Recently, researchers did a survey to determine which university degree programs were most respected by American citizens. They found that survey results differed from those performed 30 years ago. Not surprisingly, like the rest of American society, our values and attitudes towards different careers and professions have changed somewhat.

The results showed that pastors and teachers still received more respect from the majority of American citizens than any other degree program. Firefighters, doctors and nurses also received high rankings. Surprisingly, though, people who graduated from universities with many other degrees receive less respect today than they used to receive.

Scientists, for example, received less respect than they had in previous years, as did sports figures. Is it possible that recent controversies in science research has affected this? Likewise, the behaviors of many star athletes, including the recent steroid scandal in Major League Baseball, probably hasn’t helped.

Before you enroll in a traditional or distance learning degree program, take a moment to consider your personal beliefs and requirements. Is earning money important to you? Is respect more important? Make sure that when you earn a college degree, you can be proud of who you are and who you will become.

If you are wondering whether Oscar Mayer has suddenly taken an interest in postsecondary education, don’t be alarmed. The Bologna Process has nothing to do with sandwiches, and everything to do with universities degree programs in foreign countries. Although this concept is primarily associated with European countries, many other nations have expressed interest or accord.

The Bologna Process is an attempt to standardize Bachelor Degree Programs and Master Degree Programs among European nations. If this becomes reality, this could open the door for other leading countries, including the United States, to follow suit. Evaluation of foreign degrees would become a very simple process, because everyone would have the same amount of education to get their degrees.

Currently, many European students attend high school for 13 years, instead of 12 years as American students do. They, however, are eligible to receive a Bachelor Degree after attending a postsecondary institution for only three years. Degrees from certain countries, such as the United Kingdom, France, and Spain, are recognized by the USCIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services) as equivalent to a U.S. Bachelor Degree.

Other countries, however, have 3-year university degree programs that are not always recognized by the U.S. as equal. Countries in this category include India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Even though students who attend universities in these countries do not automatically have the equivalency of a U.S. Bachelor Degree, they may be awarded the U.S. equivalency of their degree in some cases.

Foreign degree programs are complex and often confusing. Finding a foreign credential evaluation agency that can give a good professional evaluation of your degree can be difficult. Do your research, and choose an agency that offers free pre-evaluations, and be sure to shop around for the lowest price. Make sure the agency is experienced, as well. Hint: If they have never heard of the Bologna Process, move on quickly to the next agency!

for more information about foreign credential evaluations and the bologna project, see www.thedegreepeople.com

Strangely it depends on where you got that degree and what you are using it for. 

In the US you can take four or more years to complete a degree.  You can also take four or few years  to complete a degree.  I completed my bachelor’s degree in 3.5 years and if I  wanted I could have easily completed it in 3 years.  There are many US online and campus based programs that are designed to complete a bachelor’s degree in 3 years.  It has been reported that it can be completed by testing out in as little as 4 months see www.degree.com/new

However if you are coming in from another country there is  a good deal of  controversy with many universities, educators and  evaluators saying  a bachelor’s degree is or is not eqivalent to a bachelor’s degree.  Certainly the UNESCO guidelines  - which are legally binding - state that.  However this is no guarantee that your non-US bachelor’s degree, even one that represents far more study hours than a US bachelor’s degree will be considered equivalent.  While we as American’s seem to think we are the “gold standard” for world education looking at transcripts knows that many foreign degree holders have worked much harder than  their  conterparts in the US.  For an interesting look at the Indian three year degree see http://degree.com/articles/3-year-indian-degree.html

I have a great deal of difficulty watching intelligent people who worked very hard for their bachelor’s  degree in other countries be told that their degree does not equal a bachelor’s  degree in the US because it did  not take them four years to complete - even though we have many students completing many us programs in less than four years.  To me this is terrible discrimination. 

Welcome to the www.Degree.com  blog where we will talk  about what’s new in online education.  Your comments are truly welcome. Check back often for links and tips to everything you wish you knew  about online education.