Fast Track BA & Degree Plan Check

[Pancake123]

Hello, 

I'm getting close to completing the BALS at TESU. I've been exploring different grad programs, and one that I like very much has an Aug 20th cut-off for their program starting Sept 2021. That would mean my BALS degree from TESU would have to confer before Aug 20th. 

I didn't make it to 100 credits this week, so I can't enroll in the Capstone at TESU until I meet this metric. That puts me in the March-May Capstone. Unfortunately, the TESU Graduation/Conferral is in Sept. I'm reaching out to see if anyone knows how I could graduate with an RA BA by Aug? I'm familiar, somewhat, with TESU. I like them very much, but now it's a timing issue. I'm not at all familiar with the other programs that others have mentioned on this forum. 

I've attached my degree plan with where I'm at as of today. It's possible that the grad program would still let me in late, but I would like to know if there are other options just in case. 

Thanks!

[rachel83az]

With everything you have completed, TESU might still be the fastest option. That said, UMPI could be another option. I'm not sure when they confer degrees at UMPI so you might want to apply (which is free) and ask them about it. They would almost certainly be cheaper than TESU, at the very least.

[dfrecore]

For TESU, your plan is a bit off, you have free electives in the GE section, you have 100-level GE courses in the BALS, but it doesn't matter, because you have enough of everything in each area you need to get the degree.

You can also get the BALS with concentration in Psych, you just need to remove 2 planned courses, and replace them with a Developmental Psych course and a Social Psych course. Several options for both. Both can be LL.

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I've heard that EC gives degrees on a monthly basis, and all of your credits will work there. You just need to swap out some of your planned credits for UL credits that will work at EC (and they are different than TESU, so you need to pay attention to those). You would do an UL cornerstone there (they require it if you transfer in a certain number of credits, but it's actually a bonus in that you only need 8 add'l UL courses brought in). The UL capstone. And then 8 more UL courses (and you have 9 courses planned, so you just need to make sure 8 are UL at EC).

AND, EC is cheaper than TESU, and the cornerstone and capstone are shorter at 8weeks each, so I think you could finish your degree earlier there.
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COSC is similar to EC in that they require 30cr of UL, and I think it's doable - you have all the GE done, and so it's a swap of planned credits for UL. You would have to plan your credits to make sure you have the concentration required - either 3 or 4 areas, UL in there, but I think you can do it pretty easily. Not sure how the cornerstone and capstone are in length, nor how often they give degrees, but it's certainly the cheapest option.

[Pancake123]

For TESU, your plan is a bit off, you have free electives in the GE section, you have 100-level GE courses in the BALS, but it doesn't matter, because you have enough of everything in each area you need to get the degree.

You can also get the BALS with concentration in Psych, you just need to remove 2 planned courses, and replace them with a Developmental Psych course and a Social Psych course. Several options for both.  Both can be LL.

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I've heard that EC gives degrees on a monthly basis, and all of your credits will work there. You just need to swap out some of your planned credits for UL credits that will work at EC (and they are different than TESU, so you need to pay attention to those).  You would do an UL cornerstone there (they require it if you transfer in a certain number of credits, but it's actually a bonus in that you only need 8 add'l UL courses brought in).  The UL capstone.  And then 8 more UL courses (and you have 9 courses planned, so you just need to make sure 8 are UL at EC).

AND, EC is cheaper than TESU, and the cornerstone and capstone are shorter at 8weeks each, so I think you could finish your degree earlier there.
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COSC is similar to EC in that they require 30cr of UL, and I think it's doable - you have all the GE done, and so it's a swap of planned credits for UL.  You would have to plan your credits to make sure you have the concentration required - either 3 or 4 areas, UL in there, but I think you can do it pretty easily.  Not sure how the cornerstone and capstone are in length, nor how often they give degrees, but it's certainly the cheapest option.


Oh thank you. I think I see what you mean about the free electives in the wrong spot. Does the Capstone count as an upper level at both TESU and EC? I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with this degree plan. TESU requires 5 upper level courses for the BALS, are you saying that EC requires 8 UL? I'm going to reach out the EC and see if I could get this degree done sooner. Last question does anyone know what the transcript looks like at EC? Is it the same as TESU? I want to got to a grad program, so having a transcript that will work for them is important. 

[dfrecore]

[quote pid='328829' dateline='1612112252']
Oh thank you. I think I see what you mean about the free electives in the wrong spot. Does the Capstone count as an upper level at both TESU and EC? I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with this degree plan. TESU requires 5 upper level courses for the BALS, are you saying that EC requires 8 UL? I'm going to reach out the EC and see if I could get this degree done sooner. Last question does anyone know what the transcript looks like at EC? Is it the same as TESU? I want to got to a grad program, so having a transcript that will work for them is important. 

[/quote]

The capstone counts as UL credits at all of the big 3.  At EC, the cornerstone can be taken as an UL as well.

At EC & COSC, you need 30cr of UL in the degree - with a certain number needing to be in the Liberal Arts area, depending on the degree (BS or BA).  You can have them throughout your plan.  So with both, you can do UL business courses, which are the easiest UL's to find, as part of your degree and they will count.

At TESU, you only need 18cr of UL in the degree, and all of it is in the AoS.

All of the schools will work for a grad program.

At EC, one additional option: instead of bringing in 113cr and just taking the cornerstone, capstone and Info Lit courses for $5300, you could bring in 106cr and take those 3 courses plus 2 add'l UL's (for more graded credits) for just $5850.