Happy Atheist Forum

What degrees/qualifications have you all got?

I'm currently working on a degree - a BA in German and Politics.

I kind of regret my choice though and am thinking I should've done sciences instead of arts. I'm actually considering doing another degree when I finish this one, either in dentistry or microbiology.

I have a triple major BA in  English literature, Linguistics, and Classical Civilisation. I also have an Honours in Linguistics specialising in Afrikaans phonetics and linguistic stereotyping.
I sometimes wish I had done a Bsc in evolutionary biology or something similar, but my choice landed me in SEO and digital marketing, so I can't complain because I'm happy with the work I do.

There's no reason you can't make the sciences a hobby. You can keep yourself well-informed in any field you wish.

I'm still in college, but I am working on my BA in Aerospace Engineering, hoping to go to grad school for it too.

Quote from: "rawrdog822"I'm still in college, but I am working on my BA in Aerospace Engineering, hoping to go to grad school for it too.

That's awesome

Just to qualify some terminology for me... is grad school postgraduate studies? As in after your undergraduate degree? We have different terminology for things here. Is "grad school" a separate institution to undergrad school?

I'm going for a degree in philosophy, Holistic Medicine and Natural Healing, and Theraputic Massage.

After awhile I intend on trying out to be an Astrophysicist. But that's a dream.  

Quote from: "Alexander"What degrees/qualifications have you all got?

I have a BS in Human Development and Family Sciences with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education from Oregon State University. Elementary school teacher is what that means. I was on track to be a teacher until I took my final in class practicum and realized that I hate kids. I take that back... I hate other people's kids in large groups.

So now I manage a crew that builds windows all day and make twice what a teacher does. It's a damn shame.  

I started a new thread about natural healing because i guarantee that's going to create a debate.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7118 (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7118)

i have a 5yr BA in Architecture.

I don't know how things work in Germany but if I was majoring in something that didn't have a lot of job potential; like language and politics (unless you want to run for office or something).  I'd pick up a degree in something that would make me more employable too...here a good compliment would be a Teaching degree; which would allow you to get hired as a teacher more easily.  Even with a degree in Architecture I wish I had a fall back career for times like these when the arts and construction industry get hit really hard.  I think next time this happens (as it could happen again) I'll have planned better for it and have some money saved up to perhaps go to a tech school for some sort of medical related assistant training (no matter how bad things get we still need the health field).

I have a diploma of higher education in graphic design and a bachelor in photography

I have a diploma (from a College - in Canada College differs from University substantially. It is more like a tech shool I think) in Construction Engineering (now called Architectural Engineering). I am classified as a Certified Engineering Technologist.

Quote from: "rawrdog822"I'm still in college, but I am working on my BA in Aerospace Engineering, hoping to go to grad school for it too.

BA? I would've thought Engineering degrees got people BScs.

Quote from: "Alexander"

Quote from: "rawrdog822"I'm still in college, but I am working on my BA in Aerospace Engineering, hoping to go to grad school for it too.

BA? I would've thought Engineering degrees got people BScs.

The BA may stand for Bachelor of Architecture...that's what my BA stands for.

Military Training Certification in Photolithography
Naval Certified Training Petty Officer
BS in Psychology
MA in Health Psychology with focus on Psychophysiology

And last and most importantly...certified Barista... :raised:

BS Ceramic Engineering with a minor in psychology

Have several patents that aren't related to the ceramic engineering and hopefully within the next 2 months will be on the new farm, doing what I was raised to do, farming.

I have a BS. It's old and crusty now but I still try to keep up on happenings in my field of study.

I got my BBA in Finance and accounting last year, and im in the process of getting my Chartered Financial Analyst. Although part of me kinda wishes I could go back and choose a science-related field like studying astronomy or evolution.

I feel like I've been in every faculty over the last 10 years...but I officially have a Bachelors of General Studies. Just finished it this week. I'm a software guy, however, but I taught myself, just like I taught myself every other thing that I find interesting. I'm not saying my degree is worthless, it certainly helps get you in the door, but I do think it's over-valued.

I have a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Electronics that is so out of date now it's laughable. But I'm in my last semester of a BSc (Hons) in Computing  which has formalised my experience in the area. I hope it will open doors in the systems analyst field when I get back into the job market. Just my luck to be in the biggest recession ever!  

B.S. in Environmental Studies-Geography.

Also, working on my Culinary Arts A.A., just for shits and giggles.

