What's the most useful or least useful degree or diploma you ever earned?

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Fri, 15 May 2015 08:47:39 -0400

Looking back over your life, you have a diploma and probably a degree of some sort under your belt. While any education is good to have, let's face it. Some degrees or diplomas are more useful to your career than others. What was the MOST useful diploma or degree you ever received? What was the LEAST useful? Is there a degree you want to earn?

Response by COL Charles Williams made May 15 at 2015 8:54 AM

COL Charles Williams — Fri, 15 May 2015 08:54:04 -0400

CH (MAJ) William Beaver Actually all have been useful. Education is what you make it. If you are there because you want to be, you have a different focus than if you are there because have to be. That said, my most useful Degree for my career as an Army Leader was my Masters of Counseling and Organizational Behavior I received before I worked at West Point.

Most useless class ever... Classical Music Appreciation - Undergraduate Elective requirement.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 8:55 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 May 2015 08:55:02 -0400

I can tell you that having a Bachelor's of Science in Photography does you absolutely no good at all unless you enjoy photographing Bridezilla and her wonderful mother every weekend and even then you do not need a degree to accomplish that.

I had recently completed my active duty and decided I was going to do what I wanted instead of what I was told, hence a useless degree.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made May 15 at 2015 8:58 AM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Fri, 15 May 2015 08:58:29 -0400

I'm told, but do not know for a fact, that a criminal justice degree is the least academically rigorous degree that a person can obtain and still be called a degree. A criminal justice degree, however, at least has some applicability in the private sector. I'm not sure the same can be said for 16th Century French Literature or other like degrees.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 9:00 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 May 2015 09:00:17 -0400

Probably expert badges for Hand Grenade, Bayonet, Shotgun.

Response by SPC Candace Leach made May 15 at 2015 9:08 AM

SPC Candace Leach — Fri, 15 May 2015 09:08:47 -0400

Having a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree is really useful especially with technology growing everyday. I've always wanted a degree in Sports Medicine but went towards what degree would be more useful and also what job field would grow with that particular degree. Currently working towards my Masters of Science in Computer Science and it's a challenge but it paid off at the end.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 9:25 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 May 2015 09:25:24 -0400

Obviously my least useful was my high school diploma. What a joke that was. I'd definitely like to go back and get a Master's in aerospace engineering though. I imagine that will be useful if I decide I want to be a test pilot.

Response by PFC Tuan Trang made May 15 at 2015 9:48 AM

PFC Tuan Trang — Fri, 15 May 2015 09:48:15 -0400

I'm going for criminal justice, even though my mos is 12b.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 11:24 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 May 2015 11:24:21 -0400

All of them? No, just feels that way sometimes. I think that what you learn from degrees is the ability intellectually dissect arguments, and then research, build, and articulate your own responses. The subject matter can pertain directly to the work you are trying to do, but mostly it seems to just get you in the same time zone as the work you have to do. You end up learning your job quickly on the job, or you get marginalized.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 11:29 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 May 2015 11:29:06 -0400

Getting my Associates of Arts in Criminal Justice was an absolute waste of time. I was extremely interested in the topic, but realized that it had little to no applicability to my civilian job as a correctional officer. I learned just enough about the law to know I didn't want to be on the wrong side of the system...but really I already knew that.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 11:36 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 May 2015 11:36:18 -0400

I'll admit my BS in Sociology is pretty useless. However my MS in Information Technology, Master of Social Work, and Doctor of Psychology have paid dividends. Unless you just want a degree JUST to have a degree, Sociology will NEVER move the needle on the civilian pay scale.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 3:35 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 May 2015 15:35:55 -0400

When I first came in the Army, the big degree was automotives. Yep, automotives! I refused to go for that one. I did jump on the Law Enforcement/Criminal Degree for a while because it was available and easy. I then followed on to Psychology, which actually helped me at work as well as in my personal life. Right now I am going for a Masters in IT. My suggestion to all service members is not to go for the Easy Degree. Go for the Degree that will help you in your post military life, whether you ETS or Retire. I could not image trying to fix cars or being a cop in my older age.

Response by CH (MAJ) William Beaver made May 18 at 2015 8:22 AM

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Mon, 18 May 2015 08:22:31 -0400

My Masters of Social Work in the field of Church Social Work has been a degree I have drawn upon over and over and over again. It gave me the tools for a lifetime of ministry!

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made May 18 at 2015 10:00 AM

SrA Daniel Hunter — Mon, 18 May 2015 10:00:20 -0400

The one you don't use. I have known several people who have gone to college, received a degree and went on to work in a completely different field. While some could be for non-career reasons others were career degrees.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made May 18 at 2015 10:05 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Mon, 18 May 2015 10:05:55 -0400

There is no such thing as a useless degree in my opinion. I believe in diversity. ALMOST every degree has some type of contribution to society.

Many say that engineering, science, and "technical" degrees are the most useful. I would say they are the most practical. However English, and other liberal arts majors are the ones that teach us to be more literary, and understand language.