Second Degree Thoughts

[Prloko]

Washington University Saint Louis offers a Master of Legal Studies online. Washington University is one of the top law schools in the country; I'm sure taking some courses there would give a bump to your resume if you are interested in staying in the legal field. There are also plenty of low cost paralegal courses you can take at the local CC. I don't really know what you do, so I'm not sure if any of these options are helpful.

[Lemurian_Spirit]

Thanks very much. I'm an instructional designer. I design and develop courses, so getting a law degree would really be a distraction for me, and would also prevent me from taking continuing education in my field that I need to re-certify for my certification. My continuing education related to my re-certification (that I have been ignoring while I've been going back to college) has to be related to my field, so if I do get any other type of degree it has to be done this year. Next year I have to knuckle down and go back to continuing education in my profession. I hope that makes sense, but thanks very much for your help and time.

[GMT]

Couldn't help but notice the FEMA courses on your possible Liberal Studies plan ... electives area
Am I thinking you're just playing with possibilities before re-enrolling, or have you applied to TESC for a second BA and that's the evaluation???

Reason I'm asking is because there's a small FEMA theory and you may just prove that theory one way or the other

The theory is, if the FEMAs were taken before the March 2014 cut off date, will they still be transcribed even if you were not an applicant/enrolled student after June 2014 ???
As you've already graduated and are looking at another BA, your updated evaluation would be very valuable

[Lemurian_Spirit]

Hey GMT,

Yes, I did notice that the FEMA credits are still there. I believe if you got the credits before the March cutoff date they should still apply. BTW, I did call TESC. They are doing official evaluations for me for BAs in French Foreign Language, Music, and Liberal Arts. However, the person I spoke with in Admissions did mention I'd have to take 24 new credits if I got another BA. Since these evaluations are already in progress I will wait to hear back for sure, but if that is the case I will put the notion of getting another degree to rest. I'll follow up again when I hear more. We shall see if the FEMAs appear on the official evaluations. I will be happy to let you know.

[Lemurian_Spirit]

Hey There,

I just thought I'd let you know that I got my official TESC evaluation last week. At least for the music major, instead of the 24 credits it looked like I would need, for some reason that has become 27. I don't think they're going to send evaluations for the French or Liberal Arts BAs, so my decision to refrain from pursuing a second bachelor's degree has been an easy one. GMT, alas, I was given no credit for all the FEMA courses I took (they are all listed under Other Courses--along with the rest of the courses I took that don't apply to the degree in question). If you are interested I will be happy to post the BA Music evaluation that I got, but will only do that if there is interest. Many thanks one and all.

[Kaz]

TESC won't award someone a second bachelor's within the same "school", e.g. Heavin School of Arts and Sciences. Maybe things have changed since I talked to an adviser several years ago, but that was what I was told: you can get a second bachelor's by completing only 24 new credits but the second degree has to be from a different school within the college. In my case, I was definitely going to pursue something that fell under the auspices of their Heavin School. They straight up told me if I wanted a second bachelor's from them after that one it would have to come from their School of Business and Management, School of Applied Science and Technology, etc., but NOT anything distinctly covered by Heavin. I can't find that rule in their catalog, but the adviser on the phone insisted that was the case.

[sanantone]

I don't see why they would deny someone a second BA in Computer Science when their first BA was in History. It was my understanding that they won't let you choose a similar major. For example, since I completed a BA in Social Science using psychology, sociology, and criminal justice courses, they won't let me complete a second BA in any of those majors.

[bricabrac]

TESC won't award someone a second bachelor's within the same "school", e.g. Heavin School of Arts and Sciences. Maybe things have changed since I talked to an adviser several years ago, but that was what I was told: you can get a second bachelor's by completing only 24 new credits but the second degree has to be from a different school within the college. In my case, I was definitely going to pursue something that fell under the auspices of their Heavin School. They straight up told me if I wanted a second bachelor's from them after that one it would have to come from their School of Business and Management, School of Applied Science and Technology, etc., but NOT anything distinctly covered by Heavin. I can't find that rule in their catalog, but the adviser on the phone insisted that was the case.

Interesting. I would think a policy that important would be included in the college catalog. Of course there may have been a few changes but I would contact the registrar for confirmation. Unfortunately, certain advisors have been known to state incorrect facts.

[Lemurian_Spirit]

This is all rather interesting. What I was told was that if I wanted to get another bachelor's degree I would have to take another 24 credits. No mention was made of it being associated with a different school or a BS instead of a BA, etc. However, it's a moot point since I won't be pursuing another degree of any kind if that's the case. Besides, I think I've gotten as many degrees as I care to at this point. However, many thanks one and all, and I hope this is helpful.

Just FYI, yet again I am a temp at a place that has had no less than three full-time openings for my current position (and other similar ones). However, because I don't have BOTH a master's in instructional design, curriculum development, or the like (at least a 2-3 year degree); AND a JD degree (a 4-year degree if it is ABA-approved), I am disqualified. Shoot me now!!!! I have no intention of getting either of these degrees. I would be a handful of years away from retirement if I did--so it's not worth it at all.

[alleycat]

WGU has a master in instructional design. Very reasonably priced. Remember the minute you are in a program you can add it to your resume saying in progress. Which places you in a different situation. You actually might want to work part time even after you retire. I would leave all options open. WGU is cheap. Just a thought.