Please Advise

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by rtongue, Aug 26, 2008.

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  1. rtongue

    rtongue New Member

    My bachelor’s degree is from Hyles-Anderson College a state approved but unaccredited Bible College. They are a Brick and Mortar school and require real work. The degree has not hindered me in advancing in my career. Also the degree has not hindered me from being accepted into graduate programs. However, I am not proud of being an alumni of the school. Not just because it was unaccredited but because of the hypocrisy of some of it's leaders and students. It would require a small amount of "Googling" or searching on Wikipedia for one to know what I am talking about. Also, I am concerned that not having an accredited bachelor’s degree would be a hindrance in finding work as an adjunct. Although, I have heard adjunct work is all about the master’s.

    I am considering pursuing the bachelor’s in addition to pursuing the MSIT through CM. Because of my employers reimbursement cap, I have to pursue the MSIT at a slow pace anyway. If I enrolled in TESC or Excelsior some of my graduate credits would transfer to the bachelor’s and I could complete the additional credits through CLEP or DSST. This would be a fairly inexpensive and a fast way to earn a regionally accredited bachelor’s.

    My main concerns are as follows:

    Would an Excelsior or TESC degree really add much value to my resume or CV? I wonder if HR folks would even care about the bachelor’s when they see the graduate degrees.

    I would have date inconsistencies since my MBA would predate my bachelor’s. I would not list the Hyles degree or dates on my resume but would have to list them on the employment application. This may require more explanation and may "raise more eyebrows" than having a state approved degree.

    Advice or opinions are much appreciated!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 26, 2008
  2. Vinipink

    Vinipink Accounting Monster

    Many years ago, there was someone that had the same situation like you and after finishing a graduate degree went ahead and finished an accredited bachelor's, I think I am having deja vu. Anyway if you were able to finish a accredited graduate degree, I personally don't see the need to do another bachelor's, but that is just me. Some old timers may shed some light in this situation.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 26, 2008
  3. The big question is what your current BA is in and what you'd get from Excelsior/TESC/COSC. If your current undergrad is in say English and you got a Business degree from Excelsior this may have some utility. If it's another English degree it would be questionable.
     
  4. rtongue

    rtongue New Member

    My undergrad is in Pastoral Theology and the degree from Excelsior/TESC/COSC would be in Management Information Systems which is in line with my current career.
     
  5. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    You are in an MSIT program at CMU - a top tier school. End of discussion IMHO. Your MSIT at CMU will open doors for you.

    Shawn
     
  6. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    You have an MBA from Liberty and you're working on another graduate degree from Carnegie Mellon. At this point, I don't see your BA as a liability (as long as it's not from a mill, which it isn't).

    I have never believed that "unaccredited" automatically means "mill". There are some decent unaccredited programs out there, and I think the unaccredited religious programs probably get something of a "pass" anyway. Some legitimate religious schools simply don't want to bother with accreditation. I believe Bob Jones University was unaccredited for several years (its founder even spoke out against regional accreditation), and it is generally regarded as a very good school.

    If you feel strongly about not wanting to be associated with the school, you could try the portfolio assessment route at TESC to get yourself a BA from an accredited institution.
     
  7. Lawrie Miller

    Lawrie Miller New Member

    I don't think you need the undergraduate degree either, unless you plan to pursue an advanced research degree. What I don't get is how you were admitted to your first U.S. regionally accredited school's master's program without an RA bachelor's or at least a nationally accredited bachelor's degree.

    Could you detail how you pulled that off? It is not at all an uncommon occurrence in UK universities and universities in the colonies, but I can't think of too many examples here in the States.
     
  8. rtongue

    rtongue New Member

    Liberty will provisionally accept students with unaccredited degree on a case by case basis. At least that was the case when I was accepted into their MBA program. I am not sure if that is still their policy. I could see it changing as many more Fundamentalist Bible Colleges are accredited or seeking accreditation. Two schools that come to mind are Bob Jones and Tennessee Temple who are now accredited by TRACS.
     
  9. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    That comes from reading catalogs instead of knowing what one is talking about. Experience in these matters reveals that much to do with admissions, completing degree requirements, finances, etc., can be negotiated.

    John Bear occasionally relates the tale of contacting several graduate business schools to see if they would accept a highly qualified (and paying) applicant with much executive experience but no bachelor's degree. Many (9 of 10?) said they would, even though an examination of their catalogs revealed no such flexibility.

    Having a Ph.D. with a CONCENTRATION in Higher Education and a SPECIALIZATION in Nontraditional Higher Education helps, too. Especially when such a degree was pursued using interdisciplinary methods.
     
  10. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Hyles-Anderson seems 100% legitimate, but Jack Hyles certainly had an interesting take on accreditation;

    http://www.jackhyles.com/accreditation.htm
     
  11. KariS

    KariS New Member


    That makes sense. You are looking at a different career path, thus the new BS. But, why, the mastrers trumps the undergrad (by anyone who REALLy kmnows). Finish the MSIT and don't worry about the undergrad!
     
  12. recruiting

    recruiting Member

    MY GOD THAT WAS LONG MESSAGE!!!

    That thing went on and on, I felt like I was reading the small print on a new credit card offer.

    I have seen messages similar to his on scam college degree mill websites too. ( I am not saying this school is a scam). They talk in circles about who, what and why the regional and nation accreditors are nonsense. I think they say this because they are not or will ever be accredited.

    Well in that case let me open up my own "website college" too, blah!
     

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