A DEGREE AT 53

(OR NEVER TOO LATE)

Would a degree help your career, or even a second career? Would you get personal satisfaction from writing the BA or BSc after your name? Would you like to be called Doctor? I mean with the letters  PhD, Doctor of Philosophy, not Medical Practitioner. “A proper Doctor”, as my GP remarked. Well, you can , especially if you are in your “maturer years”, with a lifetime of experience and work achievement behind you. I should add that access to the internet is very helpful but this is by no means requisite. 

UNIVERSITIES WITH A DIFFERENCE

Often people are put off adding to qualifications by the thought of a long period of study and steep annual fees. There is a solution you may not have considered. I am not talking of a mature students` college such as London University`s Birkbeck or even the Open University where the entry requirements are academic and high, the courses long and the fees (with books) rather daunting. No, non-traditional, off-campus Universities especialy in the States are what I refer to What I am NOT referring to  are some mickey-mouse  (bogus) establishments that award degrees in return for cash. Those I am talking about entail doing work for the distinction – which makes it worth having. And thereby gives a sense of satisfaction.

            Whatever your age and work status you will be considered for acceptance  on their courses. Your retirement, full or partial , is an advantage as you now have the time  to spend on your degree course as well as work experience  behind you to count towards your Credits. Full employment is no barrier , however, as you can tackle with enthusiasm the assignments tailor-made to your interests and requirements – as I did. Flexytime hours are even more advantageous.

            These unconventional seats of learning offer Degree opportunities to busy people who do not necessarily have a lot of time to spend on study. The hope is that their Degrees will help to further professional careers but it is recognised that many people just want to study  for personal development and satisfaction. Degree courses are still limited (though not as much as they used to be) in the UK  - there has been widening of options of recent. But if you really want to specialise and at the same time capitalise on your life-time skills, you could not do better than look across the water.

            If you are interested, look out for relevant notices in the “quality” newspapers under the professional/educational columns. The internet also will provide information as it does about most things,  Failing this, libraries will be able to furnish the required details. There are several of these establishments in the USA. Of course very little comes free, and the courses offered do have to be paid for – as they do in the UK. Clearly posting off work will cost more to go overseas and take longer to get there,  but nowadays email can be a boon.

AN ALTERNATIVE

This alternative to the British system is well worth considering.  You don`t have to be a graduate already to be eligible to study for a higher degree or possess A levels or the equivalent to be admitted to a first degree course. For most people, the first taste of adult responsibility is the business of paying bills! It certainly was so for me. I never had the time or money  for further study which would have entailed attendance at tutorials, lectures, maybe summer schools. In fact I was into my middle years before deciding the distance learning system was for me. Having met the requirements of some basic educational qualifications  and a skilled working background  , I embarked on a  Degree programme  which I completed about a year later. Having developed a liking for the distance learning  system , I decided to embark on a higher Degree, the MA. My enthusiasm for  study did not (could not!) stop here: the goal of the Doctorate was irresistible. By this time, I knew what the university was looking for and the material built up over the  previous courses of study served me in good stead. I went therefore from  the   state of possessing no  Degree at all, to having  PhD  behind my name in just three years. I by no means worked from morning to night  - I couldn`t have stuck it! I worked when I had time and felt like it.

            The point to be emphasised is that I could not have gone this in the UK because I would have been regarded as a bit old to start especially on the Doctorate or not sufficiently academically qualified. But as I was given Credits for life and work achievement , I was accepted. Another benefit of the  American off-campus system is that the programmes can be completed much more rapidly than here , because of the recognition of past achievement. So maturity does not go against you ; it works in your favour. Also in the UK physical disability is commonly a drawback to participation; with the American system it does not matter in the slightest. After all, there is no requirement of overseas students e;g; (we in Britain) , to attend lectures.

            What is more, there is no time limit to the completion of the course, so you never need to feel under pressure. Everything is done by correspondence ; clear instructions are given about work assignments, length for example, and for directed reading. Progress Reports are issued so you know exactly how you are getting on. Clear guidelines are given on everything from optimum size of paper to style of references. Nothing is left to chance and you are never left to your own devices. If something is urgent you can phone the University (at a suitable hour !) and get through to the person you wish to speak to. The University with which I studied (Pacific Western) fulfilled all my expectations from information on how to get started to the  ultimate issue of a delightfully  bound copy of my thesis.

