What courses would you like to see on Sophia/SDC/etc?

[wow]

Yes it would be nice, but they choose which courses to offer based on what will make them money and what is feasible in their format. I think a lot of people taking radiology (for example) are seeking certification down the road, and Sophia is not going to be recognized by most certification agencies.

It's a business, so I think it's obvious that they choose courses that they think will make them money.

I have to believe that a person taking a lower division online course in radiology wouldn't be expecting to have a bunch of medical schools accept them based on that. Like all of these types of courses in this format, they're meant to satisfy basic undergraduate requirements for general degree programs, and curiosity/interest for non-degree seekers. I should also point out that all of those courses are already available at other programs, just not at Sophia. Yet.

That's kind of my point. If it's for Gen Eds, how does that make them money over what they are currently offering as Gen Eds?
(As for radiology, I was thinking more along the lines of certification for radiotherapy or radiography, which you can get with an associate's degree--and the people going for certification sign up to get the courses through those associate's and certification programs, not from Sophia. That's why I'm saying it doesn't make economic sense for them. They would be creating a new course for little new income relative to other new courses they could offer.)

[ss20ts]

Yes it would be nice, but they choose which courses to offer based on what will make them money and what is feasible in their format. I think a lot of people taking radiology (for example) are seeking certification down the road, and Sophia is not going to be recognized by most certification agencies.

It's a business, so I think it's obvious that they choose courses that they think will make them money.

I have to believe that a person taking a lower division online course in radiology wouldn't be expecting to have a bunch of medical schools accept them based on that. Like all of these types of courses in this format, they're meant to satisfy basic undergraduate requirements for general degree programs, and curiosity/interest for non-degree seekers. I should also point out that all of those courses are already available at other programs, just not at Sophia. Yet.

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Seems easier to just take the course in person. And the OP wants the course on Sophia who isn't going to have these kinds of requirements. Sophia seems to do the bare minimum.

Sophia already has touchstones in a number of their courses, multiple in some. Grading a quick video would just be another touchstone. They could do it.

Touchstones aren't student recorded videos. Not even close. CPR is VERY hands on. If one can't do it properly, what is the point in taking the course?

[Jonathan Whatley]

Sophia already has touchstones in a number of their courses, multiple in some. Grading a quick video would just be another touchstone. They could do it.

Touchstones aren't student recorded videos.

Sophia does use student-recorded video touchstones in several courses. I submitted them in Spanish I and II and French I.

[eLearner]

That's kind of my point. If it's for Gen Eds, how does that make them money over what they are currently offering as Gen Eds?
(As for radiology, I was thinking more along the lines of certification for radiotherapy or radiography, which you can get with an associate's degree--and the people going for certification sign up to get the courses through those associate's and certification programs, not from Sophia. That's why I'm saying it doesn't make economic sense for them. They would be creating a new course for little new income relative to other new courses they could offer.)

How it would make them money is a good question, but it's beyond the scope of customer knowledge and concern. With the question of the thread asking what courses we would like to see, the only answers we can offer are the courses we would like to see. The rest is up to the school to research and determine which courses would be viable within their business model.

With regard to relevance, we have to look at this a bit deeper. A lot if not all of the courses on that list are courses one would take in medical school, but they are also offered outside of medical school as single courses in the United States at a number of schools. The same can be said for nursing school with regard to the courses places like Sophia and Straighterline already offer. 

Med school prep programs also offer the courses I listed. It's highly unlikely that the courses I listed will transfer to most medical schools, and most may not even accept them as prereqs, although some have. But that's not the purpose of taking them in this format for these low prices. One would take them to gain valuable foundational knowledge of the basic sciences which will help them better transition.

What I'm getting at by saying allllll of that, is there is already a market for those courses since other schools already offer them and have been for a while, but not usually all in one place, and for certainly way more money than Sophia charges. Sophia's much lower price point, flexibility, and easier accessibility might attract more healthcare preppers looking for a block of courses that will help them get ready.

In short, all we can do is ask and leave it to the school to decide.

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Sophia already has touchstones in a number of their courses, multiple in Touchstones aren't student recorded videos. Not even close. CPR is VERY hands on. If one can't do it properly, what is the point in taking the course?

Yes, of course first-aid's hands-on component is critically important, but that can be said about many courses in healthcare and science. Yet, they're still offered online. For the purpose of basic knowledge or a refresher, the course can be useful. I'd rather a person took that course and learned something they may be able to use in a pinch instead of having no knowledge at all. But as Jonathan pointed out, there is a physical component required.

I also think a virtual lab would be great for that, too. So many scenarios could be worked in.

