COSC adding new Majors

[publius2k4]

I was confused by this when I first came here too. But, I know that Harvard calls their "majors" concentrations and in principle the concentrations at COSC are as many credits as the majors so....I am confused by how everyone classifies the two in the first place.

The primary difference is the fact that my transcripts read "general studies" where as these majors would read as they are. However, I don't think it really matters how it's written (for most real world situations). The important thing is finishing.

COSC has had an influx of funding (from grants and attendance) thanks to the State of Connecticut's "Go Back to Get Ahead" program (which increased COSC's enrollment by 30% in the last 18 months). As a result of the increased funding, I think COSC will be increasing their offerings quite a bit over the next few years. Maybe they'll finally begin to offer that Master's Degree they've been talking about for the last 10 years.

[cookderosa]

It's odd to me how often people refer to this as potentially being a big deal. I'm coming up on ten years as a COSC grad (B.S. with the Information Systems Studies concentration), and not once has any school or employer treated it differently from a major.

(because it's the same thing.... but people will still insist it isn't)

[ajs1976]

"Bachelor of Science in Information Systems" vs. "Bachelor of Science in General Studies with a Concentration in Information Systems". if they are the same, why the difference in naming?

Why have mostly concentrations and a few majors? Why not all concentrations?

And according to Charter Oaks website they are similar which implies that they are not the same: "A concentration is similar to a major, but it offers far more flexibility by allowing you to work with the credits you have already earned to map-out a degree program that meets your career and personal goals." Which brings up another question, what flexibility?

Charter Oak has a degree naming convention that raises questions because it is different then what most schools do. It is reassuring to hear that people who have the General Studies with a concentration have not had any problems because of it.

[cookderosa]

What is a College Major?

The bottom line, if you're completing 30+ hours in the same something, you have a degree in that something.

EDIT: it's good to ask what the difference is, because as we all know, when you're degree planning you have to be on your toes. But this is a micro issue in a macro topic; right there with BA vs BS.

[Exfactor]

The major is general studies...

COSC actually differentiates between majors and concentrations. It's not like they don't offer majors, they do...

COSC was actually my first choice, but they wanted me to complete more courses. However, they make it very clear that your major is in general studies.

[SteveFoerster]

"Bachelor of Science in Information Systems" vs. "Bachelor of Science in General Studies with a Concentration in Information Systems". if they are the same, why the difference in naming?

Why have mostly concentrations and a few majors? Why not all concentrations?

And according to Charter Oaks website they are similar which implies that they are not the same: "A concentration is similar to a major, but it offers far more flexibility by allowing you to work with the credits you have already earned to map-out a degree program that meets your career and personal goals." Which brings up another question, what flexibility?

Back in the day what COSC was doing was unusual. Because, at the time, what they would allow to be applied to a program was more flexible than most schools, NEASC wanted them to use the nomenclature they do. Since then, many more schools have started offering majors that include a lot more flexibility -- other schools have caught up to where COSC started out. That's why they're slowly starting to refer to some of their programs as having majors. It also explains why you read that on COSC's site, although the argument could be made that they shouldn't describe things that way now that the difference has been eroded.

tl;dr: It's a leftover from the '70s when non-traditional learning was still avant garde.

[Yanji]

It's also important to note that COSC is a liberal arts school, and as such it is appropriate (and factual) to refer to their degrees as having a major in General Studies. In fact, this is common practice among liberal arts schools and is the very definition of what a liberal education means. The only other "majors" at COSC are in non-liberal arts subjects, which are not a central part of COSC's academic wheelhouse, per se, and it makes sense to treat them differently.

[Exfactor]

It's also important to note that COSC is a liberal arts school, and as such it is appropriate (and factual) to refer to their degrees as having a major in General Studies. In fact, this is common practice among liberal arts schools and is the very definition of what a liberal education means. The only other "majors" at COSC are in non-liberal arts subjects, which are not a central part of COSC's academic wheelhouse, per se, and it makes sense to treat them differently.

When I enrolled at COSC before deciding to move on, the advisor I had and spoke to quite often made it very clear that I had a major and my major would be in general studies, and that psychology would just be my concentration. So maybe a general studies degree is just equivalent to a B.S or B.A degree in liberal arts with a concentration in XYZ?

[ajs1976]

Back in the day what COSC was doing was unusual. Because, at the time, what they would allow to be applied to a program was more flexible than most schools, NEASC wanted them to use the nomenclature they do. Since then, many more schools have started offering majors that include a lot more flexibility -- other schools have caught up to where COSC started out. That's why they're slowly starting to refer to some of their programs as having majors. It also explains why you read that on COSC's site, although the argument could be made that they shouldn't describe things that way now that the difference has been eroded.

tl;dr: It's a leftover from the '70s when non-traditional learning was still avant garde.

that is the piece of information I was missing. Now why does COSC do that, but TESC that was chartered in 1972 have Majors and some areas of study? Did TESC start out like it is now or did it change at a later time. While what they are doing with the BSBA and Applied Sciences and their areas of study are similar to a major in General Studies with a concentration, I feel that what TESC is doing is more defined and therefore more marketable to the job market.

[ajs1976]

It's also important to note that COSC is a liberal arts school, and as such it is appropriate (and factual) to refer to their degrees as having a major in General Studies. In fact, this is common practice among liberal arts schools and is the very definition of what a liberal education means. The only other "majors" at COSC are in non-liberal arts subjects, which are not a central part of COSC's academic wheelhouse, per se, and it makes sense to treat them differently.

That doesn't match the attitude I was exposed to while attending a liberal arts school which didn't offer a liberal arts major or anything that general. They actually looked down on schools that offered those types of majors. Almost like they didn't prepare students. (Not my opinion and I have my own issues with liberal arts education.)