Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
BALS/BSLS Plan Help for a Newbie?
#1
Hi All,

I'm so grateful to have found this resource of abundant knowledge. I've been frantically reading all the posts and threads in hopes of finding one that could help me create some sort of degree plan/path.

I need a degree, FAST. I figured the General Studies/Liberal Studies route is my best option. I haven't requested any transcripts from my old schools, but I will & will update this thread with it. Can anybody list some sort of resource that can help me come up with some sort of plan. Something that can help me find alternative credit sources for the LS/GS path?  I'm leaning towards TESU, but COSC is still a contender. 

Also, I currently have a CDA (Child Development Association) credential, and I read on COSC as well as TESU's website that the credential could count towards my degree. My question is, will it count toward the LS/GS route?

Sorry for all the annoying questions. I could really use the help!

Thanks! Smile  Smile
Reply
#2
People here are probably going to need more specific information, but to start, this is the TESU page with info about the CDA: https://www2.tesu.edu/oapwl/client.php?c...client=CDA

You can see that the awarded credits (either 6 or 9) can be applied to any degree program, including within the area of study ("major"). That would mean you could use them in your degree.

Alternatively, you might consider a competency-based BS degree in ECE through a place like Walden: https://www.waldenu.edu/online-bachelors...curriculum

With your background, you may well be able to power through even more quickly than with a general, irrelevant degree. I finished up an MS in ECE through them recently, and enjoyed the learning experience.

How much time do you have exactly? What do you want to do with a degree?

Shanghai Intl. School Leadership Team Member, College Counselor, SAT-, PSAT-, & SSD-Coordinator. Reverts to PADI Divemaster when near a coast.

BS Anthropology (Minors: History, Brazilian Studies) | Tulane (3.90, summa cum laude)
BA History & Political Science (Minors: Pre-Law, Intl. Studies, Social Studies, Criminal Justice, & Business Admin) | UMPI 
MS Early Childhood Studies: Administration, Management, & Leadership | Walden (3.90)
Certificate Teachers College College Advising Program | Columbia
Certificate College Access Counseling | Rice
Certificate College Admissions Specialist | American School Counselors Association
Goals: A) EdD/MS in Higher Ed; B) 51/195 Countries; C) Find 3rd good hamburger in Shanghai (accomplished June '19, August '21, and...?)

Reply
#3
(09-10-2019, 06:07 AM)PrettyFlyforaChiGuy Wrote: People here are probably going to need more specific information, but to start, this is the TESU page with info about the CDA: https://www2.tesu.edu/oapwl/client.php?c...client=CDA

You can see that the awarded credits (either 6 or 9) can be applied to any degree program, including within the area of study ("major"). That would mean you could use them in your degree.

Alternatively, you might consider a competency-based BS degree in ECE through a place like Walden: https://www.waldenu.edu/online-bachelors...curriculum

With your background, you may well be able to power through even more quickly than with a general, irrelevant degree. I finished up an MS in ECE through them recently, and enjoyed the learning experience.

How much time do you have exactly? What do you want to do with a degree?
Thanks for replying. 

I saw this page on TESU, I think I just got caught up in the wording. I specifically wanted to know if the CDA could go towards the BSLS/BALS degree?

Ideally, I'd like to complete this degree within a year, if not sooner. I want to get a better paying job. I currently work as a director for 2 child care centers and I'm scraping by. I work long hours without enough pay. It's time for me to better!
Reply
#4
I would contact TESU and COSC and just ask if they give credit for the CDA, and how those credits would be applied to a BALS degree.

Come back, updated your credits already taken, add the info on the CDA, and then someone can help you create a degree plan. I can do one for either school, and you can definitely complete it in a year, depending on how many other credits you have.
TESU BSBA/HR 2018 - WVNCC BOG AAS 2017 - GGU Cert in Mgmt 2000
EXAMS: TECEP Tech Wrtg, Comp II, LA Math, PR, Computers  DSST Computers, Pers Fin  CLEP Mgmt, Mktg
COURSES: TESU Capstone  Study.com Pers Fin, Microecon, Stats  Ed4Credit Acct 2  PF Fin Mgmt  ALEKS Int & Coll Alg  Sophia Proj Mgmt The Institutes - Ins Ethics  Kaplan PLA
Reply
#5
(09-10-2019, 11:29 AM)dfrecore Wrote: I would contact TESU and COSC and just ask if they give credit for the CDA, and how those credits would be applied to a BALS degree.

