Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bassexpander]

In some countries, one can finish a BA in three years, then an MA in just one more year.

Be it right or wrong, this has left me feeling as if a 4-year degree from my country (USA) is "better" than a 3-year BA, or perhaps equal with a 3 year BA + 1 year MA from certain other countries.

You may agree with this, or this may anger you -- I can understand both views. The simple fact is, however, I know how difficult it was to finish my 4-year degree in 4 1/2 years, let alone 4. These days, many people take 5. An MA from a reputable state school generally takes 2, and sometimes 2 1/2.

I have to be honest -- when I hear of someone who went to school at a university in a country where they went as far as an MA in 4 years, I view their education as "inferior."

Should Korea look down on this as well?

Your thoughts?

[ajstew]

This is an interesting topic. I know for my B.A. it took four years to finish. But if I had taken classes during the summer and winter breaks... anyone could have completed the degree in 3 years. Some do. It doesn't mean that those who have studied for 4 years have learned more than those who have completed degrees in 3 years. But I'm not sure what semesters are like for universities that have a 3 year limit. Are students there, taking more courses during breaks? The same goes for those completing M.A.'s in 1 year or 2. I did one of those, and the courses didn't stop during semester breaks. If the M.A. was 1 year, courses were for the entire year with no breaks, and even then it was common to ask for an extension to finish everything up... up to 6 months or longer. Does the student with a 3 year Masters and breaks between each semester really work harder?

And lastly, is it really about length at all? Does a student who doesn't apply himself and gets 'C's' in every course really have the same university experience as the student who really applies him/herself and gets 'A's'? I don't think so. My thoughts.

[Fishead soup]

I was told you need an honours four year degree to get into a masters program. It guess it depends on the masters program and your major.

[cbclark4]

I think they are referring to 4 years of credit rather than 4 years of time.

I took twenty years to complete my degree.

I'm working in Korea.

[icnelly]

[bassexpander]

All valid and interesting food for thought.

What got me thinking about this is a situation where I know of one person with an MA from a certain country south of the equator who completed his BA and MA in four years. His pay is higher than someone I know from another country where four years for a BA is the norm.

It is also true that some countries offer 1-year MAs which are not considered as a "real" MA in my home country, be it right or wrong, and are of no accredited value. Yet here, the 4 year MA (3 year BA + 1 year MA) is equal to 6 years of schooling at my university, which happens to be in the top 100 internationally.

Someone mentioned that one could load up hours year-round and finish more quickly. This is a very valid point, however, I know for a fact that it is impossible to finish an MA from most USA schools in 1 year (I will use the USA, because I am from there and understand the system the best) for a variety of reasons. Even if you could load the credits to the max, they won't allow you to do such. Also, courses have a sequence, which requires more time than 1 year would allow.

Do you consider a 1-year MA to be worthwhile, or of equal value? Should Koreans consider the length of time it took to complete the MA when deciding pay scales?

[FUBAR]

I was thinking about that before as well. Guess it depends on whether there was a thesis involved.

[bassexpander]

The thesis is an interesting point, however, at my university (your basic state uni in the USA) I believe that the thesis adds perhaps 1 semester more to a 2-year MA program. As far as I know, you can't "rush it" into one year, because you are assigned a "cohort" group, whom you study with for the entire program.

Which countries offer a standard 1-year MA?

I think they include: Australia, Scotland, New Zealand... any more?

[Pyongshin Sangja]

That kinda works, but many of the schools in the Top 100 have 3-year BA's. Oxford comes to mind. In fact, some of them are probably ranked more highly than yours. I think that arguing about whose BA is better is like arguing about who is the tallest midget.

[aarontendo]

I would make an argument that the 4 year degrees give a better education than 3 year degrees. That's on average of course. There are some fantastic schools that produce 3 year degrees. However, what we're looking at are one of two things:

1. If you say that the 3 year degrees are equal education, then what you're also inadvertently saying is that the people with 4 year degrees aren't as smart (since the 3 year one is equal then the 4 year student's took longer to get the same education).

2. The 4 year degrees are better because you have an extra year of study.

I think you could also extrapolate that out over the MA as well. And yes we're going to get into mudslinging since American uni's only offer 4 year BA degrees.

And yes, like I stated earlier there are plenty of smart people going to fantastic 3 year universities. One poster mentioned Oxford and I would challenge anyone to say that it isn't a great uni. However, we're making broad sweeping average generalizations here.

[aarontendo]

And I know back in America we have a lot of MBA's that are 1 year intensive. How do we look at those? I know I looked at one of them, and it's a bit intimidating. Needless to say you won't be working at all during that time. (Some of them are 18-22 credit hour terms, and we're talking graduate credit)

[ntwrightsmom]

My master's program was a minimum of three years. But to finish in three years, you have to take Greek and Hebrew at the same time. So most people take 4 years. I think it is wrong that universities prefer someone with a TESL degree. While their education may have been more specifically related, I don't think it is as academically rigorous. If I was hiring teachers, I would look closely at what kind of program they attended.

[Juregen]

The old system in Belgium was 2 year BA and 2 Year MA.

The European union changed (Bologna agreement) that into 3 year BA, and 2 Year MA, but with EXACTLY the same courses, just spread over more years.


So basically the new system is easier, it just takes longer.

[bassexpander]

I was actually considering a 1-year MA program from NZ. I will admit, however, that my consideration of that program was based soley on how quickly I could finish that MA compared to one back home. I was admittedly searching for, as many teachers here do, the easiest/least expensive route towards achieving that next public school pay level.

Ultimately, I decided against going with one of the 1-year MAs, at least a few of which didn't seem too intensive, and could be completed online.

The downside is that such a degree is worth about as much as the paper it is printed on back home, so I'm fearful of putting any amount of time/money into a 1-year MA program.

[Gwangjuboy]

I did a BA (hons) in law in the UK. It took 3 years to complete. If I intended to do an MA it would take 1 year full-time or two years part-time. I think those who do 3 year degrees have more classes on a weekly basis compared to those who 4 year degrees. I know that a 3 year degree in Canada is not considered equal to a 3 year hons degree in the UK. I am going to do a post graduate degree at the University of Nottingham (ranked in top 100 in the world)and it will only take 1 year.