Degree Tiers

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Studious, Jan 21, 2025.

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  1. Studious

    Studious Member

    Hello!

    I've been reading a lot of research papers and articles written by folks with multiple degrees. For instance, John Smith, MD, PhD, MPH is not odd to see at all, and the order in which each credential is listed is easy to understand.

    Yet, as I chart my course toward (hopefully) multiple master's degrees, I wondered about how to list them. Is a master's degree deemed higher due to subject matter, number of credits, or the credential itself?

    For instance, I'm currently pursuing a M.Ed. Yet, I'm already collecting information and resources for a M.A., an M.S. and a CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist.) In the future, if I were to publish an article or journal piece, how would I list my credentials? Would the following be suitable?:

    Studious One, M.Ed., M.S., M.A., CHES?

    Is one master's degree considered higher than the others? Does the order in which each was conferred matter? Am I obsessing too much? Any news, clues, and views would be helpful. :)
     
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  2. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    I believe you list as many as you want; however, I have seen people recommend only listing what relevant degrees are to the subject or job position.
     
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  3. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    For whether one master's degree is considered "higher" than another, it usually comes down to the field of study rather than the degree itself. Each degree holds its own value depending on the professional context. Don't worry too much about the order—what matters most is the knowledge and expertise you gain from each.
    The reputation of the graduate school can influence how employers, colleagues, or academic institutions perceive the degree, particularly in competitive fields.

    That said, some graduate schools are more prestigious or have more rigorous programs, which might make the degree from such institutions more recognized or valued in certain contexts. For instance, a Master’s degree from a highly ranked university could carry more weight in some industries or academic circles simply because of the school’s reputation.

    But strictly speaking, the degree itself is not inherently "better" or "worse" based on the institution—it’s more about the knowledge gained, skills developed, and how you apply the degree in your career.

    Good luck with your academic journey!
     
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  4. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    No, no, and no: it's far better to ask too many question than too few!
     
  5. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I list degrees before certifications, and I list my PhD before my DSocSci. But this is by personal choice.

    According to Debrett's, it is most common to list degrees in ascending order: BA, MA, PhD. But there is no strict rule. Call 'em the way ya sees 'em.
     
  6. Studious

    Studious Member

    Thank you! Unless a scholarship is on offer, none of my degrees will be prestigious. The best I can do is make sure they're regionally accredited and listed in the USDOE database.
    Thanks, Steve. Sometimes I feel a little weird about where my focus goes. When I see various initials and titles following names, I begin to wonder. In my fevered imaginings my degrees should be listed in the correct order, darn it! :)
    This makes the most sense, TEKMAN, especially if the degrees are in wildly different areas.

    A M.Ed in Health and Wellness Education, a M.S. in Stress and Health Management, a M.A. in Psychology and the CHES certification may have some linkages, but are different enough that I should list the one my publication most closely resembles.

    What? The thought of hoarding degrees most certainly DOES NOT make me feel all warm and tingly inside. I am not strange in this regard at all. Nope. Not I.
     
  7. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    Well, for me... I only list a Master of Business Administration from Imperial College London, a Master of Professional Studies from Georgetown University, and a Bachelor of Science from Troy University in my resume and job application. Although Telecommunications Engineering is great for a Technology/Cybersecurity Management job position, it is irrelevant to list too many. Honestly, I want to leave my Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Troy University from my resume, but it looks odd that I have a Master's degrees without a Bachelor's. I also remove my current Ph.D. studies in my resume.

    A Ph.D. study in my resume makes me overqualified for the position outside of academia (mostly). It also makes the prospective employers think I spend more time studying than working.
     
  8. AsianStew

    AsianStew Moderator Staff Member

    Yes, that looks appropriate, something like that... An example below I may use...

    AsianStew BA, MA, MEd
     
  9. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    One important consideration is professional or specialty accreditation, particularly when licensure or the requirements of a graduate degree program necessitate it.
    To ensure that a specific program meets the standards of excellence required by a profession or industry and adequately prepares students for careers, licensure, or further education.
     
