Did you go to college/university or anything?

[Dude]

Post a few job openings that require a degree in philosophy or art history.

You don't need a degree to have knowledge.

[cantthinkofanything]

There are reasons why these degrees exist; people who never expect to hold a related job.

and the fact that by offering these degrees people will be willing to take out student loans to pay for them and the crappy required books. All the while jacking up the cost of legitimate courses that will lead somewhere.

[DMC]

Truth is that a lot of these bull degrees enable mostly women to say they have a degree while they are preparing dinner for their husband's business associates, and that they "just prefer to be a stay at home mom". Or they are lesbians.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

Basically if you paid for your kid's degree and learned later they got one in philosophy instead of the engineering course you thought they were taking, you wouldn't be happy.

My old boss had a son going to UA who he thought was an engineering major and his son claimed that engineering majors start off as sociology majors (don't ask me why his son thought that excuse was sustainable or would work) after his dad saw his transcript and wanted to know why the he was taking so many cheese classes. My boss then wanted me to ask around and confirm that was the case, and once I confirmed that engineering majors don't take any sociology classes, he was ready to strangle his son

[DMC]

My old boss had a son going to UA who he thought was an engineering major and his son claimed that engineering majors start off as sociology majors (don't ask me why his son thought that excuse was sustainable or would work) after his dad saw his transcript and wanted to know why the he was taking so many cheese classes. My boss then wanted me to ask around and confirm that was the case, and once I confirmed that engineering majors don't take any sociology classes, he was ready to strangle his son

But engineering is hard. Sociology is so much more fun and you don't need to study because most of the questions are common sense.

[DMC]

and the fact that by offering these degrees people will be willing to take out student loans to pay for them and the crappy required books. All the while jacking up the cost of legitimate courses that will lead somewhere.

I have nothing against someone who goes through these "programs" because that's their goal, but many of these people do it because they just want a degree in something, and later they cannot afford to pay off their loans and cannot even adequately support themselves. Just like everything else I suppose. , I see people still driving Smart cars.

[CuckingFunt]

http://www.collegecrunch.org/advice/...ees-in-americ/

This is a decent list of ty degrees. Basically, these are degrees a person might get if they just had to get a degree in something but couldn't/wouldn't handle tougher courses.

So, then, your assumption is that graduate level Art History seminars are easy?

[JoeChalupa]

Took some accounting classes but no degree. Still just have a HS diploma. I do have a CPP cerfitification though. Certified Payroll Professional.

[DMC]

So, then, your assumption is that graduate level Art History seminars are easy?

Easier than graduate level engineering thesis.

[CuckingFunt]

There are reasons why these degrees exist; people who never expect to hold a related job. Not everyone is going to do the work required to be a medical professional or engineer. There are plenty BS degrees. Basically if you paid for your kid's degree and learned later they got one in philosophy instead of the engineering course you thought they were taking, you wouldn't be happy. s take classes that make them money, not ones that just make them feel liberated.

Post a few job openings that require a degree in philosophy or art history.

You don't need a degree to have knowledge.

A degree is not simply a measure of knowledge. A degree, especially at the graduate level, is as much as anything else a measure of one's ability to perform in an academic and/or professional environment. That's as true for humanities as it is the sciences.

and the fact that by offering these degrees people will be willing to take out student loans to pay for them and the crappy required books. All the while jacking up the cost of legitimate courses that will lead somewhere.

Once again, it is shortsighted to assume that there is only one destination. The heft of one's eventual paycheck is not the only factor in determining what is "legitimate" or where "somewhere" is.

Truth is that a lot of these bull degrees enable mostly women to say they have a degree while they are preparing dinner for their husband's business associates, and that they "just prefer to be a stay at home mom". Or they are lesbians.

Ah. So we're just getting flustered based on naive and outdated stereotypes. Got it.

[DMC]

[CuckingFunt]

Easier than graduate level engineering thesis.

I have a very dear friend who just finished an advanced engineering program. He's off-the-charts smart and is an incredibly hard worker. I know for a fact his head would explode if he had to do 200-300+ pages worth of academic reading every week and produce 60+ pages of scholarly writing every semester, which is what I did for two years.

[The Gemini Method]

I had dated a girl who was doing her Master's in Art and let me tell you--that area of study was no joke and remembering how stressed she was unforgettable. Glad to see that she is doing quite well for herself and she has had a few art shows since she finished in 2010.

[cantthinkofanything]

I have nothing against someone who goes through these "programs" because that's their goal, but many of these people do it because they just want a degree in something, and later they cannot afford to pay off their loans and cannot even adequately support themselves. Just like everything else I suppose. , I see people still driving Smart cars.

