Non degree courses in unaccreditated universities?

I got the impression that many complaints against unaccredited universities (the specific example I have in mind is Rushmore) is that they award degrees that do not require the same amount/quality/type of work expected at an RA university.

A Ph.D. from Rushmore and many others is no considered a real Ph.D. by most people here (and I guess in the academic world as well).

But what if an unaccreditate institution starts offering non degree courses? Let's say Rushmore offers a Statistics course. Its only intent is to teach Statistics fo people with no previous knowledge of the subject. But, after completing the course, the student receives no credit, maybe just a certificate of achievement or something like that.

Do you think a short non credt/non degree course like that would still be a time bomb, because it is from an unrecognized university? Or, since it offers no credit or intention to be comparable to other schools, it could be listed on a resume as a legitimate short course?

Of course, I am assuming there is a real course. Not a "certificate of achievement mill" or something like that.

I'll be glad to read any comments.

 

My own interest in higher education (including both DL and B&M) at the present time has little to do with degrees, credit or accreditation. Our familiar Degreeinfo obsessions are increasingly irrelevant to me.

There are any number of courses out there, from all kinds of providers, that operate on a high academic standard, despite not carrying academic credit or possessing any kind of accreditation.

(Here's) an earlier thread on the same topic in which I said a little more and gave a couple of examples.

So, while I'm not particularly thrilled with your Rushmore example, I have no problem at all with taking non-accredited non-credit courses for personal and/or professional growth, or in listing them on resumes under 'additional education' or something if they are both relevant and defensible. In fact, I'm probably going to be doing it myself.

 

hi there,
The point of un-accredited non-credit courses is indeed interesting.

In addition to my degrees from McMaster and Aspen (in progress), I have professional development certificates in sales as well as project management from University of Georgia and CSUDH. Both cost me under $400...

So my question is, why bother with un-accredited schools when you can get brand-names (sort of) to list on your resume if you go for profesional development options rather than for-credit? You don't need to have admission requirements of any sort (I think) for professional development courses... and you get a certificate of completion/achievement.

 

I chose Rushmore specifically because its Ph.D./MBA are onsidered far far away from the real thing, but they seem to be legit courses (their Ph.D. may worth more than a Certificate, for instance).

I think that a Certificate of Achievement would be mor credible in a resume than just listing some knowledge (like something read from a book). Plus, for students from non-english speaking countries, it shows proficiency in the language and some acquaintance with different cultures.

Of courses, many institutions will not go this way simply because a Bachelor's/Master's/Ph.D raises more money and can still find a market, but I believe it is a nice alternative and much more honest (nobody is fooled thinking they got the equivalent of a RA Ph.D, for instance)

 

I just read the other thread and find it pretty interesting.

The common point seems to be that , if the institution really teaches what is supposed to, than there is no harm in giving certificates (I guess this would be true for churches and in-company training as well). In fact, not all universities always really teach what they're supposed to

But then it comes my example. Rushmore, or Kennedy-Western, or any other that has some course work but is considerde to be below standard by most people. They may be considered as a time bomb for degrees.

A certificate of achievement ior completion for a short course is not a degree, and if it really teaches what it claims to teach, than it seems to be a valid course after all.

But if Rushmore (for instance), offering dubious Ph.D.s, starts also to offer honest certificate sof completion/achievement, are these certificates worthy to pursue. Will they contribute as some extra knowledge on a resume, or be marked as a time bomb because of teh nature of the degrees offered by the same institution?

Comments are very welcome

 

Edit: I said that Rushmore Ph.D. could be more worthy than a (RA) Certificate. What I meant was that it can teach more or have more coursework than a Certificate or maybe an Associat degree as well. It probbly does not have good worth because it claims to be something (Ph.D.) that most people would disagree with.

 

There's not necessarily anything wrong with taking single courses from unaccredited schools, the problem occurs depending on what use is being planned for those courses.

If it's to be used as completed credits toward a degree program at an accredited school then there's going to be a problem. Unless one is taking the course to try to pass a CLEP at the accredited school. But why bother doing that? If you just want to pass a CLEP then buy a study guide or check the accredited school's course syllabus and buy the designated textbook for CLEP studying. Unaccredited courses might also be a problem (possibly) if it's to be included in a resume for employment or advancement. But if it's just to help in passing an upcoming certification exam that has no specific qualifications (again, consider buying a bokk and teach yourself), or for personal enrichment, or for investigative purposes, then it's perfectly fine.


Kit

 

Friendlyman
I think I understand what you are trying to say.

If credible independed body evaluated Rashmores Ph.D. programme, the course work and examinations (proctored, supervised etc )
And issued credible assessment - than what will it be? Is it equivalent to RA - NA degree AS, BS, MS etc.

But it's not how it works, ACCREDITATION as QA validated not only programme but also faculty and complacence etc..

Rashmores awards are not recognized degrees.

If I was an employer who had to consider Rashmors credentials among other than maybe its better than noting, but how can I tell if person did any academic work?
Only because the school says so or the student?

I will think this person is trying to pass him self as a Ph.D,

Short cut - dishones

A career certificate from school with name recognition will be a better choice in my opinion

 

I see. But my point is more guided towards Rushmore/other less-than-wonderful issuing another course.

Let´s say they issue a 50 hours course on Internet basics, and they effectively provide the course. I mean, if they can provide a 1200 hours Ph.D. they must be able to provide a 50 hours Internet basics course.

Now, instead of calling its course a Bachelors or whatever, they call it a "50 hours non academic, non credit course on Internet basics".

There you go. If it is from a regular school/church/company/whatever, I think that a course like this on a resume would be a good thing, because it shows that you can effectively use the Internet ( a personal affirmation would do it, but a thirdy part evaluation seems to hold a little more weight).
In any case, neither the student or the institution would be misrepresenting th purose, content or any other quality/attribute of the course.

But the course comes from Rushmore, an institution known for issuing Ph.D. degrees without dissertation and Master degrees in 600 hours.

So is it a good thing (you really learned what you're supposed to) or is it a bad thing (no matter what you did in the short course, you're still connected to a less-than-wonderful institution)?

Thanks for the help

 

It's a bad thing. No matter how you try to get around it, Rushmore is still Rushmore and is part of everything that goes with being Rushmore.

If they were truly interested in reforming, they would need to change their name as a starting point. Oh yeah, and start being ethical.

Of course even that is no guarantee. LaSalle University of Louisiana, in attempting to purge itself, became Orion College (after trying for too long to remain LaSalle). It ultimately died a slow, painful death.




Tom Nixon

 

Ok, let's try to make it harder then

What about mentioning that one knows Internet basics on a resume, without mentioning any course, but knowing that the knowledge came from the less-than-wonderful institution? (probably if one is asked in the future one will have to say that learned it there... if one says that you learned it by yourself this would be a lie)