DSST Upper Level credits at TESC???

[tescbals]

So, as I’m sure you have all heard before, this is all somewhat confusing. I am attempting to test out of most of the remainder of the classes that I need to receive my Bachelors of Arts in Liberal Science. I’ve applied and been accepted to TESC along with my transcripts being evaluated. So, it looks like I need 17 credits in general electives (within humanities, social sciences, natural science or math realms), 18 free electives (looking to do FEMA), a college algebra class - uggh - and 18 credits in Upper Level (300-400) Liberal studies credits.

On the TESC website under the DSST exams, it lists:

Civil War and Reconstruction as a HIS 252 DE though it says on the DSST website that this is an UL exam
Substance Abuse as a SOS-305 though the DSST website lists this as a LL exam
Ethics in America as a PHI 287 though the DSST website lists this as a UL exam

So, I called to try to get some clarification from TESC and the woman I spoke to said to go by the classification listed on the DSST website...So that would make Civil War and Reconstruction, and Ethics in America a go and Substance Abuse a no-go.

What do you guys think? Have you received credit for these classes one way or the other? Thanks for any help you can offer!

One other thing...one of the reasons I chose this degree was for it’s lack of a capstone requirement but when I got my most recent transcript evaluation, it says
**It is highly recommended that
> course LIB-495 be completed to satisfy 3 semester hours of
> this requirement.**
So does highly recommended equal required in TESC speak?

Thanks again,
Lorina

[dew125]

Use this: http://degreeplanners.com/media/TESC_Equivalencies.pdf

And this: Undergraduate Ways to Earn Credit - Thomas Edison State College - acalog ACMS?

Most of your questions will be answered through those two links and searching the forum. Also, the capstone is not required, just recommended. good luck, you're close!

[Storyteller]

I took DSST Civil War & Reconstruction - I'm enrolled at TESC and it's LL. I can't speak for the other tests, but if they are listed below 300 then it's lower level.
Concerning the Capstone: you are NOT required to take the Capstone. My advisor strongly recommended I take the Capstone, especially after he wouldn't add Excelsior's "World Conflicts after 1900" test to my degree plan. He said it duplicated "War & American Society" which I had already signed up to take. Since I knew a recent TESC grad (Sept 2011) had both the ECE test & the course (War&AmSociety) accepted, I called and talked to another advisor. With such a recent precedent, she added the test to my plan. I took the test the next day and passed. I completed and passed the course work for "War & American Society."
At this point, I'm finished. My coursework is now being audited and I hope to graduate soon and without the Capstone.

[tescbals]

Thanks dew, for the links...especially the degreeplanners one! Based on that information, the TESC advisor that I spoke to today was completely misinformed!

Congrats, Storyteller on finishing and fighting the good fight to get your test accepted!

So, at this point, it looks like the UL choices (need 18) I have are:

Fundamentals of Counseling (as long as I can get the advisor to plan it as PSY 331)
Straighterline Business Communication 3
History of Vietnam War 3
Intro to Modern Middle East 3
Substance Abuse 3
TESC Global Environmental Change class 6

Anyone thoughts on which ones of these I should take?

For my Gen Electives (need 13), I’m thinking:

Spanish 6
Intro to Sociology 3
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature 3
Need one more credit...

Thanks in advance for any additional advice!
Lorina

[Storyteller]

tescbals,
Analyzing&Interpreting Lit is 6 credits!

[tescbals]

Thanks Storyteller!

[Lindagerr]

The TESC adviser you spoke to is like many TESC advisors uninformed and/or uninterested in encouraging anything that does not require you to take a TESC course and pay them more money. SandraNC's list (sorry I don't remember the URL, search for her post) is one of, if not the best source of TESC equivalents.

I have also found if you don't get the answer you want with one TESC adviser ask another one or appeal it. If you are stubborn, persistent and have good precedent and/or substantiation of your point you can usually get someone to agree.

I do recommend the Global Environmental class it is a 6 credit upper level and can be interesting. If you get the right teacher it can also be an easy A which can help or earn a GPA at TESC.