accredited degree

[loobie]

Can someone tell me what an accredited degree is and why they're different to a non-accredited degree

[metagirl]

Are you from the USA? Coz that is the only place i've heard the term used - in which case non-accredited degrees are not worth the money spent on attaining one.

[Hermia]

I saw an advert for a college in London which does degrees in stuff like crystal healing and other new age stuff. It said the degrees were BAs and MAs etc, but at the bottom it said they were non-accredited and you'd just get a certificate from the college. I can't imagine who'd apply especially as it was pretty expensive.

[rinkytink]

 

Genrally speaking accredited means anything that has been officially recognised as meeting certain standards of quality.

I believe that in the US you can get accredited and non-accredited degrees. There are various bodies set up across the US that review all of the Universities and Colleges and only those that meet certain standards will be able to issue accredited degrees.

As metagirl and Hermia point out non-accredited degrees are worth substancilly less in both the work place and in an academic sense. Non-accredited degrees cannot be used as addmission criteria for entry to higher or specialised education.

In the UK only Universities are allowed to issue degrees in thier own right. You can however gain a degree from an accredited University College which is the same as getting your degree from the University.

[Peahead66]

As an example if you were to a degree in psychology in the UK and it were accredited then it would mean that it met the requirements for recognition by the British Psychological Society which would be essential if you wanted to continue further in that field.  If you are thinking of doing a degree that is not accredited then best to check that it is in the process of being so before you graduate or else it will mean you will have to undertake further study or exams if you want to go on to do further study within that field.

[racheljane21]

hi as afore said it is accredited by the BPS, my degree in an accredited one and we were told with a psychology degree, it is taken more seriously as a degree with regards to jobs etc in the psychological field if your degree is accredited as it has met strict standards set by the british psychological society

[loobie]

Thanks Rachel for your answer. it was very helpful.