[Duneranger]

Why more legal and medical courses?

They're very interesting and the knowledge applies to two big pieces of modern life. Here are the health/medical courses I'd like to see:

First Aid/CPR

First Aid/CPR Lab (a lab for first aid would be awesome!)

Radiology

Immunology

Histology

Principles of Genetics

Principles of Genetics Lab

Pharmacology

Psychopharmacology

Pathology

Psychopathology

Pathophysiology

Biochemistry

Biochemistry Lab

Organic Chemistry I

Organic Chemistry I Lab

Organic Chemistry II

Organic Chemistry II Lab

Physics I

Physics I Lab

Physics II

Physics II Lab

-

Quantitative Reasoning

Cultural Anthropology

What would these transfer to? No serious programs would accept these as prerequisites. It's a waste of their time.

Radiology? What would this class entail? You can't seriously think you'd learn anything meaningful from this without a significant background in medicine. Even rad techs really cant diagnose what they are seeing aside from pattern recognition.. It also requires extensive background clinical knowledge and a patient story to piece things together..hence why radiologists have to go to med school and do an intern year.

Histology, Immunology...Pharmacology are all the same. Literally almost every class you listed would be a waste of their time and not transfer to anything other than a generic science credit for places like SNHU or UMPI.

They require significant background and concurrent knowledge bases to be useful.

Its like trying to join a college baseball team without ever playing in high school...

I have taken doctoral level classes in many of these subjects by the way...the fact that they would be on Sophia is sort of unserious.

They create these classes for a PURPOSE and if no schools recognize them, there is zero point. Just for funsies doesnt cut it.

With regard to relevance, we have to look at this a bit deeper. A lot if not all of the courses on that list are courses one would take in medical school, but they are also offered outside of medical school as single courses in the United States at a number of schools. The same can be said for nursing school with regard to the courses places like Sophia and Straighterline already offer. 

The rigor between a sophia offering and a medical school is equivalent is lightyears apart... let's get real. Go sit in on a med school class and get back to me. Take Step 1 and get back to me.

There are plenty of books and youtube videos someone could look into if they want a basic introduction, no need for an ACE credit class that will go nowhere and cost thousands to create. Its not even worth CME....

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First Aid/CPR

First Aid/CPR Lab (a lab for first aid would be awesome!)

What good is First Aid without physically taking the course? Unless you're physically doing the procedures how are you truly learning how to do it?

Straighterline First Aid/CPR has an assignment where the student records a video in which they demonstrate a procedure, and it additionally embeds a requirement that the student earn a recognized CPR certification from a third party.

I teach BLS/ACLS, this is honestly ridiculous. If it's not from the AHA, it's useless. There is a reason why skill checkoffs are almost ALWAYS in person.

[Jonathan Whatley]

There’s an 3-credit upper-level alt-credit course titled ”Ice Cream: History, Culture, and Economics” (from Coopersmith, if your destination school accepts an NCCRS recommendation not ACE, and if they accept this provider and course, and if there’s a place in your degree plan for “Ice Cream,” and they might demote it to lower-level).

So a bridge to more obscure alt-credit courses has been crossed.

[Mint Berry Crunch]

There’s an 3-credit upper-level alt-credit course titled ”Ice Cream: History, Culture, and Economics” (from Coopersmith, if your destination school accepts an NCCRS recommendation not ACE, and if they accept this provider and course, and if there’s a place in your degree plan for “Ice Cream,” and they might demote it to lower-level).

So a bridge to more obscure alt-credit courses has been crossed.

If I recall, isn't there one on the history of food trucks that we have discussed about in this forum as well. I think a lot of people here can agree that it would great to have more courses come over as upper-level in regards to CS/IT courses on Sophia. Study.com offers them, and even Coursera professional certs are widespread in their offerings both in the amount of certs and the amount credits per cert balanced between lower and upper-level courses. Sure, ACE makes the recommendation on what they're worth, but I'm sure Sophia can up the intensity in some potential course offerings like IBM and Google do for their certs. As for Healthcare courses, I'm not talking about courses that would require hands-on training. Take a look at WGU's or UMPI's Healthcare Admin degrees (I know, people moan and groan over HA degrees - to each their own), none of those courses require any hands on training. Health Informatics is a big topic that blends IT and Healthcare -- I'm sure any of our alt credit providers could dabble in this subject or anything in Healthcare Admin.

[Jonathan Whatley]

If i recall, isn't there one on the history of food trucks that we have discussed about in this forum as well.

History of Food Trucks also from Coopersmith. History of Sitcoms is another Coopersmith fun course.

