Degree Plan and Integrative Work.   My degree plan was based on my interest and experience in writing fiction of all sorts, but primarily sci-fi. To enhance my ability to write science fiction, I incorporated a number of science classes from the fields of astronomy, physics, and geology, and so forth. Other classes became necessary inorder to further a novel in progress, that of a very realistic journey to another planet that would take years accomplish. Some of the courses I took to enhance my writing:

• The classes Global Conservation: Race to Save the Planet and Biodiversity Conservation helped me to design the systems that would sustain a small group of people in an enclosed space over a period of many years, and understand the impact that humans would have on a completely alien ecology.

• Natural Disasters and Weather and Our Atmosphere helped me form realistic ideas for climates and terrains on a new planet.

• North American Indians helped me to understand the differences between clashing cultures of sentient beings.

• History of Science gave me an idea of how technology could change in the future, where the novel was set.

• Biology of Cancer and AIDS established a solid understanding of the workings of the two named diseases as well as other autoimmune diseases that might affect my characters.

Prior Learning Portfolio.   My 238-page Prior Learning Portfolio became the cornerstone of my program. Entitled Science and Fiction: Strange Bedfellows, this overview of my experiences in writing (in fact, "writing about writing") won me 25 credits in my final semester, enough to put me over the required credits for graduation. The piece documented my sources of inspiration, the writing process, and experiences with publishing six novels written in my twenties.

Faculty Sponsor.   One of the challenges of the University Without Walls experience is finding a professor in your field who will not only work with you, but also act as a mentor and recognize your degree plan as academically valid. To this effect I pursued as my faculty sponsor Samuel R. Delany, a well-published and award-winning science fiction author and literary critic. Professor Delany agreed to be my sponsor after a few years and was on the committee that evaluated my portfolio.

Tenacity.   My degree program was completed over a four-and-a-half year period between 1989 and 1994. During this time, I was a full-time employee of the University of Massachusetts. Many classes were held during working hours, so I worked early and late to make up all time lost. When courses I felt necessary were not offered at UMass, I turned to the continuing education programs of other local colleges. Several semesters I carried a full 15 credits (or more). One semester, when a class I wanted was cancelled, I convinced the professor to tutor me privately. When I began the program I had about 30 credits; when I graduated in 1994 I had more than the 120 needed. In contrast, a friend who started in the program shortly after me (with 60 credits) will graduate in 1999.

Writing Independent Study.   While a student, I worked with the University's Director of Publications and the University Editor on a 6-credit independent study. The study was based on several years of being the primary writer and production person of a monthly newsletter. The Mainstay was published to 500 department employees and several other interested persons on campus.

Technical Writing.   In order to secure Professor Delany as my sponsor, I agreed to enter the University's Technical Writing Program. We felt that this program would secure my chances at working in the field of writing after graduation. Dr. John Nelson's program in Professional Writing and Technical Communications prepared me for my next job in Marketing Communications, and primed me for my career working on the web. In his program I wrote a manual on how to use Lotus AmiPro, and another manual on Aldus PageMaker.

Other Writing Experiences.   In the 80's I wrote six full-length science fiction novels in a series, all unpublished. I am currently working on a new novel, The Mission, and several short story ideas which I hope to publish. I am also working on lining up talent for a site that features amateur science fiction writers. Other experiences can be found in the section detailing my job in Marketing Communications.