Come back, updated your credits already taken, add the info on the CDA, and then someone can help you create a degree plan.  I can do one for either school, and you can definitely complete it in a year, depending on how many other credits you have.

Thanks for replying! I appreciate the input, I'll be back with more details soon! I requested my transcript from OSU this morning!
Reply
#6
Do you have any college credits or transferable courses other than the CDA? You might want list all the courses you have created or make a spreadsheet to show what you've done and have to complete. Also register for an ACE account for keeping track of your ACE related credits. If you need a sample degree plan, you can view my signature - Beginners Guide post #28 & #31, and customize it according to your courses with what interests you.
In Progress: Walden MBA | TESU BA Biology & Computer Science
Graduate Certificate: Global Management & Entrepreneurship, ASU (Freebie)

Completed: TESU ASNSM Biology, BSBA (ACBSP Accredited 2017)
Universidad Isabel I: ENEB MBA, Big Data & BI, Digital Marketing & E-Commerce
Certs: 6Sigma/Lean/Scrum, ITIL | Cisco/CompTIA/MTA | Coursera/Edx/Udacity

The Basic Approach | Plans | DegreeForum Community Supported Wiki
~Note~ Read/Review forum posts & Wiki Links to Sample Degree Plans
Degree Planning Advice | New To DegreeForum? How This Area Works

[Image: e7P9EJ4.jpeg]
Reply
#7
(09-10-2019, 06:26 AM)HMohamed12 Wrote: Ideally, I'd like to complete this degree within a year, if not sooner. I want to get a better paying job. I currently work as a director for 2 child care centers and I'm scraping by. I work long hours without enough pay. It's time for me to better!

If you are already a center director, the BS in ECE (and even MS) is not so useful for you. I know that in my home state, an MS in ECE is generally one of the requirements to become a director, or having a CDA and two years of experience.

So, you're kind of already at the top, unless if you intend to serve as something like a regional manager of a chain. Do you want to move out of the ECE field? If so, do you have any other specific career interest? I feel that a more specialized major may suit you better, or the BSBA, unless if a BALS is just a checkbox degree for some other job you already have in mind.

Shanghai Intl. School Leadership Team Member, College Counselor, SAT-, PSAT-, & SSD-Coordinator. Reverts to PADI Divemaster when near a coast.

BS Anthropology (Minors: History, Brazilian Studies) | Tulane (3.90, summa cum laude)
BA History & Political Science (Minors: Pre-Law, Intl. Studies, Social Studies, Criminal Justice, & Business Admin) | UMPI 
MS Early Childhood Studies: Administration, Management, & Leadership | Walden (3.90)
Certificate Teachers College College Advising Program | Columbia
Certificate College Access Counseling | Rice
Certificate College Admissions Specialist | American School Counselors Association
Goals: A) EdD/MS in Higher Ed; B) 51/195 Countries; C) Find 3rd good hamburger in Shanghai (accomplished June '19, August '21, and...?)

Reply
#8
(09-10-2019, 11:53 PM)PrettyFlyforaChiGuy Wrote:
(09-10-2019, 06:26 AM)HMohamed12 Wrote: Ideally, I'd like to complete this degree within a year, if not sooner. I want to get a better paying job. I currently work as a director for 2 child care centers and I'm scraping by. I work long hours without enough pay. It's time for me to better!

If you are already a center director, the BS in ECE (and even MS) is not so useful for you. I know that in my home state, an MS in ECE is generally one of the requirements to become a director, or having a CDA and two years of experience.

So, you're kind of already at the top, unless if you intend to serve as something like a regional manager of a chain. Do you want to move out of the ECE field? If so, do you have any other specific career interest? I feel that a more specialized major may suit you better, or the BSBA, unless if a BALS is just a checkbox degree for some other job you already have in mind.


