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Taking Courses

At Thomas Edison State University, we deliver courses directly to our students, wherever they live, work or are deployed. Students are not required to visit our campus in Trenton, N.J. Whether they are located on a military base in the United States, Europe or the Middle East, or stationed at sea, courses are delivered to our students.

Course formats include:

Online courses
If you like interacting with your classmates and mentor, online courses may be a good option. Online courses are 12 weeks long and include a detailed schedule that guides students through course assignments, online class discussions and exams. Via the Internet, students participate in group discussions and receive guidance from a mentor. Students and their mentors also use email to send and respond to course assignments.
List of Online Courses
e-Pack® courses
If you like the structure of a 12-week course, but prefer to work independently with no interaction with other learners, e-Pack® courses may be a good option. Courses allow students to prepare for a comprehensive final examination by taking a series of chapter quizzes delivered online. This credit-earning option is perfect for self-motivated students who want the freedom of self-paced learning within a semester time frame but would benefit from online chapter quizzes to gauge their readiness for the comprehensive examination. The quizzes break up the subject matter into manageable units and do not count toward the final grade. They also provide simple, easy-to-understand, real-time feedback on each question to which the student has responded. By using the feedback, the student will know which topics need further review. Each course includes a textbook, access to the online chapter quizzes, an opportunity to earn credit on the comprehensive examination and website support.
List of e-Pack® Courses
Guided Study courses
These 12-week independent study courses enable students to work on their own to complete course assignments to prepare for examinations. Like our e-Pack® courses, students taking Guided Study courses have no interaction with classmates. Students work on their own with course textbooks and other materials and complete specific lesson assignments, and proctored midterm and final examinations. Students are assigned mentors who are available to answer course-related questions and who grade assignments and examinations.
List of Guided Study Courses
Prior Learning Assessment courses
This course-based process enables students to demonstrate that they possess college-level knowledge of a subject that has been acquired outside of a traditional classroom setting, such as at work or through volunteer service. Prior Learning Assessment is not credit for “life experience.” Through the process, students document and verify their knowledge by comparing it to specific course descriptions, and submitting evidence and written justification in narrative form. The portfolios are assessed by mentors who are content matter experts in that particular subject area.
List of Prior Learning Assessment Courses
Examination Programs
Thomas Edison State University can accept credits earned by successfully passing examination programs, such as the University-level Examination Program (CLEP) and the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES). Thomas Edison State University also offers more than 50 examinations under the Thomas Edison State University Examination Program (TECEP®). With these programs, students typically review specific subject matter on their own and then take a proctored examination at their Military Education Service Office. Students who pass the examination are awarded credit based on passing scores recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the University.
List of TECEP® Tests