By Marissa Potter
The conventional way of getting a degree is going to school for a certain number of years after which the degree is awarded on completion of the units of study required. Life experience degrees however disqualify this, as it is not necessary for one to attend classes and sit exams for a number of years to be in possession of such a degree. In order to get one, all that is needed is enough years of experience in the relevant field.
Is such a degree equal in value to one gotten through endless number of classes and exams? This is a question whose answer is relative. For some it is a big yes and for others a big no. Proponents of this concept as well as the opponents back up their stand with reasonable arguments.
For example, for one to be awarded a bachelors degree, he or she would require having four years of expertise working in the relevant field of work to the degree that he or she wants. For courses that take longer than four years, the number of years of know how required is also more. This would therefore mean that in order to get a masters degree, one would require six years of expertise and for a doctorate degree eight years.
Those who oppose the concept make it clear that they are not trying to undermine the importance of experience in the job market. They agree that it is an important element. Their point of disagreement comes when know-how in a particular field id treated like an academic qualification. This is where the problem lies.
One of the reasons why they oppose this concept is that the work environment is full of repetitive practices. The same person will do the same thing in the same way every day. After doing this for four years, the person is given a degree and considers him or herself as qualified as that person who went to school for the four years and was taught a wide variety of issues relating to the job.
Again, they argue that there are some general education core courses that one has to learn when getting a degree the conventional way. It is nearly impossible for a single individual to be experienced in all the fields covered by these general courses. Some of these courses include communications, world history, algebra and many more.
Proponents for these degrees on the other hand argue that the main reason why students go to the university is so that they are equipped with the knowledge required to do their respective jobs. If someone has been able to do that job for say four years, it means he or she has the knowledge required for the job. Were it not so, he or she would not have been able to do the job for such a long time.
Both proponents and critics have strong arguments with regards to life experience degrees. Whichever side one is on, the fact is that these degrees are here with us and they are here to stay. What with the increasing number of institutions that offer them.
Is such a degree equal in value to one gotten through endless number of classes and exams? This is a question whose answer is relative. For some it is a big yes and for others a big no. Proponents of this concept as well as the opponents back up their stand with reasonable arguments.
For example, for one to be awarded a bachelors degree, he or she would require having four years of expertise working in the relevant field of work to the degree that he or she wants. For courses that take longer than four years, the number of years of know how required is also more. This would therefore mean that in order to get a masters degree, one would require six years of expertise and for a doctorate degree eight years.
Those who oppose the concept make it clear that they are not trying to undermine the importance of experience in the job market. They agree that it is an important element. Their point of disagreement comes when know-how in a particular field id treated like an academic qualification. This is where the problem lies.
One of the reasons why they oppose this concept is that the work environment is full of repetitive practices. The same person will do the same thing in the same way every day. After doing this for four years, the person is given a degree and considers him or herself as qualified as that person who went to school for the four years and was taught a wide variety of issues relating to the job.
Again, they argue that there are some general education core courses that one has to learn when getting a degree the conventional way. It is nearly impossible for a single individual to be experienced in all the fields covered by these general courses. Some of these courses include communications, world history, algebra and many more.
Proponents for these degrees on the other hand argue that the main reason why students go to the university is so that they are equipped with the knowledge required to do their respective jobs. If someone has been able to do that job for say four years, it means he or she has the knowledge required for the job. Were it not so, he or she would not have been able to do the job for such a long time.
Both proponents and critics have strong arguments with regards to life experience degrees. Whichever side one is on, the fact is that these degrees are here with us and they are here to stay. What with the increasing number of institutions that offer them.
About the Author:
Read more about Important Information About Life Experience Degrees visiting our website.