Acceptance of US-degrees in Canada

Hello,

Does someone know something about how well US degrees recognized in Canada. If someone with a bachelor from an accredited US-college decides to make a master at a Canadian university, could he be faced with a problem as far as acceptance is concerned?
Also, is there a prestige difference among Canadian universities similar to that in the USA? Is there such thing like ranking of Canadian universities?

Thanks,

Dennis Siemens

 

My guess is that an accredited US degree should have no problem getting accepted at a Canadian University depending on a number of factors (prestige of the program you are applying to and where the US degree came from, etc). RA is recognized in Canada.

Having said that, when I was in Canada our provincial university was getting very selective due to limited space so people who could not get in went down to US state universities across the border (not prestigious ones) and so that stigma was there among some students (ie "Oh, you couldn't get in up here".)

But, as I said RA is RA and recognized. In other words a graduate from Michigan State should have no problem. A graduate from Oopahluhmpa State University trying to get into a competitive Canadian program might find some difficulty.

As for rankings. Do a yahoo search for MacLean's Magazine. Their site has rankings of Canadian institutions.

Having said all of this let me also say that I am not an expert so these are just opinions.

North

 

--i believe that Canadian universities are perceived to be far more uniform in quality than are American schools. MacLean's Magazine does do a ranking, but it tends to be about splitting hairs in my opinion. They do sell many copies of their review, however.
I've studied at 4 Canadian universities. No "recognized" Canadian university would be considered a bad school. Almost all are provincially funded.

 

RA US degrees are completely recognized in Canada and will be accepted for graduate study, however recognized does not mean respected and there is a general perception that US standards are lower than Canadian ones once you get to 2nd tier schools and below.

Canadian education is much more uniform with respect to quality. There are some exceptions (for example, the University of Western Ontario / UT / McGill MBAs will stand out from the pack) but you don't have to worry about going to a "bad" school.

 

Your statement is very true. It is a general perception in Canada that American universities are far less rigorous than Canadian ones. So a masters degree from the University of Victoria would be viewed as being much better than one from Washington State University. By the same token, the UVic degree would not be considered superior to one from any other Canadian university.
P.S. We also believe that American beer tends to lack "vigor" !

 

It's odd how Canadians consider nationalism to be atavistic whenever anyone except Canadians displays any.

But Canadians insulting our universities is something we can easily live with. If we feel unloved we just count our Nobel prizes (and hocky teams). But trashing our beer is just too much!

That's only because Canadian beer is relabeled anti-freeze. Our beer contains hops and malts. Besides, while Canadians have to buy their "beer" from socialist state-run people's beer collectives, we can buy our beer from any private store, church or nursery school.

 

I used to enjoy fine, strong Canadian beer. As you say however the places to buy were limited (Provincial Liquor Stores only) and with the taxes piled on to pay for our free medical care (which was terrific) a case of beer cost roughly the same amount as a big screen TV. Same deal with cigarettes. That was how the government saved money on medical care, no one could afford unhealthy vices.

North (eh)

 

I have oft heard that same complaint from American women vis-a-vis American men.

(In respect of the substance of this statement, it should be noted I am merely the messenger)

 

So, basically then, the Canadian educational system is much like the European one, right? To my knowledge for the Canadian bachelor it takes also only three years to complete as it does in Europe.

Maybe another, more specific question. Does someone know how well one can get with a TESC, COSC, Excelsior or comparable bachelor degree into a Canadian university?
Has someone a first hand expirience or an account straight from the horse's mouth?

Thanks,

Dennis Siemens

 

Actually the Canadian system is more like the American.

Undergrad degrees with a major are generally 4 years.

Canadian Universities will not have any difficulty with the "distance" nature of these degrees however the credit for life experience and "TESC exams" are definetly not accepted Canadian practice. This may be an issue if the University bothers to look closely into the degree.

 

Some churches (or more precisely, constituents of those churches) do indeed use beer, wine, liquor and other "spirits." Being the tee-totaler that I am, I prefer a different realm of Spirit.

