Advice: Lots of Masters Credits No Degree

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Mr harry, Dec 8, 2016.

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  1. Mr harry

    Mr harry New Member

    Hi, I have taken Master's courses from among 5 disciplines. On average about 2 courses per discipline. (The reason why is a long story). I now have 30 credits but if I want a Master's degree I will be starting with only 2 courses.
    Questions:
    1) Do you know of any acredited online Universities that will take many courses? For example,towards a multidisciplinary degree.
    2) If you were an employer or re recruiter, what would you think of someone with courses that cut across 5 disciplines? (Social Work, Psychology, Law, Criminal Justice, Educaction).
    Thanks for your responses.
    Mr Harry.
     
  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    To my knowledge, the average number of credits accepted for transfer is 6-9. The most I've heard of is 15. On a grad level, because of the specific focus of studies, courses generally must be exact or close to exact matches to those required by the accepting program. One result might be the idea that you may as well finish one of the programs you've already started. What would an employer/recruiter think? Who knows? My own harsh interpretation (without further explanation from you) 1) indecisive, or 2) difficulty with follow through. My recommendation: If you feel the need to list these credits on your resume then create a category such as "Other Education" and describe them as Social Science coursework. Undoubtedly others will have alternate opinions.
     
  3. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I wish I could think of somewhere that would let you package all these courses, but I really can't. Charter Oak's MS in Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership was supposed to allow something like this, but it got watered down at the end, I presume to placate NEASC. IIRC, the University of Denver allows up to 15 semester-hours in transfer to its MBA program, but I'm pretty sure they have to be business courses.
     
  4. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    Athabasca MA program below can take 15 credits:

    Program Overview : Master of Arts - Integrated Studies : Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies : Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences :

    Excelsior's program in MS in Liberal Arts can take up 15 credits

    If you don't mind foreign, Chester University MA program can take all your credits but you still need to complete a dissertation
    International | International | University Of Chester

    The last program is really cool because you can negotiate any title you want based on your credits specialization.
     
  5. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    This school looks quite interesting, especially for those interested in a research-only degrees (MPhil and PhD). They have quite a range of research areas and so I imagine that most people could get their needs met inside one of the departments. It might be a bit misleading though to say "they'll take all your credits" because, even though it's true, those credits don't really count toward the degree. The degree is a thesis-only/dissertation-only program and so the statement "but you still need to complete a dissertation" leaves out the fact that the entire degree program consists solely of completing that dissertation (or thesis) and that you can be admitted to the program and complete that research without having taken any of the grad courses that you've transferred. Simply put, the school will accept those credits but they don't change anything. It would be the same as enrolling in a Masters (or Doctoral) program at UNISA. Personally I'm going to bookmark this school for later consideration. I think it's a nice find.
     
  6. Sacricolist

    Sacricolist Member

  7. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    No, you have it wrong. This program actually is a degree completion program. I applied to this program a while ago and was admitted and given credit for all course work requirements and just needed to take the dissertation that is really a work based project. This is not a MPhil but a MA program, you are given credit based on your previous course work, I was granted 120 credits from 180 credits so just needed to complete 60 credits. 180 UK credits are about 45 US credits so I was able to transfer the equivalent of 30 credits. I found another program that better fit my needs so I did not register but the OP could get his course work recognized towards this degree.

    The nice thing is that you can negotiate the title of the degree so it could be in anything you want as long as it matches your course work.
     
  8. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    Actually, the link to the program below:
    https://www1.chester.ac.uk/postgraduate/work-based-and-integrative-studies-wbis
     
  9. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Mmmm. Sorry, my mistake.
     
  10. Mr harry

    Mr harry New Member

    Hi everyone,
    Thanks for all the suggestions.
    I'll check out Chester U.
    Thanks again.
     
  11. kavade

    kavade Member

    RFValve - Do you happen to know if Chester has a graduate certificate in RS/Theology ? I only saw the MA, but the page seems to say they have post grad certs too.
     
  12. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    Truth- no one would think twice if you listed everything you didn't roll into your degree under "professional development" education. The fact that you earned college credit, instead of the lesser ranked CEU credit, shouldn't count against you. But.....just leave off that it was "for graduate credit" because who cares? I have graduate credit in biology and psychology - they have nothing to do with my MS or my field directly - I'm a chef with a graduate degree in nutrition. I like to learn, the end. You don't have to weave a long story about starting/stopping programs. List the one that you started AND finished among your degrees.
    Put your degrees in one section. Put your professional development in another. Social sciences are incredibly interdisciplinary, but making it look like you've washed out of grad school 4 times paints a different picture than when you change your resume layout.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 5, 2017
  13. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    The last I checked, Excelsior College accepted up to 15 credits in transfer for their MALS (Master of Arts in Liberal Studies) program. If you have an assortment of credits from different disciplines, I would say a Master's program in Liberal Arts/Liberal Studies is you best bet for maximum credit transfer.

    Excelsior College Master of Liberal Studies
     
  14. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    I like this program but you don't really get a concentration or specialization. A MALS is beneficial for some groups like high school teachers or other people that just need a masters but it has almost no value for those in the private sector other than personal development.
    The program is also not that cheap as Excelsior credits are not the cheapest around.
    I would look for European Options like Chester University. I am sure there are few similar around.
     
  15. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    The program itself is not coming from a particular faculty but it is part of a work studies program. In few words, you could negotiate a title such as religious studies and communications if you work as a minister or religious studies and psychology if you work as a pastoral counselor. Titles are negotiable based on your course work and job but I believe they should not compete with existing titles so I doubt they would allow someone to get a MA in Theology as the program already exists in their regular offerings.
    You could start the program from scratch so you can earn a graduate certificate and diploma on the way to get the MA.
     
  16. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    If you do not find a suitable masters program you might be able use your 30 units to obtain a second bachelors degree in general studies or liberal studies from EC or TESU.
     
  17. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    This is actually a good option. If you have at least 26 credits, you can transfer to an Excelsior College degree with just extra 4 credits from this school. You can earn a concentration or major.
    A good masters from a Good school is going to ask for at least 18 credits.
     
  18. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I realize you can't get a specialization, but the OP said that he wants a Master's degree, with no further qualification. With the smorgasbord of credits that he has, I think a MALS-type program is the only feasible option for maximum credit transfer.
     
  19. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I agree. If I had a lot of graduate credit and any Master's would do, that's where I'd put them.
     
  20. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    I like this too - TESU counts any graduate credit as upper level. I still like the idea of choosing one thing, earning the master's, and just listing the leftovers as professional development, but at the end of the day, this might be the fastest way to use the most credit.
     

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