Associate in Science in Business Administration

 

Program Overview

Return to the School of Business and Management Homepage

The Associate in Science in Business Administration ASBA degree has a broad management core designed to ensure college- level competence in business and the arts and sciences. Some of the topics covered include the principles of management, marketing and financial accounting. The ASBA degree prepares students to make a seamless transition into a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree program.

What You Will Learn in the Associate in Science in Business Administration Program

The degree has a broad management core designed to ensure college-level competence in business and the arts and sciences. Some of the topics covered include the principles of management, marketing and financial accounting. Students may take 6 credits of business electives in fields of their interest.

Students can also earn the Associate in Science in Business Administration program using the Open Course option, where students take open, online courses offered by the Saylor Foundation at no cost and then apply what they learned in those open courses by successfully completing a portfolio assessment or TECEP® exam.

Degree Requirements

To attain the ASBA degree, the student must earn 60 credits distributed as follows: 39 credits in general education, 18 credits in management, and 3 credits in electives. College Algebra 3 credits is a degree requirement.

General Education Requirements

The 39-credit requirement in general education provides students with a background in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences/mathematics.

Management Core

The 18 credits required in the management core consist of basic business subjects.

Electives

The elective category may be satisfied by almost any college credit. Academic policies should be reviewed for limitation of credits.

Open Course Option ASBA

The Open Course Option is a new degree pathway that allows students to complete the majority of an Associate in Science in Business Administration degree by taking free, open, online courses from the Saylor Academy that are aligned with the University's assessment program.

The option enables students to take open courses at no cost and then apply what they learned in those open courses by successfully completing a portfolio assessment or the University's credit-by-exam program, TECEP®. Some credits can also be earned by passing a College-Level Exam Program CLEP® exam. Still others can be earned through Saylor's National College Credit Recommendation Service NCCRS and American Council on Education ACE credit exams, which have been evaluated and recommended for college credit. Students using the Open Course Option will also complete the University's online prior learning assessment courses, PLA-100: Introduction to Prior Learning Assessment, and PLA-200: Introduction to Portfolio Assessment as well as some general education requirements through traditional courses.

The Open Course Option is primarily self-paced, so students can complete courses and assessments on their own schedule, independent from monthly semesters and deadlines.

Credit Distribution

Courses in the General Education Requirements are listed as a guide. Other courses may satisfy the areas and can be viewed on our website under General Education Courses.

I. General Education Requirements Credits (39 Credits)

A. Intellectual and Practical Skills (15 credits)

ENC -101Writing for Success

3

ENC-102English Composition II

3

COM-209Public Speaking

3

MAT-115Intermediate Algebra

3

SOS-110Fact, Fiction, or Fake? Information Literacy Today

3

B. Civic and Global Leadership (9 credits)

SOC-322Cultural Diversity in the United States

3

ETH-230Ethics in the Digital Age

3

POS-110American Government

3

C. Knowledge of Human Cultures (9 credits)

SOC-101Our Changing World An Introduction to Sociology

3

PSY-101Introduction to Psychology

3

D. Understanding the Physical and Natural World (6 credits)

For all TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Understanding of the Physical and Natural World.

II. Management Core (18 Credits)

Required Courses

ACC-101Principles of Financial Accounting

3

ACC-102Principles of Managerial Accounting

3

LAW-201Business Law

3

MAN-210Principles of Management

3

MAR-201Introduction to Marketing

3

Select one of the following three courses:

CIS-107Computer Concepts and Applications

3

COS-101Introduction to Computers

3

CIS-301Management Information Systems

3

III. Electives (3 Credits)

For TESU course options, go to Elective Courses.

Total Credit Hours: 60

Open Course Option

The Open Course Option is a new degree pathway that allows students to complete the majority of an Associate in Science in Business Administration degree by taking free, open, online courses from the Saylor Academy that are aligned with the University's prior learning assessment program.