    Studious likes this.
  10. MichaelGates

    MichaelGates Active Member

    Epitthetology by CA Bartholomew (1948)
    "When it is desirable to indicate an instructor's or book author's complete epithets , the following order is preferred ; the occupational title, if there is one, immediately follows the name with a semicolon placed after the occupational title abbreviation , then the educational degrees immediately follow with or without a specifis , in the sequence of their issue, and lastly , the professional society designation follows with a semicolon ( ; ) separating it from the last degree abbreviation ."
     
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  11. Xspect

    Xspect Member non grata

    Xpect PhD, DNP, DMin (hon), MBA, MSIO, RN

    to

    Xspect DMIN (hon)

    But I simply just use

    Xspect

    Abide University has informed me they don't want me tarnishing their good name.
     
    Mac Juli likes this.
  12. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Those are people I wouldn't want to work with anyway.

    When I still worked in organizations, I would get weird reactions to my title. Of course, I never referred to myself as doctor, but some others did. (Especially people born elsewhere.) I remember this one colleague who'd come up through the civil service ranks. I doubt she even had a college degree, but had been doing her job for 40 years and was nearing retirement. She would always all me "Mister Douglas" to my face, even when she was calling others by their first names. I always thought it was weird and passive-aggressive. Of course, I never corrected her--after all, "Mister" is accurate, too. And I felt saying something would only make it worse and confirm whatever warped image of me she had in her mind.

    People can get weird about others' education, especially when they have little of it themselves. I'm really glad I'm out of office politics.
     
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  13. SnafuRacer

    SnafuRacer Active Member

    Maybe she was calling you Mister Douglas out of respect for your accomplishments, depending on her background. When I was managing GS employees when I was stationed in Qatar, they would call me Cap (for Captain) or Sir but call others only Sir. In Germany, you wouldn't call others by their first name, they would give you dagger eyes. It was always Herr or Frau So So!
    And now, as a civvy, though I don't speak with the CEO often, everyone calls her Katherine.
     
  14. JoshD

    JoshD Well-Known Member

    I only list my graduate degrees because I am in the business world and my undergraduate degree is in biology.

    JoshD, MBA, MS
     
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  15. SnafuRacer

    SnafuRacer Active Member

    Same, I only list my graduate degree and main certification SnafuRacer MS, CISSP (not listing all 36 of them here lol). I will tack on my MBA when complete.
     
  16. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    Now, I should list my name on the business card as Tekman, Ph.D.(Stud), MBA, PMP, CISSP, C|CISO:D
     
  17. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    While this is generous, it doesn't fit the experience. For example, my deputy was a PhD. This person, the chief of staff, called her by her first name--as she did everyone else. She reserved "Mister" for me. It was truly weird.

    Funny how it didn't matter to me, but it was so noticeable.
     
  18. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I've always struggled with the "almost doctorate" post-nominals people employ. As a minimum, the person doing this should be actively pursuing the degree. Further, I think the only one should be "degree candidate," which comes either after comps are passed or the dissertation proposal has been accepted.
     
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  19. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    It sounds like they should allow multiple Ph.D. designations. :D
    • Ph.D. (Stud) - Ph.D. Student
    • Ph.D. (C) - Ph.D. Candidate / Doctorate Candidate
    • Ph.D. (ABD) - Ph.D. All But Dissertation
    • Ph.D. (AD) - Ph.D. Almost Doctorate
    • Ph.D. (AT) - Ph.D. Almost There
    • Ph.D. (GT) - Ph.D. Getting There
    • Ph.D. (E) - Ph.D. Enroute
    • Ph.D. (A) - Ph.D. Associate/Associating to Doctorate
     
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  20. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    I've noticed that on business cards, some people still include a hierarchy of degrees and credentials. However, in the U.S., this practice of listing post-nominal degrees seems to have declined significantly over time. While it's not as common as it once was, you can occasionally spot certifications or titles in email signatures, though even this is becoming less frequent.

    In contrast, in the U.K., it's always been a more common practice. Many professionals still include their degrees, certifications, and memberships in their LinkedIn profiles and other forms of communication.
     
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