TESU degree plan help--2nd degree, BA Anthropology

[Jonathan Whatley]

Hi everyone,

I am seriously considering obtaining a second degree at TESU in Anthropology. First degree was in 2016. This is just a degree "for me," as I am eligible to take the needed courses for free at my work as an employee benefit. I enrolled at TESU originally thinking I'd do a BA in Religion, but it seems that the Anthropology degree is making more sense plus I think I may find it a bit more enjoyable. I obtained a degree program from TESU in Anthro and put it into Excel. I did not include every single detail as I have a decent handle on most issues (from all you good people and the information you so generously provide here on the forums!), but I would appreciate some help with the following:

1. A few of my courses were taken decades ago at UCSB.

Pause before the rest of your questions. You will be subject to the "Earning a Second or Successive Baccalaureate Degree" section of TESU's Award of Degrees Policy. So you

must… Complete a minimum of 24 credits including the required capstone for the degree… in the area of study and/or core of the degree. These credits must be earned after the date the most recent degree, regardless of academic level, was conferred.

The Area of Study for the Anthropology major, Section II on the Anthropology major credit distribution page, is 45 credits. You can bring in a maximum of 21 credits dating prior to your most recent degree issuance, but you will have to bring in 24 "fresh" credits completed subsequent to that date.

It is on the quarter system. The courses transferred in as 2.67 credits but TESU is saying I need 3 credits. I don't remember this being a problem with my first degree but it's been so long that I'm unsure.

I think TESU typically allows those!

2. Area B1, the Info Literacy requirement (SOS-1100)... if I can find an equivalent course at my university, can I take it there and transfer it in? If I can't find an equivalent course at my university, is one available elsewhere? I'd like to avoid paying for this course at TESU.

3. Area B2: I took Business Policy years ago... will this work there? I also have Biz Law and Intro to Biz as possibilities. What about the World Religions course I am currently taking?

Good news: The entire General Education section, Section I on the credit distribution page, is waived by your having a prior bachelor's degree! This includes the Information Literacy requirement.

4. In the Anthropology major section... area G says "Topical." What does this mean? Are these Anthropology electives?

Yes (but see the fuller answer from ROYISAGIRL below). I just viewed the Anthropology major in the MyProgress web app, and there's no additional description of the "Topical" area nor does it indicate any courses from TESU itself fit that area.

Edited to add: I took that Institutes insurance ethics course years ago, after I finished my first degree. Searched for it here and I see that they never made the transition to Credly. I also saw that we can order a transcript from them to send to TESU. Has anybody done this? Does it work? I am not sure it if even matters for me with this degree plan.

Although you don't need an ethics course because your gen eds are waived, I'll note the following in case this thread is read by someone with a similar problem with pre-Credly ACE credits.

In addition to obtaining a transcript from the Institutes, you may be able to view and print a personal copy of the record from ACE. A link to do so is under Legacy Records on this ACE page, although the link is currently timing out for me. A few years ago I had a similar issue with a different provider who had closed down pre-Credly, and an email inquiry to ACE was able to get me that personal copy.

Sending either the Institutes direct transcript or the ACE personal copy with an explanation that it's pre-Credly might help.