Question about degree utility CA vs DETC

I know Dr Bear would know the answer to this question but I welcome others who have some facts on this to respond as well.

In real terms, how much more degree utility would a DETC accredited degree have over a Cal Approved degree, if any?

Understanding that a DETC accredited degree has very limited utility. I am interested in a real comparison.


Thank you,

 

Relative degree utitlity

Nice short direct question: what is relative degree utility.

The answer can not be short or direct, because it covers a VERY wide area. Utility in what respect? Getting a job that requires a college degree, or entering a doctoral program at Cal, Stanford, or similar? Aslo what school and what subject area?

A physcology degree from several CA approved schools would be better than most DETC physcology degrees from back east in sitting fro the board exams in California.

A masters in engineering from any CA aproved schools when applying for a professional engineer license or even a contractors license would be worthless (no added value).

A DETC degree might be acceptable to some graduate programs, depending on the specific school, courses, and faculty involved.

A degree from the NTPS would count for a lot in any aeronautics program.

etc., etc. on and on .....

My 2 centavos.

 

Thank you.

 

I agree with Mike Albrecht. It depends.

CA-approval takes in a lot of things. Some CA-approved schools are well ragarded in specialized applications where people are already familiar with the school. Others prepare you for California licensing exams. But others again are pretty clearly substandard. Personally, I'm underwhelmed by and a little skeptical of most of the CA-approved DL options.

DETC has a distinct advantage in all those cases when people aren't already pre-impressed with your school. (That's most of the time.) You can truthfully say that your school is accredited! DETC might not be as useful in getting you licensed in California (DETC doesn't accredit psych doctorates and has only started accrediting J.D.s). But on the other hand, the federal government generally recognizes DETC for federal employment, a major plus.

I'd probably go with DETC, myself. But a lot would depend on the particular schools I was considering, what my proposed major and degree level was, and what use I had for the degree once I earned it.

Obviously RA is more useful than either one, in the vast majority of cases.

 

Pastor Kenny:
In real terms, how much more degree utility would a DETC accredited degree have over a Cal Approved degree, if any?
---------------------------------------------------
Let's look at the actual numbers from the 335 registrars who completed my survey:

Always accept:
DETC, 19%
California Approved, 1/3 of 1%

Often accept:
DETC, 10%
California Approved, 1/3 of 1%

Sometimes accept:
DETC, 9%
California Approved, 2/3 of 1%

 

In other words, for people who want to go on to graduate school, a California-approved degree is almost completely useless (except for that 1.333% of schools that will accept it )

DETC, at 38%, seems a much clearer choice, if graduate school is in the future (and you may not think so now, but the future is ever-evolving). Given the varying acceptance (from 'always' to 'sometimes'), it would be wise to talk with any potential graduate schools about admissibility before starting that DETC program.

BTW, what wonderful data! It makes comparison of options so very easy.


Tom Nixon

 

If you notice, it says 1/3 of 1% or 0.333333%. Which is even less.

 

1/3 + 1/3 + 2/3 = 1.3333333333333%

 

I agree with much of what has been said. A CA approved PhD in Psychology is going to be of some use in California (probably not much use outside of). A CA approved law degree will be of some use in CA and some use outside (though quite limited).

A DETC undergrad or Masters is (as Dr. Bear points out) likely to be far.......faaaaaaaar....and away more useful. There are a couple of RA universities indicating they will consider NA degrees for their for their grad programs (eg Capella, Liberty, one of the OK U's accepts TRACS). Another example is that the employer I work for would never........never........consider a CA approved or any other UnA degree for any position requiring one. They check and the person's application would be screened into the circular file. On the other hand they do accept RA & NA degrees.

North