TAILOR MADE FOR ADULTS

As it states in the Prospectus which is the first item you receive, programmes are  “eminently suited to individuals who have reached a point in their careers where tangible recognition  of their achievements and expertise is due”; they are deliberately designed to meet the needs of self-motivated adults “who wish to work towards their own goals “, people who have made or are making their mark in the  world of work and life generally. The programmes are not intended for very young people as commonly  make up  University populations. Such people have not had chance to make their mark yet. Consequently the aim of these alternative learning programmes is the fostering  of intellectual growth through systematic analysis and the evaluation of topics pertinent to the student`s area of interest. The objective is to provide a framework within which  students can show ability in their chosen subject and complete a learning package designed to meet their needs and those of society. This is a realisation that may only dawn later in life.

            The system is that a number of Credits is built up to a pre-set figure for the Bachelor`s, Master`s or Doctor`s Degree, in ascending order. You are of course told of this figure  before you embark on the programme. So added to those awarded for past achievement , (not just paper qualifications) , and educational background , are the Credits gained for fulfilling  the written tasks. They will let you know if you  are progressing satisfactorily or not ! You know the sum total of the Credits allotted to you  under the various headings by the issue at the end of the  course of a valuable “Transcript”  - a type of summary of your achievements.

SUBJECT CHOICE

            But is there a subject to suit me you may ask. You need have no misgivings on this score. Degrees are awarded in a far wider range of subjects (as we have stated) than in the traditional (British or American) University. As is usual with American Universities you “major” or specialise in a given subject within academic divisions which cover virtually all of the fields of human endeavour . Undoubtedly, there is  a very wide choice.

            After your period of study you are kept in touch with fellow graduates and news about the University by joining , if you wish, the “Alumni” or old/past students Association, and receiving their Newsletter. This is an active body which among other things invites the submission of thesis “digests” which can be of great interest especially if in your area of study and also if you wish to give others an impression of the fruit of your own labours. The Association also invites you  to let them  know of any interesting details, progress etc., in your career or life since  taking the degree.

SENSE OF SATISFACTION

            I thoroughly enjoyed my  years of returning to study which gave me a goal and the opportunity to keep the grey cells active. We all know how quickly you can lose touch with your former workplace activities when you no longer do them or lose interests which you formerly had. With a distance learning package you keep abreast of current developments while at the same time capitalising on all your hard-earned  experience. But most pleasing of all, is the sense of achievement when you receive  the letter addressed:

            “Dear Graduate “ (or “Dear Doctor”)  . “Congratulations! Herewith your Diploma”  

OFF CAMPUS UNIVERSITIES USA

The best known and most prestigious is Pacific Western University which has several sites in the States and branches in Europe and the  Far and Middle East. Its HQ is at  9750 Miramar Road.  Suite 180, San Diego, CA, 92126.USA. The best way of getting in touch with the University is by their web site: www.pwu-ca.edu/   or by simply typing in “Pacific Western University” – where all information is obtainable. When reaching the home page, Click on “About PWU” and then “PWU Catalog” which contains all you need to know initially. (The email address is :  admissions@pwu-ca.edu After admission a communication is sent  spelling out the work requirements and allocating you  to a broad field of study in which your interest will fall. An invaluable Student Handbook is  also sent , giving lots of general info.

            The very first task is to assemble a Portfolio of documentary evidence to  prove your claimed achievements.

            No residency or attendance stipulations exist. Students are  allocated mentors in a given field . For info on current fees see the site.. Joining the Alumni Association is extra, but has several benefits apart from keeping in touch. Among these are the opportunity to submit a digest of your thesis (or to read others`) and to write in with interesting details of you career since taking your degree or indeed anything relevant to PWU.

TRANSCRIPT

This gives under headings how many Credits have been awarded  for past work success (alluded to as “Functional Awareness”) , academic qualifications, written work done during the course, any professional development (courses, etc., ) display of technical abilities, and of course the dissertation, which can be about 75 to 100 pages in length, including any appendices.

© A.B. Finlay Ph.D