Degree Completion Program
Cosmic Institute's Undergraduate Degree Completion Program (UDCP) is designed for former college students who were not able to complete their undergraduate programs and still wish to finish a degree. The program builds on the residence courses the student completed and allows the student to finish by taking online courses through the Institute.
The UDCP Advisor works with each student to tailor his degree to his needs. Once accepted, the student receives a profile listing what courses he needs to take. The student then signs up for a course and works at his own pace to complete either an Associate or a Bachelor of General Studies degree.
General Information
The program requirements for each degree are divided into two areas: general education (core requirements) and specific courses toward two or more field concentrations. We tailor your profile to include the courses you have already completed.
The Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree is equivalent to a full four-year program and consists of at least 120 credit hours. The Associate of General Studies (AGS) degree is equivalent to a two-year program and consists of at least 60 hours of credit. Both degrees are terminal programs.
Procedure
Qualifications
- You must be a former student from Cosmic Institute or another recognized institution.
- You must have completed one full year of course work (at least 30 credits).
- You must be at least 21 years of age.
- You must have been away from college for at least three years.
- You must be approved by the Admissions Office for acceptance.
Procedures
- Contact us to obtain further information.Your application will be considered for processing.
- Once your application has been approved, the UDCP Advisor will develop a personal profile that will show you exactly what courses you have completed and what academic requirements you need to meet in order to receive your degree.
- After you have been accepted into the program, you may sign up immediately for an online course.
Cost
You will save a considerable amount of money since you will not be paying room and board costs. Tuition prices vary from course to course.
Degree Completion Options
This process is not primarily about further study. It is mostly about the 'assembling' and credentialing - by the issuance of degree and formal transcript - what you have already accomplished.
ABCDE Options
A. For an undergraduate certificate (1 year) and for all degrees, your foundation is at least 1 year (2 semesters or 3 quarters) or more of courses (or equivalent examination) in one of the degree subjects listed above. For certificates (other than history and government), approximately half of the courses could be B2 experientals. After our review of the courses or examinations you have already taken in a subject, we may require you to fill gaps - and suggest various options to you.
B. You also secure credit for special components B1, B2. C. The B1/B2 emphasis varies by degree subject, and these categories may overlap. Degrees in backcountry recreation leadership require extensive field expedition courses. In Early Childhood Education, practicums (internship) usually precede licenced employment.
B1. Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) - Relevant work (whether paid or volunteer) directly related to your degree subject and accompanied by verified continuing education. (B2 below provides examples of continuing education). 2.5 years of such employment may be granted one year of academic credit equivalency towards either the associate or bachelor degree. 5 such experience years may permit the holder of an associate degree to proceed directly into master degree candidacy. Instructors of adults may also receive credit in VUWs Teaching to Adults Presumption. TAP recognizes that teaching necessarily requires an instructor to learn (whether formal, informally mentored, or self-directed) considerably more about a subject than the content level at which it is then taught. In addition to VUW own (above) conservative PLA, we will also recognize Prior Learning (or Life-Experience) Assessments conducted at other colleges and universities, when the other college or university itself grants academic equivalency credit and documents it in their own official transcript.
B2. Experiential and Self-Paced Learning - Workplace based courses, workshop courses, field courses, field expeditions, stage and studio work, practicums, internships, etc. Reflecting American Council on Education (ACE) guidelines, each fifteen hours of experiential learning provides one full credit of academic transfer equivalency. For most of our degrees, if you have no B1 credit you are encouraged to secure credit for "off-campus" experiential learning. For degrees in history, government, and geography a special project - about a person, place or event - is an alternative. For degrees in geography - cultural and/or physical - some study travel and/or field courses may be required.
C. Routine Vocational Courses - such as nursing aide, etc - may be granted up to 50% course transfer credit if directly relevant to a degree application, or for credit transfer into VUW Associate or Bachelor of General Stuidies. An example would be the credentialing of a secondary school teacher of vocational subjects, in which vocational education is an appropriate special mention within an Education degree. [The "vocational" category is not to be confused with technological courses as defined in category D].
D. You receive credit for all university or other degree-standard courses (campus or distance - by correspondence, telecourses, on-line etc) you have taken, or the equivalency examinations for any of them. [Contact GRE 212-966-5853, CLEP 609-951-6106, and others, to ask about examinations and and testing locations for common course subjects if you need such]. Degree-standard courses include a wide variety of software certification and other technological subjects - the distinction between them and vocational training (prior category C) being the emphasis of "logic" (conceptual analysis, prerequisite mathematics where required, necessity for understanding sophisticated terminology, etc). In this context, a wide range of off-campus classroom or workplace-based courses recommended by the American Council on Education are granted full transfer credit.
E. If you lack one or more A-D components, and none of the above external exams exactly cover a gap for you, we can arrange for proctored examination of course-equivalents or years-equivalent of learning. VUW external examination must be proctored in the office of a professional person - doctor, lawyer, minister etc - sent and returned directly and with a committment that the examination was completed with integrity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a modest selection of questions asked by prospective students over a period of time. We understand that these questions will continue to be asked for all times to come with more questions coming up everyday. Therefore, this page is bound to be an ever-growing collection of answers which aim to serve as the starting point for all freshman applicants.
I started my degree at a college other than Cosmic Institute. May I enroll in Cosmic Institute's Undergraduate Degree Completion Program?
Yes. You may enroll any time you like as long as you follow the procedure.
Will I be able to succeed?
Yes! Even though it may have been a long time since your student days, there are several factors that work in your favor.
- You now have much more motivation to complete your degree.
- You have been learning constantly since you left your studies, and while you may need time to "dust off" specific learning skills, the basic learning process has continued.
- This program is designed with your specific needs in mind. All of your requirements may be met by taking or online courses. You learn at your own pace in the comfortable surroundings of your home, and you have a flexible class schedule. There is no need to fit your employment around your class schedule—just adjust your classes to fit your work schedule!
Do I have to come to the campus for classes?
Not at all! There are no residency requirements for our online courses and programs.
Can I transfer credits from other institutions?
Yes. You must submit an official transcript for work completed elsewhere for evaluation as part of the admission process. Once the transcript has been evaluated, you will be notified regarding the courses that transfer into the program.
|
