Opinions on honours?

Rhea

Hey guys, now that the semester is over I've been thinking about what I want to do with my degree and I've been hearing some people talk about "honours" degrees. Can anyone explain what honours is the benefits of it in your career? I assume its a special degree of some sort...

Insatiable

The minimum number of credits you graduate with honours is 132 (not the usual 120). Most people start honours degrees when they're at 110 credit hours; so instead of doing upper division electives some take the honours courses.

I don't know what it's like for all faculties, but for mine, an honours tutorial is offered every fall semseter (10 credits for my faculty, don't know what it's like for others). There you just prepare research for your honours thesis. In the spring semester (Jan-Apr) is when you actually write it and that takes up 12 credits (so, 12 + 10 = 22). You can't write the thesis unless you're first enrolled in the fall hounours course(s).

Minimum GPA is 3.0 (anything less is immediately disregarded), but I heard it's usually higher (I don't know how much higher) so having 3.0 won't guarantee acceptance.

What are the benefits? Well, you get to write "Honours" in brackets after whatever your degree is (e.g. BA (Honours), BSc (Honours), etc.)! I guess this can make one more employable. I also heard it helps you if you want to get into grad school (not by a lot). Plus it's good preparation for grad school: if you get in, you'll already be used to writing a dissertation.

Finally, because it's only 12 more credits than the usual 120, it's only one extra semester that you have to stay for (not a year as most people think).

Steven

Yeah just another thousand dollar or two just for that honours..

Mikaela

Steven said:

Yeah just another thousand dollar or two just for that honours..

ya but in the end its worth it

Malakaiii

Mikaela said:

ya but in the end its worth it

Is it worth it? Will someone hire you based on these extra credentials?

I suppose it could give you an edge in some fields, but probably getting out of school a year earlier to get some experience would also be useful.

Hm.

Steven

Malakaiii said:

Is it worth it? Will someone hire you based on these extra credentials?

I suppose it could give you an edge in some fields, but probably getting out of school a year earlier to get some experience would also be useful.

Hm.

Yeah I agree with you Malakaii, extra credentials doesn't mean you are "better".

You could have all the degrees in the world.. but if you can't work with people.. then you are screwed. And to get along with people well, it will take experience.

melissaw28

yes but if someone is looking at hiring two candidates with similar qualifications yet one has an honours degree and the other doesn't, it may be the deciding factor....an honours does show extra experience and dedication

of course this is only my interpretation on things

JennyBRONX

I guess it depends where you are going with your degree. If you are planning on staying in that field for a significant part of your life, then itll be a good way to show that you are an expert in that topic...which honours kinda implies don't you think?

pma10

Rhea said:

Hey guys, now that the semester is over I've been thinking about what I want to do with my degree and I've been hearing some people talk about "honours" degrees. Can anyone explain what honours is the benefits of it in your career? I assume its a special degree of some sort...

degrees are just credentials that imply you reponded well under pressure during the course of your degree. If you grad with an honours it shows you are willing to overaccomplish and employers value that.

Insatiable

For all you science majors out there, if anyone is interested in doing forensics work for the police (e.g. blood spatter, forensic chem., etc.). The minimum is, in fact, a BSc HONOURS. Anything less won't even be considered. So in this sense, an honours degree can help you greatly if you're applying for that sort of job.

What better way to combine your partiality towards CSI with your education?

coreyc

Malakaiii said:

Is it worth it? Will someone hire you based on these extra credentials?

I suppose it could give you an edge in some fields, but probably getting out of school a year earlier to get some experience would also be useful.

Hm.

Well, if a run of the mill BBA at SFU costs $25,000 and it only attaches 3 letters to the end of ones name... and an Honors BBA costs $1,500 more and allows for an additional 6 letters on top of said 3 ... it seems to be a good idea. Maximize the suffix!

rawls-balls

Interestingsly, most people here have focused on the extra-employability of an honours degree.

I think this is the complete wrong way to view it.

Education is an end in itself - it should not be thought of as merely a means to some end. If you tackle education this way, you will most surely not get the most out of it.

I'm just finishing my BA (Hons) in Political Science. While I am going to grad school next year, I would have done the Hons anyways. It gives students the chance to formulate an original thesis, to work closely with an advisor, and to develop independent research interests.

This, in my view, is partly what education is all about. Its about dipping your toes into the vast oceans of department knowledge out there. That, in and of itself, is a good.

