Open degree?

bestpud

I'm looking at my options with the OU and considering an open degree, as I can transfer more points and I like the idea of choosing any module.

However, I have this idea it may be disregarded by employers, or considered inferior to a named degree...?

I'm not looking at graduate careers and don't necessarily need a degree for the type of work I do, but I don't want a degree that isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

Any thoughts, please?

melancholly

gut reaction - pick a named degree. but mainly just because an open degree will be confusing for a lot of recruiters who aren't necessarily familiar with the OU.

Oldernotwiser

If you were going to do a named degree, what would you do and how many extra points would you need?

bestpud

I'd either do Health and Social Care, in which case I can potentially transfer 60 points, and I'd have to do the mandatory level one anyway. This is the type of employment I'm likely to carry on doing.

Or I'd do Social Science and could potentially transfer 120 points and go straight to level 2 for that one.

If I do an open degree, I can potentially transfer 240 points and start at level 3.

All this depends on them agreeing but I don't see a problem, having looked at the regulations and also going on points my friend has successfully transferred recently.

Quite a difference, isn't it?

Oldernotwiser

Wow! That's a big difference!

Personally, I think that the sort of employment you'll be doing won't be looking for a named degree, but that's really just an impression, not based on facts.

Don't you think you'd be bored silly going back to level 1, particularly as you've a lot of relevant experience in the area?

bestpud

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Wow! That's a big difference!

Personally, I think that the sort of employment you'll be doing won't be looking for a named degree, but that's really just an impression, not based on facts.

Don't you think you'd be bored silly going back to level 1, particularly as you've a lot of relevant experience in the area?

That's my thought too. Vocational qualifications seem more respected, for obvious reasons.

I've deferred a level one H&SC module and need to decide ASAP whether to pick up where I left off or change pathway.

I did find it incredibly tedious, but it was useful too, as I'd recently been diagnosed with dyslexia and needed to find new ways of working iykwim? Although I have the ability, HE has been terribly difficult for reasons I can only now see!

It helped enormously to work with my brain for the first time and I have no doubt I can now step in at level two or three and be fine.

Now, if I'm honest, my main goal is personal satisfaction as it's frustrating to have struggled as I have and not graduated.

That said, it makes no sense to take a short cut if it will come back and bite me in the rear later on!

MrsManda

Have you put in for the transfer yet?

If you haven't I would wait until you get the results before making your decision. Make sure when you're filling out the application you request to be assessed for the named degrees you've mentioned and include syllabus information for each of the modules you want to transfer as well as your university transcript. You will still also be assessed for an Open degree.

That way you can find out precisely what credits you can get towards each degree before working out which one you want to study towards.

As you've got experience with higher education study, if you want to start a module before getting the results of your transfer choose a module which can be used for the named degrees you may want to do as if you decide on a named degree it won't be wasted and if you decide on an Open degree you'll be able to use it.

I was surprised when I got the results of my transfer as they allowed me to transfer all my credits towards a named degree with them exempting me from the majority of compulsory modules

Oh, to answer your original question I think a named degree is better because it makes more sense to employers but my OH does a lot of recruitment and he said he's happy to accept an Open degree and it gives something to talk about in interviews

bestpud

MrsManda wrote: »

Have you put in for the transfer yet?

If you haven't I would wait until you get the results before making your decision. Make sure when you're filling out the application you request to be assessed for the named degrees you've mentioned and include syllabus information for each of the modules you want to transfer as well as your university transcript. You will still also be assessed for an Open degree.

That way you can find out precisely what credits you can get towards each degree before working out which one you want to study towards.

As you've got experience with higher education study, if you want to start a module before getting the results of your transfer choose a module which can be used for the named degrees you may want to do
as if you decide on a named degree it won't be wasted and if you decide on an Open degree you'll be able to use it.

I was surprised when I got the results of my transfer as they allowed me to transfer all my credits towards a named degree with them exempting me from the majority of compulsory modules

Oh, to answer your original question I think a named degree is better
because it makes more sense to employers but my OH does a lot of recruitment and he said he's happy to accept an Open degree and it gives something to talk about in interviews

I have the results and can find the module outlines. My friend also said to apply for a named degree as they automatically assess for an open degree too. She had four modules (2 history and 2 sociology) under her belt and received 60 credits towards a Social Science degree with the OU.

I guess it makes sense to go for a Social Science degree as I should receive the maximum credit transfer for that. I was three modules (out of the 24 needed) short of a 2:1 in Sociology when I left the brick uni - sooo close when I look at it now! I was stupid to stop when I did but hindsight is a great thing!!

Was your OU course related to your original degree?

Good to hear your OH views open degrees that way - I was wondering if it depends how I 'sell' it iykwim?

Oldernotwiser

Can you remind me what your unfinished degree was in? If you went for an open degree, what sort of subjects would you want to study?

bestpud

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Can you remind me what your unfinished degree was in? If you went for an open degree, what sort of subjects would you want to study?

It was Sociology.

As for what I'd study...hmmm!

I'd like to do a history module.

Other than that, it is the social policy and health and social care ones that interest me at level three.

Oldernotwiser

bestpud wrote: »

It was Sociology.

As for what I'd study...hmmm!

I'd like to do a history module.

Other than that, it is the social policy and health and social care ones that interest me at level three.

From what I can see, you could do a history module and get a Social Sciences degree as you have a free choice of 60 points.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/b06.htm

Are you sure you'd only be able to claim 120 points if you did this; I would've expected that you'd get the full 240 for 2 years HE study in the same subject.

Obviously I'm wrong if you've already checked it with the OU, in which case I apologise.