instantdegrees

Hi guys.

Please let me know, what do you think about instantdegrees.

Is it true that their degrees are LEGAL (also if obviously unaccredited), because they use legal loopholes exploited?

Look at this link: George Brown

He says that instantdegrees operates legally, but is George Brown reliable?
Does he say the truth?

And in the end, is a degree from instantdegrees legal also if unaccredited?
Surely it is totally not recommended for work or school, but is it legal or not?

Thank you.

 

The use of a diploma from this place would clearly be illegal in many situations in many places. I personally would consider anyone claiming a degree from this place to be an academic fraud.

George Brown is a very good guy that I have the utmost respect for. In the article you link to, George does not support this goatbag organization.

 

Hi Daniel,

IMO, any person or company offering to sell a degree that requires no work is fraudulent. Now, I cannot say about the laws in other states, but in Florida, it is illegal to claim to have a degree from an institution that is not regionally or professionally accredited unless that institution has been approved by the Florida Commission for Independent Education.

An excerpt from the 2006 Florida Statutes under Title 46 "Crimes"

817.567 Making false claims of academic degree or title.--

(1) No person in the state may claim, either orally or in writing, to possess an academic degree, as defined in s. 1005.02, or the title associated with said degree, unless the person has, in fact, been awarded said degree from an institution that is:

(a) Accredited by a regional or professional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation;

(b) Provided, operated, and supported by a state government or any of its political subdivisions or by the Federal Government;

(c) A school, institute, college, or university chartered outside the United States, the academic degree from which has been validated by an accrediting agency approved by the United States Department of Education as equivalent to the baccalaureate or postbaccalaureate degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States;

(d) Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education pursuant to ss. 1005.01-1005.38 or exempt from licensure pursuant to chapter 1005; or

(e) A religious seminary, institute, college, or university which offers only educational programs that prepare students for a religious vocation, career, occupation, profession, or lifework, and the nomenclature of whose certificates, diplomas, or degrees clearly identifies the religious character of the educational program.

(2) No person awarded a doctorate degree from an institution not listed in subsection (1) shall claim in the state, either orally or in writing, the title "dr." before the person's name or any mark, appellation, or series of letters, numbers, or words, such as, but not limited to, "Ph.D.," "Ed.D.," "D.N.," or "D.Th.," which signifies, purports, or is generally taken to signify satisfactory completion of the requirements of a doctorate degree, after the person's name.

(3)(a) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (1) or subsection (2) commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

 

I recommend that you reread the George Brown article. While he does say that instantdegrees does operate legally as a business, he does reference them as being to the right side of his "Continuum of Legitimacy" chart. In other words, closer to illegal than legal. He is definitely not endorsing them in any way.

 

Thank you guys.

However, my question was about if the degrees conferred by this institution was legal or not.

I mean, is this institution legally authorized to confer degrees or not?
By George brown's words it seems it is (also if he does not endorse it).
Or is it only a business company?

Then we could talk for years about the real value of a degree like that, and I know that degrees like that have no value.

I mean, there is a big difference between a degree conferred by Almeda College (which doesn't legally exist and cannot obviously confer degrees), and a legal company who can confer them.

But I can't understand if a degree like that is legal or not.

Thanks

 

Ok, I'll answer the question you asked. A business in a foreign country can legally confer "degrees" if that country allows it or has no laws regulating them. That is the legal loophole. However, the holder of that "degree" could not legally use it in the U.S. or most other countries.

 

Thank you Mr.Lazy.

Now I've understood how it works, and it is all clear to me.

Thank you very much again.
Have a nice day.

 

According to Mr. Brown, who appears to be a reliable source:

My impression is that such degrees are, indeed, perfectly legal -- as long as you only use them in the Seychelles.

If you want to use such degrees in other parts of the world, then you take your chances. In many other jurisdictions, they probably would be considered illegal or invalid.

 

I have an interesting aspect of this at least in regards to religious degrees if they offered a strictly religious degree for sale would it be legal to use in lets say my home state of Florida? For example they offered a Whatever You Name It Theological University degree would it be legal to use here.

I'm not sure by the use and terminology of the law it implied some sort of training or education for religious vocations which excludes BUYING a degree outright. But one might argue the existing degrees if the degree is religious in character could be legal. Lets say a DLit. in Biblical Studies could be construed to be of a religious nature even if the title is more secular. I know the Church of the Seven Planes degrees have secular titles like a Ph.D. and as long as the content is secular they are treated as exempt under Florida law as per the religious exemption.

Just am curious how a non-secular oriented degree would be handled if bought.

 

Refer to (1)(e) under 817.567

(e) A religious seminary, institute, college, or university which offers only educational programs that prepare students for a religious vocation, career, occupation, profession, or lifework, and the nomenclature of whose certificates, diplomas, or degrees clearly identifies the religious character of the educational program.

