I received my ECE evaluation today, Please Help!

[Benan]

I have been taking courses, online and independent courses for the last two years in order to get a BA in psychology from Excelsior, and I'm almost done.
Today, I received an unofficial summary of my evaluation. I would like you to help me understand what it exactly says please. What courses do I still need?

Here is the unofficial summary of my evaluation:
Listed below are the requirements you still need to complete:

General Education (Arts & Sciences Requirement**)
6.00 semester hours at the upper level***

Distribution Requirements
2.00 in Natural Science/Math

Quantitative Requirement
All baccalaureate degree students are required to take a course (equal to at least 2 semester hours or 3 quarter hours) in quantitative reasoning. You may satisfy this requirement by taking a college level course or examination such as college algebra, trigonometry, or statistics.

Depth Requirements

A second depth in the Arts & Sciences

Capstone
- Capstone requirement

Applied Professional Credits or Additional Arts & Sciences

8.00 semester hours lower level in any academic area to include Information Literacy

Information Literacy Requirement

Major
You expressed an interest in earning a major in Psychology. The required subjects and/or credits you need to complete are as follows (a minimum of 2 semester hours is necessary to satisfy Core (I) and Intermediate and upper-level (II) course requirements):
6.00 semester hours at the lower level
9.00 semester hours at the upper level

I. Core Requirements
C. Research Methods/Experimental Psy/ Design
E. Research and Writing

II. Intermediate and upper-level courses
Five different courses are required. You need a minimum of 3 additional courses from the following:

A. Biopsychology and Physiological Foundations
C. Social Influences
D. Abnormal Psychology

End of the summary of evaluation

I want to point out that I’m taking the following courses which I will finish in few weeks:

1- Tests and measurements
2- Abnormal psychology
3- Physiological psychology
4- Behavior Genetics and Individual Differences
5- Human Physiology

I thought that the only course I needed beside the ones I’m currently taking is the research methods, but now I’m kind of confused. So I would like some to help me understand the evaluation please.

Thank you all.milelol:

[NAP]

When you get this close to finishing, it is important to enroll so you have an advisor to help you get exactly what you need and not take anything extra. It also minimizes the surprises.

Mostly I have questions:

Isn't Statistics required for your major? If so, I'm surprised that the quantitative requirement hasn't been met already.

Did you know about the new capstone course requirement and Info Lit?

What subject were you planning for your Second Depth?

My evaluation was done in a similar way. The top part (above the major) was what I would need to complete a BS in Liberal Studies without a major. Then the bottom part was what I would need if I chose to complete a major. So as you complete what you need for the major, you should also be able to cross off UL and LL credits needed in the top section.

[Benan]

Thank you NAP for your reply.
Yes, it is a required course for my major and actually, I took Statistics and also took college algebra; there was a mistake in the quantitative requirement. I sent them an email and today they corrected it. So that requirement has been satisfied.
I knew about the Info Lit, but I did not know about the capstone course requirement prior to applying to Excelsior. I got an email from an admission advisor today, in which she explained to me what the capstone course is.
Here is her email regarding the capstone course:
“One of those courses that you will have to take is the Capstone course. The Capstone course is considered to be the culminating experience of your bachelor’s degree. A student is expected to integrate knowledge gained through their college curriculum experience during this 15-week long online course.”
I’m taking some courses at this time, which will satisfy some of the requirements. The only course that I need urgently is the research methods in psychology. I know there is an ECE exam for that course. Unfortunately, I cannot take that exam because there is no testing center near. The nearest one is more than 300 miles. Maybe I will take that course through an independent study.
I have a question regarding enrollment.
If I enroll this year and finish my degree next year, do I have to make another enrollment payment for next year?

Below is the description of the capstone course from the website of excelsior:

Organization Excelsior College
Course Title Social Science Capstone
Course Number LA*498SS
Prerequisite Completion of INL, WER, 12 upper level credits in the Social Sciences, arts and science depth complete. Students must be within 15 credits of degree completion and obtain advisor approval.
Description A senior-level course designed for advanced students and working professionals who are seeking to tie it all together. The course applies social science theory to current events and reviews the theoretical foundations of the economic, political science, psychological and sociological disciplines. Students will engage and enhance critical thinking skills along with oral and written communication skills while reviewing and analyzing ethical questions and the concepts of diversity. Through a mixture of discussions, presentations and written analysis, students will review the major theories, organize and relate theoretical principles to real-world problems and gain experience with different modes of communication. Prereq: Completion of INL, WER, 12 upper level credits in the Social Sciences, arts and science depth complete. Students must be within 15 credits of degree completion and obtain advisor approval.

[NAP]

Okay, that is good news about the quantitative requirement. Did that also eliminate the 2 credits needed in Natural Science/Math?

Except for a post on this forum, I have not seen anything official at EC about the Capstone course. It started for new enrollees July 1st. I'm sorry that you hadn't learned about it sooner.

Page 36 of this guide says you can take a paper-and-pencil based ECE exam if you live over 250 miles from a test center. You'll need a free account to see this link:

https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_Coll..._Guide.pdf

The enrollment is not based on the calendar year, but will start the day you actually pay to enroll. You will get a full year for your money. Then if you needed more time, you would pay the Student Service Annual Fee.

[NAP]

A few more thoughts:

You may be able to find an inexpensive Info Lit course in your area. If not, I believe the Penn Foster course is still available for $115.

You'll need to be sure that the courses/exams you take or plan to take match up with the remaining requirements for the major.

Do you have the second depth covered in your plan?

What are you planning to do about Research & Writing in the Major requirement? Since you have taken courses within your major, you may be able to submit one of your research papers for this. It gives no credit, but meets the requirement, so be sure you have enough credits for the major. See page 21 in the Liberal Arts Catalog and here is a post about how this works:

http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...#post78982