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Studying two undergraduate degrees at the same time

Hello

I would like some opinions (please be kind and constructive) on the following proposition.

I have accepted an unconditional offer to study a Bsc (Hons) in Psychology at the University of Portsmouth - to start in October.

Because of the fact that I really enjoy learning and like pushing myself as much as possible to achieve in as much as I can, and because of concerns about being employable in a graduate-level job after I graduate (so many people are now going to university, and so many are also doing Psychology, I was considering the idea of studying two undergraduate degrees at the same time. Also I refer you to the below yahoo answer (not my question on there, but one I found when searching), where there are some who think it's a good idea and others who don't.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ai30qs7Mcx.aipokzfyhTH4jzKIX?qid=20061213102203AAMSVd1

I was thinking of doing, in addition to the Psychology degree, which is full time, the degree in Criminology and Psychological Studies at the Open University - in my spare time. The main problem with this is obviously the Psychological Studies part of it isn't really needed as i'm already doing a pure Psychology degree, but I want to study Criminology and they don't offer a pure Criminology degree (correct me if I'm wrong).

http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/P12.dll?S01

The reason I want to study Criminology aswell, is that I'm interested in the subject, having studied A level Law and done wider reading while doing so, but also because I think paired with Psychology it can be useful in some careers, most obviously - Forensic Psychology, but also in jobs in the Prison Service, Police, Criminal Justice system and so on.

The main questions I have are -

How flexible is a degree from the Open University? - Can I study for as many or as few hours as I want each week, depending on how often I want to study on a particular week? I don't want to be restricted to only studying the standard part-time hours each week as the amount of free time I have to devote to it would obviously change, obviously I would have a lot during the summer breaks for example.

What are your thoughts on the fact that the Psychological Studies part of it will be superfulous? Am I right that they do not have a pure Criminology degree? I do notice they have an open degree option, but what is that like? What are the pros and cons of doing that? It would have to be an Open University Degree I think, or a similar kind of institution - because It's too late to apply to UCAS again - err.. and I don't you could do two degrees through them? Can anyone reccomend any other instituions similar to the OU which offer recognised degrees?

One last question - what other degrees would go well with Psychology sufficiently to justify studying another pure degree in addition to Psychology?

Thank you.

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The workload would be ridiculous and I think your degree class would more than likely suffer tremendously. Also, wouldn't it be more expensive than just doing a masters in criminology after your psychology degree?
CoolSocks
Hello

I would like some opinions (please be kind and constructive) on the following proposition.

I have accepted an unconditional offer to study a Bsc (Hons) in Psychology at the University of Portsmouth - to start in October.

Because of the fact that I really enjoy learning and like pushing myself as much as possible to achieve in as much as I can, and because of concerns about being employable in a graduate-level job after I graduate (so many people are now going to university, and so many are also doing Psychology, I was considering the idea of studying two undergraduate degrees at the same time. Also I refer you to the below yahoo answer (not my question on there, but one I found when searching), where there are some who think it's a good idea and others who don't.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ai30qs7Mcx.aipokzfyhTH4jzKIX?qid=20061213102203AAMSVd1

I was thinking of doing, in addition to the Psychology degree, which is full time, the degree in Criminology and Psychological Studies at the Open University - in my spare time. The main problem with this is obviously the Psychological Studies part of it isn't really needed as i'm already doing a pure Psychology degree, but I want to study Criminology and they don't offer a pure Criminology degree (correct me if I'm wrong).

http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/P12.dll?S01

The reason I want to study Criminology aswell, is that I'm interested in the subject, having studied A level Law and done wider reading while doing so, but also because I think paired with Psychology it can be useful in some careers, most obviously - Forensic Psychology, but also in jobs in the Prison Service, Police, Criminal Justice system and so on.

The main questions I have are -

How flexible is a degree from the Open University? - Can I study for as many or as few hours as I want each week, depending on how often I want to study on a particular week? I don't want to be restricted to only studying the standard part-time hours each week as the amount of free time I have to devote to it would obviously change, obviously I would have a lot during the summer breaks for example.

What are your thoughts on the fact that the Psychological Studies part of it will be superfulous? Am I right that they do not have a pure Criminology degree? I do notice they have an open degree option, but what is that like? What are the pros and cons of doing that? It would have to be an Open University Degree I think, or a similar kind of institution - because It's too late to apply to UCAS again - err.. and I don't you could do two degrees through them? Can anyone reccomend any other instituions similar to the OU which offer recognised degrees?

One last question - what other degrees would go well with Psychology sufficiently to justify studying another pure degree in addition to Psychology?

