Newbie. First post & lost!

[poptart26]

Hi Everyone!

I'm bummed... I just wrote a long first thread and then was asked to login again and it was all lost! Arrggh!

Anyway, thank you in advance for reading this!

I am a graphic designer (for 11 years, 5 years in a corporate environment, the remainder as a freelancer) looking to get a bachelor's degree in... well, that's the question! All I do know for sure is that I want my degree to be from a regionally accredited university, for it to compliment what I already do and I want it for self-satisfaction.

I went to an ACCSCT accredited school for 90 credits and received an AAS in Visual Communications. I spent 20K and went to school full-time at night for 18 months. I have come to learn that this degree is basically useless for transferring into any of the "Big 3" for credit.

I have the following credits from a CA State University:
Biology
Psychology
Sociology
Political Science
English Composition

However, they were done over 10 years ago. Will these even transfer?

Does anyone have any degree ideas that will compliment what I currently do or in something that I might use in the future maybe as a teacher?

Some things that I enjoy or think I might enjoy:
Studio Art
Writing (creative, technical... anything)
English
Advertising

Thanks again for reading!

[Wires]

They should transfer fine into TESC. My college credits from 1990-92 all transferred successfully, and many were the same classes.

Good Luck in your pursuits!

[Lindagerr]

First Welcome to the board. You have found an excellent resource. TESC took credits that were over 30 years old for my degree. As for what to get your degree in why not just Liberal arts? Why do you say the credits you got at night are useless?

[Ruddigore]

I have the following credits from a CA State University:
Biology
Psychology
Sociology
Political Science
English Composition

However, they were done over 10 years ago. Will these even transfer?

Does anyone have any degree ideas that will compliment what I currently do or in something that I might use in the future maybe as a teacher?

Some things that I enjoy or think I might enjoy:
Studio Art
Writing (creative, technical... anything)
English
Advertising

Thanks again for reading!

Your credits from CA State should transfer to any of the Big Three without problem. Are they semester hour credits or quarter hour credits?

While you're figuring out which degree you want to go for, you could start out with a few tests that appeal to your interests:

Art of the Western World DSST
Introduction to Marketing CLEP
Technical Writing DSST


Hope it works out for you,
R.

[poptart26]

That's great to hear that my credits from CSUB will transfer!

Wires: Thank you for your input!!

Ruddigore: I believe the school is on semesters. I tried to look on their site and it just says, Fall, Spring & Summer sessions. Does this mean semester? It seemed like the sessions lasted forever, but it's been a loooonnng time! And thank you much... I am definitely going to look into the 3 tests you listed. They all sound of great interest to me!

Lindagerr: Yes, I was thinking maybe Liberal Arts might work. I have to look into it more. To be honest, I'm not totally sure what a Liberal Arts degree entails and what I can do with it!!?
And, I meant my credits from my AAS are useless towards a degree at a regionally accredited college. It's really a bummer!

Unless, I possibly want to look into getting a Bachelor's with a concentration in Graphic Design or Visual Communications (if they will let me choose that) and do a portfolio assessement at COSC.
Do I understand how that works correctly? Here is the info from their website under Customized Concentrations:

Individualized / Liberal Studies **
The Individualized Studies concentration option allows you to combine professional studies with the liberal arts and sciences into a cohesive course of study. The key to receiving approval for this concentration is your ability to explain the rationale underneath the proposed concentration and its relation to your career and/or personal goals.

The Liberal Studies concentration is composed of traditional liberal arts disciplines found in the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences and mathematics. Again, you will be able to pursue this concentration only if you are able to clearly explain the rationale behind the proposed concentration and its relation to your career and/or personal goals.

Has anyone done this?

Thanks!

[ShotoJuku]

I went to an ACCSCT accredited school for 90 credits and received an AAS in Visual Communications.

Just curious as to which school (feel free to answer as a PM if you like).

[marianne202]

Hi and welcome! You have found a wonderful resource. First of all I know Excelsior will take old credits - they took my credits from 1980! Yes, I'm that old and that slow at getting my degree! LOL! Also, some of your gen ed credits from your AAS may transfer as well. Generally, all your technical type courses won't, but some of your gen ed credits, if you had to take any, may transfer depending on their course numbering. I would send the transcript anyway and let the school you decide to enroll with decide, don't do yourself out of a even a few credits. Research here and you will find a ton of info. Search the forum for Alissa's thread with her BSLS plan. You will find it easy to follow and you can plug in your exams and courses to find out what you still need to complete. Don't be afraid to post questions when you have them, we are quite a chatty group and we love to help newbies find their way around here.

Good luck!

[poptart26]

ShotoJuku: I went to Brown College in Mendota Heights, MN. I was going to post the link, but I'm not sure if that's ok on here? Did you go to a school with similar accreditation?

marianne202: Yes, I did have to take some gen ed classes to earn my AAS. I will definitely send my transcripts now... why not I guess! Thanks for mentioning that.
I see that you have earned a BSLS and now you are working on another BS in Health Sciences; how come you didn't just go for the BS in Health Sciences first? Just curious to know if there is a specific reason, especially since Liberal Studies is something I'm considering.
Also, I think it's awesome that these schools take old credits. I know the cut-off for a lot of B&M schools is 10 years. I feel like I want to get into somewhere before they change their mind! LOL

Thanks for the input!

[marianne202]

I'm glad to help. I actually enrolled in the BSHS first but they kept canceling some of the classes I needed to finish. I had a deadline to get my BS so I transferred to LA just long enough to get my BSLS conferred, then transferred back to HS. I will finally finish it in August. I should start grad school in August as well. I had hoped to start that sooner, as that was one of the reasons I hurried up with the BSLS, but life got in the way and created a little detour. I was able to do the BSLS in 10 months from finishing my AS, then another 5 months to finish up the BSHS. So all in all it will have taken me 16 months to go from no degree to 3 degrees! Not too bad for an over 40 and fabulous gal, so a friend on here keeps telling me! I will tell you that the advising staff on the LA side at EC is truly wonderful and will go out of their way to help you if at all possible. I can't say the same for the HS advisors, so if you go the LA route, you will be in good hands. Good luck!

[alleycat]

Hi Everyone!

I'm bummed... I just wrote a long first thread and then was asked to login again and it was all lost! Arrggh!

Anyway, thank you in advance for reading this!

I am a graphic designer (for 11 years, 5 years in a corporate environment, the remainder as a freelancer) looking to get a bachelor's degree in... well, that's the question! All I do know for sure is that I want my degree to be from a regionally accredited university, for it to compliment what I already do and I want it for self-satisfaction.

I went to an ACCSCT accredited school for 90 credits and received an AAS in Visual Communications. I spent 20K and went to school full-time at night for 18 months. I have come to learn that this degree is basically useless for transferring into any of the "Big 3" for credit.

I have the following credits from a CA State University:
Biology
Psychology
Sociology
Political Science
English Composition

However, they were done over 10 years ago. Will these even transfer?

Does anyone have any degree ideas that will compliment what I currently do or in something that I might use in the future maybe as a teacher?

Some things that I enjoy or think I might enjoy:
Studio Art
Writing (creative, technical... anything)
English
Advertising

Thanks again for reading!

Welcome to the forum. I just ran into your post. If you are interested in Studio Art they have a degree at Charter Oaks. They accept credits in transfer. TESC also has a degree in Art. If you have alot of art credits that might be one of the easier degrees to obtain.

Good luck with your degree.