Hello everyone!!

I am a Marine wife and for over a month now I've been doing some research online trying to find ways for military spouses to earn college credit without going broke!!

After looking into hundreds of SOS & military spouse friendly approved colleges, online colleges, campus based colleges I found that it's pretty tough for us spouses. Most of us are on a budget and even if we aren't who wants to pay in some cases 469.00 for one course not including books, tech fees, gas, etc.?

This information some may already know, but in the event some don't I am sharing this information with my fellow military spouse friends (we are family and need to take care & help each other)

Fredrick Community College which is located in Maryland is a regional accrecited college. This is what you want regional. Please don't do national accredited colleges, because more times than not you'll run into problems transfering credits.

When you have time visit the FEMA ( Federal Emergency Management Agency) website , you can google it. The FEMA website offers free correspondence courses that you can take for college credit if you want. However, you must be a US Citizen.

Now let me please stress this to everyone. These courses are dealing with issues such as hazzards, leadership & influence, communications,emergency planning & operations and many more.

Once you are at the site you can look at all the courses (FEMA) Federal Emergency Management Agency offers. Make sure that you pick courses that offer COLLEGE CREDITS. Do not take the ones that state C.E.U because these are not accepted for college credit.

If you take all the college 1 credit courses there you'll have at least 12 or more college credits!!

So what's the catch?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency offer these courses free. However in order to get college credit, you'll need to print the proper forms off once you are done and send your exam and forms to FEMA and Fredrick Community College.

Each course that you send in Fredrick Community College has a fee of $60.00 They will grant you 1 college credit for each of the college courses you take at the FEMA website.

These courses on FEMA are the same courses offered at Fredrick Community College!! (but free to take without applying to the college and paying college price)

And once you have done this Fredricks Community College will have a record of your credits(just as any other college does). Later you can request a copy of your transcript when you've decided on the college you want to attend.

$60.00 isn't bad at all its a rather cheap way to get yourself some college credits!! These classes may not be in the area that you want to study. But, most colleges ask if you have any college credits or college education.

Also these courses can be your free ELECTIVES!! Which will count towards your total in order to complete a degree plan.

If you are thinking $60.00 I thought this was FREE!! Trust me when I tell you this $60.00 per course to earn college credits is a lot cheaper than paying 300.00-400.00 per course at most colleges.



You may be wondering now, how the heck can these courses help me it's dealing with FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency?

Let me give you an example: Effective Communication (IS-242)(1 college credit) & Leadership & Influence(IS-240) (1 college credit) and Decision making & problem solving (IS-241) (1 college credit) total of 3 credits Can be applied to a Oral and Written communication college course.

For more information in greater detail I encourage all who's interested to visit the FEMA website.

Some of us here may be waiting on August of 2009 when our spouses can transfer some of the GI benefits. So this can be very useful for those that will be using that benefit.

Having college credits prior will allow more room to add a concentration to your degree plan.

Sorry this is so long everyone. I get so excited when I have information to share!! I will post the other websites if some are interested. Just let me know...

Hope it helps it's helping me alot!!

Very good information, many should take advantage of these classes. That is a good deal for $60

Yes.. This is a great opportunity for those who are wanting to get an edge on some credits. There are no worries about any college telling you " oh we are sorry we don't accept those credits" Because Fredrick is regionally accredited.

Best of all you can take all the classes there at the FEMA website and as you save money or maybe every other payday send 1 in for college credit.

I've personally spoken to Fredrick Community College admissions and also just to name a few regional accredited colleges: LSU,Ashford University (NOT ASHWORTH),Mountain State University, Liberty University all of which are regionally accredited.

Each college that I spoke with via telephone stated having college credits from a regionally accredited college was welcomed and would help towards any degree plan.

As I stated earlier I've been researching this for over a month now. Making telephone calls and digging deep.

I am working on 4 more areas now and once I've completed researching those I will post those and all the rest to this board for those interested.

After these most should have approx. 50 credits to transfer!! A bachelors most time will require about 120-128 credits. So hey those interested will be almost finished and can procede onto a masters if you stay in the same degree program!!( and only use approx. 1 1/2 if that of the GI benefits)

Take care everyone!! Be back soon with more information!!



"Getting a college education doesn't mean going broke,where theres a will there is a way!!"

I REALLY appreciate your legwork in this and sharing this information. I'm definitely going to look into it because I'm in school now but I don't want to wait on the GI Bill changes for 09 to take full academic advantage.

Be aware that they may not transfer to all schools, even as electives, and may only be allowed in certain degrees. FOr example NONE of them transfer to KU at all (even as electives-won't even count toward final credit count). SO while it is awesome to get credits, you may still do them and spend money on them for nothing. Ask the admissions and transfer offices at the school you ultimately want to attend to determine if they will actually help you toward your degree before spending the money. $3600 ($60*12 credits) is a lot of money to spend to find out nothing transfers later.

Be aware too that transferability of the GIBill to spouse has strings attached too (rightfully so) and is in no way automatic. Either 10 years of service (or six plus a four year re-enlistment) will be required for transfer. Only covers tuition and no BAH is paid.

In sharing this information with others I'd like to state that it was NOT posted to give others false hope.

This information was shared in hopes that "it could help" others. I am making this statement because I wish not to have others thinking that the information is false.

Again "it could help"

As a golden rule for prespective college students. Always check with admissions for accrediation,requirements, transfer credit policy, portfolios, etc..

I should have made this statement within my earlier post. Nevertheless I do hope that some will find the information useful.

Also check these courses against the ACE website. Some of the courses are listed there under FEMA (EMI) Some colleges/universities accept ACE just as they do DANTES, CLEP etc...

In closing again I'd like to state this information is NOT to give others false hope. But to give others information that "could help".

Do check with the college/university of your choice prior.

Thank you & have a wonderful day...