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degree questions and answers

More information about degree at Education News.

Q: What is the best grad degree to study/work with gangs. Is it psychology, religion, social work, or sociology?
I have a BA in psychology and near completing my MA in Recovery Ministry (Theology degree). I am interested in a second MA. Some degrees I find teach one class about gangs. I want to locate a degree that focus on gangs. I found degrees in Addiction, but not all gang members are addicts!! Thank you.

A: It's certainly not psychology. It is between social work and sociology, and I think it's sociology.

Q: Is an associates degree enough to suceed in the film industry?
I live in Florida and want to get an A.S in Motion Picture production at Palm Beach Community College. A lot of film directors either have no degree, a bachelors, or a masters. How will an A.S look on my resume? I will do internships as its part of the degree. Should I just get a bachelors?

A: Education on film makers is a way of occupying time and making more contacts, get all the contacts you can. However, you are correct in that a person in film making does not need an education as much as he/she need experience and training and talent. If you have the later then you can obtain the other things. Simply keep working on making a film and keep your ideas to yourself unless you are pitching them to a producer.

Q: What degree should I pursue if I want to become a doctor/physician working for the government?
I know that I must attain a Medical Degree (M.D or D.O) in post graduate school. What kind of undergraduate degree should I attain, or should I double major or minor in another field.

A: Depends entirely upon what you want to do. You could join the services (Army, Navy, etc.) and they will pay for much of you advanced education but you wil likely end up a GP. If you want to work in a research lab such as the Center for Disease Control, then micro-biology or communicable diseases should be your focus. Then again, where do you want to live? Walter Reed Hospital area? Bethesda, MD? Over and above a desire to work for the government, what are you really interest in? Whether you want to cure cancer or mend broken bones, do what makes you happy. There will be an opening for you somewhere. No sense specializing in something you really don't care about. If you do what really interests you, it will not seem like work everyday.

Q: What degree would compliment a Chemical Engineering Degree best?
This is my first year in college but due to AP and math credit from community college before coming to college, I will have over 70 credit hours after this semester. This gives me more than enough time to get another degree and graduate on time, but what degrees should I think about?

A: Depends what you want to do. Chem + Aerospace = Weapons/Defense Chem + Biology = Great for Med School Chem + Environmental = Work for EPA (Environmental Prot. Agency) Chem + Business = Upper Management for Chemical Companies (also great for consulting) Chem + Physics = Professor Chem + Materials = Materials Engineer Chem + Nuclear = Alternative & Green Energy Sources It depends what you do and what classes you take.

Q: What degree do you have to get to become a paleontologist?
What degree is required exactly to become a paleontologist? Are there any schools in Washington state that have such degrees?

A: I believe its an archeology major..

Q: What degree is required to become a elementary/high school librarian?
I am a current college student working on a major of English Language and Literature Bachelor of Arts degree, and I'm wondering what the next steps I'll need to take to become a librarian. I would be happy just being a librarian, but my real hope is to work in a school. I am also planning to follow with a master's in Library Science. Am I going on the right path, or do you think there will be other education I'll need, like a teaching degree?

A: In the United States, the master's in Library Science is the entry degree for librarians. I have worked in both public and academic libraries and for professional positions your application is not even considered if you don't have an MLS/MLIS/MIS. Having said that, most libraries have "non-professional" or "paraprofessional" positions that do not require a master's. And the requirements for school librarians or "media specialists" vary widely from state to state. In some states only a certification program is required for school librarians -- in those cases no MLS is required, though I can't imagine it could hurt your chances. Never having worked as a school librarian I know very little about these programs. Talk to someone at a library school about your plans, and they will help you make the decisions most appropriate for your career. And good luck!

Q: What sort of degree is needed to land a job in the energy efficiency sector?
I want to go back to school to get my masters in an energy efficiency/sustainability field, but I don't know what path to take. I have an undergrad degree in Real Estate & Metropolitan Development. When I have the capital, I would like to develop energy efficient homes in NYC and aboard. But, in the meantime, I want to go back to school and learn more about the field. Does anyone have any ideas what degree path would compliment my real estate degree?

