More Than A Diploma -- Part II: Curriculum Options

 

Part II:  CLEP OR DSST High School Curriculum Options

For example, following the “World Book Typical Course of Study” (see link below) detailing basic curricular guidelines for grades 9, 10, 11 and 12, here are some CLEP courses that a student could take to earn dual credit, fulfilling high school level college prep studies while also earning college credit.  Similarly students can consider DSST,  GRE subject tests  (Graduate Record Exam tests on specific subjects), and AP (Advanced Placement) credit by examination.  At any age students can independently prepare for these credit by examination courses.  One need not enroll in a course at a school, nor online, nor buy a packaged curriculum or preparation course to complete  any of these.  Here is where you will find the “World Book Typical Course of Study” curricular outlines for all grades:  

http://www.worldbookonline.com/training/html/tcos.htm

The fees noted below are the usual fees for CLEP exams in 2020, plus students should expect to pay an additional administrative service fee, charged for taking the examination at a participating testing site.  Prices do change and may go up for any of these. You can take these exams most often at a college or university, or occasionally at  a military facility.  The administrative service fees will vary, so be sure to call around and see what options are available in any specific area.  They are usually $10 to $25 per exam.

Grade Nine:

Social Studies -- CLEP American Government ($89)

Science -- CLEP Natural Sciences ($89)

Language Arts -- CLEP American Literature ($89)

General Mathematics -- CLEP College Mathematics ($89)

Total Cost -- $356 plus a service fee for each course ($10-$25 per test)

Grade Ten:

Social Studies -- CLEP Western Civilization I ($89)

Science -- CLEP Biology ($89)

Language Arts -- CLEP Analyzing & Interpreting Literature ($89)

Mathematics -- CLEP College Algebra ($89)

Total Cost -- $356 plus a service fee for each course ($10-$25 per test)

Grade Eleven:

Social Studies -- CLEP History of the United States I ($89)

Science -- CLEP Chemistry ($89)

Language Arts -- CLEP College Composition ($89)

Mathematics -- CLEP College Precalculus ($89)

Total Cost -- $356 plus a service fee for each course

Grade Twelve:

Social Studies -- CLEP History of the United States II ($89)

Language Arts -- CLEP Humanities ($89)

Mathematics -- CLEP Calculus ($89), or DSST Principles of Statistics ($85)

Science -- Since CLEP doesn’t offer another higher level science course, students should consider courses like: AP Physics B for those going into science or engineering degree fields; or other courses like DSST's Environment and Humanity, Astronomy, Physical Geology ($85-$89 each, plus administrative services fees).

Total Cost -- $335 plus a service fee for each course

Total for four high school equivalent years: approximately $1403.00; or $350.75 per year; or, better still, only $29.23/month spread over the full four years.  Add to this the $10 to $25 administrative service fee ($40 to $100 more per grade) for each course for the total cost of these college credits.  Almost any high school-aged student could earn this much money him or herself and pay for his or her first two years of college, and do this before completing their high school years.  This is a steal for two full years of college credit these days! 

If a student took all four high school years worth of CLEP, or DSST, or a combination thereof, plus perhaps some AP credits, as outlined above, passing all the tests, these equivalents for the typical high school course of study could have earned up to two full years, or sixty semester hours of college credit.  That makes these credit by examination options a much better bargain than regular college tuition, even if one were to choose to attend a nearby college, university or community college.  For students who face financial hardship, or perhaps have other obligations keeping them from college, credit by examination provides a very good option that students can start at any time, any age, whenever the student is ready. And in today's crazy economy, when many have lost their jobs, at least temporarily, self-directed and self-motivated study for one or more of these exams might be a good way to use one's time. 

