Are EC Science Courses Recognized By Other Universities?

Jo Dirt · Sep 7, 2005

I checked into MTSU and they were going to allow the Excelsior science courses.

I know a lot of colleges won't, though.

Almost-there · Sep 7, 2005

Dean~

Maybe this link will help out - https://www.excelsior.edu/portal/page?_pageid=57,83221&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

It shows all of the colleges/universities that accept EC college credits.

Good luck!

RN34TX · Sep 8, 2005

Here in Texas, the UT system acepts EC exams for A&P and Micro but you would need to go back and take just the lab portion of the course as the exams wouldn't satisfy the lab science requirement without an added lab component.

This works out ok for schools that teach A&P and micro lecture and lab as two separate courses meaning you'd get one grade and credit hours for lecture and then a separate grade and credit hours for the lab portion.

But many schools teach these classes where lecture and lab are rolled together as one class and one final grade and the end result would be that you'd have to repeat the entire class and the EC exams wouldn't do you any good.

I'd be willing to bet that the vast majority of traditional B&M schools require lab component for the sciences. I knew that I wanted to go on for my BSN at a state school here after getting my EC ADN so I took the regular science classes at a local community college instead of the EC exams.

If you know for sure, or even at least have somewhat of an idea that you may want to go on for your BSN later and not do it through EC (which I wouldn't recommend to anyone), then you definitely should take the regular A&P and micro at a local school with lab to save you trouble down the road.

MedictoRN · Sep 8, 2005

Why not the BSN through EC?

Here in Texas, the UT system acepts EC exams for A&P and Micro but you would need to go back and take just the lab portion of the course as the exams wouldn't satisfy the lab science requirement without an added lab component.
This works out ok for schools that teach A&P and micro lecture and lab as two separate courses meaning you'd get one grade and credit hours for lecture and then a separate grade and credit hours for the lab portion.
But many schools teach these classes where lecture and lab are rolled together as one class and one final grade and the end result would be that you'd have to repeat the entire class and the EC exams wouldn't do you any good.
I'd be willing to bet that the vast majority of traditional B&M schools require lab component for the sciences. I knew that I wanted to go on for my BSN at a state school here after getting my EC ADN so I took the regular science classes at a local community college instead of the EC exams.
If you know for sure, or even at least have somewhat of an idea that you may want to go on for your BSN later and not do it through EC (which I wouldn't recommend to anyone), then you definitely should take the regular A&P and micro at a local school with lab to save you trouble down the road.

RN34TX · Sep 8, 2005

Why not the BSN through EC?

The BSN program through EC requires 2-3 more clinical exams. After I went through the CPNE I said "never again."

In addition to the high stress level of these pass or fail exams, there is also a considerable amount of cost involved. There are heavy enrollment fees to start, the exams are over $1500 each as well as travel and lodging expenses if you don't live close to a testing center. And this is assuming that you can pass them the first time around and not have to pay again.

The EC ADN program is very unique and if such a program was offered through a local community college without a long waiting list, I would have done it.

Because of the long waiting lists and other barriers involved with going from LPN/LVN to RN, I can see why people might choose to do EC over their local schools. (This is not factoring in any of the current controversy surrounding the program.)

But there are so many RN to BSN programs offered by cheaper state schools all around the country that don't involve these "do or die" clinical exams to be taken at far away testing centers that I just don't see the benefit of doing the BSN through EC when there are so many options out there for RN's wanting to move up the educational ladder.

There aren't nearly as many options that are practical for full time working people who are LPN/LVN's wanting to get their ADN.

Most RN to BSN programs are designed for full time working nurses and the ones in my area don't make you repeat or test out of material you've already been through.

Except for EC, every LPN to RN program that I looked into at that time was not designed for a full time working nurse who couldn't just work weekends and still survive and nearly all involved repetition of material learned in LPN school.

In addition, I found it very discouraging and even insulting that the LPN to RN programs were either almost as or just as long for LPN students as they were for those who'd never so much as touched a patient in their entire life.

I also have a friend who just got her BSN through University of Phoenix. She has some heavy student loans to pay back and I couldn't believe the difference in what she paid as to what I'm paying at a local state school.

Same degree, big cost difference.

MedictoRN · Sep 8, 2005

I was told by EC that there was no travel involved in the BSN program and that everything was either online classes or exam just like the NC exams? Perhaps I've been lied to.

The BSN program through EC requires 2-3 more clinical exams. After I went through the CPNE I said "never again."
In addition to the high stress level of these pass or fail exams, there is also a considerable amount of cost involved. There are heavy enrollment fees to start, the exams are over $1500 each as well as travel and lodging expenses if you don't live close to a testing center. And this is assuming that you can pass them the first time around and not have to pay again.
The EC ADN program is very unique and if such a program was offered through a local community college without a long waiting list, I would have done it.
Because of the long waiting lists and other barriers involved with going from LPN/LVN to RN, I can see why people might choose to do EC over their local schools. (This is not factoring in any of the current controversy surrounding the program.)
But there are so many RN to BSN programs offered by cheaper state schools all around the country that don't involve these "do or die" clinical exams to be taken at far away testing centers that I just don't see the benefit of doing the BSN through EC when there are so many options out there for RN's wanting to move up the educational ladder.
There aren't nearly as many options that are practical for full time working people who are LPN/LVN's wanting to get their ADN.
Most RN to BSN programs are designed for full time working nurses and the ones in my area don't make you repeat or test out of material you've already been through.
Except for EC, every LPN to RN program that I looked into at that time was not designed for a full time working nurse who couldn't just work weekends and still survive and nearly all involved repetition of material learned in LPN school.
In addition, I found it very discouraging and even insulting that the LPN to RN programs were either almost as or just as long for LPN students as they were for those who'd never so much as touched a patient in their entire life.
I also have a friend who just got her BSN through University of Phoenix. She has some heavy student loans to pay back and I couldn't believe the difference in what she paid as to what I'm paying at a local state school.
Same degree, big cost difference.

RN34TX · Sep 8, 2005

I was told by EC that there was no travel involved in the BSN program and that everything was either online classes or exam just like the NC exams? Perhaps I've been lied to.

Not necessarily. My info could now be outdated if they have revamped their program since 2003 when I finished my ADN at EC and they were trying to get me to go into their BSN program.

Maybe they did change it after realizing that other RN to BSN programs don't have such rigorous clinical testing involved. I don't know.

I do know that they have changed their requirements to get in since then as well. It used to be that LPN's and EMT's could go straight into their BSN program but now only RN's are allowed into their BSN program.

But still...look at the total bottom line as far as costs are concerned because there are now so many state universities that offer online and distance BSN completion programs and they might still be a lot cheaper than EC or Univ. of Phoenix.

missnurse01, MSN, RN · Sep 12, 2005

i looked around a lot too-did not want to spend all that money! (my enrollment fee was all of 60 bucks! that was for the college and the nursing program!) and i knew that i wanted to go to a title 4 school so i could get financial aid and student loans if i needed them. u of p was WAY to expensive, had a lot of group work, had a lot of powerpoint, and was accelerated-5 week classes i am not into! not in that big of a hurry! i went for u of wyoming, as they met my above criteria and i spoke with a current student who had just finished who gave me the low down. i enc everyone to really look around before they make their decision as to where to go! they also req their sciences with a lab, glad i took them that way!