A: I don't think an extra degree is going to help you much. Most of the pioneers in the field are self taught. Perhaps the most applicable degree would be a B.Sc. in engineering, but no matter what you take, it will only cover a very small part of a broad field. If you move beyond energy efficiency and into sustainability, then it gets very diverse. Bio-gas, radical changes in home design, solar collectors, wind generators, bio-diesel, local food production, community planning, cultural changes etc. If you go to www.nlcpr.com and look at "further reading" you will find a bunch of ESSN newsletters (free) that will teach you a lot. Read all the links. Some of them are real eye-openers and might give you some ideas. The World Bank paper on evaporative cooling for example is very interesting -- perhaps you could correspond with the authors and find how they managed to get on that project. If you really want to be an expert, start with your own house and turn it into a science experiment. Get a kWh meter and an IR thermometer and start measuring things, questioning things, and if you own the house, you can install a hydronics heating system, improve the insulation, experiment with solar collectors and many other things. In the process you will become very knowledgeable and very much aware of the issues. The biggest problem is finding a job in a sector that isn't profitable. This will change when fuel prices soar again, but that doesn't help you now. If you imagine yourself working for the World Bank or some other NGO, then check their website to see what they are looking for. I am sure that a Masters or PhD would help you get in -- but I am not sure the debt is worth it nor the politics. Perhaps you can promote yourself and write articles and create a stellar resume. Maybe you can create your own business and be a leader. Hope it works out because it has the potential to be a career that you could enjoy and one that is needed.

Q: Can course work from a completed degree be used to complete another degree?
Can course work from a completed degree be used to complete another degree? So for example if I graduate from a college can I use some of that coursework to complete another degree at a different college? Or once you graduate does the coursework "close" up?

A: For associates and bachelor's degrees; you can use some of the same coursework for multiple degree. Different schools have different rules but the general rule of thumb is that you can expect to have to complete 25% of the degree requirements fresh in the new degree program. So, if an associates you want requires 60 hours and you already have 120 (even if they meet all 60 of the associate degree requirements) you can expect to be required to complete at least 15 hours of new coursework for the degree. If a bachelor's you want requires 120 hours and you already have a bachelor's at 120 hours -- you can expect to be required to complete at least 30 hours of new coursework for the second bachelor's. This isn't usually an issue because there will be some lost hours in transfer and new degree requirements you didn't take in your first degree that will take care of that requirement for new hours. An important consideration when you're planning a second or third degree at the same level is the 'second degree rules' at the college. They vary from school-to-school and can be very strict. Most people never encounter this because they only get one degree at each level. You need to make sure you find this in the catalog and follow it. With graduate degrees it's different. Most master's programs won't transfer more than 6 hours though some will transfer as many as 12-15. Some schools do have a sequential master's degree though - if you already have a master's degree then they only require that you complete the core requirements of the second degree since the first master's can serve as electives. Understand though - most master's degrees don't allow for a lot of electives to start with.

Q: What coursework/degrees do you need to become a pharmacist if you already have a college degree?
I have a Bachelor of Sciences and took Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Into Physics, Microbiology, and Intro Bio (AP Credit). What other course work would I need to become a Pharmacist and how long would a degree take (I assume a master's in Pharmacy?)? Thank you. I do not have a BS in Pharmacy. My BS is in Communications.

A: In order to become a newly practicing pharmacist in the US you need to have a Doctorate in Pharmacy (PharmD). It's four more years of school, some programs are only three years, but they are year-round. Prerequisites vary from school to school, usually you need the basic science courses, economics, and a speech class. Looks like you've completed most of the necessary classes, you just need to apply to a school. You can apply for and be accepted to pharmacy school before you've finished all the prerequisites also, you just have to complete all of them prior to enrolling. I would look at the websites of the schools you're interested in to verify that you've completed or can complete all the required classes. I enrolled at the local JC for the classes I was missing. Good luck.

