Is this just a Mickey Mouse degree? (OU course)

[DESGUSTANG]

Name changed. God only knows why, though.

Considering doing an Arts & Humanities degree - Philosophy and English Lit specifically with the OU.

Can't get out of my head that it's a Mickey Mouse degree (thanks, middle class education system!) but I'm really interested in the subject matter. Anyone have any experience in the OU, Philosophy degrees or general life advice?

(FWIW, I'm in Scotland so I think tuition would be free with SAAS, if I'm not mistaken).

Also, you have to be organised and self motivated. My last assessment was due in Feb 3rd, my next one is April 7th so there are 9 weeks where I could do no work and there's nobody who would pick up on it.

Hi @DESGUSTANG

I did an OU degree - which got me onto an MSc degree at a "regular" Uni, then a PhD at that Uni, then I worked at that Uni (and one other), then I became an OU tutor then a FT staff member at the OU.... At least one full professor, a friend of mine, at the Uni I did my PhD at did their first degree at the OU.

Having taught at a number of Universities I can say with some confidence that the OU degrees are well structured, well tutored and supported, and well respected in academia. Employers LIKE OU grads because it shows both commitment and the ability to manage work and study effectively. A number of corporations formally supported their staff to complete OU degrees in my day, I assume that continues.

Absolutely not mickey mouse degrees. Hard work but well worth it.

In the last four or five years, we have seen two of the world’s major nations suffer seismic blows to their power, credibility and democracy itself driven by the distortions and lies of social and broadcast media.

And still some idiots think it’s a waste of time to study it.

@CoronaIsWatching

If you're interested in it why do you need to pay to do a degree in it? why not just indulge in it as a hobby?

Because if you are reading for a degree you’ll have your mind stretched by your tutors and your fellow students and new worlds will open up to you... education is not just indulgence. 🙄

I think the OU has a good rep OP, and if you put your back into these subjects will stretch your mind. There are probably ex students you can talk to if you ask??

Please stop using the term 'Mickey Mouse' degree. It's insulting to all those dedicated academics who devote their career to that subject and the students who study it.

There is intrinsic value in all education. Yes certain courses and certain universities lead to higher paid jobs but that doesn't mean degrees that don't fall into that category are worthless.

There was a thread on here once mocking so called Mickey Mouse degrees - those that attracted the most ridicule actually had excellent graduate employability figures.

Anyway, I'll het off my high horse now. It's just a particular bug bear of mine!!

@MasterBeth

In the last four or five years, we have seen two of the world’s major nations suffer seismic blows to their power, credibility and democracy itself driven by the distortions and lies of social and broadcast media.

And still some idiots think it’s a waste of time to study it.

I completely agree. Media Studies has been held up as the joke degree for the past 30 years, but the past 5 years have shown how woefully undereducated so many people are when it comes to consuming media and how easily we can be manipulated by interested parties. And then people happily gulp down a diet of misinformation and here we are. Our democracy would be in a much healthier state if we had more analysis and more critical thinking when it comes to media. But instead we just have people saying 'media studies lol'

(and no, my degree is not in media studies)

I used to know a high school deputy head. She told me once that some of their best teachers had done their degrees with the OU (this was 30 or so years ago).

I would definitely say it is not joke studying with the OU.

I did a STEM Combined degree with the OU for 4 years and it was tough. I worked full time alongside it and am now doing a masters at a brick university because my masters isn't offered at the OU (that would've been my preference tbh).
Anyways, whoever has heard that I've done a degree with the OU tends to be shocked because first, it isn't that popular among younger generations, and second, its tough! You really need to be motivated and self disciplined enough to actually want to do it.

I loved studying with the OU, and plans on studying with them in the future AND working with them.

I say if you're serious, then by all means go for it. But be prepared to give your all because you'll be expected to.

Oh and btw to get a 1st, you need 80% and above. In brick universities, its 70%. Never understood that but there we go.

Good luck x

In a way it's a 'Mickey Mouse' degree in as much as it's not something with a clear career path/marketable skill.

But a good degree will still help you career-wise, it just looks good on the CV and proves you have the qualities required to study/work independently etc.

And if you want to do it then that's a reason to do it in itself- not everything's about money I guess.

If you can get inspired by a degree which has a specific marketable skill set at the end, that'd be even better IMHO. (I say that as someone with a good-but-pointless degree.)

Go for it. I did my degree with the OU . It took me 6 years and it was a slog as I was working full time. Like you I live in Scotland and I was awarded grants to pay for the courses. The degree I chose to do was related to work, enabling me to get a better job in the sector that I work in, but I would have loved to do something in the humanities and still might after I retire. Education is always worth it.