Thank you.
I think you might be slightly under-estimating the work involved to gain a degree, especially from second year onwards. Could you perhaps pick up a second degree from the Open University when you have experienced at least some university work first? With regards to your offer on the psychology degree, if you get a good grade 2.1>, the chances are, there will be no problem getting a job. The subject means a lot less than some people think for some careers.
Reply 3
To be honest....put things into priority....and at the moment thats the degree you will be studying at portsmouth.....Work hard and gain a 1st and then look at your options....

whats better? a 3rd class honours degree and 25% completed degree from the OU or a 1st Class honours degree?

i know which one i would choose.....please don't jump ahead of yourself...i'm pretty sure your only regret it if you do go down that route.
I forgot to mention in my previous post. I think you'd be better getting more extra curricular work in as opposed to a second degree. Things like charity work etc, have become very desirable, especially as there are more and more graduates every year.
The obvious solution would be to get a single joint degree in Psychology and Criminology...
Reply 6
The obvious solution is not to assume that studying for a degree is like studying for 1 A-level subject. Coming up to exam periods especially the work load on some courses is insane. I don't know about psychology but most science students I talk to seem to be in hibernation at their nearest library at the moment.
Reply 7
Also, I believe that you need permission from your university before the OU will let you register, and you'd be very unlikely to get it.

I've taken extra modules throughout my degree, and although that's meant that I've had a stupid workload at the end of each semester I certainly haven't been bored. I've also done voluntary work, and got involved in lots of university societies and clubs. I honestly think that that's a better way to go than trying to combine two undergrad degrees at once, even if you'd be allowed to, which I doubt.
Reply 8
Paeony
Also, I believe that you need permission from your university before the OU will let you register, and you'd be very unlikely to get it.

I've taken extra modules throughout my degree, and although that's meant that I've had a stupid workload at the end of each semester I certainly haven't been bored. I've also done voluntary work, and got involved in lots of university societies and clubs. I honestly think that that's a better way to go than trying to combine two undergrad degrees at once, even if you'd be allowed to, which I doubt.


But you don't know, that sounds like speculation to me. I imagine you can, because I don't know how the OU would be able to know what other things I'm doing, you can also enrol with the OU at any month of the year.
Reply 9
Hi all

So far the general consensus is that it would be inadvisable. However, I can find examples of institutions which offer you the opportunity of studying two degrees at the same time (not joint honours but two degrees), such as below, there are others. So it can't be too much of a crazy idea.

http://www.uq.edu.au/study/index.html?page=5995&pid=949

The main concern I have is being marketable in the job market. I want to study Psychology but as it isn't a vocational subject and... "...the number of psychology graduates is doubling every five years in the UK..." Becoming a Psychologist - Ronald D. Francis.

Do you think the idea is feasible? Assuming that the OU degree is very flexibile and I can scale the amount of time I spend on it right down near exam times and right up during summer holidays as I said? Also note that you can enrol now, for short courses, like the first modules at the OU without committing yourself to the degree but still allowing you to use those modules as credits for your degree.

I respect all of your opinions as most of you are actually studying for a degree and know the workload involved, but assuming the OU degree is flexible and the damaging effect on the main degree is minimal, and I complete it or nearly complete it by the time I graduate from the main degree, I would have quite an advantage in the job market from having two degrees would I not?

Thanks for all your input.
Reply 10
I do know actually, and if you'd read the OUs website then you'd know too lol :smile:

It says somewhere on the website that you need explicit permission from someone very high up in your uni in order to be allowed to register on OU courses, because they are considered to be quite demanding. I know this because I looked into taking a couple of OU modules myself when I was in my first year, as I was bored. I personally didn't want to waste so much money knowing that taking on an outside module might damage my chances in both that and my degree, so I took on extra modules at uni as I know generally what's expected of me.

Of course you can lie to the OU about what you're doing, that's your perogative.

edit: from reading the information from Queensland, it seems that you don't actually complete two degrees the same time as one degree - it states that you complete two degrees in a shorter time than it would take to do two consecutive degrees, which implies that the overall course of study for a 'double' degree is longer than it is for a single degree. It is possible to do that - I have been taking about 170 credits a year, as opposed to 120. Given that I need 360 credits to complete my degree, and I will have 500(ish), I could in theory get another degree in about six months. Can't say I'd recommend it to everyone though.

Also, it was NOT EASY for me to get permission to do this - being a mature student with a good attitude helped me enormously.
Reply 11
ChemistBoy
The workload would be ridiculous and I think your degree class would more than likely suffer tremendously. Also, wouldn't it be more expensive than just doing a masters in criminology after your psychology degree?


Sorry, I thought that you can't generally do a master's degree in a subject unless you have a undergraduate degree in that subject or a related one, that's what most master's degree admissions advice says.
Reply 12
Paeony
I do know actually, and if you'd read the OUs website then you'd know too lol :smile:

It says somewhere on the website that you need explicit permission from someone very high up in your uni in order to be allowed to register on OU courses, because they are considered to be quite demanding. I know this because I looked into taking a couple of OU modules myself when I was in my first year, as I was bored. I personally didn't want to waste so much money knowing that taking on an outside module might damage my chances in both that and my degree, so I took on extra modules at uni as I know generally what's expected of me.