The Option enables students to take open courses at no cost and then apply what they learned in those open courses by successfully completing a portfolio assessment or the University's credit-by-exam program, TECEP®. Some credits can also be earned by passing a College-Level Exam Program (CLEP) exam.  Still others can be earned through Saylor's National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) and American Council on Education (ACE) Credit exams, which have been evaluated and recommended for college credit. Students using the Open Course option will also complete the University's new online prior learning assessment courses, PLA-100 and PLA-200, as well as some General Education requirements through traditional courses.

The Open Course Option is primarily self-paced, so students can complete courses and assessments on their own schedule, independent from monthly semesters and deadlines.

> Tuition Information

  > Getting Started 

  > Taking Saylor's Open Courses 

  

ASBA Open Course Option Degree Chart 

General Education Requirements

(30 credits)

Saylor Open Course  Assessment for Credit 
Intellectual and Practical Skills (15 credits)

Written Communication 

ENC-101 English Composition 1

ENC-102 English Composition 2

 

ENGL001 English Composition I

ENGL002 English Composition II

 

TECEP English Comp I

TECEP English Comp II

Oral Communication (3 credits)

COM-209 Public Speaking 

 

No Saylor Equivalent 

 

TECEP Public Speaking

Quantitative Literacy (3 credits)         

MAT-121 College Algebra 

 

MA001 College Algebra 

 

TECEP College Algebra NCCRS or

ACE Credit 

Information Literacy (3 credits)

SOS-110 Critical Information Literacy 

 

No Saylor Equivalent 

 

None

Understanding the Physical and Natural World 

CHE-111 General Chemistry I

BIO-101 Introductory Biology

CHEM101 General Chemistry I

BIO101 Introduction to Molecular and

Cellular Biology

ACE Credit 

TECEP Introduction to Biology

Knowledge of Human Culture (9 Credits)

ECO-111 Macroeconomics 

ECO-112 Microeconomics 

 

POS-110 Introduction to Political Science

ECON102 Macroeconomics 

ECON101 Microeconomics 

 

POLSC101 Introduction to Political Science 

Portfolio, CLEP or ACE Credit 

TECEP Microeconomics, Portfolio,

CLEP or Ace Credit 

TECEP Introduction to Political Science

Civic and Global Learning (9 credits)

Ethics course (pick one):

PHI-286 Contemporary Ethics 

ETH-210 Environmental Ethics 

 

Diversity course:

HIS-126 World History from 1600-present 

 

Civic Engagement 

POS-282 Introduction to Comparative Politics

 

PHIL103 Moral/Political Philosophy 

ENVS203 Environmental Ethics, Justice 

and World Views 

 

HIST103 World History in Modern Era

 

 

POLSC221 Introduction to Compar. Politics

 

Portfolio 

TECEP Environmental Ethics

or ACE Credit 

 

TECEP World History from 1600 to Present

 

 

TECEP Intro. to Comparative Politics

or ACE Credit 

Mathematics (3 credits)

STA-201 Introduction to Statistics 

MA121 Introduction to Statistics

TECEP Principles of Statistics 

or ACE Credit 

Management Core (18 Credits)

ACC-101 Principles of Financial Accounting

 

ACC-102 Principles of Managerial Accounting

LAW-201 Business Law 

MAN-210 Principles of Management 

MAR-301 Principles of Marketing 

COS-101 Introduction to Computers/CIS

BUS103 Introduction to Financial Accounting

 

BUS105 Managerial Accounting 

BUS205 Business Law and Ethics 

BUS208 Principles of Management 

BUS203 Principles of Marketing 

CS101 Introduction to Computer Science I

TECEP Principles of Financial Accounting

or ACE Credit 

TECEP Principles of Managerial Accounting

Portfolio, CLEP, NCCRS or ACE Credit

Portfolio, CLEP, NCCRS or ACE Credit

Portfolio, CLEP, NCCRS or ACE Credit

Portfolio, NCCRS or ACE Credit

Electives (3 credits)

Pick one:

CMP-354 Network Technology

 

OPM-351 Business Statistics 

MAN-432 Small Business Management 

MAN-435 Project Management 

MAN-373 Managerial Communications 

 

