Higher education has long been seen as a key to success, providing individuals with the knowledge, skills, and credentials they need to pursue their career paths of choice. However, what may be the right option for one person may not be the right choice for another. With more and more individuals getting their start in the workforce without a traditional four-year degree, the debate over whether or not a bachelors degree is the right choice for everyone is as relevant as ever.
This blog post will discuss the pros and cons of going the traditional route of pursuing a bachelors degree versus seeking an equivalent alternative. We’ll explore the various options that are available to those looking to an alternative to a traditional four-year degree, the potential benefits and drawbacks of those options, and the steps one can take to make the most informed decision for themselves.
Bachelor degree or equivalent means a college degree with the equivalent of 30 semester hours in a biological or physical science program or at least 4 four years of experience in a specific related scientific discipline.
Determining bachelor’s degree equivalency
There are various methods for figuring out whether your experience is equivalent to a college degree. While information is typically verified by the human resources department, the hiring manager is the one who decides whether a candidate has the required equivalent work experience. You can determine equivalency in the following ways because there is no single, accepted standard for doing so:
Look at education and work experience
Work experience is typically considered to be equivalent to degree experience for at least the same number of years and up to twice that amount of time.
Look at levels of qualification
Job postings frequently refer to levels of education or experience. Level 1 is typically entry-level or equivalent to early high school, and Level 8 is doctoral level of education. You can determine a course’s difficulty or the required level of knowledge by looking at its qualification level. It doesn’t specify how long a course took or how long a person worked at a job. These levels of qualification take into account a person’s application of their knowledge and experience as well as their academic success. Here is some information about level 6.
Level 6 refers to:
What does “bachelor’s degree or equivalent” mean?
When a degree or comparable experience is required on an application for a job posting or academic institution, it means that they will accept alternatives in addition to or instead of a college degree. When referring to equivalent experience, experts often mean prior paid employment in the subject area or a closely related one, as well as unpaid work experience such as volunteer work or internships. Employers or institutions may still take your application into consideration if you don’t have the required college degree but have sufficient equivalent experience. Here are some examples of job descriptions where this terminology might be used:
By allowing candidates with the necessary knowledge through experiences other than college, employers have a much wider pool of candidates from which to choose. The onus is on the applicants to offer proof and unequivocally show that they possess the necessary expertise. Specific work assignments, transcripts of related coursework, publications demonstrating your knowledge, verifiable work experience, or documentation from internships, fellowships, volunteer work, or other experiences can all be used to demonstrate this.
Examples of bachelor’s degree equivalency
Following are some instances where employers might view work experience or a combination of work experience and education as being equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
How to list a bachelor’s degree on a resume
List your bachelor’s degree and any additional education you have in the section of your resume devoted to education. Depending on the format you choose for your resume and the time since your graduation, there are different ways to go about this. Create a section on your resume specifically for experience if you have comparable experience to mention. Here’s how to list a bachelor’s degree on a resume or other relevant experience.
1. Choose section order
Typically, a resume’s first two sections are education and experience. Choosing the order in which to list your education and experience is the first step. You can list either first or second, but it’s customary to list your education section first if you haven’t attended college in more than five years. If you’ve been working for a while, it’s customary to place your experience section first.
2. Write education section
Title one section of your resume “Education. List your degrees or certifications from highest to lowest under the title. Typically, the following order is used: doctorate, master’s, bachelor’s, associate’s, and certificate. It is not necessary to list lower degrees in the same discipline if you have a doctorate. Include the name of the institution you attended before graduating, along with the year, location, and majors or minors you pursued there.
Example:
University of Colorado | Boulder, CO
Master of Finance | 2018
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration | 2016
3. Write experience section
Title another section of your resume “Experience. List your experience, such as internships, volunteer work, jobs, or other clearly defined experiences in the field, below the title. Typically, this section is written chronologically, beginning with the most recent experience. Include details such as the name of the business you worked for, its location, the dates of your employment, your job title, your responsibilities, the impact of your work, promotions, awards, and recognitions.
Example:
Colorado Bank & Trust | Boulder, CO
Banker
May 2018-July 2020
Key achievement: Middle market backing revenue up 10% quarterly since designated middle market banking representative
Award: Earned “Banker of the Quarter” three times for excellence.
How to mention a bachelor’s degree in a cover letter
Most recruiters and admissions representatives want to know more about your education than what is listed on your resume. You might want to mention your bachelor’s degree or describe your equivalent experience in your cover letter. Heres how you can do that:
1. Include details about earning a degree
You can go into greater detail about your accomplishments, difficulties, or special insights you gained while pursuing your bachelor’s degree.
2. Include details about work experience
You can highlight the competencies you acquired through employment, volunteer work, or an internship that were comparable to your experience.
3. Showcase qualifications
You have the chance to highlight and demonstrate your unique qualifications for the position in your cover letter. You can talk about the specific skills you have for the job as a result of your individual experiences in college or the workplace.
Bachelors Degree Tier List (Ranking Top 100 Bachelor Degrees)
FAQ
What is a degree equivalent?
When it says “or equivalent,” it means the employer is seeking a bachelor’s degree or any level of experience, education, and training that will allow you to carry out the duties of the position effectively.
Is degree equivalent to graduation?
Actually Diploma course is not equivalent to any Graduation. As Graduation course is higher than Diploma course. Since graduation is the level after a diploma, students may choose it.
