Using CSU Global SSAs for Certificates

[sanantone]

I don't really think that institutional challenge exams belong with the ACE and NCCRS courses, so I'll just put this thread here. 
Here is the transcript of my chat with an enrollment counselor. 

10:57:03 a.m. Chat User: I know that the CSU Global CBEs are being changed to
Self-Study Assessments. How many of those can be used
toward an undergraduate certificate?

10:57:27 a.m. 3035156169: Can take up to 30 credits worth of CBE'S

10:58:33 a.m. Chat User: I know that the SSAs will be counted as non-resident
credits. Is there a residency requirement for the
undergraduate certificates? In other words, would I be
required to take a minimum number of credits as regular,
online courses?

10:59:09 a.m. Chat User: Or, can I complete an entire undergraduate certificate with
SSAs?

10:59:51 a.m. 3035156169: Yes, our residency requirement is 30 credits, so if you take
your CBE'S and receive 30 credits, you still have to take at
least 30 credits with us.

11:00:10 a.m. 3035156169: You cannot complete an entire degree using SSA's

11:00:12 a.m. Chat User: But, the undergraduate certificates require far fewer than 30
credits.

11:00:28 a.m. Chat User: I'm asking about undergraduate certificates rather than
degrees.

11:00:32 a.m. 3035156169: Are you looking for a certificate or a undergrad degree?

11:00:37 a.m. 3035156169: Okay that helps

11:00:56 a.m. Chat User: An undergraduate certificate as opposed to a graduate
certificate.

11:05:24 a.m. 3035156169: Thank you for waiting- I had to ask around because I do not
know about certificate programs

11:05:42 a.m. Chat User: That is fine.

11:06:01 a.m. 3035156169: As to their knowledge you can use SSA for 5 of the 6
classes for the certificate\

11:06:49 a.m. 3035156169: You do have to take the first class with us, and then work
with your advisor for the remainder of the classes and use
SSA

11:07:03 a.m. Chat User: Thank you.

11:07:09 a.m. 3035156169: we give you up to 16 weeks to complete the self study
assesments

11:07:29 a.m. 3035156169: Did you have any other questions for me?

11:07:37 a.m. Chat User: No.

11:07:59 a.m. 3035156169: Okay, thank you for your time. Please reach out if you have
nay questions

11:08:05 a.m. Chat User: Thanks.

---

The only certificate program that appears to only need one online course is marketing. There's an SSA for every required course, so you'd only be taking one online course because that's what CSU Global wants.

[Leedeedee]

Shame, they must have changed their policy as well as changing the assessments. A couple of years ago I asked about this and i had it confirmed in writing that you could take a certificate entirely by CBE. Not a good change.

[sanantone]

Shame, they must have changed their policy as well as changing the assessments.  A couple of years ago I asked about this and i had it confirmed in writing that you could take a certificate entirely by CBE.  Not a good change.

When I asked about the CBEs a couple of years ago, they said that you couldn't complete an entire certificate by CBE. I guess it doesn't really matter since only the marketing certificate is test-friendly. 

I'm wondering, however, if you've already taken a course for one certificate, do you have to take another course for a second certificate? They don't seem to have a real reason why you need to take the first course, except that you need to plan the rest of the certificate with your advisor. It's not even hard to plan. The course codes between the courses and the SSAs are the same.

[dfrecore]

Shame, they must have changed their policy as well as changing the assessments.  A couple of years ago I asked about this and i had it confirmed in writing that you could take a certificate entirely by CBE.  Not a good change.

I don't think that there are many certs that have enough CBE's to do this with (there may have been 1 or even 2).  So it is not a huge loss.