Concerns about Liberal / General Studies

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by CadeTheNascarStar, Apr 10, 2005.

Loading...
  1. CadeTheNascarStar

    CadeTheNascarStar New Member

    Hey,

    I guess this is a topic that has likely been discussed on this forum in the past, but I've got several concerns about the Liberal Studies (or General Studies) degrees. I can, at this point, graduate by the end of the year with a B.S. in Liberal Studies from Excelsior. I have already had all credits from an A.A. in General Business (from AIU Online), FEMA credits, courses from my local university, one course from BYU Independent Study, and several upper level courses from FHSU evaluated and placed into the program. Currently, I'm taking six hours, this semester, from FHSU. I will be doing the same in both the summer and fall semester (which will put me at the point of graduation).

    However, the fact that I really don't have any major is troubling to me. I'm not quite sure, on a resume -- even though I have no interest in leaving my current job, how I would, if need arose, label the degree. I'm also afraid that many would simply look at the degree as an instance of taking the least difficult courses to earn credit. In reality, at the beginning of enrollment, the degree was only being earned to help me get into the HUX program at California State University. I know, from a previous conversation with the program advisors, that the Liberal Studies degree will serve this purpose perfectly.

    Another reason why I initially enrolled in the Liberal Studies B.S. program was because I knew, if attempting to earn a major, that I would have little room for other courses I had an interest in. (I went in with 96 hours). For example, I have earned an area of focus in general business -- but wanted somewhat of a background, even though it's small, in physics and history. The degree, on the bright side, has allowed me to earn a depth area in both physics and history (needing only three more credits for a sociology and english depth area). When first entering the program, I only had three credits in Introductory Physics. The flexibility allowed me to take Elementary Meteorology and Descriptive Astronomy (upper-level) from FHSU. Then, I took another Physics course from BYU Independent Study. If earning a major in, let's say, English (as I'm now considering) the only down side would have likely been that those credits wouldn't have really "fit" into the degree program.

    If my eventual goal will help, I would like to, at some point, teach at the community college level. I would like to earn the HUX degree from CSU and maybe the MLS in History or English from FHSU.... hopefully opening the doors to university teaching positions (even though they would likely be at the CC level). Will a Liberal Studies degree put me at a disadvantage of doing this or, perhaps, earning certification at the K-12 grade levels?

    And, last of all, how can I explain the degree on resume if needed?

    Cade
     
  2. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Some thoughts, and I hope they help you....

    1. Your degree major matters more the less experience you have, or the bigger leap to a new career field you are attempting to make. If an assistant office manager earns a bachelor's in liberal studies, he/she might enjoy the benefits of that degree when seeking promotion to manager. But he/she would find it more difficult to switch careers and become, say, an HR director. (Not that getting a degree majoring in HR would do it, but it would help.)

    2. The more specific your requirements are--in terms of what you want your degree in--will likely mean a longer time in earning it. Your ability to wait out that time--taking longer to get a a degree in your desired area as opposed to getting the quickest degree possible--will affect your decision. In most cases, my advice is to get the degree as quickly as possible, but there are cases where it is critical to have majored in a specific area.

    3. Ditto for school choice. You have to balance availability with "doability," not to mention cost and time. Anyone who criticizes this either has no degree(s) themselves or they're elitists who can afford to think that way. Fortunately, those people will seldom be in your way as you progress through your career.

    Bottom line: Get into the best school with the most relevant program that you can afford and can fit into your time requirements. If you need a degree in 2006, it doesn't make any sense going for a more relevant (or prestigious) degree that you can't complete until 2008.

    Oh, and don't worry about explaining your general or liberal studies degree. If asked, just explain that it gave you the opportunity to study a wide variety of things and making your approach to problem-solving interdisciplinary.
     
  3. nobycane

    nobycane New Member

    Well I can understand your situation.
    I have a BSLS from Excelsior College, but my concentrations are in Geography & Geology. Currently I teach Earth Sciences 9-12 at the high school level.

    I also share your goal to eventually teach at the community college level.

    Keep in mind you must have a Master's degree in your area in order to teach at that level of academia.

    As far as Liberal Studies/General Studies degrees...be careful if you are thinking about teaching at the college level. In order to even be condsidered for a position, you MUST have at least 18 semester hours in the field you want to teach in.

    So, a Masters Degree in Liberal Studies would be acceptable as far as credentials go...you will need the 18 + hours in the desired teaching area.

    The problem is too many areas of focus may keep you from your goal. So the 18 hours must be in either (from your examples) History, Phyiscs, English, or Astronomy - not all!!!

    My Master's from Excelsior will be a MLS in Natural Science with the focuses on Geology & Climatology, which I will have 21 semester hours in my field. This will allow me to apply for cc positions.

