I would say that the ICS course was a good prep for the fundamentals exam. It is a good base education on which to build on.
I do not believe that the course is offered as a standalone option any more.
> My research shows that ICS gives more GED degrees than college degrees. I didn’t want to pile on too badly.
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> Take home exams must tax you.
There are a few here that may want to be a bit careful where they stomp. You may end up stepping on toes you don't even know are there. Please remember in 2012 I retired from teaching surveying at a community college. If anyone went for an ICS Associate of Science Degree THERE WERE NO TAKE HOME EXAMS!!
I completed the ICS courses in the late 1070s in what many then called the On The Job Training (OJT) mode. My employer, an Ohio P.S., paid for the Surveying and Mapping courses. However, if I wanted college credit (the AS Civil Engineering degree) I needed to pay for the additional courses and the exam proctors. I decided not to pursue the degree (no college credit) and only completed the Surveying and Mapping certificate portion. Mistake on my part! Yes I had take home tests! Had to retake one or two as I remember. I can tell you an open book test can be VERY DIFFICULT! I've both taken and created quite a few.
If you went for the ICS degree you had to send in names and contact information of several prospective proctors in your area. Licensed high school teachers or college professors. In really rural areas I believe ICS would consider ministers. These people were reviewed and references checked by ICS. One was selected and hired to act as proctor for your exams. Exams were mailed to the proctor who then administered a timed test, sealed the competed exam and mailed them to ICS for grading.
The AS degree also required several weeks of lab work at a technical college in the Scranton, PA area with finals administered by that college.
"I wonder what it cost back in 1950..."
From what I can remember when I took the course in 1958-1960, it was around $250 for Division 1 of Civil Engineering that offered the math and most of the surveying classes. The other portions of the surveying classes were included in the other Division courses, i.e., Division 2, etc.
It Is Penn Foster Now
> I have sets from ICS of 3 different eras. In the early 1900's they had full size hardbound books. Then later on they went to the small, black, hardbound books. And then next was the blue paperback books - and some of the paperbacks were green.
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> Many of these books have really good material - some of which is still worth reviewing.
After my father died I found a set of ICS architecture and construction books from the early 1900s. They were a mix of hardbound and pamphlets. Hardbound for architectural subject matter and pamphlets for math and construction topics. The envelope containing the pamphlets was addressed to my grandfather.
Anyone could learn bunches from ICS.
For Example: read their Terms and Conditions of Business
"...F17 Limitation of Liability...
...17.2.2 for any damage or liability incurred by the Customer as a result of fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation by ICS;..."
Read the fine print in any college catalog and you will find similar legalese. My experience with the organization was about 35 years ago. Options for surveying education have changed in that time. I'm glad I was a part of the change and supported the push for better programs.
Students often asked why I left the private sector to teach? What I posted previously in this thread was much of my answer! I got a good basis from the courses. Having a couple of licensed professionals as mentors also helped. However, getting the "book learning" by reading and rereading was a rough road! I wanted to help others avoid some of the frustrations. A simple question sometimes required a week to get a 5 minute telephone response.
You did notice that the site you are quoting also said "ICS is the UK's leader in distance learning."
“Read the fine print in any college catalog and you will find similar legalese…”
Really? Why don’t you supply Ohio State’s? It is interesting that they try to limit their exposure to fraud committed by their employees/associates.
“…A simple question sometimes required a week to get a 5 minute telephone response….”
This is a big problem with any remote learning.
“…You did notice that the site you are quoting also said "ICS is the UK's leader in distance learning...."
Yes I did. I also note that the “C” in ICS stands for “Correspondence.
