Masters before Bachelors

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by David H. Wilson, Jun 24, 2002.

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  1. David H. Wilson

    David H. Wilson New Member

    What do you think about getting an MS ( Astronomy ) before finishing a BA ( Excelsior ).

    Dave

    KC7WGB
     
  2. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    If this is a masters by DL I would be interested in knowing the school.
    Thanks.
     
  3. David H. Wilson

    David H. Wilson New Member

  4. Christos

    Christos New Member

    If it is for personal learning - go for it. If it is for a job or something that needs the credential, then I would wonder why you do not need the background and education of a bachelors to complete the masters degree. Is the program rigourous and truly at a Masters level ? If you are good at explaining why you did not need the bachelors then I think you will be fine. Maybe you only need certain prep classes from an undergraduate degree but not the actual bachelors ???
     
  5. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    It's not uncommon to do a course-based master's before doing a bachelor's at Aussie schools, and anyone familiar with the Australian higher education system should understand how that happened; but if you'll be using the degree primarily in the States, you may want to make a notation on your resume.


    Cheers,
     
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    In some circumstances, it could raise questions. But if you're ready with an explanation, it shouldn't be too bad. If earning your degrees in that order meets your personal needs and agenda, go for it. We've heard some positive feedback about Heriot-Watt MBA grads without bachelor's degrees. I've met a few nurses that went from RN to MSN without earning the bachelor's; it's an accepted, even expected, practice in nursing.

    I earned an A.A.S. while in grad school. The timing of things was appropriate for my situation. And I don't think anyone's ever asked about my bachelor's degrees (I have two); they've been pleased and accepting of my MBA.

    Your knowledge and understanding of your own circumstances should hold sway here. If it feels right, do it.
     
  7. telfax

    telfax New Member

    David-get real!

    David,

    Other than the USA, it really doesn't matter that you donlt have a bachelor' degree before earning a master's degree! I donlt even believe it matters in the USA in my experience! There are so many people who have a bachelor's degree level professional qualification equivalence that gho straight to a master's degre ein the UK. Nursing has already een citred. A 'State Registered Nurse' qualificatioin in the Uk is equal to a BS degree in the USA. The former three years Certificate in Education (Cert Ed) course (old qualification for those training to be teachers) is equivalent to a US bachelor's degree in education. There are poeple who have not earned a professional qualification but have completed endless in-house training programmes once they have started work and have proven they can master an MBA (I've taught many such people!) so just go, ahead and do it! Donlt get bogged down in this sequential notion of what you must or must not do!

    Do what YOU want to do. I can assurew you the majority of enlightened personnel employees donlt really bother!

    telfax
     
  8. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    It's news to me. I don't understand how it happens, apart from a few special cases, perhaps.

    How is it that one can complete a graduate degree without the preparation represented by a first degree? Do people complete the equivalent of the undergraduate major coursework, but fail to complete the degree for some reason? Or are you using "bachelor's" to mean "honours", and are saying that people often get into masters programs with three year BAs? I could certainly understand that.

    But no undergraduate-level preparation at all?
     
  9. Frangop

    Frangop New Member


    Nothing wrong with that, as long as it is a Business or Arts related masters and the candidate has had more than 6 years of relevant, on the job experience!

    CFr
     
  10. mdg1775

    mdg1775 New Member

    Personnel with question

    To expand...I asked my personnel director and she stated that when you skip-over levels in the degree earning process it takes some of the credibility away from the higher degree. Also, you may find that you don't get hired if you are applying for a job that just requires a baccalaurette degree.

    Regards,

    Mike
     
  11. David H. Wilson

    David H. Wilson New Member

    I don't mean to be flippant but I've already got a job and they are not all they're cracked up to be.

    Dave

    KC7WGB
     
  12. Dan East

    Dan East New Member

    Wilson, I have applied to Univ. of Leicester and am anxiously awaiting the letter of acceptance...I hope! As well, I am signed up with Excelsior to complete my stalled BA. However, if UoL accepts me, I will go to them like a moth to a flame, and not regret "missing" the BA.

    While I can accept the arguements made from several posters re: questions asked that you did not earn the BA, or that only in the field of business -MBA- is aceptablitiy higher, well, I believe that if the institution is willing to look at my educational and work experience - all of it! - and decide that I am a worthy candidate for the Master's program, who am I to argue? Who says that the wealth of learning I have completed is not "foundational" enough?

    Jane Goodall, Ph.D stated that she was keenly aware that many of her doctoral candidate cohorts were pissed at her for having bypassed the regular academic path by going straight to the top -no prior degrees at all.

    Let others be pissed! If you have what it takes, go for it!

    PS: wish me luck with UoL, ok?
     
  13. irat

    irat New Member

    the swinburne website

    The swinburne masters website states that it is "...not a training program for professional astronomers...". It also states that introductory courses do not require any prior knowledge of "...physics or advanced mathematics..."
    It also states it is for amateurs or science educators.
    I would hazard a guess that most science educators already have a bachelors degree.
    This is clearly a non-professional masters.
    You can start without "...physics..." it must be almost entirely descriptive?
    So what would be the utility?
    Since it is not for professionals in the field, where would you use it?
    As a degree for amateurs it would help with self-fulfillment.
    It is possible that some teachers might take this unrigorous masters to move up on their salary charts. But most teachers would already have a bachelor degree, so it wouldn't be a first degree for them.
    This is different from Jane Goodall who got her doctorate through "professional" level work in her field.
    So this is the way it "sugars off" (a new england term for "works out"). If you don't already have a bachelors, the master in astronomy will be for amateurs and not help professionally. If you already have a bachelors degree it may help in the area of science education to move higher on salary charts. But, since a teacher already has a field nailed down with the first bachelors, it does not help with initial employment.
    I guess there is no utility in trying to take the easy way to a masters. Take it for fun. but no professional oomph.
    All the best!
     
  14. irat

    irat New Member

    david wilson out of work, or working

    Hey David Wilson
    Didn't you say in an earlier post you were out of work?
    In this thread you say you got a job?
    Are congradulations in order??
    All the best!
     
  15. lorentech

    lorentech New Member

    This sounds quite interesting, but also quite dubious. If this is so I would like for someone who has completed this process to please explain it in more detail.
     

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