Masters and BS from Same School. Ideas?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by ashton, Oct 23, 2003.

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  1. ashton

    ashton New Member

    If I recall correctly, 49 of the 50 states do not "accredit", they license, or charter, or some similar word. The only state I know of that is recognised by the US Dept. of Education to accredit schools is the State of New York. See http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg8.html#Title%20IV%20Recognition and search within the page for "NEW YORK BOARD OF REGENTS".

    My impression is that the New York Regents will not accredit an institution unless it is on track to receive regional or national accreditation by a US Dept. of Ed. recognized accreditor.

    If the institution you are considering is not accredited by a recognized accreditor, the disadvantages will dwarf any issue of receiving a bachelor's and master's degree from the same institution.
     
  2. mauditt

    mauditt New Member

    Is there a disadvantage to getting a graduate degree from the same school where I got my undergrad degree? Your thoughts and opinions will be greately appreciated.
    The scenario I am considering, is getting an MBA-IT from the same school I got my BS-CIS degree from. Obviously, the targeted university is a DL institution and state accredited.

    Thanks,
    DS
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 23, 2003
  3. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    In general I'd advise anyone to go to the best school that they can 1) actually get admitted and 2) afford. If this means your Bachelors degree and Masters degree wind up being from the same school then I wouldn't worry about it any further.
    Jack
     
  4. tcnixon

    tcnixon Active Member


    There is a one school of thought that those preparing for professorships should get their bachelor's, master's, and doctorate all from different schools. The theory being that you get exposed to more professors and more ideas.

    I got my BA and my MA from the same school. I don't think it's made any difference at all. Of course, I don't think I've ever applied any place that cared where I got the degrees at (as long as I actually had them).



    Tom
     
  5. mauditt

    mauditt New Member

    Ashton,

    I meant to say "regionally" accredited. I'm also talking about WGU, if that makes a difference.

    Thanks,
    DS
     
  6. SanDiegoGeek

    SanDiegoGeek New Member

    It really depends on the subject. For what you're looking at, it's fine. In some of the sciences it's frowned upon, because you get only one department's perspective, and each department has a definite slant/zeitgeist.
     
  7. tcnixon

    tcnixon Active Member

    I think this must be more common in the U.S. Quite a few schools don't make the distinction between undergraduate and graduate faculty, it seems. Many professors teach both.





    Tom Nixon
     
  8. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    In industry, it usually will not make a difference whether you get your degrees from the same university of two difference ones. This is also true if you were looking to teach at the community college level (which typically requires no higher than the masters degree).

    Most universities do like it if you get your degrees from at least two different schools for the reasons outlined above. It is most common that someone will:

    1) earn the BA and MA at one school and the PhD at a different school OR

    2) earn the BA at one school and the PhD at a different school.

    While I have heard many who hire faculty (myself being one of them) requesting a preference for someone with degrees at different schools, I have never heard anyone at a college or university state that earning the BA, MA and PhD at three different schools was a requirement (since relatively few people do that). The Degreeinfo membership seems to have a much higher than normal population of people with degree from more than two schools (not a bad thing at all-just not necessary for employment).

    Having said all this, there are thousands of faculty members with all of their degrees from the same school. I have been involved in the hiring of numerous faculty members over the years and have NEVER heard of any instance where a faculty member was not hired on the basis of having all his/her degrees from the same school (even at research universities)

    For what it's worth.

    Tony Pina
    Faculty, Cal State U. San Bernardino
     
  9. Professor Kennedy

    Professor Kennedy New Member

    I have occassionally been asked this question and usually by people who have been told by somebody in academe who suggests that it is a known preference that you should have your Bachellor and masters degree from different universities.

    I suspect it is a kind way of discouraging somebody from applying to do his or her masters at that institution and sending them elsewhere!

    In my experience it must be a small department in which the undergraduate faculty also teach the post-graduate faculty (though some do both), so exposure to more professors seems lame.

    Does it matter? Not in my view as a principle. I did my bachelor and masters at the same university and nobody has raised this with me, nor have I heard anybody else comment on this aspect of a candidate's resume.
     

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