Q: Is getting a degree at Harvard Medical school a waste of money, does it matter where you go to medical school?
I'm planning to apply to 13 different medical schools, among them are Harvard and Columbia, but does it really matter where a doctor goes to medical school? Would I really be heads above other people when applying for positions with a degree from an Ivy League school?

A: All medical schools are created equal and that equality is assured by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the accrediting authority, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. People who allege one medical school is better than another, based on the education provided, are wrong. If any medical school was inferior to another it would lose its accreditation or, stated another way, no medical school is permitted to graduate a majority of "C" students while other schools graduate a majority of "A" students. All medical schools are required to administer the NBME's Shelf Exams at the end of each class. These exams are scored by the NBME, not the schools. If Harvard produced superior results to the Medical College of Georgia, do you think that MCG wouldn't adopt Harvard's curriculum or that MCG would be continued to be allowed to produce inferior doctors? Would you accept that a Volkswagen was the best car based on 5 people saying that it was the best car? Would your opinion change if all 5 worked for Volkswagen? Many people respond to questions about "the best medical schools" and cite the US News and World Report's annual article about medical school rankings. They don't have a clue how the magazine made those determinations. In the most recent published rankings list there were as little as five respondents and those were all medical school college Deans. Hardly a statistically valid sampling, wouldn't you agree? Why were there so few respondents? Because the Association of American Medical Colleges objects to the criteria used and the method of sampling, so the majority of medical schools refuse to participate. If you're going to become a physician you need to know the source of any data you're going to rely on or prove it yourself--and in this case, the information is readily available on the Internet--all you have to do is Google it. To correct some other misinformation--all medical schools have to have research opportunities available for medical students (it's an accreditation requirement). At primary care oriented schools the research is an option. At research oriented medical schools it is mandatory and the focus for the students is not the research itself but the proper scientific method for conducting and reporting how research is done. The research is done by both instructors (that's one of the carrots used to attract top research scientists to teach at medical schools) and paid researchers. In addition, most medical researchers have advanced science degrees, not just the MD. So why do the Harvards and Johns Hopkins of the world have reputations as being "the best"? It's a three part answer. First, the "best" known names have earned their reputations on the quality of the residency programs provided (and residency programs have nothing to do with a medical school), the quality, number and types of research conducted (again, nothing to do with the medical school itself) and the medical centers associated with each program. Secondly, the history of the Ivy League schools arises from over a century ago when only the wealthy could afford to go to college. As the economy changed and more of the 'common' people could afford college, the "Ivy League" schools raised their tuition to keep out the riff-raff, thus maintaining their standard of catering to society's elite class. But many of the programs at Ivy League schools do produce superior graduates. The MBA programs at Harvard and Wharton are the 'Gold" standard in business. The law programs at Princeton and Yale are also "Gold' standards. the same for engineering, physics, etc,, but not medicine. Medicine is the only specialty that has a quality assurance governing authority. Third, reputations are really marketing's sleight of hand. For example, the National Insitute of Health is the other often-cited ranking system for medical schools. However, this 'ranking' is based on the amount of research dollars given to each school, which, again, has nothing to do with the quality of the education provided at a school. But that doesn't stop some schools from claiming "We're # X according to the NIH". So, to answer your question in a different way, would you be heads above other people with a degree from an Ivy League school? Maybe to the naive. But the medical community only cares where you did your residency, as that denotes the quality of your education. You can spend $50,000/semester at an Ivy League school or less than $20,000/semester at your own state's university medical school and both will get you to your MD. The name of the school on your diploma doesn't get you into the better residency programs. What does get you in are the scores you obtain on the USMLE exams and the quality of the reviews you received during your clinical rotations. One last little poke in the ribs--UCLA came to the University of Maryland to copy UM's Emergency Medicine residency program and that's why the University

Q: How would this degree and certificate look together on a resume?
I am looking at going back to school for 2009. Would having an Associates degree in business administration and a certificate in human resource management be a good combo on a resume? Or would I be just wasting my time? Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated! Ps. I am wanting to work more as an administrative assistant but work myself up the ladder. I am excited at the thought of learning more of how a business runs and such. Thanks!