Ideally I'd love to work for a non-profit abroad. Initially, I was interested in the International Relations degree, however it seems to me that LS is just the quicker and easier way to go. I do plan on going to graduate school though!

I'm done with the ECE field, the prospects aren't great. Long hours and not enough pay. Totally not worth it!

(09-10-2019, 05:53 AM)HMohamed12 Wrote: Hi All,

I'm so grateful to have found this resource of abundant knowledge. I've been frantically reading all the posts and threads in hopes of finding one that could help me create some sort of degree plan/path.

I need a degree, FAST. I figured the General Studies/Liberal Studies route is my best option. I haven't requested any transcripts from my old schools, but I will & will update this thread with it. Can anybody list some sort of resource that can help me come up with some sort of plan. Something that can help me find alternative credit sources for the LS/GS path?  I'm leaning towards TESU, but COSC is still a contender. 

Also, I currently have a CDA (Child Development Association) credential, and I read on COSC as well as TESU's website that the credential could count towards my degree. My question is, will it count toward the LS/GS route?

Sorry for all the annoying questions. I could really use the help!

Thanks! Smile  Smile

OK! So I got my transcript from my previous school. So far I have 16 credits from OSU. Which is a lot more than I remember having. All of these courses were taken at Ohio State University. They are as follows:


AFAMAST- Intro To African Lit: 3 Credits
COMPSTD- Intro to Humanities: 3 Credits
EXP-Exploration Course: 1 Credit (mandatory Freshman class)
GEOG- Weather & Climate: 4 Credits
WGSST- Women & Film: 3 Credits
KNSFHP- Sport for the Spectator: 2 Credits

Feel free to let me know if you need more info on these classes. I also went to a nursing school for some time. I'm sure the nursing courses won't transfer over, but I do have some GenEds that could possibly transfer. 


I need help formulating a degree plan, PLEASE!

Thanks a lot!
Reply
#9
@HMohamed12 - If you do go the route of a TESU BALS you might want to look into the Social Sciences concentration https://www.tesu.edu/heavin/ba/social-sciences1 or Humanities concentration https://www.tesu.edu/heavin/ba/humanities1 -they align with your career goals you listed here. They can both be completed through alternative credit methods just like a general BALS, and listing the concentration on your resume would look better too (imo)
Amberton University
- MS Human Relations and Business - 2022
Thomas Edison State University (TESU)
- BSBA General Management - 2018
- ASNSM Computer Science -2018

Reply
#10
Have you looked at the competency program in at University of Maine Presquil that someone else just posted? They have a BALS with a minor in education. It might be something to look at. They clearly say that they take all transfer credits. https://www.online.umpi.edu/programs/bls...minor.aspx
Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  NA to RA Degree Plan Assistance McManus 8 2,183 01-29-2024, 04:59 PM
Last Post: bjcheung77
  Advice Needed for School & Degree Plan diablo 8 618 01-04-2024, 04:58 PM
Last Post: allvia
  Supreme Court STRIKES DOWN Biden's $400 billion student loan forgiveness "plan" LevelUP 2 618 07-01-2023, 01:07 PM
Last Post: sanantone
  Finlandia University - Plan didn't work...failed to save itself! bjcheung77 6 833 05-19-2023, 10:54 AM
Last Post: cardiacclep
  UMass Global plan expansion! bjcheung77 1 742 07-16-2022, 12:36 AM
Last Post: LevelUP
  Tuition-Free College Movement Gains Momentum, Despite Biden’s Stalled Plan LevelUP 6 1,438 03-06-2022, 08:13 PM
Last Post: dfrecore
  BALS degree Foreign Service Officer Test vetvso 2 778 02-25-2022, 02:49 AM
Last Post: vetvso
  UNC’s $97 Million Plan bjcheung77 4 955 12-13-2021, 12:51 PM
Last Post: dfrecore
  Does anyone regret their BALS? Nadiv10 3 678 09-21-2021, 06:55 PM
Last Post: Alpha
  BALS degree at TSU LokiBear 2 842 02-19-2021, 08:21 PM
Last Post: bjcheung77

Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)