I spoke to La Quesa Grande again today, let's call her Linda for simplicity's sake, and she spoke to Admissions on my behalf. Good news! Admissions has confirmed I do not have to take any particular percentage of Music credits at WHCC in order to get the degree in Music, as was mooted last night. Having the Dean of Arts and Sciences sign off on my petition for course equivalency is acceptable after all, which is good since she's already done so. I need not take a degree in something vague like Liberal Arts. It will be an A.A. in Music, which matters to me a great deal.
Incredibly, I had no problem getting a copy of a page from the 1995-1997 MTSU catalog with the description of English 300 (Introduction to English Studies). I just phoned up the Records department and talked to a nice lady there who happened to have a copy of the catalog at her desk. I used a slight Tennessee accent while doing so. My co-workers were in stitches from my habit of talking like the people I'm talking to, but I know how much of a difference an accent makes. The old catalogs are typically in the library only, which is another building, but serendipity came through again: she had it and found the right page and faxed it over.
I faxed it to Linda. Linda plans to take it with her when she meets with the Dean of Language Arts tomorrow to see about accepting the three credits as covering both English and Writing. I know, it seems self-evident that it would count as an English course, but I've found the California system isn't inclined to give lower division credit for upper division courses from other schools. So it's not a sure thing, but it's a very sound basis for getting an okay on the missing credit.
But wait! There's more! Yes, Admissions has declared I cannot get out of the Physical Education requirement even though I am a night student because, get this, they teach PE on Saturdays. Technically, I could take PE next semester. Technically, hell will freeze over before that happens if I have any say in the matter. I said I thought they ought to waive it considering I wasted three semesters on the wrong courses thanks to their counseling. Linda agreed. She's going to talk to the Dean of PE. Isn't that great? There's a Dean of PE! I wonder if there's a Dean for everything? So far I think there's one in every department of this small community college. And every one of them apparently needs to okay me getting out of some redundant or lame requirement.
Remember, previously I didn't have to take PE because I was a night student but I did have to take Personal Development. Now it's the reverse and oops, everyone's awfully sorry about that. There's no point to getting mad, it's just too absurd. Luckily, Linda thinks it's absurd, too. She might be able to convince Dean Musclehead to waive the requirement. Then, of course, she has to get several more Deans and department heads and faculty poobahs to okay the okays.
So now I wait to see if the MTSU course takes care of my English requirements, and if I get out of having to take PE. Everything else is good to go as long as I pass my current classes. Worst case scenario: one more semester consisting entirely of two Saturday PE classes. I would hate this intensely, I won't kid you, because it means no vacation for 18 weeks and extended physical exertion on one of my days off. God, what a bore. But if doing it means I finally graduate then I will. I've come too far and worked too damned hard to give up over two measly, sweaty credits.
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