I think people respect the OU more nowadays, especially as there are so many 'universities' around now that honestly probably aren't as rigorous as the OU.

If you're interested in the subject and it's for fun, do it! I hate the term Mickey Mouse degree, as someone else said, education is never a waste.

A mickey mouse degree would be something like napkin folding or something.

Having a degree that isn't an apprenticeship into a business function isn't a mickey mouse degree.

Full-time study - allow about 36 hours a week - that''s 120 credits a year. You can do it part-time - most modules are either 30 credits or 60 credits, so 8-9 hours or 16-18 hours a week. It's fine to switch between full- and part-time from year to year. Some level 1 modules have a February start as well as an October one - that allows you to start some study in October and see how it's going before committing to full-time study.

The OU's philosophy is "open access", hence no entry requirements. They do suggest an "access course" if you've not much experence of studying.

I can never understand why people sneer at Media Studies (the classic so-called Mickey Mouse subject). It is learning to apply critical thinking to the modern media we all consume. Considering how many people are succumbing to fake news, unachievable beauty standards and porn addiction I think more people would benefit from it. And I say this as someone with a STEM degree

I really don’t get the hate for media studies. I’ve just looked it up and it’s basically an updated English lit degree that takes account of a wider variety of consumable media than just books. Books are one form of media, and film, audio, TV, social media, and so on are others. It promotes critical thinking, analysis, skills development and it’s really useful for accessing careers in journalism, production, gaming companies, etc. The ‘Mickey Mouse degree’ slur is some sort of Daily Mail hangover. If you’re interested in a course, totally go for it and enjoy it. Don’t give a stuff what anyone else thinks. Exercising your brain, overcoming challenges, and learning is never wasted.

A couple of people have mentioned the OU's marking scheme, which differs from others. They just use different numbers to signify the same thing. So a first class piece of work would gain a first, a 2:1 essay a 2:1, as at any university.

It's just that that mid-2:1 essay would be graded 78% at the OU but 65% at most universities. The 'just a first' 86% vs 71%. Different numbers, same thing.

Your OU 71% (low 2:1) does not translate to a first, if you get it marked elsewhere.

I did my PGDip with the OU, would recommend it to anyone who can work largely autonomously :)

@SSW101 and @Wiredforsound. Strongly agree

I have loads of qualifications in a traditional STEM subject. DH was in the same field, hated it and has just done a career change and completed a degree in the dreaded media studies.

Turns out it’s really sought after, and he’s likely to out—earn me this year... for the first time in 20 years. Git.

OP as you're not doing it for the sole purpose of needing employment - go for it! Philosophy at its heart is the study of logic and hence the root of all science - v academically rigorous.
I'd consider things like Event Management mickey mouse subjects as these are worthy of industry standard qualifcations but not academic studies like a degree.

Another one speaking in defence of media studies. I did a post-grad in journalism studies and became /drumroll/ a journalist! (no, not one trawling MN for cheap stories - I mostly write about winter sports these days and in normal times would be traveling extensively to international tournaments). My post-grad course gave me a solid professional skill set, plus an understanding of why the media works as it does (albeit more from the practical nuts-and-bolts than the philosophical issues around what constitutes news and how it's reported).

So, overall, it's given me a decent career, taken me to a bunch of places I'd never had visited otherwise and gives me a bit of a steer when navigating media manipulation. And knowing shorthand means I can rattle out shopping lists in no time, as long as I don't want anyone else to do the shopping for me!

As for studying a degree that isn't directly vocational, I'd expect a worthwhile course to involve a good number of transferable skills. That doesn't mean I'd expect a modern languages grad to make a competent accountant, but I would expect things like intellectual discipline, self-motivation, ability to evaluate multiple sources, ability to work with varying levels of supervision, etc to be strong in someone with a high level of education. I'd always assumed that was the point of university, rather than going directly into professional, career-specific training.

I think you are right about having a goal to aim for. I did a city and guilds evening clas once and at the start the rotor said you could choose to do it for fun or to enter the exam. Only 3 of us chose to enter the exam and we were the only 3 still turning up at the end of the course.

I did the into to humanities module (think it's a different name now). Loved it and gave me a real taste

I have a degree in English Literature and Philosophy and tell anybody who asks that it was a complete waste of time and money. Ì found it interesting at the time, but it did nothing for my career prospects post graduation.

100% not a Mickey Mouse degree.
You will find it very academically challenging and OU is a good university, their degrees are well respected. Go for it OP and enjoy!