What is a 'mickey mouse' degree?

Is American Studies one?
The thing is, I would love to spend a year abroad during my time at University (if I can go) and I like the thought of this.

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Reply 1

Mother_Russia

Original post by Emrys141

Is American Studies one?
The thing is, I would love to spend a year abroad during my time at University (if I can go) and I like the thought of this.

Sounds like it to be honest. How about history or something like that, and choose American modules?

Don't forget there are loads of other degrees that offer year abroad in Americas and Europe.

Reply 2

Drewski

Technically, American Studies would be, because a large part of contemporary American culture can be studied by looking at Disney, the corporation and it's products. Like Mickey Mouse.

Reply 3

lattywatty

It's what people term a degree which isn't traditional and, in their eyes, isn't worth doing.

It depends on where you'll be studying it and what you want to do in the future. Some people may see American Studies as a mickey mouse degree, but I know Warwick do it which is a very well respected uni and any degree from there will give you transferable skills for any future employment.

It's all subjective, but do think about why you want to go to university before you choose what you want to do.

Reply 4

Hearty_Beast

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Mickey%20Mouse%20Degree

Reply 5

JollyGreenAtheist

It's part of the vernacular of academic snobbery and subject smearing.

It's a well known fact that media studies, production and advertising, vocational degrees and slight variations on traditional subjects all have 0% graduate employment prospects. Furthermore, the only universities that offer them have 'Metropolitan' in their name offer them, and if you're excluded as "over-qualified" if you are predicted BBB applying to them.

...

They're subjects that are less traditional. They might be industry focused (like golf-management), specific to a university's specialist academics (like fashion design) or regarded as 'soft' at A-level (like media), or variations on more traditional degrees (like Viking Studies at Nottingham, or American Studies at a lot of universities).

Reply 6

R3cognize

Is BA Culture, Literature and Politics considered as a Mickey Mouse degree?

Reply 7

True Christian

In this economiaes... all of them :frown:

Reply 8

alapa

Original post by Emrys141

Is American Studies one?
The thing is, I would love to spend a year abroad during my time at University (if I can go) and I like the thought of this.

First priority= Will you enjoy it? Second priority= What jobs will it help me get? Your LAST priority should be what snobs think of your degree. Aslong as you enjoy it and it opens doors for you. GO FOR IT

All arts degrees

Original post by R3cognize

Is BA Culture, Literature and Politics considered as a Mickey Mouse degree?

Yes

Reply 11

Cephalus

Original post by Emrys141

Is American Studies one?
The thing is, I would love to spend a year abroad during my time at University (if I can go) and I like the thought of this.

Yes

Reply 12

-TheSpecialOne-

Would you all say that English or Management is one?

Reply 13

Cephalus

Original post by -TheSpecialOne-

Would you all say that English or Management is one?

English yes
Management no

Reply 14

-TheSpecialOne-

Original post by Cephalus

English yes
Management no

Explain why you think English is?

Reply 15

Joinedup

You don't need to do american studies to do study abroad in america. Someone was just asking about where to study psychology with study in the usa today.

Reply 16

Eboracum

David Beckham studies (great bloke, but come on?)
Harry Potter studies (I use to fancy Hermione but come on?)
Golf Course Management (Won't help you be as good as Tiger)

Reply 17

Azarimanka

I'd say anything from a joke (bottom 30%) university.

Reply 18

Octohedral

Original post by -TheSpecialOne-

Would you all say that English or Management is one?

English isn't (don't know why people have started being all anti-english, when at school it was like English and Maths were the two main subjects).

Management, I have no problem with as a career path, but it seems a bit weird to have a degree in it - if companies didn't have this weird degree fetish now, I'm sure you'd get far better managers simply through apprenticeships and experience. Management theory, with the intention of becoming a researcher, may be different, but I always thought the point of university is for academic / theoretical subjects, whilst the practical ones can be taught better practically. Maybe that's just me.