BA in.. how long?

[Leherself]

So, a theoretical question for you. Most of the members of this forum have heard of the website BA in 4 weeks, but most of us also know that school policies and testing options have changed quite a bit since that site was last updated. So... what would be the speediest realistic time frame that someone could theoretically complete a bachelor's degree today? *Including* admin time here, and taking into account realistic limitations like needing to sometimes actually study for a test, test center availability, etc.

Seems to me that from the first test to actually receiving a diploma... 6 months is probably as short as you could go for a Bachelor of Arts from either TESU or Excelsior, considering the length of capstone courses, and how long it takes for schools to do things like evaluate transfer credits and process an application for graduation. Might be the same/similar for COSC - maybe a little longer since they require both a capstone and a cornerstone?

Then maybe a bit shorter for a BSBA from TESU if you take the capstone via TECEP? How much shorter? Lol, it'd take me ten years to get a BSBA just because that's how long it would be before I'd get around to passing Algebra. Thank god all I needed for my BA was the College Math CLEP.

I know that I could probably complete 120 credits including a capstone in about four months, plus two months of admin time... so long as I didn't have to work full time! That's a pretty big limiting factor on my end, you know, actually having to earn a living . On the other hand, rushing through things that quickly I think it's possible I'd burn out before I reached the finish line.

Anyone else? How quickly do you think it's theoretically possible to do? And how quickly do you think that you, personally, could complete a bachelor's degree if there weren't any obstacles other than having to study for and pass the right tests/classes?

Thoughts?

[dfrecore]

TESU BSBA - 2 months if I had unlimited free time (no job, no husband, no kids). I would never make it through though, because I would go insane partway through. But SOMEONE could probably do it. Just not me.

[Leherself]

TESU BSBA - 2 months if I had unlimited free time (no job, no husband, no kids). I would never make it through though, because I would go insane partway through. But SOMEONE could probably do it. Just not me.

Well, if you figure 120 credits / 3 credit classes = 40 classes/tests. 2 months = 8 weeks. 5 tests a week. That's theoretically manageable, especially if you already know most of the material. Slightly fewer tests if you incorporate some 6 credit exams. I've done more than that in a week... I've just never done it more than two weeks in a row. My dogs get mad at me if I don't leave my desk and pay them some darn attention occasionally .

The equivalent of a semester a week is still a pretty respectable pace! Lol

[cookderosa]

You'd also not have to be picky- you'd be looking for the fastest resource rather than your preference. You could stack classes by doing study dot com using more than 1 account (4+ maybe?) and do 2 exams per week with them, that would save travel time to a testing center. You could also do a huge bunch of maths through ALEKS from home. Also, if you had foreign language skills, you could accumulate big credit quickly, at least 9 cr per language, more if you used other exams. I'd bundle my CLEP/DSST exams so I took 2 at a time, again saving travel time. As always, it's those upper levels that are tricky. I *think* you can still get through the business degree without an actual class, but the other TESC degrees want you to complete a capstone, so you're locked into that timeline- but you could use that class period to complete the remaining credit. I don't know, I'm with dfrecore, I think 2 months is probably a good target, but I'm feeling like it might be closer to 3.

Edit: If cost isn't an issue, I'd also enroll in many courses if I had the capstone requirement. For me, I feel like classes at TESC are a lot easier than tests as long as you do the work. I won't go out as far as to say you don't need to learn anything, but there are a lot of hoops you can rack up points via discussion posts, etc. You don't need an A....... Last I checked, TESC had 3 courses that were big 6 credit ones. I did the social psychology years ago for 6 (I think that's right) anyway, the workload isn't double- so you could really take the capstone + 3 classes = 4 classes for 21 UL credits in 1 quarter.

[rebel100]

I get tired just thinking about this thread.

[AngelaP]

I think the key to your question is the word "realistic".

