Hey! I'm looking for a degree plan for a BS in Biology that I could get through CLEP, DSST, etc. I understand that I will need to do my labs through a community college or something but I don't that I could get the majority of it done testing out. I just don't know how to figure out what exams I could/should take. Thanks for your help! I really appreciate this forum a lot!
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To start to prepare for the Biology GRE + 2 labs, which is one way that Excelsior accepts to complete the major, consider taking (although I'm pretty sure it will duplicate the GRE and not count for credit) or just studying for the Biology CLEP. At least it will be a quantifiable first step in the process.
You can use this template created by Alissa for a BS in Liberal Studies at Excelsior:
You will just need to make some adjustments to include a major. Here is the breakdown for that:
Requirements: 120 credits total with 30 upper level credits
Written English Requirement: 3 credits
General Education Requirement: 24 credits
Additional Arts and Sciences Electives: 33 credits
Total Arts and Sciences: 60 credits with 21 upper level
---Major Option (or Depth Requirement 1):
30-33 credits in single arts and sciences discipline with 15 upper level, plus Research and Writing in the Major
---Depth Requirement 2:
12 credits in a single applied professional or arts and sciences discipline with 3 upper level
---Area of Focus (optional):
21 credits in a single applied professional or arts and sciences discipline with 6 upper level
Applied Professional Credits or Additional Arts and Sciences: 59 credits with 9 upper level, plus Information Literacy 1 credit
Hope this helps! Please keep us updated on your progress.
P.S. If you decide to get your Biology degree through Excelsior, English Comp with Essay CLEP will not count toward the Written English Requirement.
cpstudent Wrote:Hey! I'm looking for a degree plan for a BS in Biology that I could get through CLEP, DSST, etc. I understand that I will need to do my labs through a community college or something but I don't that I could get the majority of it done testing out. I just don't know how to figure out what exams I could/should take. Thanks for your help! I really appreciate this forum a lot!
>>
CLEP your 60 gen eds according to the college's requirement
FEMA, CLEP, DSST your 27 free electives
take online or face to face in-major courses w/labs.
(NAP, whom I respect, and I disagree on the use of GRE for sciences as a method of earning credit. My vote is a hearty "no!!")
3 excellent sources for distance biology courses:
Ocean County College (where I take my sciences, I'm finishing my 2nd semester) Labs are real, done at home and photographed/submitted.
New England University, college of osteopathic medicine - google it, they offer bio 1 and 2, as well as microbiology. Nothing non-human. I'm planning to take organic chem 1 and 2 with them, as well as biochem. All labs are virtual labs.
Harvard Home go into the continuing ed link, there are 5 bios online - none are lab, but really interesting subjects like neurobiology for instance. I took an awesome abnormal psych for grad credit- 4 stars.
03-21-2010, 08:09 PM (This post was last modified: 03-21-2010, 09:47 PM by NAP.)
Thank you Jennifer for spelling that out. I had been thinking about that angle for using CLEPs toward a degree, too.
About the GRE, I think the option needs to be offered since there is no other place that it will be mentioned. For me, it is an excellent opportunity. Each person would need to evaluate their own goals and how it is best for them to get there. We can show them some of the different ways that are available. (CLEP and DSST exams do not offer a way to complete a Biology major.)
Also, I mentioned Sunshine in the other thread. I couldn't be more proud of her for completing her degree from Excelsior in Biology Magna Cum Laude through courses. I think it is awesome that she did this! I want more people to know that this is possible.
cpstudent Wrote:Hey! I'm looking for a degree plan for a BS in Biology that I could get through CLEP, DSST, etc. I understand that I will need to do my labs through a community college or something but I don't that I could get the majority of it done testing out. I just don't know how to figure out what exams I could/should take. Thanks for your help! I really appreciate this forum a lot!
Have you decided which school you'd like to attend? I chose Excelsior and really enjoyed being a student there. I've included my biology degree plan so you can get an idea of how it can be done. Keep in mind that there is a lot of flexibility with them (or any of the "big 3" mentioned on this forum), so you could choose to take the exams you want provided they meet EC's degree requirements.
The first page lists the guidelines for a B.S., and the second page lists the degree plan I used. I lumped some credits/requirements together. For example, the written English and quantitative requirements are in with the general education credits.
Out of 122 credits, only 24 were not by exam, but you could probably get away with fewer actual class credits if you wanted to. For instance, I chose to take an English class and a microbiology class, though both were offered by exam at EC.
It's a good idea to get your general ed requirements out of the way while you're deciding on the school. After you've chosen, you'll want to (frequently) confirm with them which biology classes will meet their requirements since they can often change.
Hope this helps!
[SIZE="2"][COLOR="DarkBlue"]B.S., Biology, Excelsior College
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NAP Wrote:Also, I mentioned Sunshine in the other thread. I couldn't be more proud of her for completing her degree from Excelsior in Biology Magna Cum Laude through courses. I think it is awesome that she did this! I want more people to know that this is possible.
Aww, thanks, NAP! *blushes* I agree that a biology degree is something anyone can accomplish, even through distance learning & other non-traditional methods.
[SIZE="2"][COLOR="DarkBlue"]B.S., Biology, Excelsior College
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03-21-2010, 09:15 PM (This post was last modified: 03-21-2010, 10:03 PM by cpstudent.)
Thanks for all the replies! I haven't researched too much into which school but I have been thinking Excelsior. But that's why I wanted to ask you guys so I could get working on general ed requirements right away. This has really helped!
(cookderosa) Do you have to buy any equipment for the online labs?
Completed:
6 - Analyz. and Interp. Literature (56)
3 - Principles of Management (63)
3 - Principles of Marketing (55)
3 - Information Systems and Computer Applications (50)
03-21-2010, 10:39 PM (This post was last modified: 03-21-2010, 10:44 PM by cookderosa.)
cpstudent Wrote:(cookderosa) Do you have to buy any equipment for the online labs?
Yes. You'll be instructed about the type of microscope you need (basic w/oil immersion lens) and then for each class, you order the appropriate lab pack.
The pack will include all sealed experiments, as well as general supplies and collection of appropriate microscope slides. I have a table and corner of one room dedicated as my lab. I also have my specimens for this semester, which include a fetal pig, cat, cow eye, sheep's heart, and sheep's brain. Most things are used and then discarded, however, you can keep everything and do with it what you please when you are finished. For example, I have quite a collection of beakers, test tubes, pipets, etc.
Many many schools who do distance labs use Home | Hands On Labs They are huge suppliers of lab stuff. For fun, just go browse the bio sections, you'll be able to view samples of the kits. Each kit also comes with the manual for the labs (on CD) so you are ready to go. Your school tells you exactly which pack to order for your class, you'll notice some schools make a custom pac, so the photos and lists are close-but may differ than what you actually get.
Anyone looking to take general biology, anatomy & physiology or microbiology at inexpensive prices should look at Clovis Community College or New Mexico Junior College. I have taken a couple of distance learning bio classes from NMJC and learned a lot. Too bad that they do not have Genetics, Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry.
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