About buzzard Expertise Experienced college admissions professional who has assisted hundreds of students and their families in finding the right college. Choosing a college is not a game that only a few people can win; there is no universal handfull of "best" colleges. It is possible for everyone to find a college that is the right fit for them.
Experience 10 years as a college admissions counselor; 12 years working for a national association of college admissions counselors; two children of my own in college Frequently teach "How to Choose Your College" programs.
Question I have recently graduated cum laude with an Associates degree in Telecommunications. I am now going to pursue my Bachelor's degree and considering Southern Nazarene University.
They have a B.S. program called Organizational Leadership. They accept some life experience for credit. You must write a paper on that issue to get credit. They say they are accredited by the NCA and Oklahoma State board of Regents etc. I would like you to comment on this school.
More importantly I would like to know whether or not employers or industry look at certain degrees with any validity or not. I mean they say it is a Business degree, but it is Organizational Leadership. How much water would it really hold? Does it sound like a degree that would be worth anything? Any information you could offer would be helpful.
Thanks,
Shain
Answer Hi! Congratulations on graduating cum laude!
The answer to this question is rather highly debated. OL has been a bit of a buzz word in the academic world for awhile now, both at the graduate and undergraduate level.
Color me Old School. I tend to think that a plain, old fashioned business degree will carry more weight. When you say that you were a business major, people know what you studied. No one will know what you studied in OL. The degree sounds touchy-feely. That doesn't mean it is, that is simply how it may be perceived. Plus, you are earning a degree that will be your degree for the rest of your working life. What happens whtn OL is a trend that passed? (If that happpens.) I don't see a business degree going out of fashion.
Can Southern Nazarene provide you with a list of companies that have hired OL grads - and their job titles?
Call the HR office of several larger companies and ask them how they evaluate degrees in OL compared to business degrees.
Southern Naz is generally a well regarded school. If you want to check out any other Christian colleges, look iinto Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities. They have quite an extensive list of members and an easy search system. Not that I'm trying to discourage you from SN - just if you wanted to check out a few others.
I'm sure you can find a learned soul who will tell you the virtues of an OL degree, but I think you will be more versitle and considered a more serious contended with a degree in business.
