Who's doing/done a open university degree? I can't decide which one to do!

[me23]

Hi I've decided I want to study with the OU but I'm torn over which degree to study, I have done one year of an anthroplogy degree before I had dd (17 months). I want to study again and have something that wil get me on a career path.
The subjects that interest me are:

health and social care
criminology and psychological studies
social sciences
psychology

Now how do I choose? is anyone doing any of these?
which would be more worthwhile in terms of career prospects or is it much of a muchness?

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I have just finished my OU psychology degree - hard work but great fun!

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I am in the middle of my OU psych degree

I'm doing HNC Chemical Engineering with Teeside Uni. Try searching Learn Direct to see if any of the Universities near you do home study.

wow I didn't expect replies so quickly, so whats the psych degree like? is it very demanding, more science or social based?

Not nearly enough Science IMO

Last year I did DSE212 (exploring psych) and it was FAB! I loved the summer school, and found most of the topics really interesting.

This year I did ED209 (child development)which I didn't like as much, but I think that's just my particular prejudice. It was a bit vague and woolly I thought.

I also did SD226 (Exploring the brain) which I LOVED, but I have a science background so that helped!)

Hi

I'm doing S260 in Feb next year after doing a few of the socail science courses a while ago. I did dd100 then some other D ones and to be honest they weren't my thing at all, too much talk and not even fact for me. So I'm hoping geology will be better.

You can do an open degree either a BA or BSc and all you have to do for those is enough points rather than specific courses. Have you phoned them they are usually very helpful?

well for me im glad its not too science based, I have a social science background.
Do you have to go to a residential school?
becuase I have no idea how I could do that I'm single parent with no family to help.

No, you can do it online instead. That's no problem.

But 'cos the summer school is very motivating at the hardest part of the year.

whether or not you have to do a summer school depends on teh course, but most are optional and lots don't have them at all.

I'm doing law. I've done dd100 and didn;t really like it at all tbh. I enjoyed a103 Intro to humanites far more. he other three courses that I have done are all law courses - w200, 201, and 300. I've found it quite demanding at times but enjoyable.

I thought a specific degree would look and be better on a cv as it shows you are qualified in a particular subject rather than a mish mash of courses, or am i wrong? I think I would prefer a cohevise degree so I dont get too muddled! I havent spoken to them Yet.

bump

I don't think you would get muddled as OU courses do seem to be very stand alone. But I do agree that it might look better on a cv. I definately cosidered that when deciding what to do.

Yeah thanks kelly, will do lots of readin on the website about the courses tonight I think. Also sincce I've completed as year of a degree I want to transfer credit.

As a pimp, my view is to do psychology, is seen by employers as more of a "rel" degree.
Avoid Criminology completely.

How much per year/module is the OU?

Depends on the module. I think child psychology was about £600.

what is wrong with crimnology? I quite fancy the masters in that.

law I think is about £1100 - one of the most exp.

What do you WANT to study?

I think as a 6 year (or thereabouts) course for a full degree, its vital that your course is something you are interested in, not just for something to show on a CV.

I am starting a postgraduate pyschology conversion diploma with the OU in Feb, and am hardly able to contain my excitement - i looked ahead 10 years to where i wanted to be, and worked backwards. Although things may change, as there are no guarantees in this life, i at least have a path on which to guide me now.

I would say that from your choices, if you wanted to work in one of these areas specifically, pyschology would open doors in its own AND all 3 other areas, but due to the BPS requirements, i dont think its possible the other way around.

thanks for the responses, I have narrowed down my choices now to psychology, and the health and social care degree.

!

reading thru this again, you hven['t really stated what you want to do with your degree?

I think squidette's post is very well thought out and might help you choose.

health and socail care I first considered as it is an excellent pathway into nursing. Pyshology is very hard to break into but very rewarding I should imagine, something I nearly did too!

Hi me23, I have just finished a Psychology degree with the OU (just waiting on final result in Dec to find out classification - ulp!). I credit transferred quite a few points from my previous degree onto my OU course, but even then to get GBR (Graduate basis for recognition) with the BPS you have to complete four core courses in Psychology, in addition to making up your total points through other relevant courses.

I found the OU an entirely rewarding experience ad would recommend it heartily to anyone - tutors are generally very aware of the fact that you have an often demanding life outside of your studies, and that this may impinge heavily on your ability to hand assignments in on time etc. During my studies I went through a divorce, a marriage and the birth of two children (took my books in to hoaspital when having both c-sections!!). As cazzybabs said, a psych degree is very hard work but also very rewarding, and has made me see life in a whole new light.

With a psych degree, you will almost certainly have to carry out further study to specialise in a particular area, and competition for funded places on postgrad courses is very high, as well as quite restrictive for parents, in my experience.

Whatever you decide, be under no illusions that it will be hard and that sometimes you will wonder why the hell you are putting yourself through it, but it is all worth it in the end. A supportive partner and good childcare really help!

Sorry for long post but hope it helps and apologies if I have repeated anything anyone else has said. Good luck! x.

Just about to start year 3 of a History degree! Wanted to do a subject i enjoyed that also would fit in with future work plans.

Don't forget student grants (not loans) are now available to part time students with "low" incomes.