Listing 'World Campus' on resume?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by deagledan, Mar 5, 2013.

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  1. deagledan

    deagledan New Member

    I was reading through some old threads yesterday and found a lot of interesting back and forth about whether or not students at PSU's World Campus should be required to list 'Global' or 'World Campus' on their resumes. I didn't want to bump any 2-3 year old threads that had been put to rest, so I decided to create this new one.

    I am very interested in their LSA program offered through their World Campus and I found out from one of their Admissions Counselors just now that it is offered through their main campus (University Park).

    I understand people's positions as it relates to degree programs completed via other PSU campuses, but what about in this case? Is it okay to just list 'The Pennsylvania State University' on one's resume without mentioning that is was earned via distance learning IF the type of degree earned was through their main campus like this one?

    Thanks
     
  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    it took a bit for this post to get moderated so i'm bumping it up so it gets some attention.
     
  3. sumtuck

    sumtuck New Member

    I do not see anything at all misleading about just putting Pennsylvania State on the resume. If an employer is really concerned about how the degree was earned, it will come up during the interview. So I would just advise people to be ready to answer that questions and then spin it into a positive during an interview. I can say though that 50% of my degree from OU was online and not once has an employer ever asked about my classes. Ever.

    I don't think employers really care and you are not misrepresenting the degree you obtained.
     
  4. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    It would be misleading if The Pennsylvania State University - World Campus holds its own accreditation. However, WC belongs the main campus; therefore, it is nothing wrong to omit it "World Campus" on the resume. The following look wrong:

    - University of Maryland - University College present as University of Maryland
    - Colorado State University - Global present as Colorado State University
    - University of California - Merced present as University of California
     
  5. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    That's not exactly correct. Technically, Penn State "Campuses" do not offer degrees.

    For academic purposes, Penn State is divided into "Colleges" -- not "Campuses". All Penn State degrees say "Pennsylvania State University", plus the name of a specific "College". Some of those "Colleges" are associated with the University Park campus. Some "Colleges" are associated with other campuses.

    Penn State degrees don't have the name of the "Campus", because it is irrelevant. They don't say "Harrisburg Campus", or "Erie Campus", or "University Park Campus", or "World Campus". So there is no point in including the name of the Campus, whether it is "World Campus" or "University Park Campus", or anything else. As far as Penn State is concerned, only the "College" matters -- not the "Campus".

    The "World Campus" is just a delivery system for degrees from various different "Colleges". For the BA in Letters, Arts, and Sciences, the degree comes from the Penn State "College of the Liberal Arts" (which happens to be at the University Park Campus).

    So you would simply indicate that you have a BA from Pennsylvania State University, College of the Liberal Arts. No one can argue with that, because that's exactly what it will say on the diploma (here is an example). The campus is irrelevant, because Penn State "Campuses" don't issue degrees. Only Penn State "Colleges" issue degrees.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 6, 2013
  6. icecom3

    icecom3 New Member

    you put what every it will say on your degree
     
  7. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    Oh I remember that old thread. I got into a heated debate with another forum member about the PSU WC MBA and how someone would present it on their resume. My entire argument was predicated on the fact that the MBA offered from the World Campus was not from the Smeal College of Business, PSU's highly ranked b-school located on the University Park campus. In that instance I stated, and still believe, that it needs to be clarified that the degree wasn't earned at Smeal.
    Even rankings systems like USNWR specify the campus in their rankings. For instance, when listing state universities in their rankings they usually just say, University of South Carolina, University of Missouri, etc. etc. etc. Except in the case of PSU and UC schools where the campus is specified.
    In your case, if the degree is housed at University Park then simply listing "Pennsylvania State University" on your resume is not exactly dishonest or disingenuous. World Campus is simply the delivery method. Now if the degree was housed at the Erie campus and you simply listed "Pennsylvania State University" on your resume I'd take exception with that. There is a very real difference between the various campuses and I think it should be clarified when presenting a degree in a professional setting.
     
  8. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    If you get an MBA from Smeal, then it will say "Pennsylvania State University, Smeal College of Business" on the diploma.

    If you get an Penn State MBA from World Campus, then it will say "Pennsylvania State University, Behrend College" on the diploma.

    You should simply put the same info -- including the name of the College that issued the degree -- on your resume.

    True, except that technically it is a difference between "Colleges", not "Campuses". Your Penn State degree will have the name of a "College", not the name of a "Campus".
     
  9. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    Fair enough. Out of curiosity, which campus is Behrend College located on?
     
  10. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    In the Penn State system, there may, or may not, be a one-to-one correspondence between "Colleges" and "Campuses".

    - One Campus can have multiple Colleges. This is the case at the "University Park Campus".
    - Or one College can include multiple Campuses. Fourteen of the smallest Campuses are grouped together within "University College".
    - Or one College can represent one specific Campus. Five of the medium-sized Campuses are recognized as distinct "Colleges".

    In this case, the third option applies. "Behrend College" = the Erie campus.
    If you look at their home page, you will see that they prefer to be known as "Penn State Behrend". You have to look pretty carefully to find the word "Erie" (it's at the bottom).
     
  11. icecom3

    icecom3 New Member

    Just put the name of the college as listed on the degree, if you don't know, just ask the registrars office.

    However, if the topic comes up about attending college and they ask, immediately let them know if you attended a global campus and turn it into a positive (i.e., what you liked about the program, why you chose it, how it benefited you...etc).

    Trust me, you will be fine.
     
  12. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    It's okay to bump old threads.
     
  13. Pugbelly2

    Pugbelly2 Member

    Very solid advice.
     
  14. db-psu

    db-psu New Member

    My Experience, FWIW

    I received my Masters from PSU last summer (Homeland Security/Information Security and Forensics). When I sent my updated resume to my counselor for review, I had identified the degree as "The Pennsylvania State University, World Campus". She quickly informed me that the university policy is to simply state "The Pennsylvania State University" and not identify the campus.

    I have run into a number of professionals who attended campuses other than University Park, and each of them identify themselves only as Penn State Grads (I can see the campus by looking at the Alumni Directory). Of course, I see the point of distinguishing in cases like the MBA programs with different colleges and diplomas...
     
  15. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    You would be legally required to make this distinction in some situations.

    For example, let's say you were applying for a state CPA license. Obviously you need to have some business/accounting coursework. But in some states, the coursework requirements vary, depending on your business school's accreditation. Coursework from AACSB or ACBSP accredited programs counts for more than coursework from programs that lack professional accreditation.

    At Penn State, business is taught in a number of different colleges, and they don't all have the same professional accreditation. For example, a Penn State business degree from Smeal College (at the University Park campus) is AACSB accredited -- but a Penn State business degree from Altoona College (at the Altoona campus) is not. Altoona's strategic plan does include AACSB accreditation in the future, but they don't have it as yet.

    So those two degrees -- even though they are both Penn State business degrees -- may not be legally equivalent for CPA licensing purposes, depending on your state's regulations. State licensing applications typically request complete information, under penalty of perjury.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 18, 2013

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