Been in school too long...next semester will be my 15th in college  

I am currently working on getting a medical certificate to work as a Medical Assistant. After I'm done with my schooling I plan on taking another test to become a Certified Medical Assistant. Yay me!

Still working on my high school diploma! If I don't screw up, I'll graduate in a few months or so!

--FT

BA in History and Political Science. Apparently it's useless until I go back to school and specialize. That's the plan any way but it makes it a little difficult to find a job in the meantime.

Quote from: "Feanor Thunder"Still working on my high school diploma! If I don't screw up, I'll graduate in a few months or so!

--FT

My advice would be; don't screw up!  

Seriously, good luck!

BA in psychology, working towards an MA in counseling. Finding it a struggle, however, it is being asserted that a potential counselor MUST possess a strong sense of spirituality to be effective. Oy... I will have to sneak under the radar

Once I complete High School, I intend on one of two things:

B.A in Political Science, minors in History and Geography

or

Culinary School Diploma

Two degrees in "Do you want fries with that?"

Specifically:

A B.F.A. in Acting
An M.F.A. in Acting

So many academic people! :D Mine's only a fun degree - creative writing - which I'm still in the middle of. I did it because I was maddeningly bored with my job and wanted people around to bounce ideas off, which I got, in a sense. It's just that most of them are thick as bricks, so I have to make my ideas extra-bouncy. The course itself is bland and uninspiring, there literally is no subject matter, and I hate most of the people on it. None of them can write, half of them can't read, and the seminars usually wind up being two hour long lessons in basic grammar. It's loathsome. I love it. Exactly the sort of rage, bile and misanthropy that I need to keep me ticking over.

By the way, people who say they want to be writers, yet don't see why they should have to read, ought to be rivetted to heavy, metal objects and pushed into the sea. There are a lot of people on my course who are like that. It's like someone who doesn't like music suddenly up and deciding to become a musician. It makes exactly no more sense.

I have a BA in Philosophy.  Wonderful to study; terrible for jobs.

Senior majoring in Political Science from UNC.

I may get a minor in Russian Culture. 

I enjoy it and I don't think I could do a major like accounting.  I have a longing to spend my time in shitty, backwater countries like the Balkans and Russia doing work in security.  I'm most interested in the reciprocal relationship between a the way a state percieves threats and how it adjusts itself to those threats.  When I was doing a Honor's Thesis (which I dropped) I was focusing on the FSBization of Russia in response to the security challenges it faced during the Chechen wars.  How countries adapt constitutionally to security challenges.  I honestly don't know exactly how to make the transition from my school interests to the real world, but I'm working on it. 

I'm currently studying Journalism (how can you study that?) It's not a vocational course, so I do a lot of stuff with the student newspaper, magazine and I have my own radio show. As you can guess we tend to look at the industry and its links with current affairs - I know for my exam in June I have a question on Libya and basically the current nature of reporting and how it's restrictive... and then again things with Iraq and how the language in the news managed to associate al-Quaeda with the Taliban so as to make them interchangable terms.. and yeah basically all about war reporting (War, Politics and Propaganda module). And then we also do things regarding PR and science in the media and how some stories are sensationalised by statistics which aren't explained properly.
I'm glad I've done it because I really enjoy it (as far as I'm concerned there's no point in spending £9,000 a year on something you don't enjoy), although I wouldn't have studied it at another university because my particular course significantly more prestigious than others of its kind in the UK.
I think I want to be a journalist - but I'm all open to the possibilities that await me. Some people say I should have studied a more general degree before going into journalism, but I would never have done a science because although I got A*s at GCSE, it's completely different to doing it at a higher level and I would have hated it. I could have done politics.. but then I realise that a lot of that would be just about political theory, and I feel like I learnt enough about that to stand me in good stead for 'everyday life' at A level.

BS Speech Communication
Illbethewriter, I like your quote by Sagan.

M.S. In Biology and a B.S. In Theology. :)

Quote from: kelltrill on March 01, 2011, 06:55:10 AM

Quote from: rawrdog822I'm still in college, but I am working on my BA in Aerospace Engineering, hoping to go to grad school for it too.

That's awesome <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/lol.gif" alt=":)" title="smile" />

Just to qualify some terminology for me... is grad school postgraduate studies? As in after your undergraduate degree? We have different terminology for things here. Is "grad school" a separate institution to undergrad school?

