Master's without Bachelor's

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by [email protected], Sep 17, 2003.

Loading...
  1. MarkIsrael@aol.com

    [email protected] New Member

    Where can I find a list of colleges in the US (not necessarily distance learning) that will accept a student without a Bachelor's degree into a Master's degree program?

    I didn't think there were any. But I just found out about the "Access Program" at Cambridge College:
    http://www.cambridgecollege.edu/public/ap_main.cfm
     
  2. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

    Would you distinguish between those students who have all or most of the undergraduate courses and those who do not?
     
  3. Mary A

    Mary A Member

    Hi Mark: I would be surprised to find such a list. Not because it doesn't happen, but because schools do not normally advertise this feature/benefit with the exception of the "executive MBA". In the latter, schools, including Aspen, will evaluate a person's work history, which must include at least 20 years of experience with increased responsibility in each position and then, if acceptable admit a student into the program. The student does not receive an undergraduate degree for that evaluation. They simply have the right to earn a graduate degree without benefit of having an undergraduate degree first. Students in an executive MBA have to take all of the courses in the program (no transfer credit, credit by exam, or portfolio credit). The degree is labeled an Executive MBA and unless asked, they do not have to say they earned it without the BA/BS. Many people only include their highest degree awarded on their resumes so it often does not trigger any alarms.

    That said, anecdotally I know from colleagues at a number of RA schools that at many as 20% of their applicants for Ph.D. programs have Master's with no undergraduate degree in fields other than business. That reference is a few years old (maybe 5) so I don't know if it is still that many, but my guess would be that it is at least that still. Schools can make exceptions to the entrance requirements at their discretion, meaning it is not expressly forbidden.

    Given the Internet, there may now be a list of colleges that will accept students without undergraduate degrees, and if you find it we would all enjoy seeing it, but I think it will take a lot of work to discover.

    Good luck!

    Mary
     
  4. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    Many colleges will accept students who have the equivelent of a bachelors degree (but it is a tougher path). See the current CSUDH criteria for example on pages 53 and 54: http://www.csudh.edu/academicaffairs/2003-04Catalog/06%20Graduate.pdf
    The statement on page 53 re graduates of unaccredited institutions is interesting.
     
  5. alexadeparis

    alexadeparis New Member

    this from a law school in Michigan:


    Applying Without a Bachelor’s Degree
    Most Cooley students have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Yet, under court rules adopted by the Michigan Supreme Court, an applicant for law school may also attend if the student has completed at least 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours either toward an undergraduate degree from an accredited school or from an accredited junior or community college.

    The Thomas M. Cooley Law School welcomes inquiries from individuals with associate’s degrees or 60 to 90 credits at a four-year institution. Students who have completed from one-half to three-quarters of the work necessary for a bachelor’s degree must meet the admission requirements outlined in the next two sections to qualify for admission. Please call the Admissions Office at (517) 371-5140, ext. 2244 if you have any questions about your particular circumstance.
     
  6. cmt

    cmt New Member

    Some law schools in CA have similar programs (although not the top ones UCLA, USC, etc (that I know of)).

    I think this to be common among professional degrees. MDiv's and EMBA's come to mind. Of course, it is possible to get into top MDiv and EMBA programs without undergraduate work, but entrance exams are the norm here (languages, etc.) and/or a lot of quality work experience.
     

Share This Page