Of course you can lie to the OU about what you're doing, that's your perogative.

edit: from reading the information from Queensland, it seems that you don't actually complete two degrees the same time as one degree - it states that you complete two degrees in a shorter time than it would take to do two consecutive degrees, which implies that the overall course of study for a 'double' degree is longer than it is for a single degree. It is possible to do that - I have been taking about 170 credits a year, as opposed to 120. Given that I need 360 credits to complete my degree, and I will have 500(ish), I could in theory get another degree in about six months. Can't say I'd recommend it to everyone though.

Also, it was NOT EASY for me to get permission to do this - being a mature student with a good attitude helped me enormously.


Hi

Sorry but the words you used in the previous post suggested you wern't completely certain.

I'll look on the OU website myself and see if I can find what exactly it says.

Still looking... it doesn't appear to be in the FAQ.
Reply 13
It's on this page, under entry requirements.
Reply 14
Paeony
It's on this page, under entry requirements.


Thanks Paeony, I guess that settles it. I don't want to lie to them, they'd probably find out in any case.

Would you mind telling me more about how I could go about doing extra modules like you have, at the University of Portsmouth?
CoolSocks
Sorry, I thought that you can't generally do a master's degree in a subject unless you have a undergraduate degree in that subject or a related one, that's what most master's degree admissions advice says.


This is true, however:

Psychology is not related to criminology? Come on, you are having a laugh! I know people with psychology degrees who have done MSc's in criminology. I looked on google and the first page I pulled up was Oxford's MSc/MPhil programme in criminology which stated that psychology was on the list of 'closely related subjects' that would gain you admission to the course. It took me all of two seconds to find that out. In fact, some MSc degrees in criminology are open to any graduate (such as l'boro's Criminology and Criminal Justice programme). Given that you would have to pay full fees for the OU course I'm sure a full-time one year master's would work out much cheaper.
Reply 16
ChemistBoy
This is true, however:

Psychology is not related to criminology? Come on, you are having a laugh! I know people with psychology degrees who have done MSc's in criminology. I looked on google and the first page I pulled up was Oxford's MSc/MPhil programme in criminology which stated that psychology was on the list of 'closely related subjects' that would gain you admission to the course. It took me all of two seconds to find that out. In fact, some MSc degrees in criminology are open to any graduate (such as l'boro's Criminology and Criminal Justice programme). Given that you would have to pay full fees for the OU course I'm sure a full-time one year master's would work out much cheaper.


Thanks for enlightening me on that matter.
CoolSocks
Thanks for enlightening me on that matter.


No offence, but you should really have known this already. Oh well.
Reply 18
ChemistBoy
No offence, but you should really have known this already. Oh well.


None taken. Thanks again.
Reply 19
CoolSocks
Thanks Paeony, I guess that settles it. I don't want to lie to them, they'd probably find out in any case.

Would you mind telling me more about how I could go about doing extra modules like you have, at the University of Portsmouth?


Obviously it'll vary from place to place, but at my uni you take 120 credits a year, made up of 10 and 20 credit modules. You are allowed to take up to 150 a year, but this has to be run past the head of department and also the tutor taking the course, and you will be discouraged from doing this.

My uni has two 12 week semesters, and you get no choice in the modules that you take in the first semester in the first year. For the second semester, we were able to choose some modules and I was able to put extra down. However, not everyone was allowed to do this - I think it helped that I am a mature student and I got some very good grades in the first semester. I did have to work hard to get the tutors to agree though. For the second and third years, it was much the same - I listed extra modules, sometimes they said yes, sometimes no, particularly if it was oversubscribed. I also took a few extra classes that weren't part of my actual degree. My uni has a languages programme and I was able to sign up for a few of those modules. I did take a language course at another institution, but I had to give it up because of the expense. It was also difficult to balance the demands of that (hand in days etc) with the demands of my uni ... obviously they were very different and I did have problems with clashes.

Like I said it's not a standard thing. Some places will say no and even my uni was a bit tougher on the younger undergrads ... I did get away with murder lol. It's also easier if you choose modules that are all fairly closely related - if the ones you pick are too disparate then it can be difficult to get all of the reading and research done. I was lucky, I'm doing a combined degree, both sides of which have a fair bit of crossover in terms of the reading, and my uni is also very good at letting us take modules outside of our schools. In terms of grades, I suspect that taking all of the extra modules has affected me overall in terms of grading - I'm aiming for a fairly solid first overall but I know that if I'd taken less, I could have got higher grades individually. Also, I probably would have been able to do more extra-curricular stuff ... I have done voluntary work and got involved with societies, but if I had wanted to play in a sports team, for example, I would have had to take fewer modules. I also think it helps to be a mature student ... people expect you to be a swot lol!

Hope this helps.