    Hope this helps!:D
     
  4. edowave

    edowave Active Member

    I wouldn't worry about having a specific major. It's really not so different from any other professional/interdisciplinary degree. Even what most schools call a Bachelor's in Management is often a mix of courses from various disciplines.

    As for what to call it on a resume, I would use BA in Liberal Studies. Since you also mentioned you took business and physics/meteorology courses, you could also list it as an interdisciplinary degree in business and science. Some schools like Berkeley call this a major in "Letters."

    As for teaching at a CC, I agree with what the others have said.
     
  5. CadeTheNascarStar

    CadeTheNascarStar New Member

    Thank you both.

    Many times when I have received job interviews, I have, according to the interviewer, gotten the job because of my previous experience. At only 23 years old, I feel this is certainly a blessing for me. I never really viewed the two positions they refer to in this manner, but I'm starting to sort of understand it now. I enjoy the job I am at now and, as I have already stated, would likely not change this position and go into another field (which, according to what I have read in both of the posts makes a major less important).

    From what I have picked up, from both readings, is that perhaps the greatest concern should be which graduate level courses I enroll in. My understanding, from the both of you, is that I will need 18 hours of credit to be able to teach at the college (community college, anyways) level. So, maybe I should simply focus on graduating now and earning the eighteen hours in my graduate degree.

    Two questions:

    1). Do any of you recommend Excelsior's graduate degree? I have noticed that it's an M.A. degree -- rather than an MLS.

    2.) As far as those eighteen hours required to teach at the community college level? Do undergraduate hours count? In other words, if I wanted to teach physics and history at the college level, could -- for example -- twelve undergraduate physics courses be placed with six graduate level physics courses (and same scenario for history courses) to give me the eighteen hours necessary? Or, do all eighteen hours (when wishing to teach college) need to come from the graduate level? In other words, all eighteen hours at the graduate level in physics (and the other eighteen graduate level hours in history -- if wishing to teach two subjects).

    Cade
     
  6. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    Speaking as someone who has earned a Bachelors degree in Liberal Arts I could tell you two things in regards to my own experience.
    1) Never, in any job interview situation, did anyone inquire about my "Liberal Arts" degree. Never.
    2) In the few times this question has arisen in casual conversation I have said something like this, "My degree reflects my primary interest in developing skills in critical analysis. This is the most fun (insert smile here) in multidisciplinary areas of inquiry."
    Not only is this really true, but it's really true!
    Note: If the interviewer's eyes do NOT glaze over during this brief description then this might be a person who can teach you a thing or two.
    If I could be allowed to briefly summarize: Don't worry about it!
    Jack
     
  7. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    Teach what?

    People talk about the '18-unit rule', but that's usually interpreted as 18 graduate units beyond an undergraduate major in he subject to be taught or a cognate subject.

    I think that the HUX degree is basically intended as additional education for elementary and high school teachers.

    By doing one of the specializations (history, philosophy, art, music, literature), you can get the necessary 18 hours to qualify for community college teaching.

    But when community colleges are hiring, they are usually hiring people to teach particular classes. If you are being hired to teach the usual community college philosophy courses for example, it won't help your chances very much if you haven't studied the stuff that you propose to teach. And HUX doesn't even offer courses in most of it. HUX is great at illustrating philosophical themes in the arts and more broadly in the history of ideas. (I liked it a lot.) But it isn't going to give you the background you will need in philosophical problems, the history of philosophy or in logic, for example.

    The same thing is true for all of the HUX specializations. If that's your only exposure to your subject, then your preparation will be woefully inadaquate from the perspective of college teaching and you will probably have a hard time getting hired.

    Bottom line: If you propose to teach something at the college level, you really need an undergraduate major it that subject, or at least the basic preparation. Just starting cold and doing 18 units, even if they are graduate units in an interdisciplinary masters program, isn't going to be enough. HUX isn't a back door to anything.

    The exception might be if you intend to teach those arts and ideas type humanities survey classes that so many community colleges offer. A general liberal-studies background and a HUX major might be good preparation for that.

    So instead of doing two masters degrees, I'd give some thought to doing additional undergraduate units in the subject that you propose to teach so that your transcript looks more like you did a major in it.

    That's how you could explain your degree. If eyebrows are raised at a liberal studies degree, that's because the individual thinks that it's insufficient preparation. So you pull out your transcript and show him or her that you really did the rough equivalent of a major.

    You will probably have more undergraduate units than the typical bachelors graduate, but too much education is much better than too little.

    You might also want to think about doing some addional individual graduate classes on top of what HUX offers to strengthen yourself in the specific course subjects that are taught in the community college curriculum.

    Teaching experince helps too. Since HUX doesn't offer teaching assistantships, maybe that CSUDH DL certificate in community college teaching might help open a few doors.
     

Share This Page