Grad School acceptance of B.S General Studies degree?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Longwaytogo, Oct 27, 2005.

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  1. Longwaytogo

    Longwaytogo New Member

    In my search for the best online bachelor's degree program, I have found that many bricks and mortar universities and colleges that offer DL programs for adult degree completion call their program the General Studies, Individualized Studies or Liberal Studies degree.

    The advantage to this degree is, I have been told, flexibility in credits which transfer in or can be used to graduate, without a strong "focus" in any curriculum.

    However, predicting how this degree may be received at the B&M graduate school level is where I get mixed messages. I've asked this question at five major schools of interest, and have been given the standard spiel that a related undergraduate degree is not in itself a requirement for admission if the applicants' GPA, GRE and references are good enough for admission. Yet the truth is that the vast majority of their applicants for admission come with the undergraduate degree (i.e., B. S. Psychology).

    At my age, having finally completed an Associate in Science, General Studies (that started out as a Associates in Biology 36 years ago), I want to hear how this has worked for others before I commit to a program, even though it may be the fastest route to my degree.

    Thanks in advance for any insights! Degreeinfo rocks!


    I believe this topic has been discussed here before but any further comments would be appreciated!
     
  2. Longwaytogo

    Longwaytogo New Member

    Wow, 27 views zero responses so far....that sends a message. Yep, general studies doesn't mix with grad school....why try....
     
  3. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    There are some graduate programs that are going to want certain prerequisites (MBA program comes to mind), but many others don't. For example, if you're interested in the CSUDH M.A. in Humanities HUX program, a B.G.S. is just as good as a B.A. or a B.S. for admission.

    It really depends on your graduate school interests.
     
  4. buckwheat3

    buckwheat3 Master of the Obvious

    Keep a good GPA and plenty of cash on hand and almost any grad school can be yours....pick of the litter syndrome!

    I've seen undergrads in grad classes from all majors; business, liberal studies, history, elementary ed. etc.
    good luck,
    Gavin
     
  5. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

    A graduate program in interdisciplinary studies might be suitable.

    I think the sticking point would be that the graduate program will have a requirement of certain undergraduate courses. And a course in ignatz psychology from Ivy U might be acceptable while the same named course from Howdy U might not.

    IOW, it depends.
     
  6. Longwaytogo

    Longwaytogo New Member

    Thanks Bruce and everybody - you are right of course. "It all depends on the program." I haven't made a final decision but am looking at pursuing a B.S. in Psychology or Human Services, or possibly a General Studies with Business concentration and just select the psychology course electives most grad schools specify.

    The versatility of a bachelor's degree is important to me at this stage in my life, meaning "good for grad school" and "good on the resume." I want both! Tough decisions, eh?
     
  7. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

    If your sights are set on grad school then I think you need to look at which grad schools you'll aspire to attending and approach those schools with the particulars of which undergrad school/program you are considering. If you don't do this planning now then you may be in for a nasty shock later.
     
  8. mcdirector

    mcdirector New Member

    I've been away on an accreditation team and missed this one.

    I have a BGS from Indiana and have been accepted into several graduate programs. Those programs have been in Education, Technology, and English.
     
  9. Longwaytogo

    Longwaytogo New Member

    Thanks decimon,

    As you suggested, I have spoken with several graduate schools' admissions departments, to determine what undergraduate degree their "optimal candidate" for admission would present.

    This is where I have gotten some confusing feedback and is the reason for my post. As one undergraduate counselor told me, the level of competition for admission to a graduate school has a lot to do with the credentials that "guarantee" admission, regardless of what the school posts as "minimum requirements."

    Of course, the officials I have spoken with at these graduate schools are responding to my question from a policy stance. All have stated they have no one undergraduate major pathway to admission. But what I have detected is an unspoken prejudice against the "B.S. G.S." Example: Q. "Do you require an undergraduate degree in psychology for admission to the graduate program in counseling? A. "Most of our applicants do have the B. S. in Psychology." Key word is "most." Does it mean "We prefer that you have the B.S. Psych. but we can't tell you that, officially."?

    Well, at least nobody has told me any horror stories here, yet.....maybe it's No Big Deal!
     
  10. Longwaytogo

    Longwaytogo New Member

    Thanks mcdirector, I must have missed your reply earlier! I'm glad to hear that you received several admissions to graduate schools using your B. G. S. degree. I guess I could try the CLEP/DANTES approach, coupled with some upper division courses at my local U. (((Whew))).

    Thanks for the feedback, everyone.
     
  11. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

    Longwaytogo,

    Have you settled on a school for your bachelor's? People here can help with expediting the process and sites like www.bain4weeks.com can be an invaluable resource.
     
  12. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    I earned a BSLS thru Excelsior (acually Regents/USNY) and had a lot of engineering credits (mostly from the UK) transferred in as electives.

