How Do You Go Backwards?

Does anybody have advice for completely changing fields, specifically re-doing a bachelors?

For example, let's say my bachelors is in science and masters same, brick and mortar. But now I want t study graphic design or art therapy and there is practically no crossover of basic classes.

I keep reading "don't go back" in loosely related threads. But how can you go get a masters in a new field if your previous education and work is so different it does not apply at all?

Thanks!

And yes, 20 years later, I'm seriously thinking abut going back to square one.

Opinions needed!

 

Here's what I would do to start. Identify a program(s) that interests you quite a bit. Find out the minimum qualifications for admission (for someone with a Masters this might be a bit negotiable). Pick up just the required courses. It's unlikely that you'd need to do an entire new degree.

 

I'll second Kizmet's advice.

I actually went the other way and did two full undergrad programs. I don't regret it, but I do wish I had one particular conversation with an advisor about 5 years earlier. No reason for it.

Best,
ITJD

 

Do you mean you did 2 undergraduate degrees simultaneously?

 

No. My first program was between 1992 and 2000. My second program was between 2005 and 2007.

 

Are you absolutely certain you cannot locate a program that will allow entry without credits earned at the undergraduate level?

 

The Art Institute Pittsburgh offers online associates and bachelors degrees in Graphic Design.

Browse Graphic Design Degree Programs at The Art Institute Of Pittsburgh Online Division

Best of luck,

 

A colleague with a degree in math wanted a master's in philosophy (which became a PhD, all B&M). The school asked he complete a few undergrad courses before commencing the master's. Easy schmeezy.

 

You can probably just do core courses for a program and perhaps some updated generals. For what its worth I have thought about doing another B.A. just because the school I wanted one from didn't offer online when I did mine with another University online and now they do! Ha! For my reason I think its best to stick with what I have already done. .. In your case, I would shop around schools until I found one that gave me a degree outline that included a lot of already met requirements.

 

There are some very good reasons to "go back", and people do it all the time. In your case, I don't think even a bachelor's would be needed. A friend of mine in your same situation did an AAS in Graphic Design at a local CC. While her younger classmates worried about getting a bachelor's next, she was able to go straight into the workforce because she already had one. It didn't matter that the bachelor's was in a different field, and that it was completed before the AAS.