And here’s a similar college preparatory curriculum using DSST credit by examination options in lieu of CLEP (Note that DSST exams are slightly less expensive than CLEP):

Grade Nine:

Social Studies -- DSST Human/Cultural Geography ($85)

Science -- DSST Health and Human Development ($85)

Humanities -- DSST Introduction to World Religions ($85)

Mathematics -- DSST Fundamentals of College Algebra ($85)

Total Cost -- $340 plus a service fee for each test

Grade Ten:

Social Studies -- DSST The Civil War and Reconstruction ($85)

Science -- DSST Introduction to Geology ($85)

Humanities -- DSST Principles of Public Speaking ($85)

Mathematics -- DSST Math for Liberal Arts ($85)

Total Cost -- $340 plus a service fee for each test

Grade Eleven:

Social Studies -- DSST General Anthropology ($85)

Science -- DSST Environmental Science ($85)

Humanities -- DSST Ethics in America ($85)

Mathematics -- Business Mathematics ($85)

Total Cost -- $340 plus a service fee for each test

Grade Twelve:

Social Studies -- DSST Introduction to the Modern Middle East ($85)

Language Arts -- DSST Technical Writing ($85)

Mathematics -- DSST Computing and Information Technology ($85), 

Science -- DSST Astronomy ($85).

Total Cost -- $340 plus a service fee for each test.

Total for the equivalent of a full four years of an excellent high school college prep curriculum using DSST credit by examination courses and testing would be $1360 plus service fees for each test taken.  Meanwhile be sure to check the DSST website for other course options that some students will find more appropriate for their college and career goals.  

Any way you do this, using CLEP or DSST, or a combination of these, plus AP, perhaps some GRE subject exam credit, a student will save both money and time and be far better prepared for the next level of post secondary studies.

With no form of transportation involved, except perhaps an occasional trek to the local library, students and families won’t need to purchase another car or campus parking permit, won’t be paying for extra fossil fuel, including Mom or Dad dropping off and picking up the student. One won't need to pay for extra car insurance or auto maintenance, easily saving the cost of each year’s credit by examination testing in transportation costs alone by taking these exams instead of attending a local college or university.  Consider these for any self-directed and self-motivated student to fulfill at least part of his or her college credits, or as all or part of the backbone of a complete high school level college prep curriculum.

Think of this type of study as open book exam type study.  Back in my day teachers and college professors often sent students home with open book exams, or study questions.  We were to take the test or study questions home and review our notes and textbooks and any other resources we could access to write our answers to the questions.  This is more or less a good way to approach preparing for credit by examination exams.  Use all the practice tests and support material tests as study resources that lead one to other primary sources. Then use lots of interesting secondary sources to find any answers that students just don’t know, or don’t know very well.  Online resources are phenomenal, with access to back issues of scientific journals, periodicals of all sorts, as well as books and encyclopedic resources.

How early can students start taking CLEP or DSST exams?  Whenever they are ready!   If a student hasn’t determined any colleges to which to send these credits yet, CLEP will bank the credits and hold them for twenty years, until the student has chosen one or more colleges.  DSST does the same.  And if a student has already thought about attending specific colleges or universities, he or she can request that banked CLEP or DSST credits are sent to those institutions at any time after taking and passing an exam.  I have heard about students as young as nine years old taking and passing these exams.  Parents of young CLEP or DSST scholars have noted that this type of studying helped their students with reading comprehension, expanded their vocabulary, taught them how to study and introduced them to many new subjects they might not have considered before preparing for CLEP or DSST.  For the interested and motivated student, especially those looking for a learning challenge, one can start early and continue to study for and pass CLEP or DSST tests as part of one’s curriculum all the way through compulsory schooling years into the collegiate years, and even beyond.  

I am considering taking a couple of CLEP or DSST exams to help get ahead at my current job.  With STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills in high demand at many jobs today, passing some CLEP or DSST tests for STEM appropriate subjects and listing these as recent college credits on a job application or resume could enhance my chances of getting certain jobs or could bolster my chances of a promotion or job advancement.

For those still finishing high school level curriculum, consider taking one or more of these courses and exams. Earn from three to six college credits in each course for which you manage to pass the exam. And those who have already finished can fill in any gaps in one's high school learning spectrum by studying for and taking one or more of these exams. The cost is minimal and the rewards may be just what the student needs.

Part III: Soon to follow!

Norma Curry