[bluebooger]

... by doing study dot com ...

why in the world would not type it out

study.com

[Leherself]

I'm trying to figure out how I would actually do this, if I was starting from scratch and wanted to finish in as little time as possible. So, saying that, I'm basing this on a) my personal strengths and weaknesses and b) the degree plan that I'd pick. Also, I preference CLEP & DSST because they're fast and I can take them free, but I have to stack them because my test center is only open three days a week.

So Month 1, Week 1 - 24 CR

- Immediately apply to TESU. Take Gen Ed and confidence building tests to start. CLEP College Composition (6 CR), CLEP College Math (6 CR), and CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature (3 CR??) I'd take in one day. Then on another day that week I'd take DSST Public Speaking, Here's to Your Health, and Substance Abuse* (which is an upper division course in the major).

Month 1, Week 2 - 21 CR (running total: 45)

- More Gen Eds. DSST Intro to Computing & Environment and Humanity would fulfill the science requirement at TESU, and I'd take Human/Cultural Geography that day too just because it has lots of crossover with E & H. CLEP Western Civ I & II and the Social Sciences and History exam would be my other tests for that week.

Month 1, Week 3 - 15 CR (running total: 60)

- Now I'd sign up for next month's TECEPs before registration ends for the month since by this time TESU should have gotten around to admitting me as a student. This week my tests would have an American History theme - CLEP US History I & II, CLEP American Government, DSST Civil War, and DSST Vietnam War*.

Month 1, Week 4 - 18 CR (running total: 78)

- DSST World Religions, Ethics in America, Organizational Behavior*. CLEP Intro Psychology, Human Growth & Development, and DSST Intro to Counseling.

Month 2 - 18 CR (running total: 96)

- Sign up for next months remaining TECEP's as well as the capstone course.

- TECEP Psych of Women, Abnormal Psychology*, Intro to Political Science, Comparative Politics, and Marriage and the Family. That's 5 TECEPs for the month. Also take DSST Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union*, which gives you all the upper division major credits you need other than the capstone.

Months 3 - 5 (running total: 99 + 21 electives)

- Take the Capstone Course. Figure out 21 credits worth of elective classes or exams to take (including 2 more TECEPs and/or TESU courses), whatever they are. Take make-up exams for anything I failed or postponed from earlier in the plan. Fill in any remaining GER requirements that I might have missed (but I'm pretty sure I got everything).

Month 6 - Wait for TESU to catch up with me and let me graduate .


Really, I think it'd be doable. It's a crazy rush for the first month and then the pace slows down quite a bit. It's doable, anyway, for someone who happens to be like me - nerdy about social sciences with years of background in the subject matter, and very good at passing multiple choice tests with minimal prep time. Someone with different interests or a different learning style would have to approach things with their own personal strengths in mind.

I wouldn't bother with study.com or straighterline for a plan like this - they just take too long compared to testing. If I was aiming for a year though, and wanted to save as much money as possible, I'd definitely take advantage of that study.com coupon that gives you a year of their for-credit services for only about $1k. 6 credits a month x 12 months = 72 credits for less than $14 apiece is genius!

On the other hand... why would you do any of this when you could just go to school full time for four to five years, and rack up tens or even hundred of thousands of dollars in student loan debt? I mean, won't you miss out on the whole point of college if you don't take advantage of the opportunity to network with a bunch of other people who are broke and don't have jobs?

[dfrecore]

On the other hand... why would you do any of this when you could just go to school full time for four to five years, and rack up tens or even hundred of thousands of dollars in student loan debt? I mean, won't you miss out on the whole point of college if you don't take advantage of the opportunity to network with a bunch of other people who are broke and don't have jobs?

You wouldn't get "the college experience". What's the point of getting a degree if you can't get that along with it? Oh yeah, right, it's what I've been explaining to my kids - you can get the college degree for cash, and then have a REALLY good time in your 20's with a degree, a good job, and no debt - unlike your friends...

[cookderosa]

it's really just a personal choice- I think it's like a game for some people....they want to know if they CAN do it. You have a lifetime to learn stuff- and you can do it up until the day you draw your last breath. You have a narrow window when the effort and or cost gives you a good return on investment on a credential. I say go for it.