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BALS Concentration/GE Questions - PLEX - 06-30-2023

I see BALS requires either:
  • Option A: 42 credits of Liberal Studies courses that include at least 15 credits at the 3000/4000 level and no more than 6 credits at the 1000 level.
-OR
  • Option B: Select an 18-credit concentration and complete an additional 24 credits of Liberal Studies courses.
Questions:
  • I'm going to guess option B still has the same level requirements, overall, as option A, but I haven't found mention of level requirements specifically within the Concentration's 18 credits. Anyone know if that is specified?
  • Next, I'm wondering if I can use some credits for the concentration and to also cover general ed?
  • Lastly, just within GE, can one class be used for more than one GE requirement - while counting extra credits in another area to make up the total 45 required GE credits? 
More info: I'm working to gather up all my info to get degree plan options pinned down, but also having my own preliminary look around and wondered about the above. In short: in my 78 existing credits (47 RA), I'm hoping TESU would accept my communications credits that mostly don't map directly to their classes, but include 14 RA at 300-400 (Persuasive Speech, Research in Debate, Rhetoric of Feminist Movement, Women and Words) 11 RA at 200 (Forensics = competitive debate & speech 4 X 2cr, Debate and Argument), and more at 100 (RA Fund of Oral Comm, ACE Visual Comm, etc.). Some of the mid and upper seem fit for GE areas, as well as for concentration.

Thanks!

RE: BALS Concentration/GE Questions - rachel83az - 06-30-2023

1. 15 UL credits + capstone is a general TESU requirement. The wording there is ambiguous, elsewhere it's less ambiguous. The concentrations often require very, very specific courses that just so happen to be UL (so the requirement doesn't need to be restated, I guess?). Because of this, the concentrations may be less flexible than the degrees they are representing. For instance, aside from not needing Calculus, the BALS Computer Science is possibly more difficult to achieve than the BA Computer Science.
2. No. At TESU, classes cover a single requirement. Example: most students can use US History I/II from Sophia to meet General Education requirements for History classes. US History I/II is an AOS requirement for students seeking a BA History. BA History students must take additional History credits to meet the gen ed requirements.
3. No. See above. TESU is not like UMPI. Each class fills exactly one slot, either in gen eds or in the AOS.

RE: BALS Concentration/GE Questions - PLEX - 06-30-2023

Thanks for the clarification!

RE: BALS Concentration/GE Questions - bjcheung77 - 06-30-2023

@PLEX, From your post, you are best suited for a BALS with Humanities concentration, or if you prefer to switch, you can try the Social Sciences concentration, and if you don't have a preference at all, just leave it as a BALS with no concentration. It really depends on the student and their needs/wants, are you planning to go for a specific Masters? I would take the prerequisite courses required during your BALS. Each school will have their own regulations, rules in regards to courses you want to complete.

For example, COSC/UMPI has multiple requirements for their degrees (just like TESU). People get it slightly confused and mention double dipping in these requirements, it's really not double dipping at all, you're just making sure that all the requirements are met with either one or multiple courses. All degrees from most institutions will have 40 courses/120 credits total, there are some institutions that will provide lesser number of courses if they are competency based or some even give 4 credits per course and you need just 30 to graduate with a degree.