[Mint Berry Crunch]

If i recall, isn't there one on the history of food trucks that we have discussed about in this forum as well.

History of Food Trucks also from Coopersmith. History of Sitcoms is another Coopersmith fun course.

Would you look at that; how dare they recommend such courses for credit (sarcasm)!

Funny enough, History of Food Trucks is a 300 level course, thus showing that anything can be upper-level. God forbid we discuss about having more course offerings in Healthcare to help those interested in that field. Seriously though, those do look like great courses

[eLearner]

Alright, @Duneranger, here we go...

What would these transfer to? 

Believe it or not, these courses often transfer to many schools. The very existence of these programs depends on it.

No serious programs would accept these as prerequisites.

Thousands of programs have accepted these credits for many years now.

It's a waste of their time.

Learning something new is never a waste of time.

Radiology? What would this class entail? You can't seriously think you'd learn anything meaningful from this without a significant background in medicine.

If that were the case, then a person going into radiology at any school wouldn't learn anything meaningful since at that point they wouldn't have a significant background in medicine. Radiology courses have been offered online for quite some time now. People are learning from them.

Even rad techs really cant diagnose what they are seeing aside from pattern recognition.. It also requires extensive background clinical knowledge and a patient story to piece things together..hence why radiologists have to go to med school and do an intern year.

I don't think anyone goes into what are normally undergraduate courses expecting to come out with the knowledge of a Medical Doctor. The idea of these courses is to at least gain some basic knowledge of these things (which will put them far ahead of the majority of humans, let's face it), not to be able to diagnose conditions and start performing surgeries...

Histology, Immunology...Pharmacology are all the same. Literally almost every class you listed would... not transfer to anything other than a generic science credit for places like SNHU or UMPI.

That's kind of the point. Almost all of these courses are for general undergraduate credit. Thousands more programs besides SNHU and UMPI have accepted them.

They require significant background and concurrent knowledge bases to be useful.

I disagree that the courses are not useful on their own. Have you ever taken one of these courses online before? If not, you might be surprised by the level of depth many of them have. These courses are usually written by medical doctors and doctoral-level educators in the healthcare field. A person is sure to encounter new knowledge in them.

I have taken doctoral level classes in many of these subjects by the way...the fact that they would be on Sophia is sort of unserious.

I don't see that sort at all. And a lot depends on the student. A person gets out of it what they put into it.

They create these classes for a PURPOSE and if no schools recognize them, there is zero point.

And many schools recognize them.

Just for funsies doesnt cut it.

If that were the case, the entire system of non-required continuing education would've crumbled generations ago.

The rigor between a sophia offering and a medical school is equivalent is lightyears apart... let's get real. Go sit in on a med school class and get back to me. Take Step 1 and get back to me.

I haven't compared rigor between a course on Sophia/Straighterline/Study.Com/etc. to medical school. I'm simply saying that those same courses with those same titles are offered outside of medical school, that is a fact. I think everyone is aware that the courses you take outside of medical school won't have the same depth and rigor as the ones taken inside medical school, that's the reason why anything taken outside could only be considered a prereq at best. 

Besides, health literacy in the general public is dangerously low. The events early in this decade proved that. The more people who are exposed to these things, the better. Encountering new knowledge in and of itself is always useful. Everyone is not interested in becoming a medical doctor. However, people might take these courses and become interested in furthering their education after that to become a nurse, medical doctor, nutritionist and so on. Happens all the time.

There are plenty of books and youtube videos someone could look into if they want a basic introduction, no need for an ACE credit class that will go nowhere and cost thousands to create. Its not even worth CME....

The courses already exist and have already gone somewhere for countless students. I don't understand what your argument against it is when they already exist. Literally every course I listed is already available somewhere. Some at Straighterline, some at Study.Com, some from Harvard Medical School online (which can be worth CMEs), all of them at various colleges and universities in the United States and across the globe.

Also, I wouldn't agree that watching a YouTube video (while useful) is as useful as taking an actual course and a student having skin in the game to succeed in it.

I teach BLS/ACLS, this is honestly ridiculous. If it's not from the AHA, it's useless. There is a reason why skill checkoffs are almost ALWAYS in person.

Then you overlooked the part where they require students to get a real-world certification in order to get credit for the course. This means one would go through an entire course online and acquire new knowledge they didn't have before, demonstrate their knowledge in a video, then get hands-on training in-person and get certified. It encourages more people to be first-responders which is immensely useful for society. This is actually a great concept, it's also not new. This model has been done in a number of other courses, and there are entire EMT programs that have followed a similar format for years.