I believe I read on excelsior's page that any course titled Intro would be counted as a lower level course. The RA college I took the course deemed it an upper level 3000 level course and is stated on my transcript as such. Any ideas if this would be only accepted as lower level or upper level? Have you seen this at any of the big three?

Yes, there is that inconvenience, but luckily things are not quite as you describe. The rule applies to introductory courses in a discipline and not necessarily to courses entitled, "Introduction to . . ."

A distinction without a difference you say? No. A course that builds upon lower and intermediate knowledge and courses, in a discipline, is not an introductory course as defined in the Excelsior rule.¹ For instance could a course entitled, “Introduction to the duality method in prediction theory of multivariate stationary sequences”, based on Frank & Klotz well regarded paper, ever be considered lower level?

If it is the case that the 300-level (take it “3000” is junior year) course you cite is demonstrably not an introductory course as defined by the relevant Excelsior rule, you should be awarded upper level credit for it. If you are not awarded such credit, you could forward examples from its syllabus and examples from the syllabi of applicable supporting introductory and intermediate courses that demonstrate the requirement for prior introductory and intermediate knowledge (if the disputed course is to be successfully completed). I have first-hand experience of doing just that when earning my Business degree, and having the status of a course changed from lower to upper division.

¹The rule states, “Introductory and intermediate courses even when they are offered only to juniors and seniors are classified as lower level.” Earlier, upper-level courses are defined as:

 “ . . . not introductory in content but which build upon significant prior knowledge in the discipline.”

Examples given of lower level courses include Principles of Management and Cultural Anthropology.

Lawrie

I'm working on a Math degree from Charter Oak. I'm planning to take the Math GRE for 24 credits. In addition to those credits, I am required to have 6 intermediate and 6 advanced level credits. The advanced level credits must be from a 4-year institution. So my questions is this:

Do you know of any good correspondence or independent study courses in math that I could take to get these credits? I'd rather not go on campus to take these. Thanks for any help.

Ohio University has long been a happy hunting ground for cheap, alternate competency (challenge) exams (and full courses), applicable to the Math degree, and to just about every other degree offered in BIG THREE Liberal arts degree programs.

The offerings at this url should take you 80% or 90% of the way there . There’s enough intermediate, and just short of enough “advanced” credit available to meet your needs. Of course, it depends what specific credit COSC deem you to have earned in the GRE. See:- http://www.ohiou.edu/independent/list2.htm#math

Thinking about it, and they way COSC have designated course credit in the past, it may be that, for instance, Ohio U. Calculus 4 could be designated “advanced”, in addition to advanced Math 340, in which case there would be enough advanced and intermediate credit offerings to meet all your needs.

Anyway, you can have a look.

Have you considered that if you score above the eightieth percentile in the GRE subject exam, you’d be better switching to the cheaper and quicker Excelsior degree? This also has the virtue of being a named major – i.e. a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, as opposed to the COSC Bachelor of Science in General Studies with a specialization or concentration in Mathematics.

Even though you would have to pay around another $1,400 in total, for another college enrollment and for the Excelsior graduation fee, the 30 credits earned in the GRE fulfills all requirements in the Math major, and would be less expensive than any other available challenge exam / course option for the COSC degree.

Just a thought.289

Lawrie