Exam-only degree possible?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by VforVincent, Dec 8, 2019.

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  1. VforVincent

    VforVincent New Member

    I already have a master of law degree, and I write academic articles. I'm very interested in continued education - but not if I have to write class-specific papers/make ppt-presentations etc. as I regard this as a waste of time.
    I don't mind if the exams are difficult.
     
  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    If you already have a Masters degree then what sort of degree interests you?
     
  3. VforVincent

    VforVincent New Member

    Psychology, criminology, sociology, literature - even natural sciences. I have broad interests.
     
  4. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    The short answer is no. It is possible to test out of a 2 year degree with the exception of 1 class at 3 colleges in the USA. It is possible to test out of a 4 year degree with the exception of 2 classes at 3 colleges. I do not believe there are any colleges in the USA that allow a fully testable master's degree or doctorate degree.
     
  5. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    But if you already have a Masters degree why would you even consider getting another Bachelors degree?
     
  6. VforVincent

    VforVincent New Member

    out of general interest?
     
  7. Steve Levicoff

    Steve Levicoff Well-Known Member

    As Kevin Costner said in American Flyers, "Sounds like Bull Shinto to me."
     
    cookderosa likes this.
  8. Steve Levicoff

    Steve Levicoff Well-Known Member

    And now, to expand on my brief response above . . .

    There is no indication, one way or the other, that the O.P. even has a bachelor’s degree, or that he is looking toward a second bachelor’s.

    Keep in mind that in the United States, the Master of Law(s), or L.L.M. degree, is a post-Juris Doctorate degree, i.e., it comes after a first professional law degree. In Europe, it is a standalone degree that does not always require a previously earned J.D. Or necessarily a bachelor's.

    But our protagonist claims to have some type of L.L.M. degree and to “write academic articles.” And he appears to confirm in subsequent posts that he is, in fact, looking for bachelor’s-level degrees, whether or not he already has a bachelor’s.

    And that’s where the Bull Shinto comes in to play. I don’t perceive someone with an L.L.M. writing “academic articles” without other experience or other credentials. Therefore, I question whether this wazoo even knows what an academic article per se is.

    Frankly, I doubt it. If he did, and if he knew how to do independent research at all, he would have known the answer to his original question merely by doing a search, either on Google or here at DI – the question has been addressed multiple times over the years.

    And that, in the end run, makes him lazy. And a bum who merely wants to rack up one or more additional degrees that he doesn’t need in the first place. Or perhaps he does . . .

    Well, I’ve found that one degree of each “flavor” is more than enough. So if this character wants to earn more of the same, more power to him. It remind me of the traditional meaning of the B.S. degree. The M.S. is “more of the same,” and the Ph.D. is “piled higher and deeper.”

    Which still makes it Bull Shinto.
     
  9. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Or you could just read a few books. You know, out of general interest. You don't need a degree for that. Take a few MOOCs. Get a library card. I'd suggest that you start with some Dickens

    https://openlibrary.org/
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2019
  10. VforVincent

    VforVincent New Member

    Ok. Thanks for the help; done here now
     
  11. Steve Levicoff

    Steve Levicoff Well-Known Member

    We'll miss you, Vince - you were great entertainment.
    Next thing you know, there will be someone here for whom one doctorate isn't enough. Go figure . . . :emoji_grin:
     
  12. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  13. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    See now, you were all analytical and stuff. I figured that anyone who says they write (academic papers) but also considers writing (academic papers) a waste of time is possibly someone who writes (other's academic TERM PAPERS) for a fee and is looking for credentials. Either way, it's a good question, and it can be done. Not cheaply, and not like BAin4Weeks, but if you have an extra ten grand sitting around and don't mind taking 2 classes, you can for sure test out of the rest. He didn't follow up with the expected "which 3 schools" question, so I let it go. (of course, i really enjoyed your reply though lol)
     
  14. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I seem to be missing a post from this thread?
     
  15. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    To my knowledge, nothing has been removed from this thread. Perhaps you meant to post but never got around to it? In any case, the thread is open and you are free to post what you like.
     
  16. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Thanks! I'm sure I failed to post it. It was trivial....
     
  17. StevenKing

    StevenKing Active Member

    There are worse things one can spend money upon if the desire is legitimate. For example, I plan to undertake a doctorate eventually and I'll probably get a computer science degree from UofP for grins.
     
  18. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    I agree with that! When I get this last teen out of school, I'll be blowing all my discretionary income on an extra degree. I think the questions are more about the legitimacy of the poster (who seems to have vanished).
     
  19. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I agree with both you and Jennifer. The op only wants to "test out" of a degree. Now to me that means he's only interested in the piece of paper - not really interested in "learning" as much as having the degree. Well that's not exactly a pure motive in my opinion but it's not a terrible thing either. But it makes me want to ask what the purpose of the degree might be - what's the goal? I tried to get that information but he was not being especially forthcoming in that regard. A person has a Masters degree and then wants to test out of what I assume is a second Bachelors degree. If it was just for the pleasure of learning an interesting subject then I'd assume he'd want to actually take the courses, read all the books, have all the discussions, write all the papers, etc. I guess not.
     
  20. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I'm not sure that's fair. The idea of testing out of credits is that one already has the learning and can demonstrate it. It is a bad thing to teach something to somebody who already knows it.
     

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