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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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 Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:30 pm Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
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| Not everyone has the kind of schedule where they can pursue a degree on campus somewhere. Most colleges/universities are not particularly accommodating to people who actually work for a living: you take classes on the school's schedule, not your schedule. |
The point was to try to get an online degree from the University of California if it is possible. That is why I said pick a brick and mortar school. Then the degree will have more value.
Anyways, I believe that some schools offer a weekend B.A. I believe that it is possible to attend a brick and mortar school even if one works for a living. It depends how bad you want it. |
There are some (though relatively few) schools that set up a sort of school within a school that caters specifically to the people who work regular, full-time day jobs. But otherwise, if you're going to try to work a full-time job and go to school at night, expect your degree program to take longer because not all of your required classes are going to be offered evenings/weekends when you need them to be. Then there's National University (http://www.nu.edu/) where you do a very intensive one-course-per-month program (a number of long evenings during the week and some very long Saturdays) that, when I was stationed in California, was the school of choice for working stiffs and people in the military.
You and I agree that getting a degree would definitely be a good idea. We agree that it should be from an accredited school. I think we agree that Excelsior might raise some red flags because it doesn't appear to be a brick-and-mortar school (even if it is accredited by the same organization that accredited the State of New York university system). But, since this is the 21st century and more schools are offering online degree programs, don't be so quick to sell them short. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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| But, since this is the 21st century and more schools are offering online degree programs, don't be so quick to sell them short. |
I don't believe I have made any comment on the quality of education of an online B.A. program. My main point is I believe the posters who want to work abroad might save themselves some hassle and open up more doors if they can find a state school that offers an online degree and does not denote on the degree that it was obtained through distance learning. |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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| Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
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| But, since this is the 21st century and more schools are offering online degree programs, don't be so quick to sell them short. |
I don't believe I have made any comment on the quality of education of an online B.A. program. My main point is I believe the posters who want to work abroad might save themselves some hassle and open up more doors if they can find a state school that offers an online degree and does not denote on the degree that it was obtained through distance learning. |
I was very likely interpreting your statement "Why take the chance when you can get a degree from maybe one of the University of California campuses. Then no one will ever question your degree." |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I was very likely interpreting your statement "Why take the chance when you can get a degree from maybe one of the University of California campuses. Then no one will ever question your degree." |
The point is no matter whether online degrees are as challenging some people will question whether they are equal to one's done on campus. If your potential employer does not know the difference you will have less problems. |
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mackayscanland
Joined: 15 Mar 2009
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:53 am Post subject: |
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After many hours of research, As long as it's Regional, that's all that matters!
I'm still looking for the best on though. Excelsior is still on top of the list, but, I'm still looking! I will be enrolling somewhere April 1st! All suggestions are welcome! Thx, Mackay  |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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| mackayscanland wrote: |
After many hours of research, As long as it's Regional, that's all that matters!
I'm still looking for the best on though. Excelsior is still on top of the list, but, I'm still looking! I will be enrolling somewhere April 1st! All suggestions are welcome! Thx, Mackay |
Find an accredited school that offers a degree in what you want. Excelsior didn't appear to have much to choose from and certainly nothing specifically related to ESL, linguistics or teaching (the closest they had was a bachelor's in liberal arts with an emphasis on world language and literature). Now, if you're going to do this online, the State University of New York system has several degree programs to choose from: http://sln.suny.edu/sln/public/original.nsf/58f6ddfae8daaa10852567b00054e290/bdfaee3e96b7b4d28525675f0057a75d?OpenDocument, though but I didn't see anything specific to ESL. If you're eventually going to get your master's degree, University of Massachusetts has an applied linguisitics degree with emphasis on ESL (http://www.umassonline.net/degrees/Online-Degree-Master-Applied-Linguistics.cfm).
Otherwise, since the purpose of having at least a bachelor's degree is more so you can gain entry into various countries, hopefully you can find a degree program at Excelsior that you're interested in. But I'd also recommend pursuing TEFL certification while you're at it. |
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mackayscanland
Joined: 15 Mar 2009
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:16 pm Post subject: |
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| The Chancellor is wise! I'm actually looking at doing my CELTA this summer in Kiev, Ukraine |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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| mackayscanland wrote: |
| The Chancellor is wise! I'm actually looking at doing my CELTA this summer in Kiev, Ukraine |
The screen name is actually my first name in the real world.
Is it wisdom or is it simply knowing how to do the research?
Anyway, I've sort of been where you are as I'm in the process of making that career change to TEFL/TESL. I'm finishing up a bachelor of science degree in interdisciplinary studies that has an emphasis on special education, I completed a 250-hour TESL certification course, and I'm arranging the teaching practice (10 hours of observing other teachers followed by 10 hours of supervised/graded teaching practice). |
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mlomker
Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 378
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| Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Herman Blume wrote: |
| Most schools will not accept credits older than 7 years old or so. |
I can understand taking that stance in certain instances. I wouldn't want someone using 7-year old medical knowledge, for example! On the other hand, most people are trying to transfer credits in Algebra 1 or Freshman comp. How much has that changed in 7 years? Not much.
Something important to realize is that Excelsior doesn't offer coursework--they are a credit aggregator. The problem with most schools is that they make their money by selling you classes...Excelsior makes their money by certifying that your coursework taken elsewhere complies with their standards. It's a very different model than a conventional school. You do pay a modest fee for every credit that you transfer into them.
| Quote: |
| does not denote on the degree that it was obtained through distance learning |
I've never seen a degree that does. Maybe the University of Phoenix - Online Campus does stamp their degree that way.
Here's mine: http://tinyurl.com/dktnzv
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| If you're eventually going to get your master's degree |
Exactly, Chancellor. When I made my flip comment about a BS being a piece of paper, I meant it in the context of someone devoted to lifelong learning. I fully expect to obtain a second masters before I'm done.
I think burning through a relatively quick BS at Excelsior (when I attended the Business degree was the only one that could be completed entirely through computer testing--others required taking courses at a local school and transferring the credits) and a TEFL would be a nice place to start. You can dive into an MA in the field once you find a job that you are comfortable with. |
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mlomker
Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 378
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| Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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I was reading the Taiwan forum and someone posted a list of schools that were recognized. I was pleasantly surprised to find Excelsior on the list. I guess I don't have to worry about that, either.
http://www.ustudy.org.tw/USACOLLEGE/college/NY.htm |
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mackayscanland
Joined: 15 Mar 2009
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 11:30 pm Post subject: |
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Bump! Graduated!
Ashford University-B.A. ELL Studies
Whew!!
Time flies when your having fun! |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 1:05 am Post subject: |
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| Awesome! Congrats! |
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