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I started off undergrad as a bio major, completed 2 years of the coursework, then got really distracted by the social scene at school. Switched majors to English and backwards rationalized to myself all the reasons it was a good idea.
I do love to read and write, but I see these things more as hobbies. I'd like to work outdoors, and get a job related to wildlife, the environment, and resource/habitat conservation.
Is it possible for me to get into a graduate program with a B.A. in English, or will admissions just laugh in my face? I'm assuming I'll have to take some pre-requisite classes, but I don't really know how this works.
Has anyone gotten a graduate degree unrelated to their undergraduate discipline?
May 2008 I got my bachelor's degree in Technical Graphics (computer graphics basically) and now I just got accepted into graduate school for Elementary Education. They have absolutely nothing to do with each other, but I decided I wanted to become a teacher instead of what I was previously doing.
However, completely unrelated degrees may only apply if you are going into teaching, not sure. Good luck!
Emphasize how what you're doing now and what you've done in the past relates to what you want to pursue in grad school.
I too have a BA in English but will be starting an MS in Criminology in the Fall. My BA's emphasis was in journalism and on my grad school entrance essay I highlighted the investigative reporting stories I worked on in college.
I would think you would have to take the GRE....and you will probably have to take a few more science classes: Environmental Science, Geology or Geography, etc.
Is there any way you can just get a bachelor's in Environmental Science, Environmental Health, or something to that affect and try to get a job that way, rather than going for a graduate degree which will cost more?
I would look into jobs that you're interested in and see if you REALLY need a graduate degree.
Since you already have a bachelor's degree, I would bet that you would only have to take the core requirements for the degree, example: Environmental Science, Geology, etc.
Just look into schools you're interested in and see how they deal with students who already have a bachelor's degree and want to get another.
You don't need a graduate degree to work in wildlife, outdoors, etc. You would need to fulfull the prereqs; Bio, Chem, and Physics, score well on the GRE general test, and depending on the school, one of the Subject Tests. There are programs at community colleges that can help you get into the fields you mentioned in a fraction of the time, at a fraction of the cost.
I would think you would have to take the GRE....and you will probably have to take a few more science classes: Environmental Science, Geology or Geography, etc.
Is there any way you can just get a bachelor's in Environmental Science, Environmental Health, or something to that affect and try to get a job that way, rather than going for a graduate degree which will cost more?
I would look into jobs that you're interested in and see if you REALLY need a graduate degree.
Since you already have a bachelor's degree, I would bet that you would only have to take the core requirements for the degree, example: Environmental Science, Geology, etc.
Just look into schools you're interested in and see how they deal with students who already have a bachelor's degree and want to get another.
Good luck!!
Only thing is a Bachelor's is going to take 4 years, whereas a Masters degree would take 2-3.
You don't need a graduate degree to work in wildlife, outdoors, etc. You would need to fulfull the prereqs; Bio, Chem, and Physics, score well on the GRE general test, and depending on the school, one of the Subject Tests. There are programs at community colleges that can help you get into the fields you mentioned in a fraction of the time, at a fraction of the cost.
What type of programs? Associate degrees, etc? I'm definitely willing to forego the graduate degree if I can get a job quickly and cheaply via another route.
Only thing is a Bachelor's is going to take 4 years, whereas a Masters degree would take 2-3.
No, depending on the college a second BA will only take one to two years.
What you really need to think about is are two BAs better than one BA and a Masters? For most fields, yes. For what you are looking at, maybe. It will all depend on what exactly you want to do.
Keep in mind, also, that working in wildlife and conservation are generally very low paying jobs, even for those with Ph.Ds.
No, depending on the college a second BA will only take one to two years.
What you really need to think about is are two BAs better than one BA and a Masters? For most fields, yes. For what you are looking at, maybe. It will all depend on what exactly you want to do.
Keep in mind, also, that working in wildlife and conservation are generally very low paying jobs, even for those with Ph.Ds.
Yeah, that's why I really need to figure out what it is exactly I want to do.
Whatever it is, I would like to make some money doing it as well. There are a lot of different sub-sciences out there and they are all interesting to me. I need to find the balance between paycheck and passion.
I would go for the graduate degree, it seems more like a requirement for a lot of jobs now. Its better to get it out the way than having to go back later for it. I have came across many of jobs in all types of fields and you wouldnt even suspect that they would want you to have a masters but they do. I think its way of weeding people out.
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