    I then applied to both the CSUDH MSQA program and ERAU MAS program and was accepted for both programs (I did the MSQA first followed by the MAS). In both cases the school's checked to see if I met their admission requirements (I did'nt but they were waived because of my work experience and age - for example I do not have credits in computer technology but have been using/programming computers since the late 60s).

    Just glancing at an old CSUDH catalog the admission requirements for their MA in Psychology included a bachelor degree with 12 specific units of psychology.
     
  13. Jigamafloo

    Jigamafloo New Member

    If I remember right, Excelsior College offers a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies. Seems to be a very flexible, adaptable degree program. I'm sure the B.S.G.S. would apply without any question.

    Best of Luck!
     
  14. Longwaytogo

    Longwaytogo New Member

    Thanks, guys....

    decimon, I haven't "selected" a bachelor's program yet, as you suspected. Long story there....let's say that after reading here for several months, selecting what I thought was a good program fit, enrolling and discovering some major impediments to the overall goal, I withdrew somewhat the wiser and warier. Now am just putting my questions out there to this wise and learned group of distance learners!

    Ian, you are most likely correct - experience trumps a lot.

    Jigamafloo, 'preciate the input. I guess some folks want to keep their options open longer than others, huh?
     
  15. Guest

    Guest Guest

  16. Jigamafloo

    Jigamafloo New Member

    True enough...why grow up any sooner than you have to?
     
  17. japhy4529

    japhy4529 House Bassist


    Decimon,

    If you are looking to pursue Graduate studies in Psychology, then I suggest that you major in Psychology at the undergraduate level. Make sure the school is RA (or at least DETC, if you plan on attending a DETC Grad school). While it's possible that a B.S.G.S. might be enough to gain admission to a Psych graduate program, why take the chance? I am currently enrolled as a Psych major at National University and I've been looking at my options upon graduation. Most Psych Graduate programs require (or strongly suggest) that you major in Psychology as an undergrad.

    Of course, as others have mentioned here, there are other factors involved - such as GPA, GRE/GMAT, interview (if required), etc... But, I think in this subject the undergrad major holds a signifigant amount of weight.

    Here is a list of online schools that offer BA and/or BS programs in Psychology:

    http://www.nova.edu - Nova Southeastern
    http://www.nu.edu - National University
    http://www.hpcnet.org/peru/onlineeducation/bspsychology - Peru State College

    Good luck!

    - Tom
     
  18. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

    Good advice, wrong respondent. :)
     
  19. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    A great deal depends on your graduate major.

    The sciences will almost always want you to have a bachelors degree in a relevant subject. They will demand that you have what they consider proper preparation.

    Liberal studies bachelors degrees were created to educate multiple-subjects (elementary) school teachers. They often consist in introductory level courses in lots of arts and sciences subjects, rather than pursuing a single major through advanced upper division coursework.

    So a liberal studies background is great for some kinds of school teachers and probably would lead into graduate programs in education, especially if it's combined with a credential and teaching experience.

    As Bruce suggested, there's the CSUDH external MA in humanities. That's essentially a liberal studies masters. The courses it offers are something like upper-division undergraduate courses in content, but they expect you to read more broadly across disciplinary boundaries and to make connections. It produces broadly educated generalists. I think that a HUX degree is probably most directly appropriate for K-12 school teachers, though it might make a great avocational or second general-education degree for people in other fields.

    There are MBA and J.D. graduate programs. Unlike the sciences, they often don't care a whole lot about what an applicant's undergraduate major was. Law schools in particular often favor applicants with a broad undergraduate background, so a liberal studies degree could be a good pre-law degree.

    Finally, some less selective graduate programs, particularly those in high demand vocationally oriented fields, will want undergraduate subject-matter preparation, but are probably going to be less militant about it than the scientists and the scholarly doctoral programs. Psychology might conceivably fit here, at some schools at least. So doing a general-studies degree with a careful choice of 'major' electives designed to meet admissions requirements at typical less-selective grad schools might be a possible plan too.

    You will have to look carefully at the graduate catalogs from some schools where you might anticipate applying, figuring out what they expect from their applicants. Then you need to figure out if you can do it at whatever DL bachelors programs that you are considering.
     
  20. Longwaytogo

    Longwaytogo New Member

    Tom, Thanks for the links - Peru State sounds like a perfect solution for me! Also, I like the program at your National University as well. Amazing, all my research had missed these two institutions!

    I hear you about "why take chances" with the general studies degree....they do seem to consider this at the schools I've spoken with (James Madison U., George Mason U., some others).
    Probably due to the 10 applicants for every 1 admission ratio that I was told about... I just hadn't been able to find the right program (right cost, academic terms, etc.) but I'm "psyched" to call Peru State, now!

    I did notice your comments on the BS/BA Pscyhology thread about National. Have they gone to 12 week semesters yet and how do you find the level of "teaching" in your online coures? The one upper-division psychology course I'm currently taking through ODU in Virginia is very cut and dried. Reading assignments, exercises, papers, online quizzes and three exams and that's it. No real interaction - sorta self-taught. But I'm doing fine with that.
     

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