In other words, a degree conferred by a religious school that only offers programs for a religious vocation is legal as long as it identifies the religious nature in order to qualify under the religious degree exemption. So, a Doctorate of Divinity degree that can be purchased from ULC MAY BE legal. However, a legal standpoint could be made from the EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS part of the paragraph in that a purchased degree does not have an educational program associated with it and therefore would be illegal. Of course, that is a fine point that probably could be argued both ways.

 

Well ULC Seminary degrees are not purchased and actually do require study and a final essay so in fact they do have educational value. If its up on par with a Doctorate or graduate degree of a secular nature its not but if there is work and a final essay its also not just PURCHASED either. But I must point out the ULC SEMINARY is a seperate entity from the ULC Church legally in California. They are a degree granting private school in the legal sense.

 

Could you show me on their website where they actually mention work?

 

www.ulcseminary.org

Go to the class list and click a sample of any course you get one of those each WEEK e-mailed to you to reflect on.

At the end of each course you must do a final essay and for a sample of those go to the discussion board and look for a FINAL ESSAY in any course under the course topics. There you go the work.

Reflection and self-study, talk about courses on the message board and a final essay constitute paced work for the degree offered. I fancy the Doctor of Metaphysics through the Spirit Quest course its the longest ond a mystical exploration of that which is beyond the flesh of mortals to the divine in all. But they do offer degree courses in other areas including Philosophy of Religion.

And since the courses take months since they only send them out weekly and some form of work its clear Florida law exempt them.

And remember you must take many courses to earn a Master or Doctor of Ministry if you wish to do that.

 

Thomas,

In order to become a Doctor of Ministry throught the ULC Seminary, do you have to complete a dissertation? Yes or no?

If not, the title of "doctor" is dubious.

Shawn

 

I looked at several of the 'final essays' on that discussion board. I did 10 to 20 times more writing in my Freshman English Composition course.

 

This website has links to RA and NA accredited universities and colleges that offer legitimate online graduate programs that focus on theology and pastoral counseling .

http://www.worldwidelearn.com/arts-humanities/theology-divinity-degree.htm

 

First to answer an earlier question no they don't require a thesis or dissertation for any ministry degree but they don't have to either. They comply with California laws regarding independent post-secondary religious schools and that is sufficient.

As for these seminaries can you show me a school off that list that will train ministers for one of the following religions all represented by the ULC: Wicca, Druidism, Gnostic Christians, Alien Worshippers, Snake Goddess Worshippers, New Age Mysticism, Voodoo, Santeria to name a few from normal to strange. Now the ULC Seminary may have its critics but until prestigious schools such as those mentioned on that list offer training for these groups the ULC Seminary is one of the few choices out there.

The accredited schools have little to offer these group that make up a large segment of the ULC ones that can't be ignored.

 

"As for these seminaries can you show me a school off that list that will train ministers for one of the following religions all represented by the ULC: Wicca, Druidism, Gnostic Christians, Alien Worshippers, Snake Goddess Worshippers, New Age Mysticism, Voodoo, Santeria to name a few from normal to strange"

Nonsense. You do not need a degree to practice any of the above. All you need is a book and time on your hands. As for the universities I posted a link thereof, they are the real deal.


"The accredited schools have little to offer these group that make up a large segment of the ULC ones that can't be ignored."

- These accredited schools offer transferable credits and career acceptance outside the ministry. Something ULC seriously lacks.

What groups are you talking about? Aliens? No accredited schools would offer such gibberish. They would loose their accreditation.

 

First I personally brought up the use of Masters and Doctorate for the ministry degree saying its not proper based on the work done. I proposed using instead the terms Certificate of Ministry and Diploma of Ministry instead for the two levels of credential they offer.

As for the ULC I know of several Raelians, two members of the Snake Goddess Cult (they worship the divine snake that layed her egg to create the universe and have ritual nude dancing) plus others. Its no stranger than Scientology and Mormonism plus numerous other religions also protected by the First Amendment.

But here is a question if a person wanted to earn a Masters in Theology and devote their studies into lets say Neo-Paganism is there any school that would allow that on your list?

Yes or no?

The ULC again has the only program that is open to anyone of any faith and any tradition to earn a legal Masters or Doctorate in Ministry. If you know of another school with open admissions, takes any faith path and treats them equally and offers a degree then you tell me.

Its not just practicing a religion its training people that are ULC ministers to better serve as leader of such religions that is the purpose of the Seminary. Even if people just take one or two courses to earn a course degree as opposed to the more in depth Ministry degrees.

 

"But here is a question if a person wanted to earn a Masters in Theology and devote their studies into lets say Neo-Paganism is there any school that would allow that on your list?"

- Yes

http://www.smwc.edu/cgi-bin/site.pl?3208&dwContent_contentID=349&menuID=2&weight=54

- Through a project or integrative study, one may incorporate neo-paganism as part of their study.

Neo-pagans may and do incorporate christianity as part of their practice.
Christianity has elements of paganism. Neo-paganism is a very diverse belief system that may compose of buddism,
catholicism ( form of christianity ), or any
form of religion. It is like earning bachelor of arts in liberal studies. You could study many fields and integrate elements into one.