Has anyone got an AAS from TESC after a BA

[Lindagerr]

Thanks Allison, I wish they would have at least given me an option like take 12 new credits not Fema. I could have found 4 new exams.

I still think this would be a good eye catcher on my resume, but I will just have to live with the decision. Now on to Masters prereqs and next BA.

[bricabrac]

I just wanted to follow up on my old post because the information I was given was not correct. 12 NEW credits are required for the area of study as stated in the college catalog (p 179), "Complete a minimum of 12 additional credits in the option for a second associate degree beyond the date the most recent degree was completed." Also, to confirm, for this degree FEMA credits are accepted in the area of study.

Unfortunately, I gather in Linda's case the degrees were just too similar.

[burbuja0512]

Thanks Allison, I wish they would have at least given me an option like take 12 new credits not Fema. I could have found 4 new exams.

I still think this would be a good eye catcher on my resume, but I will just have to live with the decision. Now on to Masters prereqs and next BA.

It's a shame that you can't get this degree. My family is not military at all and my DS has decided that he wants to get this associates so I hope it's not an issue.


Regarding something to make your resume look better with the 'safety' wording, why not bypass TESC totally and just get the PDS? It's not a degree, but I think you could put something like FEMA/Emergency Management Institute Professional Development certificate along with a brief description.

You may have this already, but it's just a thought. It's what I'm working on over the summer before I have to start the MBA.

[bricabrac]

burbuja0512,

For the record I'm not military and did not have an issue getting enrolled in this program.

[Lindagerr]

I finally got an answer to my appeal yesterday. The following was the major part of the answer:

I have reviewed your request, the degrees you currently hold, the policies of the College, and the conversations you had with Dr. Keel in the Advising Office and have determined the decision of the Acting Dean Devine is appropriate. The decsision of the Vice President and Provost Office is final.

This pissed me off because I had asked to have a chance to explain my reasoning and she(the Assistant Provost) never gave it to me. So I wrote back:

I would appreciate a copy of the college policy that supports this decision. I have been unable to find it any where in the current catalog.

Today I got the following e-mail:

The current policy does allow for a Second Associate Degree to be awarded by the College (http://www.tesc.edu/files/Catalog2011.12.pdf); the College will not award a third. According to the policy, you must complete a minimum of 12 additional credits in the option for a second associate degree beyond the date the most recent degree was completed, which in your case would be beyond September 2010 when the BA, Natural Science/Math was awarded. Also, you must complete all requirements for the degree as listed in the current College Catalog.

The issue for you, however, is that Advising and the School of Applied Science and Technology do not feel it is in your best interest to complete another Associate degree (AAS) because that degree is superseded by and is so closely related to your BA, Natural Science/Math degree. Additionally, the 12 FEMA credits that you would like to use to fulfill the requirements of the AAS degree are not sufficient to do so, according to Dr. Devine. As Dr. Keel pointed out to you, you can certainly work your resume and cover letter to highlight any of your academic achievements from the BA, Natural Science/Math when a position surfaces in the environmental field and in the meantime, you should continue your work towards your BA in History.

Having said this, however, I will rescind my earlier decision and allow you to pursue the AAS degree because it is not strictly prohibited by the College's policy, but, I would ask you to consider both the Advising Office and the Acting Dean's advice before committing to that direction.


So I guess I finally got permission to do it. I will consider their advice and I will look for one or two CLEP/DSST I can do for this degree then I will take 6-9 FEMA's. I have taken Intermediat Algebra, Statistics and American Government since I finished my BA do you think any of those would fit in the Enviromental Safety and Security Technology? If not I would appreciate suggestions on easy exams that would fit.

[bricabrac]

So I guess I finally got permission to do it. I will consider their advice and I will look for one or two CLEP/DSST I can do for this degree then I will take 6-9 FEMA's. I have taken Intermediat Algebra, Statistics and American Government since I finished my BA do you think any of those would fit in the Enviromental Safety and Security Technology? If not I would appreciate suggestions on easy exams that would fit.

Linda,

Finally! IMHO, take one to two days and complete 12 femas. They are free and will pile into the area of study as NEW credit. The remaining 9 credits can stand with courses you have already taken (ENS314 & ENS201).

Good to hear this situation had a positive outcome. Congrats!

OOps just reread your post, are they saying they will not accept fema credit from you specifically? If not, intro to criminal justice and business law also fit the area of study. I would speak to an advisor just to be sure you cant use all fema. On second thought maybe not. Just use your own judgement on this one. They seem a bit touchy in regards to your file. Maybe see where American Goverment lands when your eval updates.

[hkhart]

Don't have a lot to add, other than I have been going round and round with TESC (as you know Linda) and received a letter today from one of the Dr.'s mentioned in your response. It was full of spelling and grammar mistakes... so much so that I thought English was the second language, until I googled the writer and saw that wasn't the case. It seems with your situation and now mine, TESC is really making it difficult to truly offer what they say they do. I have sent so many different emails and requests for corrections and/or clarifications that I think they are now singling me out and making me jump through hoops, yet they have my tuition money... I think if they are going to "allow" you to continue with the 2nd AA degree, then you should do it exactly how you want. Looking forward to hearing how it all works out!

[burbuja0512]

burbuja0512,

For the record I'm not military and did not have an issue getting enrolled in this program.

Bricabrac - Thank you! I was worried

@Linda - glad you got into the program and hopefully they get their act together soon.

[HorseManiac]

I have a question about this that I hope someone can answer. I read in another thread that Elinor was able to get this AAS degree with no extra work using the credits from her BA in history. Well, I'm considering the BA in History, but I'm also thinking about getting an ASBA and then this AAS since it wouldn't require anymore work. Will this be allowed? Will I fall under the 12 NEW credits requirement in order to get 2 associates? Also, which should I get first or can I get all three at the same time? Is this even a good idea or is it a waste of time? I'm not really getting them to help me in a career, I just happen to like learning and these seem relatively simple to finish.

I'd appreciate any suggestions or opinions. Thanks.

[alleycat]

You need 12 fresh credits between ASBA and the AAS. You can do a BA and a AA in the same graduation period. So if you did the AAS first which is the easier of the two AA degrees then you need 12 new credits for your second ASBA.