Open Course Option FAQs

No. To earn a degree from Thomas Edison State University, you must be an enrolled student. Becoming an enrolled student requires you to select an annual tuition plan. While there are no costs for taking the Saylor courses associated with the Open Course option at Thomas Edison State University, students must also register for and successfully complete Thomas Edison State University (TECEP®) exams and portfolio assessments to earn credit for the course requirements. In addition to the cost of TECEP® exams and portfolio assessments, there are also costs associated with the application and enrollment process and tuition costs for the PLA-1000 and PLA-2000 courses.

The cost of earning the Associate in Science in Business Administration at Thomas Edison State University through the Open Course option varies depending on several factors, which include whether you are a New Jersey resident who qualifies for in-state tuition, how many credits you are able to transfer to your degree program, how many credits you have to complete to earn the degree, which assessments you use to earn credit and how long it takes you to complete your degree. View a summary of the tuition and fees associated with the Open Course option.

Most students who benefit from in-state tuition rates who complete the Associate in Science in Business Administration through the Open Course option in one year using credit-by-exam options when possible should be able to complete the program for about $4,000, excluding optional course materials some students may want to purchase. Most credit-by-exam options, including those associated with the Open Course option, do not require students to purchase course materials.

Most students using out-of-state tuition rates who benefit from in-state tuition who complete the Associate in Science in Business Administration through the Open Course option in one year using credit-by-exam options when possible should be able to complete the program for about $5,500, excluding optional course materials some students may want to purchase. Most credit-by-exam options, including those associated with the Open Course option, do not require students to purchase course materials.

No. Students are free to use the Saylor courses as much or as little as they want. Each Saylor course has been reviewed by Thomas Edison State University mentors who are subject matter experts on the topic covered by the course and who have determined that students who successfully complete the Saylor courses used in the Open Course option have a reasonable chance of completing the associated Thomas Edison State University assessments. If a student has some form of prior learning, such as work experience, professional training, independent study, etc., they may skip sections in the Saylor courses that they feel they already know, or simply use the Saylor course as a refresher. Students may also take the Thomas Edison State University assessment (TECEP or portfolio) without taking the Saylor in-course assessment if they feel prepared for it, but should note that the assessments are pass/fail with no refunds.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is a flexible, efficient way of earning college credits for college-level knowledge you have acquired outside a traditional classroom. If you are like most adult students, you are likely to have learned something outside of University, whether it was through work, professional or military training, volunteering, hobbies or other types of experiences, and this expertise may be related to your degree program. Through prior learning assessment, Thomas Edison State University is able to determine if you possess college-level knowledge that is equivalent to what you would have learned in a college-level course and whether that knowledge can be applied to your degree program. The main ways we assess prior knowledge is through credit-by-exam programs, such as TECEP®, or portfolio assessment.

The Thomas Edison Credit-by-Examination Program (TECEP®) is the University's credit-by-exam program and was created to allow students who have acquired knowledge and skills through prior learning to earn credit for what they already know. These proctored tests are generally two-to-three hours long and typically consist of essays or multiple choice questions, depending on the topic. Like other credit-by-exam programs, TECEP® exams are pass/fail.

Portfolio Assessment is a method of documenting your prior learning that involves working directly with a Thomas Edison State University mentor who is a subject matter expert in the course you are challenging. Generally, there are two components in developing a portfolio: a learning narrative and supporting evidence. The learning narrative is your opportunity to relate what you learned, how you learned it, and why you learned it. The learning narrative describes how your knowledge meets the particular learning objectives for the course you are challenging. The evidence section supports your claims of possessing the college-level knowledge and includes the proof that substantiates your narrative. Evidence can include professional licensures or certifications, test results, samples of work, letters of reference and other concrete examples that document that you possess the college-level knowledge required for the course.

The Saylor Academy is a nonprofit organization committed to bringing down the cost of education. Over the past four years, they have built over 300 college-level courses in 13 areas of study, as well as professional development and K-12 courses. Their courses and materials are based on their website, Saylor.org.

The National College Credit Review Service evaluates educational programs and training offered outside the traditional college classroom setting and recommends those programs to be accepted as college credit equivalencies. To evaluate a program, the NCCRS coordinate teams of college faculty evaluators and subject matter experts to conduct extensive reviews of education and training programs offered by corporations, unions, religious organizations and proprietary schools. Courses and programs recommended for credit by NCCRS are accepted by Thomas Edison State University.

CLEP® (College Level Examination Program) exams test the mastery of college-level material that you may have acquired through any number of ways, such as college-level course instruction, independent study, work experience or other programs of study that you have pursued. CLEP® exams are free-standing exams that any individual can pay to take in order to prove that he or she has mastered a given subject area at the college level. CLEP® exams are designed and offered by The College Board, which administers the Advanced Placement (AP) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) exam programs. The CLEP is one of several credit-by-exam programs students use to earn credit at Thomas Edison State University.

No. However, it is strongly suggested that students speak with an academic advisor at Thomas Edison State University to confirm whether a Saylor course and its corresponding assessment is appropriate for your degree, especially if it not associated with the Open Course option. Applicants at Thomas Edison State University who have not yet enrolled should contact Enrollment Services at enrolled@tesu.edu or call (609) 777-5680, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET).

Yes. The Open Course option enables students to earn credit that can be applied to most undergraduate degree programs at Thomas Edison State University. It is strongly suggested that students speak with an academic advisor at Thomas Edison State University to confirm how courses and assessments included with the Open Course option fit into their degree program. Applicants at Thomas Edison State University who have not yet enrolled should contact Enrolled Services at enrolled@tesu.edu or call (609) 777-5680, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET).

Enrolled students and applicants at Thomas Edison State University should contact Enrollment Services at enrolled@tesu.edu or call (609) 777-5680, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET). Students and applicants have access the full support of our advising and student services teams, who are able to address any concerns you may have as you go through this program. Additional support is available at Saylor.org. For questions about Saylor courses or the Saylor e-portfolio system, contact Devon Ritter at devon.ritter@saylor.org, Scott Movens at scott.movens@saylor.org or visit the student forums at Saylor.org.