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NEW PROGRAM TO BEGIN FALL 2010!
tHE ONLINE BACHELOR COMPLETION PROGRAM IN OFFICE ADMINISTRATION AND tECHNOLOGY WILL BEGIN FALL 2010!CALL (229) 333-5928 FOR MORE INFORMATION. |
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We are very excited to announce that the Department of Adult and Career Education will begin offering an Online Bachelor Completion Program in Office Administration and Technology, beginning in the Fall of 2010. Dr. Vesta Whisler is spearheading this program. We also are pleased to announce that our newest faculty member, Mrs. Karen Pickles, will be instructing courses in this exciting new program. We will also have two new graduate assistants working with this program soon.
Below are answers to some basic questions you may have about this new program:
- Who might be interested in this program?
- What is an “online bachelor completion program?”
- How might this plan work?
- What do I need to earn a bachelor’s degree?
- Will I need to take all of these classes?
- How can I earn experiential credits?
- Realistically, how long might it take me to earn a bachelor’s degree in Office Administration and Technology?
- So, how and when do I get started?
Who might be interested in this program?
This program may be for you if you have some college credits, but have not completed a bachelor’s degree; have several years’ work experience as a secretary, office manager, administrative assistant, or similar business-related position; and have work or family obligations that make attending traditional classes inconvenient.
What is an “online bachelor completion program?”
An online bachelor completion program is a program designed to help translate previous college credits and work experience into a degree program. Once transcripts and work experience are analyzed, a plan is developed for degree completion. Classes will be offered online so that a schedule can be easily built around work and family obligations.
Let’s say you spent a couple of years in college, but stopped for some reason before you completed your degree. Perhaps you got married, went to work, and started a family. Maybe you took a few college courses along the way, but never progressed to a bachelor’s degree. Or you may already have a degree, but need a degree in a business technology area to meet your work demands. Perhaps you are not eligible for promotions, or may be stuck in a dead-end job, because your education is not complete. We will help you gather the information you need to determine how many credits you may have that will apply to a bachelor’s degree.
What do I need to earn a bachelor’s degree?
At VSU (and most University System of Georgia schools), you need 60 credits of “core” classes in English, math, science, humanities and social sciences for a well-rounded education. Perhaps this is where you stopped when you were previously in college. You then need another 60 or so credits that fall into four categories: major courses, other courses appropriate to the major, guided electives, and general electives.
Will I need to take all of these classes?
Hopefully, those interested in the Online Bachelor Completion Program will have taken most of the required core classes, which can be transferred for credit. Up to 60 credits from a two-year institution may transfer to VSU, and up to 90 hours from another four-year institution may transfer. Up to 30 hours may be earned through any combination of CLEP, credit by examination, or advanced placement. At least the last 30 hours of the degree must be completed at VSU, including 21 hours of senior college work in the major. The beauty of this program is that, because we will be admitting students with several years of related work experience, we can offer up to (9 credit hours) of “experiential credit” for on-the-job learning.
How can I earn experiential credits?
At VSU, we have a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) process in place that will assist you with gathering evidence to show how what you’ve learned on the job relates to our Office Administration & Technology degree. VSU is leading the Adult Learner Focused Initiative (ALFI) in the state of Georgia, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, and PLA is an integral part of this initiative. Evidence may be submitted via a portfolio and might consist of work samples, employer evaluations and letters, essays, tests (for example, keyboarding), certifications (like Microsoft, for example), and certificates from on-the-job training.
Realistically, how long might it take me to earn a bachelor’s degree in Office Administration and Technology?
It will vary from student to student, depending on how much you have already accomplished. If you have completed all of your core classes (perhaps through an associate’s degree), taken a few business courses, and have evidence of on-the-job learning for experiential credits, you may need only the major courses, which will be around 48 credits. Depending on your work experience, you may be able to test out of some of these, but remember: you must take the last 30 credits of the degree through VSU to earn a VSU degree.
So, how and when do I get started?
Start immediately! Apply for admission to VSU, have all of your transcripts from previous colleges sent here, and declare Office Administration & Technology as your major. Then contact the Department of Adult and Career Education at 229-333-5928 to make an appointment with an advisor of the Online Bachelor Completion program. Once your transcripts are evaluated, we can start working with you to develop a plan tailored to meet your needs!