NEG-401 Negotiations and Conflict

Management

ENG-201 Technical Writing

 

CS402 Computer Communications and

Networks

BUS204 Business Statistics

BUS305 Small Business Management 

BUS402 Project Management 

BUS210 Corporate Communications

 

BUS403 Negotiations and Conflict 

Management 

ENGL210 Technical Writing 

 

TECEP Network Technology

 

NCCRS or ACE Credit

Portfolio

Portfolio

TECEP Managerial Communications

NCCRS or ACE Credit

TECEP Negotiations and Conflict

Management

TECEP Technical Writing 

Total: 60 Credits 

 

 

Open Course Tuition Information

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 and other 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 required online 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.

The chart below lists a summary of the tuition and fees associated with the Open Course option:

2020-2021 Tuition and Fees In-State  Out-of-State 
Application Fee $50 $50
Residency Waiver Fee $3,192 $3,192
Per Credit Tuition Option (per credit attempted) $399 (per credit)  $510 (per credit)
CLEP® Exams (estimated cost for single exam) $80  $80 
NCCRS Exam* (estimated cost for single exam) $25 $25
Portfolio Evaluation (First 12 credits)  $389 $389 
Portfolio Evaluation (subsequent 6 credit increments)
$221  $221 

*The $25 fee for NCCRS exams comes from using the online proctoring service, Proctor U. If you use your own qualified proctor, this fee is waived.

2020-2021 TECEP and Portfolio Fees Matriculated Non-Matriculated
TECEP (per credit attempted) $50 (per credit) $50 (per credit) 

The costs associated with earning credit via Portfolio Assessment are structured around how many credits a student earns after they complete the PLA-100 and PLA-200 online courses. The first 12 credits a student attempts through portfolio assessment costs $389. After the first 12 credits earned via portfolio assessments, students pay $221 for every additional six credits. These prices are consistent for students using in-state and out-of-state tuition rates

Getting Started with Open Courses

Step 1: Apply and Enroll

If you are new to Thomas Edison State University and not yet an enrolled student, your first step is to apply to Thomas Edison State University and become an enrolled student. This allows the University to track your progress, determine how your transfer credits and previous training can apply to your degree, provide academic advising and enable you to earn a degree. You will receive directions on how to enroll after you apply and are accepted to the University. If you are already an enrolled student at Thomas Edison State University, you are ready for Step 2.

Step 2: Complete Requirements for English 101 and 102

Once you have selected a tuition plan and become an enrolled student, your next step is passing the TECEP® exams for English 101 (ENC-101) and English 102 (ENC-102). You can prepare for these exams using Saylor courses or, if you feel you are ready to take the exams without additional preparation, you may take them directly. Please note that all credit-by-exams, including TECEP®, are pass/fail. If you are able to satisfy requirements for English 101 and 102 via transfer credit, you are ready for Step 3.

Step 3: Register for the required online courses

The only Thomas Edison State University courses students must complete in the Open Course option are their Oral Communication, Civic Engagement, and Information Literacy General Education requirements. You also have the option to take Introduction to Prior Learning Assessment (PLA-100), and Introduction to Portfolio Assessment (PLA-200). These courses review the concept and methods of prior learning assessment and will show you how to document and articulate your prior learning through the creation of portfolio assessments. These courses will count towards your elective credit requirement.

Step 4: Complete Remaining Assessments for ASBA Open Course Option

Once you have completed the online courses, you should have an idea of what credits remain for you to earn via the Open Course option. Your next step is to work through the corresponding Saylor Academy course, and then use the applicable method of prior learning assessment listed here.

 

These four steps are intended to give students, especially those not familiar with Thomas Edison State University, an idea on how to get started earning credit through the Open Course option. For more information, enrolled students should contact the Office of Academic Advising at academicadvising@tesu.edu or via the Academic Expressline: (609) 777-5680 (Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. EST). Prospective students should contact our Office of Admissions and Enrollment Services at (609) 777-5680, (Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST) or via admissions@tesu.edu.