Mickey mouse degrees

[drumbeats]

I was pondering as one does and it occurred to me that what was once considered a solid degree might now actually be pretty useless. Abreast we're considered MM degrees actually have some merit.

Classics. Useless. Not as useful for politics or economics or anything much short of perhaps museum work as history or even archeology

English. Creative writing might be valuable if that is a chosen route. Pretty much everything else gained from an English degree is either purely fuelling an interest or can be gained doing a subject with more technical merit like economics or a science.

Geography. Weirdly thought of as a duffers subject. With climate change and population migration incredibly important subject.

Sociology. Incredibly useful. We live in a world with such changing social dynamics, conflicts, sensitivities. Disparity in wealth and the consequences. Political positions, social work, education, Human Resources.

Media studies. The power and influence of the media, social media and online information and misinformation is shaping minds. The manipulation of people's thinking and understanding through media is profound and potentially very dangerous.

I would say by MM they mean the actual university you get the degree from not the degree itself?

My son has a degree in Fine Art, neither he nor any of his friends on the same course have (or have had) jobs related to their qualifications. He was lucky in that he could stay at home but most of his friends are lumbered with student debts of around £50k which they will never pay off.

Trie, I was mid nineties so no fees, and even a tiny grant. But it is very sad that universities are now prep for work, not places to stimulate intellectual thought.

My sister has a music degree and post grad, and earns a decent enough living as a classical musician, but god she has to hustle and work hard for it. But she's happy, so it's worth it. Both of us would have died inside with a management, business, marketing etc degree.

@justanotherdaduser

Well sure, but my point was that if it’s a good enough university often you will do well in the job market no matter what the subject. It’s not as simple as what subject you choose.

When I chose a popular arts subject for my degree, I figured I needed to do it at a top university to make me stand out in a job market with lots of similarly qualified graduates and that strategy worked for me.

I cant see how a strong academic degree such as English or classics from a good university can ever be a waste of time. Law, accountancy, management consultancy, civil service, aspects of banking all will be interested in those kinds of degrees. Granted you’re not going to be a research scientist doctor or engineer but you kind of knew that before you went down that route

My DD1 did a theology degree as she found it interesting rather than as a way into the ministry. She has never been out of a job since graduating. I think her First showed she had a critical and enquiring mind and was no stranger to hard work, all things prospective employers are looking for.

I’d like to see a Venn Diagram of those who think Media Studies is a ‘Mickey Mouse’ subject, but also believes everything they read in their bias newspaper of choice.

Totally disagree. I have a Classics degree - because I wanted to spend three years studying something I was actually interested in - and the skills and knowledge I gained have been absolutely vital in my future career which is in no way connected to Classics thematically.

But it is very sad that universities are now prep for work, not places to stimulate intellectual thought.

They should be both. And I believe many still are. Some return to the former uni/polytechnic structure might be a good idea.

Its more sad to see when students havent ascertained properly what the degree actually could lead to and what it wont . There are some degrees which people misunderstand what jobs they will get at the end of the degree (taking out jobs that don't require specific degrees or can accessed via conversion courses). Also some degrees that lead to jobs which only have such a minute number being able to work in that field. Sad to see all those taking degrees such as criminology and forensic based degrees without realising this beforehand and getting the shock after.

I am saying Geography isn't a duffers degree. I think social sciences are fantastic. Numerate. Literacy skills challenged. Analysis. They whole gambit. I am saying the degrees that people have typically referred to as MM degrees may actually be more valuable now than degree that used to be held in high regard like classics. Because of the reasons I laid out.

@YouTulip I think you’ve misunderstood the OP (understandably, because there are typos) — she’s not saying the degrees she lists are ‘Mickey Mouse’ degrees, she’s saying she thinks they’re ‘useless’ and degrees traditionally considered ‘Mickey Mouse’ might be more useful than than previously thought.
Yeah, sorry for the typos. Using my phone with no contacts in.

I'm saying much as you explain. So called MM degrees and degrees like geography which traditionally have suffered a bit of an image problem are potentially more useful in today's world than degrees that used to be highly regarded such as classics.

I don't know if any degree is a MM degree if taught well at a good institution. I do think some traditional degrees aren't overly useful now though other than for interest or just to show academic aptitude.
But I feel academic aptitude would be better served in a more useful degree like sciences, social sciences, history, politics etc rather than classics or English.

I agree

Surely it's only a Mickey Mouse degree if it doesn't enhance the student's chances of getting work in their chosen field?

I have a degree in Creative Writing. Pointless, of course, for many, but for me it led (in a very roundabout fashion) to my current eight-book contract with a traditional publisher. So, in my case it was a very sensible degree - not that I knew it when I took it, but I went to Uni as an Adult Learner, and took the degree more for interest and enrichment than because I thought it would lead to well paid work.

Yes. If someone is choosing a degree for specific reasons like you the. Nothing is useless. But I think at 16/17 when people are planning what they do at uni, often people just pick a degree because they don't know what to do. So they pick one because they studied it at a-levels.

I'm less criticising classics etc. I am more making the point that modern degrees are not necessarily MM degrees and that in the modern world they may be more relevant than some degrees that used to be highly regarded. Like classics.

None of those subjects are considered Mickey Mouse degrees.

Ones like “David Beckham studies” were.

I think it is a step backwards for the UK that the narrative that high quality arts based learning is a waste of time.
The skills learned in critical thinking, research and verbal and written communication are not a waste of time but a sound basis for much of working life.

I say this as someone who actually had more practical based degrees because that happened to be where my interests lay.

One of my dc's wants to study history great, she can also do a marketing MA later if she wants to.

Media studies, film studies have definitely been called MM degrees. Sociology and geography have definitely been thought of as 'easy subjects' for slightly thick people. I remember people calling it 'nography' with a stupid voice.
It's crazy as social sciences are great degrees. They utilise so many skill sets.

When you say social sciences, do you mean degrees such as economics ?

Yeah look at what a great job BJ did!

But I think at 16/17 when people are planning what they do at uni, often people just pick a degree because they don't know what to do. So they pick one because they studied it at a-levels.

I agree with this op. I did an English degree as it was my best subject at school. But in those days (70s/80s) far fewer people went to university. Now a degree is expected to the extent that employers often make it a requirement for a job where it's really not necessary. I think it was a huge mistake to vastly increase the number of university places. It devalues the experience for students, makes those young people who can't go feel inadequate and saddles young people with enormous debt.

One of my dcs also went down the doing their best subject at university route and that didn't go well. So they left and did a degree apprenticeship for an international company who paid them a good salary while they were doing it. And guaranteed a job at the end of it.

Social sciences usually refer to Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Geography, History, Political Science and Economics

This!!!
English, History and Classics are the more intellectual degree subjects!

Not sure any degree is a Mickey Mouse degree. This thread is reductive and depressing.

Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Geography, History, Political Science and Economics

I would really challenge the idea that these subjects are or have ever been considered easy subjects for less academic pupils.
I don't think the entry requirements for universities would support this.

Media studies yes, because when it first started it seemed to be an alternative for pupils who were struggling with English as a subject, at least in my school.