Excelsior or Charter Oak?

Wha!?!?!?!

Most of us are not studying with a specific emplyer in mind. Do people who are studying for their Bachelor's know before hand that they are going to apply to try and work for a specific employer here?

Come on, I mean, in the general employment market worldwide, does it really make a difference, can one basically say that one holds, as an example, a Bachelor's in Business Degree in both cases eitherwise, whether it were a Cosc concentration in General Busines, or an Excelsior's General Business Major Degree?

 

Look at most job requirements - it calls for a degree in business, marketing, or relevant field...or something like that. Did anyone have an employer that looked at a transcript.

I wanted my BS to get into grad school. I did not really care what it was in. By the way, The BS my from COSC states BS in Individualized Studies. The classes used to make up that concentration is pointed out. My Invididualized Studies can be anything.

 

I went with COSC's Bachelor of Individualized Study just to finish up and get into a Master's program.

 

General Studies VS Major, Some Thoughts:

Now that this post seems to be leaning now toward General Studies degree with Concentration VS specific major... My thought would be somewhere in the middle. I doubt very many busy HR people would wait for a transcript to be sent when they see a resume right under yours with the major that they want. (many times transcript requests get screwed up anyway) It is still better than nothing I'm sure.

That said I know of few college graduates who's degree majors are the same as what they originally wanted when they were 17 yr old freshmen. (or worled the exact job they planned on- "oh I'm going to be a Ancient Greek Mythology Professor and teach at a small college in a warm climate") lol

I must point out:

*There are some private schools out there that don't require their teachers to be certified (back in the mid-80's my Catholic grade school didn't-although many teachers did). Just a Bachelors Degree in anything (liberal artsy majors preferred).

*Also there is a small, RA, Catholic, VERY competitive colege in CA (Thomas Aquinas College) ...also very $$$, that offers NOTHING BUT a BA in General Studies with a focus on great books. If general studies were worth nothing, then why would there be very gifted students spend all that money on that school. (unless their all independently wealthy and wont need to ever work maybe)?

 

Call me Cheap

I went with COSC because the enrollement fee was a lot less expensive than at Excelsior or TESC.

 

Ok, but what about this scenario:

I get my Business degree and decide to open my own financial consulting business. Behind the main desk, where I sit, hangs my framed Diploma. It would make a BIG difference if it reads:

BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN GENERAL STUDIES
vs
BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN BUSINESS

Don't know in the US, but here in Spain at least, it is customary to hang the diploma in that way for customers to see.

 

This is exactly what I meant in my last post when I asked what the employer would want. In many cases a degree in General Studies will suffice. In many other cases a future employer may want to see a specific area of expertise...say, Management. Then again, sometimes a specific major can hurt you if you are trying to change fields. I am an exective in property management for example. If two resumes came across my desk - one from a biology major and the other from a General Studies or Interdisciplinary Studies major, I would likely go with the general Studies. It really just depends on what it is you are trying to do with your degree.

Pug

 

What all employers would have to remember though is that all accredited Degrees, even Associates, have General Education requirements. One can then at least know that one with a degree in Biology has passed College Level English and taken a Social Science Elective. ALSO one would know that someone with a degree in Humanities has at least passed college level math.

The usual defense used by most liberal arts colleges (like Thomas Aquinas College) is that their degrees prove that you are "trainable". Even though the world is becoming increasingly pragmatic and high-tech, I don't buy the BS of people saying that the liberal arts are a waste.

Remember that people-skills, cultural knowledge, abstract thinking skills, and empathy are also important in the business and the high tech world. We will always need people who have a broad, well-rounded education!!! Purhaps empathy you don't really learn in a classroon BUT the liberal arts do help provide an understanding of human nature.

 

BGS Diploma

BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN GENERAL STUDIES
vs
BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN BUSINESS

Don't know in the US, but here in Spain at least, it is customary to hang the diploma in that way for customers to see.

I have to smile when I read this, as I am sitting at my desk, in my office, under the framed diploma from the University of Connecticut which reads "Bachelor of General Studies in the College of Continuing Studies".

I don't think that anyone who has visited my office has read the diploma past the name of the university. I don't think anyone cares all that much.

 

Is it very difficult for an institution such as COSC to set up things so as to grant Degrees with majors, even if they also maintained the current choice of General Studies with concentrations? They shoudl realize it is an issue for many students...don't think it can be such a big deal for them to implement this...

The way things are going for me now I think I will aim for an Associates in Business at Excelsior and later use those 60 credits to go for either a Liberal Arts at Excelsior or a General Studies Bachelor at COSC.

 

By the way does anybody know what the equivalent of a "Liberal Arts" degree would be called in Europe? I haven't really heard that here before. Don't know if they even exist in England.

 

Good question... I'm not even sure if Associates Degrees exist or are recognized outside of the US yet.

 

gov't jobs picky on major.....

I can give you one example: The Air Force. To go for their officer programs, you typically need a 'tech' degree (engineering, natural sciences, etc). Your major has a lot to do with the types of jobs you will be eligible for. I don't think they would look highly upon a 'General Studies' major

Pretty much all gov't employment job postings will specify what area the degree (or related experience) needs to be in to qualify for the respective job post.....

And from an 'accredited university'. But by now I don't think we need to go down that road again

As for the comments that will makeit made

Remember, COSC is one option that you have towards earning a bachelors. Different schools provide different programs to satisfy different needs. COSC is not appropriate for every one's situation (both their undergraduate catalogs and their staff will admit this).