B.S. in Social Psychology.  One of these days I'll go for a second B.S. in either physics or atmospheric sciences, then hopefully grad school.

Nobody has answered this question yet so I will.  Graduate school in America is postgraduate studies, as in it's school you take after you graduate university with a bachelor's degree.  Undergraduate school is what you take to get your bachelor's degree.  You can take your graduate school at the same university, or you can go to another university for it.  It's all post-secondary education.

MA (Oxford) German and French.  A very long time ago.

Quote from: Poptop on May 27, 2011, 05:54:32 AM
BS Speech Communication
Illbethewriter, I like your quote by Sagan.

That would be a fascinating subject! 

Quote from: Screenwriter805 on May 27, 2011, 07:29:39 AM
M.S. In Biology and a B.S. In Theology. :)

I will be very interested to read your contributions to the science forum once you have made your 50 'getting to know you' posts.

A bs in speech communication does sound funny, like I got a degree in blabbing a lot of hot air.
Fascinating? Do I sense sarcasm?

Not yet.
I start my BA Social Work in September.

A PhD in kicking ass and a BS in BS.

No degree and no desire to go back and get one. I calculated that to do so would cost me alot of money in the long run.

Working on my Associates in Computer Information Technology, hopefully a Bachelors in it someday. Anything else, experience! 

A BA (hons) in Graphic Arts specialising in branding, editorial design, semiotics, front end web dev, and 3D illustration & animation.

A BA in archaeology and an MA in comparative religion. So glad I didn't have to pay for my University education, particularly when it was so vocationally useless!

I have a BA in history and sociology

I somehow ended up working in the veterinary field (not as a vet, obviously). I have no idea how, but I really enjoy it. I've had a lot of hands on and continuing education with that, but nothing official.  

I'm working on my BA in biochemistry. I (hopefully) plan to go to grad school after for either biochem or micro bio once I'm done with undergrad.

This is an interesting topic.  I have a Bachelor of Science (sorry, leaving it as the abbreviated B.S. makes me think of something else and laugh) in Criminal Justice Studies.  Why did I go for that?  I have no idea.  I was working in security, and thought I would like to be a cop.  I'm not sure it's the right fit, with my personality.  By the time I was coming to that realization, I was at the point where I needed to finish something in some capacity and have something to show for my efforts.  I wasn't worried at that point, 'cause I was still under the impression that the phrase "any degree will open doors for you" was true.   ::)  I was surprised to find out that we've become much more specialized, so all of a sudden I found myself being asked if I was going into law or law enforcement.  I burned out my energy, motivation and ambition to finish, which was a very great effort.  For the time being, I substitute teach during the school season, and try and find whatever I can in the summer; the teaching I like, so that's something.    :-[

Oh no Tristan Jay, I'm under that impression right now. My biggest fear was not having experience to get a job, but any degree maybe something to fallback on. Before I started I didn't even have a GED, so I would think I would have to be better off....I hope.  :-[

Hey Shy, I hope I didn't alarm you with my comments.  I am proud that I got my degree, and even more so given some facts I've learned at some point last week.  There's a little bit of bitterness that I can't make it work for me, and bewilderment about the impression that the world passed me by in some sense and I didn't notice it happening.

One motivating impulse is the desire to put the word out to people so they have warning to keep an eye on real-world expectations, something that I admit I have difficulty with at times.  I hope to help others avoid the disappointment and disillusionment I felt and feel.

I'm not completely without hope, mind.  There is a major factor that complicates my life, which I only recently become more and more aware of how difficult it has been making life for me.  I have ADD (possibly among other things), and it was explained at a seminar I attended people with this have a shorter attention span than early grade school children.  It was also mentioned that it's a very small percentage that manage to complete a college degree (hence my pride in pulling it off).  It makes sense, though.  Given how difficult navigating the curriculum, setting the small goals to reach the larger goals, maintaining the persistence needed to follow through all the way.  Life in general has been very difficult with this much trouble focusing and maintaining my concentration.

Quote from: Alexander on February 28, 2011, 08:46:20 AM
What degrees/qualifications have you all got?

I'm currently working on a degree - a BA in German and Politics.

I kind of regret my choice though and am thinking I should've done sciences instead of arts. I'm actually considering doing another degree when I finish this one, either in dentistry or microbiology.

It's not important what qualifications you've got, what's important is your knowledge and skills.