A: I think it would be marketable. Both are relevant to the job that you want. You should also check out www.bls.gov/oco. Type in a career and it gives info on earnings, job growth, and education needed. Oh, don't just stop at an Associate's, go for the bachelor! Good luck!

Q: What is the difference between a bachelor degrre and a honorous degree?
Hi to everyone living in an English speaker country!!!! I am from Mexico and looking forward to study a MA in South Africa, among the requirments are to hold a honours degree and for a honours degree it s required a BA degree. I am a bit confused, in Mexico we do not have that system only waht is called Honorous mention at your dissertation in BA degree. Thank you and best regards!!!!!!

A: Hi I've been living in SA all my life. It really depends on what you're studying. I studied Bachelors in Engineering and is currently busy with my Honours. School Matric (Gr12) -> Bachelors -> Honours -> Masters -> Doctorates -> Professor Some bachelor degrees are only 4 years study while some are 3 years. The BEng degree is 4 years, the HonEng is 1 year, the Masters is 1 year (note: this is the minimum years). The fastest you can get a MEng is in 6 years but most do it in 7 or 8 years. I'm not sure but for the BA it is 3 years, 1 year for honours, 1/2 for masters. The only reason they say the BA honours is 4 years is because you're doing the bachelors in 3 years. Hope it helps....

Q: What are the degree requirements to teach in California?
What are the degree requirements to teach in California? Do you have to get your Masters within a few years like NY or can you get by on a Bachelor's Degree?

A: To teach in Elementary School (multiple subject, self-contained classrooms) you must have at least a BA/BS in any subject, with a credential. To teach a single subject (High School, etc.) you need a BA or BS in that subject and a credential. It would be best if you contact the State of California through http://www.ctc.ca.gov/default.html . That is the State Credentialing Office. They have all the answers. You do not need a Masters to teach in California in K-12 education, and you usually only get $1000 extra per year for it. Good Luck.

Q: What type of degree to pursue to become a Marriage and Family Therapist?
I am thinking about a career in Marriage and Family Therapy. Just finished my undergrad and I want to know what type of degree I need to become an MFT. Also, does anyone know what type of income MFT's make? And does anyone know of any good degree programs in Boston area grad school?

A: You have a few options.... (1) Get an MSW. Become a clinical social worker and specialize in marriage and family therapy. (2) Get a masters degree in clinical psychology. In *some* (but not all!) states you will be able to become a licensed professional counselor after completing a masters in clinical psych. It's really important that you look into this first though to see if Massachusetts provides licensure for masters-level therapists. If you don't have a license, you can't be reimbursed by insurance companies and will have a hard time getting referrals (3) Get a PhD, PsyD, or EdD in psychology. Were you a psychology major as an undergrad? If you were, you probably know how hard these programs are to get into (the national acceptance rate is about 4-7%). To really improve your chances of getting in, you need to have extensive research experience and should try to work with a research psychologist who is currently publishing so that you can get your name on either a publication or presentation. It also helps to have some type of clinical experience (working at a crisis hotline, working with autistic children, etc.). It's definitely possible to get into these program, but most people take a few years off between undergrad and clinical psych doctoral programs so the other options might be better if you're interested in continuing your education right away. I am not aware of any state that allows someone with a bachelors degree perform therapy in any type of unsupervised or independent capacity.

Q: Whats the difference between third degree murder and manslaughter?
If first degree murder means there was premeditation, and second degree means there was intent without premeditation, wouldn't that make third degree accidentally killing a person? How is that different from manslaughter?

A: Every single jurisdiction has it's own laws. But there's a general consensus. Third degree murder is killing another human being without any justification or excuse. Murder has some intent to kill once things get going. Not premeditated though. Manslaughter is when there was somewhat of an excuse, you were being reckless or negligent and killed someone. Well, this is involuntary manslaughter. There are many stages of manslaughter, so i won't go into them. hope it helps.