Micky Mouse Degrees

[Miss_M]

A university in England has started offering masters degrees in 'Social Media' i.e. social networking.

http://tech.uk.msn.com/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=147921274
http://www.salford.ac.uk/course-finder/course/1901

What are your feelings on these so-called 'Micky Mouse Degrees'? I'm well aware that I'm a bit of a snob academically, I mean yes, surfing may well be your hobby but I fail to see the value of an honours degree in it.

I think higher education is a great thing that should be available to as many people as possible, but frankly who is going to take qualifications like these seriously? I know a lot of people considered 'sports science' degrees to be a joke and I've heard it refered to as P.E. with GCSE biology thrown in before, but surely this takes the cake? Have you heard of any even more ridiculour courses?

I mean, would you be prepared to spend three years of your life and get yourself £20,000 in debt for a degree in youtube?

 

[Spacelord]

I think women's studies qualifies as a rather useless addition to one's resume. But then again, I don't think having a degree in history is relevant to the job market.

In recent years our school has started adopting the major/minor model, where next to your major you have to pick at least 2 minors. With names like Game Design & Technology, Trendwatching and Aging: Your Future. And my current major is Human Resource Management. *sigh* And even better: you only have to have a good bullshit story about why it's relevant to your future field of work to apply.

The thing with most schools these days (at least in my country) is that they've got to have as many applications as possible each year to stay afloat. If that means lowering the bar a little, or making up bullshit majors, then that's a sacrifice more than most schools have to make. This goes double for private schools.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Any subject with the word "Studies" in the name.

If it falls into that category it's bullshit.

 

[CakeDragon]

When looking for courses to study at Uni, I came across courses like Disaster Management and Gender Studies. I mean, how on earth do you spend 3 or 4 years studying this?

McDonalds now has its' own A-Level course. Seriously now...

 

[Miss_M]

Women's studies pisses me off. It's so patronising. Also, you could never get away with a degree in 'Men's Studies', though arguably that's any history qualification (ooh, social commentary).

This might make me sound a ***** but I can't help but feel that some of these degrees are there to give stupid people the chance to go to uni. If you're not academic enough or just plain didn't work hard enough at school, accept it and find something that you're good at.

That's the other thing that blows my mind as well - no employer would take these qualifications seriously - you're not even doing yourself a favour (perhaps other than an enflated ego).

 

[olicon]

Last time I check, youtube is worth about 50 times your mortgage.
That'd probably be why.

I don't know what they actually teach there, but I assume it'd be a mix between business, marketing, journalism, with a mix of tech studies thrown in. Sounds like it could be pretty highly desirable in the future..if they change the course name.

 

[Miss_M]

Well a friend of mine is currently going for a degree in philosophy. I know far too many art students. Basically these things are fun but not especially useful in real life. I mean if I was rich I would go do a few art classes but do not ever plan on getting a job with this shit.

I love philosophy and would have liked to apply for a degree course in it. But I knew it would in no way help me with a career, so I chose my other passion and applied for a degree in forensic archaeology, because I know I can make a living out of it. I don't have the time or money at this stage in my life to do a degree for shits and giggles.

Though with degrees like Phiolosophy, it does improve chances in unrelated graduate career because it shows you are capable of commitment and high level thinking, but I have have no interest in business or fiance, so that wouldn't have even helped me there.

 

[Helnurath]

I think women's studies qualifies as a rather useless addition to one's resume. But then again, I don't think having a degree in history is relevant to the job market.

In recent years our school has started adopting the major/minor model, where next to your major you have to pick at least 2 minors. With names like Game Design & Technology, Trendwatching and Aging: Your Future. And my current major is Human Resource Management. *sigh* And even better: you only have to have a good bullshit story about why it's relevant to your future field of work to apply.

The thing with most schools these days (at least in my country) is that they've got to have as many applications as possible each year to stay afloat. If that means lowering the bar a little, or making up bullshit majors, then that's a sacrifice more than most schools have to make. This goes double for private schools.

Wouldn't a degree in studying women take a lifetime to complete?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

 

[Miss_M]

Last time I check, youtube is worth about 50 times your mortgage.
That'd probably be why.

I don't know what they actually teach there, but I assume it'd be a mix between business, marketing, journalism, with a mix of tech studies thrown in. Sounds like it could be pretty highly desirable in the future..if they change the course name.

The degree isn't in forming websites like youtube/facebook/etc. It's in using it =S

 

[Skeleon]

Anything is more useful than business studies, so I'd say these have the right to exist as well.

 

[Daveman]

I know a lot of people considered 'sports science' degrees to be a joke and I've heard it refered to as P.E. with GCSE biology thrown in before

Not what I've heard, I know a girl at my school going to loughborough to do sports science and she needs three As at A level. It's pretty high end stuff, not like actual biology or anything, but still challenging and worthwhile.

To be honest I've never seen the point in English degrees. Especially when you can just go out and be a writer anyway. If I had my way all subjects taught at university would be applied science or engineering.

 

[Spacelord]

Wouldn't a degree in studying women take a lifetime to complete?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Lucky for you, recent scientific breakthroughs have led to a comprehensive diagram [http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/images/personality.gif] for your perusal.

 

[Sewblon]

Using Youtube and Facebook is a better way to learn about them then going to college.

 

[Spacelord]

Women's studies pisses me off. It's so patronising. Also, you could never get away with a degree in 'Men's Studies', though arguably that's any history qualification (ooh, social commentary).

Men's studies, curriculum:
Beer appreciation 101
Advanced driving
Urinal etiquette
Advanced urinal etiquette

XD Seriously though, if there was a minor in Men's Studies, I'd go. What can I say? I'm as big a sucker as the next college undergrad.

This might make me sound a ***** but I can't help but feel that some of these degrees are there to give stupid people the chance to go to uni. If you're not academic enough or just plain didn't work hard enough at school, accept it and find something that you're good at.

As I said: those desks need to be full! And since average proficiency in math and language is at an all time low, you have to start making up bullshit majors that don't require a proficiency in either. Like art school!

 

[UpcountryGecko]

I feel that there are too many 'mickey mouse' degrees and subjects too but I don't think some of you realise that some of the degrees you are criticising aren't these. An example

I think women's studies qualifies as a rather useless addition to one's resume. But then again, I don't think having a degree in history is relevant to the job market.

In this part of the persons quote I'm criticising is the criticism of history. I agree that the knowledge of history doesn't get you very far but degrees are often prestiged on the way they make you think to answer the questions and history is one of the more prestigious degrees.

People's criticism of philosphy I feel isn't valid ever. My evidence for this is that the majority - 80% plus - of British prime ministers have studyed PPE (Politics, Philosophy & Economics) so suggesting that having philosphy as part of your course results in lack of sucess isn't true in my opinion.

All off this is my opinion so there probably is mistakes and lack of information to back up my points so feel free to criticise as much as you want.

 

[XJ-0461]

When looking for courses to study at Uni, I came across courses like Disaster Management and Gender Studies. I mean, how on earth do you spend 3 or 4 years studying this?

McDonalds now has its' own A-Level course. Seriously now...

What would that even be? I'm guessing it's "flip burger. Repeat until better job or suicide."