General Education vs Career Specialization
Instructions:-
Joe Tech was really looking forward to college because he thought he would have freedom to select the courses he wanted and the opportunity to get into the major of his choice (computer science). However, he’s shocked and disappointed with his first-term schedule of classes because it consists mostly of required general education courses that seem totally unrelated to his major. He’s also frustrated because some of these courses are about subjects he already took in high school (English, history, and biology). He’s beginning to think he would be better off quitting college and going to a technical school for a year or two so he can get right into computer science and immediately begin acquiring the skills he’ll need to work in the computer industry.
Case AssignmentReflection Questions
1.If Joe decides to get a technical certificate and not pursue a college degree, how do you see it affecting his future:
a.in the short run, and
b.in the long run?
2.Do you see any way Joe might strike a balance between pursuing his career interest and obtaining his college degree so that he could work toward achieving both goals at the same time?
3.Can you relate to Joe’s story in any way, or do you know anyone else who is having a similar experience?
Solution
General Education vs Career Specialization
If Joe decides to quit college and pursue the technical certificate, this would affect his marketability in the job market in the short run. After completion, Joe would get into a competitive job market with only a technical certificate. With the large amount of job applications that companies receive, it would be hard for employers to even give him an interview without a college degree. A college degree is a common criterion that is assessed in the hiring process, therefore it would be a good avenue for him to access many job opportunities and interviews. Doing a technical certificate alone will affect him in the long-run as well. If he succeeds in getting a job, it will only be in lower levels of the company. Joe will struggle in advancing his career because higher levels require highly qualified individuals. Therefore, he will be forced to further his education in order to move up the corporate ladder.
It is possible for Joe to do both. Earning both a college degree and a technical certificate will give Joe a clear advantage over his job competitors. Many institutions give course credits for the subjects done during the technical certificate. This allows the student to complete their college degree in a shorter time and reduced cost. Moreover, Joe can handle the two courses at the same time which calls for sacrifice. He can enroll for distance learning or an online course while attending full time classes for the other. This way, he will be able to handle an extra course during his free time, such courses offer online support. I can relate to Joe’s story because I have friends who are interested in Information Technology and Engineering careers and it is not clear to them whether they should enroll for a college degree or technical certificates.
References
Capella (2015). IT Certifications vs. College Degree: What’s better for your Career? Retrieved from http://www.capella.edu/blogs/cublog/it-certifications-or-it-degrees-for-career-growth/