B.S. in University Studies

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by chrisjm18, Jun 15, 2021.

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  1. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

  2. Rachel83az

    Rachel83az Well-Known Member

    I agree that it looks like a general studies/liberal studies program under another name. I would be willing to bet that someone decided that they wanted to make a "more employable"-sounding degree because "everyone knows" that "liberal studies is worthless". But they didn't stop to consider how useless "university studies" sounds.
     
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  3. smartdegree

    smartdegree Active Member

    What a nonsense name - how are you even going to put that on a resume?

    No different than calling it Bachelor of Science in Bachelors Studies LOL. Maybe their MBA is called a Master of Business Administration in Business.
     
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  4. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    Lol. When I saw the name, I thought it was a program for those who want to work in higher education. That said, their MBA is just that, an MBA :) It has various concentrations, including general management/business.
     
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  5. LearningAddict

    LearningAddict Well-Known Member

    Some say that the title of B.S. in University Studies is in itself an explanation of college.
     
  6. Vonnegut

    Vonnegut Well-Known Member

    It's not super common but many public universities have these Bachelor of Science in University Studies degrees. Many public institutions belong to university systems of a given state, such as Lamar University being part of the University of Texas System. As public institutions, they're funding is generally tied as much to legislation and system office metrics as it is to tuition. They also have to have their programs vetted and authorized in accordance to their organizational system as well as their accreditor. Generally these programs are to help people finish a degree that was already started and dropped, they're much more flexible with how the courses are built. Usually they're have a focus area, as the one at Lamar does, allowing the individual to technically graduate with a degree someone similar to what they were previously/predominately studying. They serve a purpose IMHO.
     
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  7. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    It certainly sounds better than Bachelor of Science in Degree Completion.
     
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  8. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    We're actually a part of the Texas State University System (TSUS).
     
  9. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I'm reminded of Charter Oak State College, where they do have a few proper majors now, but still mostly just have 36+ credit concentrations within the major of General Studies. My understanding is that it's a legacy of prior dealings with their accreditor, but the end result is that everyone just lists the concentration. I wouldn't be surprised (or object) if most of the graduates from this program do the same.
     
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  10. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    Everything is bigger in Texas. Most states have one or maybe two university systems, while we have SIX.

    Having said that, I'm in another system, and I think there is a BA in University Studies in the catalog as well. I think Vonnegut is right about the purpose of it.
     
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  11. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    I deeply regret to say that the Bachelor in University Studies can be an excellent pre-law program. Don't fall into that trap!:eek:
     
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  12. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    Everything really IS bigger in Texas, too. The Texas law license wall certificate itself is enormous but wait, there's more! The State Bar also gives you another gigantic diploma for finishing some sort of new lawyer training program. Hawaii, meanwhile, hands out this little 5x7 diploma and says no more. At least it isn't carved into a coconut.
     
  13. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    Texas Bar College, that's what the other diploma is about. I don't know if everybody gets that one or not.
     
  14. Vonnegut

    Vonnegut Well-Known Member

    Adjuncting for them or did you change plans on moving to the Caribbean?!
     
  15. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    Who says I can't do both?
     
  16. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

  17. cacoleman1983

    cacoleman1983 Well-Known Member

    These kind of degree majors in general/liberal/alternate studies do serve a purpose. I have two coworkers where this type of degree worked for. One of them could not pass the Praxis exam for the math section which was required to graduate with a Bachelors degree in Education so she opted to graduate with a Bachelors degree in Liberal Studies. Another coworker was working on his second Masters degree in Middle School Education but since he was working full time, he could not complete the internship required to graduate so he opted to graduate with a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
     
  18. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Although that makes it sound like the point of them is to have lower standards, which I like to think isn't always the case.
     
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  19. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    Lower compared to what? All degrees of this type are 120 credits, and require some SACS-compliant number of UD courses. They lack some specific requirements of specific majors; for this reasons, graduates do not end up with these majors.

    For most traditional undergrads, it is better to stick to a major. BAUS degrees are for those with specific circumstances.
     
  20. scaredrain

    scaredrain Member

    Where I currently work full time, a group of faculty wanted to name a proposed similar degree as a BA in Academic Studies. Not sure why they thought this would be a great idea. Anyways, the degree will be called BA in Interdisciplinary Studies and a similar degree will be Bachelors in Applied Science for students who transfer with a 2 year technical degree.
     
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