<p>hello,
many schools, including top notch schools, have departments which lets practically anyone to join and take courses (either part time or full time) which often result in a master's degree.
is that worthy? how is that viewed by future employers/phd programs?
thanks for your 2cents!</p>
<p>You mean, School of Continuing Studies/Education?</p>
<p>It's not a joke. Some people have to work full-time while pursuing a BA/MA degree. The admissions tend to be less competitive, but it's another alternative to get a college education.</p>
<p>Why isn't anyone who wants to put forth the effort "worthy" of a higher education? I'm not sure what you're getting at here, is it because of the more lenient admissions standards? I don't see a big deal and I doubt future employers/PhD programs would see a big deal either as long as they did well in their classes.</p>
<p>You mean like Harvard Extension School? There are certain guidelines that a high schooler can't take classes from there straight out of high school.</p>
<p>The graduate courses that I have taken while working as a lab tech have been facilitated through the continuing education department here. They aren't different classes, it's merely a bureaurocratic thing to ensure that the right amount of credits are given in the right context. It doesn't represent some loophole in admissions.</p>
<p>If you are taking courses through a "Department of Continuing Education" or the like, find out if your credits will be recorded as full undergraduate/postgraduate credits, or as "continuing education units" or CEUs. Many professions require a certain number of CEUs within a certain number of years in order to maintain a professional license. Sometimes the difference between earning 3 CEUs and earning 3 undergraduate/postgraduate credits is just paying more money for the course, or writing one more paper. Sometimes the CEU courses are only useful for professional re-accreditation or re-licensing and can't be used toward any kind of undergraduate/postgraduate degree. And of course, sometimes a real true undergraduate/postgraduate course with only real true degree-valid credits is offered through a "Department of Continuing Ed" so that even people who don't need the degree-valid credits earn them anyway.</p>
<p>So, once again kid, you're gonna have to do some research!</p>
<p>i have an interest in doing a part time master's in bioscience/bioinformatics (perhaps harvard extension school since i love boston) after finishing up undergrad next year. but it's not because i will be working at a biotech company (and all that good stuffs). rather because i want to do my own thing (music) for just a few years</p>
<p>i can't see how this part time master of liberal arts in bioscience/biotechnology/bioinformatics be respected as well as a full time master of science in molecular biology from harvard</p>
<p>more opinions and comments please :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
There are certain guidelines that a high schooler can't take classes from there straight out of high school.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Actually, sure you can.</p>
<p>I think you need to keep researching if you really want to do the program on PT. You might be best off just taking time off entirely and then apply to grad school when you're ready to do it full time. Especially for this kind of field.</p>