Degree opinions please - The job market baffles me!

Elle7

So, I'm considering going to university in September. I have applied, and currently hold an unconditional offer for Media Studies, based entirely on my experience in the media. My aim was to do the course to get more experience in different areas (broadcasting, etc) and some marketing experience as well.

Last week the course specification was changed, and the degree is now much more theory-based - as in how media affects culture, and media laws, etc. There are still some practical modules, but not nearly as many, and the advertising and marketing modules are gone completely.

My other passion is sociology. I loved it at GCSE, and was accepted to sit a sociology degree at the University of Warwick a few years back, although I didn't due to health problems. After speaking to the media department today, they suggested that if I thought I'd prefer criminology and sociology, I could be swapped onto that course. I need to decide soon, because there aren't many spaces left.

I'm torn between the two. On the one hand, media is my industry. On the other, I love sociology and criminology, and I'd love to do crime reporting and the like. I've done previous media work with law agencies, and I'd love to continue that.

It's not definite that I'd be accepted onto the sociology course, as I was accepted onto the media course through experience. I'd need to apply and find out, although I think I'd hold my unconditional media offer throughout, as they are the same department in the same uni, and required the same grades.

So, is either particularly more respected? I have heard so much about both being "mickey mouse" degrees, but they are my passions, and I'd love to further my knowledge even if it just gives me more confidence. I have the experience, and will be seeking out placements and work throughout uni, as my health allows.

As you can see, I'm torn. Any opinions or advice are welcome

getmore4less

Which provides the best chance of work placements, experience and industry contacts for future networking employment.

19lottie82

I don't mean to sound harsh but I find it unlikely that either degree will lead to a job in the field studied.

With the sociology / criminology one, you could prob apply to join the police. or go on to complete a higher lever degree and try to get into the academia side

Either is still "a degree" and will be looked on favourably by employers in a general way, but I definitely wouldn't sign up for either of these courses thinking that there is a good chance you will come out and walk in to a related job. If this is your main objective then you might be better choosing a more vocational course!

However, if you want to go just to broaden your knowledge and propsects as a whole, then go for it.

Oh any just to let you know I studied Psychology and Criminology - I now work in the engineering sector!

EDIT Apolgies OP I just re read and noticed that you are already in the media field. If so, you will knwow better than anyone if it is worth doing a degree to further your career.

marybelle01

To be honest, whilst it sounds sensible to think about the jobs market and what use a degree would be in the wider world (and it is sensible!), if anyone ever really thought this way almost nobody would ever do a degree! With only a few exceptions is a degree a passport to employment these days. It may not harm, but it may not help either. You are about to spend at least three years of your life studying something. Having a "purpose" is only one aspect to consider. The other one is how fed up you will be of it in six months or a year and wish you'd studied something else, and how much by the end of three years (if you survive that long) you might hate it.

The other thing to consdier is that small throw away line "as my health allows". If you are suffering from poor health and this may not or will not improve siginificatly, or may reoccur in given circumstances, then you need to consider whether you are suited to certain things. For example, your thoughts about crime reporting (which I would bet would need a degree in journalism!) may be unrealistic if your health is a problem with mental illness - journalism is fast paced, full of deadlines, and shows no mercy for the weak. Could you work in an environment like that? Or have you considered that since very few people get to cover the big stories, your likely career options will be hanging around a local court covering petty crime and speeding tickets?

I assume that you are not currently working in media, but if you want to return there and want a career, then I would have thought that "theory" would be invaluable. Management would need to know about the law and so on, wouldn't they?

No answers for you really, because you'll have to come up with those yourself, but maybe some other things to consider

Notmyrealname

Unfortunately media is now seen as a mickey mouse degree as it is what the halfwits and the lazy do as its seen as an easy one so the market is flooded with people who have media degrees.

Criminal and sociology is worth a fair bit more but the amount of jobs in that field is extremely restricted and shrinking more and more.

However, if you've already got experience in media, what advantage would doing a degree get you which experience already hasn't? Even more so now that the very things you want it to provide have been withdrawn? Do other universities than the one you have the offer for offer media courses with a different structure including the areas you're interested in?

Lokolo

Have you asked whether you can do a joint degree?

dizzyrascal

Right, reality check - media studies is frowned upon by almost all employers and will not lead to a glittering career.
If you want to go down that route you would be much better doing journalism although again, there are problems with that route but it does have a better reputation.
Sociology and criminology are also seen as soft options but would be useful if you want a role working on research and or statistics within the public sector, the police or probation service would be a possible employer.
What is your motivation for studying a degree? If it is to get a better job/salary then it might help to know what you already bring to the equation with work experience.

poet123

I assume you are a mature student? If so, are you giving up a job to pursue a full time degree course or is it part time and you will continue working? If you are working is it in the media field? If so does your current employer feel the degree will be of value to you?

Lots of things to put into the post before anyone can help really.

Voyager2002

Neither course is particularly vocational; both sound interesting and demanding.

If you still feel passionately interested in Sociology then do that: I doubt very much whether the revised Media Studies course would give you a greater advantage in the job market than you would get from the Sociology course. OTOH it sounds as if the media course has been changed to make it more academically rigorous, so it would include plenty of material to talk about in an interview to prove that it was a "real" degree.

OneYorkshireLass

I did a Radio Journalism degree and the contacts I made through the course all said that a course called "media studies" would be much less likely to lead to a job in the media industry. They might end up teaching the same modules, but the mere mention of 'studies' puts people off.

Elle7

Plenty to think about! Thanks everyone.

I've spoken to the tutor again about transferring. This morning he seemed to think it'd be fine, this afternoon he's not so sure. I'll find out in the morning.

I'll keep my part-time work while I study. I'm not well enough to work full-time, so I wanted to study to keep my brain busy...my body might not be able to cope at the moment, but my mind is most definitely ready to do something new.

I'll have to see what happens in the morning...Cross your fingers that I can transfer!