Russell

 

Quite true. I had never heard of the idea of life experience credit, CLEP, etc. When I first came to the US and realized people earned credit this way I was surprised and at first (I have too admit) somewhat disgusted with the thought. Possibly, it was jealousy (ie I had to go through the classes why don't you). Unless things have changed in the "Great White" I suspect they still do not commonly accept the idea. It was hard enough at the high school level where we heard stories of American students getting credit for golfing and other non academic high school credits.

North

 

By the way, I think sometimes we Canadians have a bit of an inferiority complex when it comes to the United States and it masks itself in our acting as if we had a superiority complex. One of my High School Social Studies teachers said that the only nationalism we have in Canada is anti Americanism (of the gentle variety). He said we don't know what we are except that we are not Americans.

Canada has a lot going for it including wealth and a standard of living (taking income and over all quality of life into account) that the UN has ranked several times as the highest in the world. Yet, where do Canadians end up?? In the USA. Me and all the other expatriates (William Shatner, Peter Jennings, Morley Shaefer, Micheal J. Fox, Brian Adams, Celine Dion, Martin Short, Lorne Greene, Jim Carey and on and on). In fact CBS "Sunday Morning" ran a program about a humorous beer ad up there featuring a guy named "Joe" who talked about being Canadian and proud. CBS SUnday Morning ended the segment by saying that guy is now in Hollywood looking for an acting career.

So, we can knock your beer, we can knock your education system, and bottom line is we seem to have a desire to end up in the USA.

Go figure, eh!

North

 

Actually, any half-decent US school doesn't accept this stuff either.

 

On a related note . . .

In respect of foreign acceptance of US RA degrees earned via examination (CLEP, RCE, DANTES, GRE subject), some interesting empirical data should appear on this board within the week. These data will relate to the utility of such a degree in gaining acceptance to traditional master's programs at prestegious and less prestigious, but very solid, traditional universities overseas.

At a later date, yet more empirical data will be posted examining the utility of US RA degrees earned by examination in gaining admission to DL master's degrees across a range of disciplines, at institutions in four continents.

Watch this space . . .

 

I would prefer to make a distinction between assessment of prior learning, as measured by examination or portfolio on a course-by-course basis, and degree-mill style "life experience credit". You know, the "send in your resume, get a degree" stuff.

I like the former a lot, as long as it remains credible and isn't abused. In fact I suspect that it is the direction that higher education will take in the 21'st century, as people increasingly engage in life-long learning from a whole variety of education providers. There will be more TESC-style programs to draw all that together and grant equivalent credentials for it.

You are gonna love this North: I have personally earned university credit for playing golf! It's true! From a pretty decent school too, Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. It's sportscaster John Madden's alma mater (he earned a masters, no less), and like Oxford, you can always tell a Cal Poly man...

The thing is, in the US we have undergraduate general education requirements. And at many schools there is (or perhaps was, I think it was more common in the past) a physical education requirement in there among all the other stuff. The school wants each student to engage in an organized physical activity each semester. So they give you a small amount of credit (0.5 unit or something) for things like swimming, team sports and (yes) golf. You've gotta rack up a certain number before you graduate. They don't count for major credit, obviously, unless your major is physical education I guess.

I thought that it was a waste of time at the time I took them (late 1960's), but looking back I realize that I enjoyed it. And hell, learning how to golf probably is more important to a professional career than some of the major classes you might take.

 

That is no joke! It turns out it may have been a valuable class to have. What I discovered at the church that I attend was that not knowing golf is a handicap. A majority of the active men who attend the bible studies, etc. (including the Pastor and the Director of Religious Education) are avid golfers. Much of the pre study talk is about....golf. The church has an annual Golf Tournament at one of the Country Clubs. So you are not far off the mark!

North

 

Canadian degrees used in U.S

If someone for example earned a Masters degree in political science from a Canadian university, could they use that in the U.S to teach at a community college for example. Would the degree be honored here in the states. disregarding citizenship.

 

What if someone for example, has a bachelors from the U.S and gets a masters in lets say sociology from Canada. Can they use that masters to teach at a community college lets say here in the states. would that masters be honored.