On Fri, 2 Nov 2001, Cheri Budzynski wrote:
> This is a very interesting point. I am working on a new program in
> psychology and I have been involved in some of the marketing. The students
> in this program are adults that may want to get their BA/BS but may not want
> to go on to graduate school. When asked, what can you do with a BA/BS in
> psychology, I often don't know what to say.
Cheri, I would submit--dare I use that word?--that the answer is:
"anything you want." If a person graduates with what I call a "bachelor
of experiences" rather than a bachelor of grades, that person is not
hemmed in by the particulars of the degree. If I may use my son, Michael
as a case in point. He graduated from UNC as a Russian studies major.
Although his professors wanted him to go on to graduate school, he wanted
a rest. So, he signed on with a medical consulting firm as a temorary
reseracher, became a permanent researcher, and then was given the task of
organizing and heading the deparment of cardiology. (he didn't have one
science or business course beyond the core requirements) He then went on
to Stanford where he received an MBA. He is presently Vice-President of
production management (whatever that is) for Baby Center, an internet
subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. So much for the value of his B.A. in
history with a concentration in Russian studies.
I don't think we ought to assume narrowly that we are only necessarily
preparing future research scholars or clinical professionals. Too often
our assignments are based on that very premise. Our department of
psychology, for example, unfortunately I think was wrenched from Arts &
Sciences and placed (I futilely fought against this many decades ago) in
the College of Education and ladened with the formal and even more
narrowing title of "Psychology and Counseling Department" creating the
impression in the mind of most students and too many faculty that it
serves only to train k-12 counselors. Deb, David, comments?
Make it a good day.
--Louis--
Louis Schmier www.therandomthoughts.com
Department of History www.halcyon.com/arborhts/louis.html
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698 /~\ /\ /\
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