Once again, it is shortsighted to assume that there is only one destination. The heft of one's eventual paycheck is not the only factor in determining what is "legitimate" or where "somewhere" is.

The problem is that in many cases, these people are misinformed about what money they will make and if it justifies taking out a loan. There is so much information available today that I would think if someone's goal was to acquire knowledge about some obscure subject, they could get pretty far without paying for classes.

Not that it would ever happen but maybe have the lenders actually review the degrees and average potential income associated with that degree before handing out money. Loaning an 18 year old money to take classes on Gambian History is as irresponsible as blanketing them with credit card applications.

If someone wants to waste their money and pursue something like that...fine. But don't lend them money that will never be repaid back to do it.

[mrsmaalox]

BSN from UTEP, MSN (acute/critical care) from The Medical College of Georgia.

[CuckingFunt]

The problem is that in many cases, these people are misinformed about what money they will make and if it justifies taking out a loan. There is so much information available today that I would think if someone's goal was to acquire knowledge about some obscure subject, they could get pretty far without paying for classes.

Not that it would ever happen but maybe have the lenders actually review the degrees and average potential income associated with that degree before handing out money. Loaning an 18 year old money to take classes on Gambian History is as irresponsible as blanketing them with credit card applications.

If someone wants to waste their money and pursue something like that...fine. But don't lend them money that will never be repaid back to do it.

I'd be curious to know if humanities majors are actually defaulting on student loans at a (significantly?) higher rate than those who major in something more obviously career/paycheck oriented. That seems a HUGE leap to make based on a hunch. The humanities are looked down upon because, unlike business/law/science/etc. it is not a field of study that funnels you into a particular career path with an obvious point-A-to-point-B trajectory, but it's just plain silly to suggest that those degrees don't lead to jobs and that, as a result, huge populations of humanities majors are defaulting on their student loans based solely on the frivolity of their chosen field.

As for the rest, I am fundamentally opposed to making loan approval contingent upon major. That's just taking advanced education further down a path that I already find troubling.

[Fpoonsie]

BA in Gen Studies, UNT.

Didn't see it on DMC's list of degrees; then again, it may be SO worthless that the -level was simply understood.

[DMC]

I have a very dear friend who just finished an advanced engineering program. He's off-the-charts smart and is an incredibly hard worker. I know for a fact his head would explode if he had to do 200-300+ pages worth of academic reading every week and produce 60+ pages of scholarly writing every semester, which is what I did for two years.

Here you both judge the intelligence of an engineering grad (from an Art History major perspective) and then attempt to blow it away with the volume of papers you wrote. Need I say more?

[leemajors]

Hey everyone, DMC got an Engineering degree and it was really hard.

[GoodOdor]

I had to write 200 pages about the french pseudo tartarlakalala period status for my art history class, was so hard

[benefactor]

lol degree measuring contests

[DMC]

The problem is that in many cases, these people are misinformed about what money they will make and if it justifies taking out a loan. There is so much information available today that I would think if someone's goal was to acquire knowledge about some obscure subject, they could get pretty far without paying for classes.

Not that it would ever happen but maybe have the lenders actually review the degrees and average potential income associated with that degree before handing out money. Loaning an 18 year old money to take classes on Gambian History is as irresponsible as blanketing them with credit card applications.

If someone wants to waste their money and pursue something like that...fine. But don't lend them money that will never be repaid back to do it.

A lot of these young people who pick those "just for fun" classes never stepped out on their own and don't yet know the rigors of trying to survive on a day to day basis. It's akin to knowing you're about to embark on a 2 week hiking excursion and taking a bag of trail mix and some fun foods. When hunger sets in and you lack the energy to continue because what you brought isn't adequate, someone has to assist you.

If these people are just lounging around the pad contemplating even looking for gainful employment while mom and dad foot the bill, any degree will do, whatever makes them feel more culturally significant I suppose.

However, there's no defense of the " studies" bit. That's like someone took classes as a prank. It's actually a decent troll.

[DMC]

Hey everyone, I'm embarrassed of my degree

English? History? Two degrees that only allow you to teach. It's a Ponzi scheme in education.

[cantthinkofanything]

humanities majors are actually defaulting on student loans at a (significantly?) higher rate than those who major in something more obviously career/paycheck oriented. ... as a result, huge populations of humanities majors are defaulting on their student loans... That's just... further down a path that I already find troubling.

I agree 100%

[CuckingFunt]

Here you both judge the intelligence of an engineering grad (from an Art History major perspective) and then attempt to blow it away with the volume of papers you wrote. Need I say more?

Thanks for the condescension, but you forgot the word "lowly."