Second Bachelors Degree From LSE

If I already have a JD and am interested in studying poly sci to help boost chances of admissions to a Kennedy School Ph.D program or some other Ph.D program, is it crazy to take a second bachelors from the LSE? They offer bachelors degrees and "Diplomas" online but not masters degrees. Now their "Diploma" is a lot different than the kind of non-graded stuff US universities have and you can actually earn the Diploma with distinction, etc. Anything wierd about taking a second bachelors after already having a JD?

See: http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/index.shtml

 

Interesting question!

Where and when did you get your J.D.? What was your undergrad degree in?
Would there be any harm in just applying to the Ph.D. program NOW and see what they say?

 

It IS a bit, well!, competitive!

They don't seem to cage what your B.A. is in; I should think that a good law degree and a bit of public sector experience (maybe a publication or two?) will meet their requirements.

As to actually being ACCEPTED...who can say?

 

Oh, and plan on blowing the socks off the GRE. They won't take your LSAT scores.

 

JD from a good but not great American university. Not interested in applying until later. Still working at a law firm now and not quite sure whether I want to do the Ph.D. Am simply interested in poly sci/government and want to kill two birds with one stone: study a subject I did not get to study when younger (can go to law school in the US from just about any subject) and bolster credentials in case I want to go to grad school. Not even sure I want to go to grad school at this time.

Just wondering if anyone will think it is strange to get a second bachelors after already having a JD. The LSE bachelors is only about 4-5 more courses than the Diploma program and I think US schools will know more what a bachelors degree is rather than a Diploma. Especially as in the US, a "Diploma" often is not graded and is open enrollment - thus VERY low indicator of anything.

 

You didn't mention your B.A. major. It might matter; London may object to letting you earn their poli-sci B.A. if you already have a B.A in poli-sci or a closely related field.

Lawyers do get additional bachelor's degrees, of course, but one might suspect that in most such cases, the degree serves as a professional qualification in, say, engineering or nursing.

You might like to look at London's new Master of Laws distance program instead.

 

MY BA is not in poly sci or government. It is in a field related to economics so one nice thing (in addition to studying something I am interested in but did not study in college) is to get some necessary background in the subject before (and this is if) I apply to a Kennedy school program.

A lot of people would simply study for an MA but LSE does not offer an MA online. I know this sounds silly but I wouldn't mind having the LSE on my resume. Americans are very impressed with LSE even though, among the Univ. of London schools, it is probably no better or worse really than University College, Kings, SOAS and probably a couple of others.

 

As Nosborne suggested, why not go for London's online LLM, or the MSc in Public Policy?

 

MS in public policy doesn't quite interest me at this stage. I'm looking for some background in "straight" political science since (even though I have a law degree), I have taken literally no traditional political science courses. A degree in public policy is a bit "applied" and I'm looking for background in the traditional basics.

It's akin to a computer programmer wanting to study straight math as background as opposed to an applied field like statistics.

 

And just to expand options (although entry is bound to be ... competitive):

MSt at Cambridge (International Relations)

MSt at Oxford (International Human Rights Law)

 

Are those programs at Oxford and Cambridge available by distance learning?

 

“If I already have a JD and am interested in studying poly sci to help boost chances of admissions to a Kennedy School Ph.D program…”


Why the K-school? If you are interested in international (and I assume this is the case with the London School of Economics) why not go to Fletcher?
http://fletcher.tufts.edu/ Unless things have changed, you still can attend all of the Harvard Schools too due to the joint/exchange programs.

Denver
MPA K-school ‘93

 

Actually, I'm not at all interested in international stuff but I wouldn't mind taking a course or two.

LSE's program is completely on-line (see original post for a link). There are no US programs from comparable institutions that give me background in traditional political science.

I'd actually prefer doing a straight politics track such as the Diploma program but no one in the US will realize that a Diploma is not some thing you get just for showing up. In the US, a "Diploma" from a school is hardly considered to be an earned credential. Harvard B-school for example gives a lot of certificate of completions for attending these two week courses and that's what most Americans think of when they hear anything besides an actual BS or MS.

My main question is whether someone will think it is a funny for someone with a JD to go get a Bsc?

 

Mostly. There are some limited periods on campus (mainly, I think, short periods during summers).

Both schools' websites have info about them (you might do a google of 'master of studies' with each name to get the exact web page).

Regards,
GME

 

Cambridge, alas, is full until 2007. http://www.cont-ed.cam.ac.uk/CPEP/Masters/IntRel/

Info about Oxford at http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/international/mastersdegreeininternationalhumanrightslaw.asp (disclaimer, I used to work for OUDCE).

Angela

 

Most likely. At Indiana University, a student wishing to pursue a second Bachelor's degree needs to petition the Dean for permission. They explicitly state that they encourage individuals to work toward a graduate degree rather than a second Bachelor's.

What about simply taking a few Intro to PoliSci courses locally as a non-degree seeking student?

I also think you are too concerned about what an unspecified person is going to think about a "Diploma" from LSE. Consider that the admissions staff is going to need to evaluate the foreign education anyway and they're likely very familiar with the British system anyway.

It's not uncommon for many U.S. universities to offer graduate level certificate programs which require upwards of 15 to 20 semester hours. Such certificates can be cited as CAS (Certificate of Advanced Studies). I've seen more than one faculty member who has that listed in their education.