Quote from: Abletony on July 25, 2011, 01:25:18 PM

Quote from: Alexander on February 28, 2011, 08:46:20 AM
What degrees/qualifications have you all got?

I'm currently working on a degree - a BA in German and Politics.

I kind of regret my choice though and am thinking I should've done sciences instead of arts. I'm actually considering doing another degree when I finish this one, either in dentistry or microbiology.

It's not important what qualifications you've got, what's important is your knowledge and skills.

Unfortunatly this is not true, if you want to get an interview for a worthwhile job. With 30+ years of business and work experience behind me I know my subject area inside out. But being 51 getting job interviews just on experience isn't easy. But having just complted a BSc in Business Computing and having 30 years of business experience things should be a little easier.

BSN ( majors in nursing and chemistry)
Prior to becoming employable ... a degree in American Literature (!?..I was young and loved to read!)

Quote from: Hidelight on July 25, 2011, 01:38:41 PM
BSN ( majors in nursing and chemistry)
Prior to becoming employable ... a degree in American Literature (!?..I was young and loved to read!)

Nursing & Chemistry that sounds an odd combination, were they mutually supportive?

Quote from: Tank on July 25, 2011, 02:48:28 PM

Quote from: Hidelight on July 25, 2011, 01:38:41 PM
BSN ( majors in nursing and chemistry)
Prior to becoming employable ... a degree in American Literature (!?..I was young and loved to read!)

Nursing & Chemistry that sounds an odd combination, were they mutually supportive?

Yes absolutely I had to take a huge load of organic inorganic and bio/chem to get my degree in nursing so I just combined and finnished both together the chemistry was my fall back in case the whole nursing thing did not work out ..I could at least teach or tutor

fortunatly it did and I love my profession dearly

Quote from: Hidelight on July 25, 2011, 05:56:03 PM

Quote from: Tank on July 25, 2011, 02:48:28 PM

Quote from: Hidelight on July 25, 2011, 01:38:41 PM
BSN ( majors in nursing and chemistry)
Prior to becoming employable ... a degree in American Literature (!?..I was young and loved to read!)

Nursing & Chemistry that sounds an odd combination, were they mutually supportive?

Yes absolutely I had to take a huge load of organic inorganic and bio/chem to get my degree in nursing so I just combined and finnished both together the chemistry was my fall back in case the whole nursing thing did not work out ..I could at least teach or tutor

fortunatly it did and I love my profession dearly

My younger daughter is a medical photographer and her fiance is a nurse and his mum has been a nurse/matron for 30(?) years.

Quote from: Tank on July 25, 2011, 06:03:18 PM

Quote from: Hidelight on July 25, 2011, 05:56:03 PM

Quote from: Tank on July 25, 2011, 02:48:28 PM

Quote from: Hidelight on July 25, 2011, 01:38:41 PM
BSN ( majors in nursing and chemistry)
Prior to becoming employable ... a degree in American Literature (!?..I was young and loved to read!)

Nursing & Chemistry that sounds an odd combination, were they mutually supportive?

Yes absolutely I had to take a huge load of organic inorganic and bio/chem to get my degree in nursing so I just combined and finnished both together the chemistry was my fall back in case the whole nursing thing did not work out ..I could at least teach or tutor

fortunatly it did and I love my profession dearly

My younger daughter is a medical photographer and her fiance is a nurse and his mum has been a nurse/matron for 30(?) years.

so you have an idea of what the world is like from our point of view then :)

sometimes wonderful and sometimes stressful and scary

I am so glad I took several chances and would encourage any kid to do the same all my education even waitressing (how I paid for school) lead to the layers I have today
I have been an RN for 25 years and counting

I loved science and wanted to go further with it but had to make a living and am so glad I did go in this direction it has been a wonderful career

5 more years and I retire into poverty however I want to stop before I am burned out and ugly! (not physically but mentally)

Quote from: Hidelight on July 25, 2011, 06:09:44 PM

so you have an idea of what the world is like from our point of view then :)

sometimes wonderful and sometimes stressful and scary

There are 7 photographers (it's a big hospital) of which 2 are female. The two girls work their arses off as they end up dealing with all the 'women's' problems and the difficult stuff like photos of still-born babies for the parents. There is very little that is 'easy' in her work day. She also has to do before and after plastic surgery shoots, abused kids, serious injuries in A&E, sucides etc etc. She grew up very quickly in her first 3 months there.