We ought never think of school - a degree - as nothing more than a potential economic payoff.

Malakaiii

rawls-balls said:

Interestingsly, most people here have focused on the extra-employability of an honours degree.

I think this is the complete wrong way to view it.

Education is an end in itself - it should not be thought of as merely a means to some end. If you tackle education this way, you will most surely not get the most out of it.

I'm just finishing my BA (Hons) in Political Science. While I am going to grad school next year, I would have done the Hons anyways. It gives students the chance to formulate an original thesis, to work closely with an advisor, and to develop independent research interests.

This, in my view, is partly what education is all about. Its about dipping your toes into the vast oceans of department knowledge out there. That, in and of itself, is a good.

We ought never think of school - a degree - as nothing more than a potential economic payoff.

Extremely well said and thank you for bringing a very good point to this conversation!

coreyc

rawls-balls said:

We ought never think of school - a degree - as nothing more than a potential economic payoff.

That's all cute and shit, but there is the whole cost-benefit analysis thing that seems to be a practical decision making tool.

With the reasoning that education in itself is valuable without anybody else knowing about it, may as well save your money and go to the library.

Steven

The school system is rigged anyways.. we're all taught to be slaves for others. Even the professors themselves are the product of what the school system produces (slaves). Why do I refer to them as slaves? Well, lets see.. they work for others.. and one day if they have no jobs.. they are basically screwed in life because most professors only know how to teach. I am not just referring to professors.. many "specialists" are in the same situation.. hence why they have unions so they can protect themselves from being screwed over. No matter how high your degree is or how many suffix you have beside that degree you got.. you won't be financially successful if you can't get people to work for you.. other words, people = greatest asset you can ever have. And to be truely financially successful, one has to have a great collection of assets. Now.. when was the last time school ever taught you to be financially successful?

I'm not saying that everyone in school is trying to reach for financial success.. but I strongly believe that financial success is in everyone's mind.

Rhea

Wow, seems like I've sparked quite the debate over here. All your points have really gotten me thinking, especially about what my goals are with my degree. I've never thought of it more than as a tool to get a good job after I'm done, but after what Rawls-Balls said, its gotten me thinking. Even though I am looking for a good job, I do value the other things that a university education has given me...and if an honours degree can develop my skills to a further extent, why not right? It'll be hard, but like my grandma says...anything worth having in this life doesn't come easy

coreyc

Steven said:

I read 'Rich Dad Poor Dad' and think that I understand the world.

Oh, really? Tell me more.

Steven

coreyc said:

Oh, really? Tell me more.

lol, I have read that book.. but my opinions have nothing to do with that book.

Insatiable

[QUOTE=rawls-balls]Education is an end in itself - it should not be thought of as merely a means to some end. If you tackle education this way, you will most surely not get the most out of it.QUOTE]

Rawls or balls or whatever your name is, take your idealistic pompousness elsewhere. How many times have you studied for a midterm/exam with the sole object of studying for the sake of studying? All that shit you studied will be forgotten by you in less than a week (or immediately following a pub night), so how can that be an end in itself?

Education is never an end in itself. You can say what you want, but trust me, we do a cost-benefit analysis all the time with regards to our education. This is why we major in what we do, why we study the way we do, and what electives we take.

The only way to make the most out of education is by getting it the hell over with and going out into the real world. Education is always instrumental and never an end in itself.

Sure, if I had the resources, I would get the most of my education, but people in the real world have to worry about careers, bills, and paying of those damned student loans. The only way I make the most of my education is by studying harder and edging others out, but that's about it.

Would you reproach the one who pursues his/her education simply with the object of improving living conditions for his/her family?

coreyc

Insatiable said:

What coreyc said in many more words.[

Yes, I concur.

pma10

I think having good marks and maybe an honours attached to it will definitely assist you in getting the job. It won't guarantee you the job though.

It's all about who you are as a person and the connections you make in school (esp. for somebody studying business). A degree is just a degree and I too think that the sooner you get outta this place and get into the workplace (aka the real world) the better.

So It really depends. If you want to work for someone else, credentials help. At the same time, even if you want to be your own boss one day, you would still start off working for someone else in that field for at least a few years (to gain enough experience).

But I think if you still have the energy, you should definitely think about doing it. I'm sure it'd be worth it.