Yet Another Question: Overseas Degrees

Foregive me what may be a total newb question.

I was reading the "Undergraduate Degree Schemes" for Anthropology at UoW Lampeter and ran into a question:

Where's the Algebra?

I know that algebra is not an essential part of anthropology but U.S. degrees force all sorts of "non-essential" classes down your throat to get a degree. So do they (in this case Lampeter) expect you to understand that algebra (among others) are part of the requirements, or do they have a different view of higher education than we do in the U.S.?

(told you it was a newb question)

 

Actually, I think it's a really good question! Nothing too "newbie" about it. I've wondered more than once why certain non-US undergraduate degrees don't seem to have the same amount of lower-division "general education" requirements as do US undergrad degrees.

I'll defer to someone who knows more about it than do I, but I suspect that at least one thing that may affect it is the fact that many countries that have three-year bachelors degrees (with the four-year versions -- if there even are any -- being called "Hons" degrees) have at least a year more secondary education than does the US; and so a lot of the "general ed" stuff may be covered there. But that's just a guess.

Hopefully someone who knows, for sure, will chime-in.

 

Maybe they already covered algebra in highschool....


Dennis

 

Without checking the Lampeter program specifically, I'd guess that a person undertaking a British degree in Anthropology (or almost anything else for that matter) will complete more credits in their major area than the average US student in a comparable program. As you suggested with your question, they have a somewhat different view of higher education. Specifically, they do not place the same emphasis on "general education" credits. US university has a tendency to emphasize a well-rounded education while the British system tends to be more specialized.
Jack

 

In the UK, the final two years of high school is a concentrated 3-course programme. The student will be entering university based on the results in the area of one of those three courses. These are the "A" levels which are more comprehensive than North American final year courses.

UK universities will have reviewed the students based on these courses and selected for entrance on them. So in all likelihood, the algebra was already covered.

Brad

PS I taught at a British high school for 5 years teaching up to A-level myself and preparing students for university entrance.

 

I know the French learn the equivalent of the US first year of college before college, either in "prepas" or preparatory programs, or in regular high school. In their colleges, even the grands ecoles, they specialize and leave out much of the gen ed.

 

Many academics outside the US find the emphasis on a 'well rounded' 'liberal arts' education puzzling at best. When someone says, as they do, "I read history at Cambridge," that is pretty much what they did to earn that degree.

 

Hi Guys,
I am a telecom engineer without any acedamic background and recently I tried to apply to several American universities. one of them is Pace University with provides Bs degree in Telecommunications. I was very interesting in this degree but later I found out that half of the courses are liberal arts full of literature, american culture and a lots which only increases the $ and I don't need it. I called the registarar and asked about this liberal arts. Before I saw some other nice technical courses they provide and I thought that may be I can change this liberal arts with that technical courses and she said " Sir, here in America it is a must to take liberal arts in your first degree, and you can't take that courses they are too technical"
I think this liberal arts is a waste of time since everybody took this courses at high school, replacement with the concerning courses would be more beneficial.

 

Abdi, it seems that the US educational system is unique in trying to get this "well-rounded" education for students. I studied in 3 other countries before coming to the US, and I am the only one in my family that had to take a philosophy/foreign language/other liberal arts courses for an undergrad technical degree. My cousin was studying the same major as me back home, and while I was "wasting" away in "futile" classes, he was taking advanced programming and networking classes.
This type of education versus foreign one can be debated academically and intellectually by education experts. I just find that, personally, I didn't benefit anything from it since most of the classes required would be a basic 100/200 level and nothing to bring substantive information and learning to a student besides giving him a broad education, rather than a narrowed focus into his/hers intended major. Then if one requires that focus, he/she has to seek it at the graduate level.....It doesn't make -educational- sense to me (except at the financial aspect for universities).

 

In Australia, I think a lot of the first level liberal arts topics of a US degree are usually covered in the Higher School Certificate.

Having said that, I have found that doing them again in a US degree to bring a fresh perspective to them and refreshing after a long while away from high school. Marvellous what you forget.

I knew I had to do them when I enrolled, and I had options outside the US. It is also important to recognise what you don't get in non US degrees. I get to pick from a list of universities to make up the subjects for my Excelsior Degree. I get some flexibility about completion dates with options for extensions. This is essential for my occupation. I can get credit by examination at a reduced rate. Try and get all that outside the US.

You can also transfer considerable amount of credit. Very, very difficult to do so in Australia. You may get some recognised prior learning for subjects that you must do, but not nearly as much as in the US.
Systems are different with different pitfalls and advantages. You pick what works for you. I have chosen to do my post grad in Australia for reasons that Australia is more flexible on post grad by DL. Horses for courses.

 

Brad is correct.
Some US schools will provide degree cedit for UK "A" levels.

My daughter is taking a Bsc degreein Psycholgy and the only non-psch related course was statistics. But she had to earn several A levels beforeshe was accepted into the degree program.

 

Hi Ian,

Even THAT course is still very appropriate and applicable to her degree since the study of Psychology requires the ability to analyze research data scientifically.

The British education system definitely involves a consistent narrowing down of focus throughout:

- The first three years of High School usually include a wide variety of general education subjects.
- The final two years of High School narrow those studies down to a select few subjects (usually somewhere between 6 and 10 subjects).
- The next two years (post High School), usually involve narrowing the focus down still further to the study of just 3-5 of the above subjects.
- Then it's on to University to study/"read" just one subject for your degree. This usually lasts for three years and involves mostly subjects which are directly related to your degree subject.
- Post-graduate studies then take the study of that subject even further.

If anything, I would argue that a British degree takes FIVE years to complete since one usually must study post-High School for two years in order to be accepted into a degree program.

By the time British students enter their Bachelor degree program, they have already focussed their studies down to a level of specificity not usually seen in the US until the Master's stage.

I don't think it would be incorrect to suggest that Americans study a more well-rounded variety of subjects less deeply whilst the British study a narrower variety of subjects more deeply.

Being British myself, and having experienced both styles of education, I think I actually prefer the diversity of study found in the American system.

Just my thoughts,
Beholdweb

 

Some years ago I taught at CWRU and LEC in Ohio. I was surprised by the range of sujects required for a business degree (eg, performing arts, history). In UK, subjects taught in a degree programme (=program) will mostly be directly relevant to the degree title. Uk degrees take 3 years, not 4, there wouldn't be time for all the extras.

 

Hi

Most European degrees will contain only two subjects. A major 66% of the course) and a minor (the rest). In Ireland (where i went to High school) the levels of subjects like English and Mathematics and others is of a very high standard. The irish education authority would argue that many High School leaving certificate courses are of first year university level in the USA - hence the lack of general education. Courses in universities here tend just to focus on the subject matter being studied.

That at least is my impression!!