or fast course equivalents for the following courses offered through TESC:

1. HLS-355 Critical Thinking for Homeland Security- Offers an overview of critical thinking and its applications in the homeland security context. The focus is on essential elements of thought, asking the right questions, uncovering fallacies in reasoning and statistical misrepresentations. Evidence evaluation in a homeland security setting is featured with several examples interpreting real-world information.

2. SOC-322 Cultural Diversity in the US- Examines racial, ethnic, sexual, religious and other minority groups in American society. The course explores the impact of law and policy on these groups and promotes an understanding of individuals from diverse backgrounds. ( I'm aware of an ECE that fits this course )

3. SOS-440 Terrorism- This course covers the phenomenon of terrorism as explored along thematic and chronological lines that focus mainly on the American experience and perspective. The course delves into the evolution of terrorism, its impact on U.S. domestic and foreign policies, some pertinent international dimensions, and the prospects for nonconventional terrorism in the future.

4. HLS-420 Homeland Security: Preparedness, Prevention and Deterrence- This course focuses on how strategic planning, incident control systems, and intelligence techniques combine to provide the necessary foundation for anti-terrorism and emergency preparedness. Topics covered include infrastructure protection, National Incident Management System, threat and vulnerability assessments, information sharing, resource planning, and other issues relating to terrorism prevention and deterrence.

5. HLS-429 Protecting the Homeland —Response and Deterrence- This course focuses on processes, procedures and available resources in responding to and guiding recovery from disaster events. Topics covered include planning, leadership, technology, information gathering, coordination, communication, and other issues relating to response and recovery from disaster and terrorism scenarios.

6. SOS-492 Research Methods in the Social Sciences- An introduction to the research methods used in the social sciences. The course provides examples of research studies that employ a variety of research techniques, and it fosters an understanding of the knowledge these studies have produced.

Now AMU has 8 week courses but I'm not aware of any that match up to the ones TESC offers. I'm also aware of an ECE that fits the cultural diversity course. Any ideas? This is my final stretch and then I can bother you guys about my master's degree path!

*EDIT* I'd like to also add that once I'm done with this I will detail my whole path for others to learn and use. This place has been invaluable!

 

We are probably all guilty of second guessing our degree choice at some point in the journey. Now that you are on the home stretch the finish line seems much more achievable. Good luck!

Send an email to your advisor at TESC asking for an evaluation of how the school will handle the homeland security courses you are considering offered by AMU map to the requirements of your degree. I had a few courses which their automated system incorrectly mapped and my advisor was able to override the default TESC course matching.

 

I'll do that and see where they apply. I am hoping that there are course equivalents because the 12 week option forces me to wait until June. An 8 week, self paced, or testing option would put me at the finish line in March. I know it may seem like just a few months but my personal life dictates I try and finish by March if it's possible. AMU is more expensive but it would be worth it to finish sooner. If you can think of any other schools let me know as well. Thanks!

As far as those master's I attempted a few months ago I was accepted and invited but loan screw ups by the banks forced me to put those on hold. Since I'm winding up this BS I figure it's better to wait now.

 

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I took #6 on your list. It was one of the easiest classes <cough cough> I have ever taken. However, I know that ALEKS has a class called Statistics for Behavioral Science that is evaluated by ACE for credit- just BE SURE to check because it might not meet your requirement. The actual TESC class was no stats to speak of, the ALEKS class will be.
ALEKS is running $20 per month with 1 month free (google a code), so that could be very fast and very cheap.

 

Thanks Jennifer. I sent them a help ticket to see if they could address my questions and how these courses fit into my current degree path. What's strange is that I did this yesterday for the other courses and the response I got this morning left me puzzled. I got a canned response in regards to registering for courses through touchnet. It never addressed my actual questions so I sent them another one with the ALEKS courses included as well. I just know that I need to get something started because Friday ends late registration for TESC.

 

Actually the most Western city in the USA is Adak. Interestingly the most Easterly point in the USA is Semisopochnoi Island, also in Alaska.

Don't you just hate nitpicking amateur geographers?

 

Duly noted sir.

As a side note I see that Penn Foster has a course in Terrorism here----

Terrorism (CJS 215) (CJS 215)

Credit Type: Course
ACE Course Number: 0182
Organization: Penn Foster College
Location: Independent Self-Study
Length: Distance Education Learning
Dates Offered: 7/1/2003 - Present
Description: Distance Education Learning. Student will be able to discuss the historical framework or terrorism; detail the structure of terrorist organizations; identify international terror groups; identify domestic terror groups in the United States; and discuss local, state, federal, and international responses to terrorism.
Objective: To provide an understanding of the history of terrorism, acts of terror, political agendas of those engaged in domestic and international terrorism, and counter-terror strategies and tactics.
Learning Outcome: Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to discuss the historical framework or terrorism; detail the structure of terrorist organizations; identify international terror groups; identify domestic terror groups in the United States; and discuss local, state, federal, and international responses to terrorism.
Instruction: Major topics covered in course are the history of terrorism, international terrorism, types of terrorism, bureaucratic responses to terrorism, and civil liberties. Methods of instruction include self-study using textbooks and a study guide, lesson exams, and a proctored final exam.
Credit Recommendation: In the lower division baccalaureate, associate degree category, 3 semester hours in Criminal Justice or Political Science (6/07).


This should certainly fit my Terrorism requirement right? I hate to keep sending TESC emails but this would save me some money for sure.

 

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Ahhhhh reminds me of my days at TESC. No doubt they cleared your ticket and marked it "solved"

 

Well I went ahead and registered for HLS-355 Critical Thinking for Homeland Security, HLS-420 Homeland Security: Preparedness, Prevention and Deterrence, and HLS-429 Protecting the Homeland —Response and Deterrence because there are no course equivalents. SOC-322 Cultural Diversity in the US will be covered by the ECE equivalent and SOS-440 Terrorism will be covered by the Penn Foster Terrorism course.

The ALEKS course does not fulfill the requirement for SOS-492 Research Methods in the Social Sciences but it does fall into a natural science 3 hour course. AMU COLL300 Research, Analysis, and Writing fits this course but the AMU course is more expensive. Surely there must be something else that works into a social science research course.

Also as far as the capstone is concerned I do not see any prereq's that would prevent me from starting it with these other courses so I could enroll for the December class. Anyone have any more ideas?

 

Any other suggestions for SOS-492 Research Methods in the Social Sciences? This is my final class along with my capstone and I just want to make sure that there isn't a testing out equivalent or a course that's cheaper, quicker, etc. I should be done with all coursework at the end of February so I'm excited about this. I'll update this thread as this final semester moves along as well. Thanks!