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Opinions on degree listed on resume?

3,571 Views | 33 Replies | Last: 9 mo ago by fightingfarmer09
Kelsey Odair 09
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I received a resume from someone who listed their degree as "Bachelor of Science in Business" from Texas A&M. A quick check on the Association's website showed their degree was actually in University Studies. Do y'all feel it was dishonest for them to put it on their resume like that?
AJ02
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AG
I think it's dishonest. They should put what's actually on their diploma.

I mean, i graduated college of engineering with a bachelor of science in ID. No way would I ever dream of putting "BS in Engineering" on a resume.
AgLA06
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Kelsey Odair 09 said:

I received a resume from someone who listed their degree as "Bachelor of Science in Business" from Texas A&M. A quick check on the Association's website showed their degree was actually in University Studies. Do y'all feel it was dishonest for them to put it on their resume like that?
Absolutely.

I went back to get an MBA in part because 99.9% had no understanding of what my bachelor degree was or that it was the 3rd hardest degree at A&M at the time. Most just made fun of it even though it was a professional degree. But I still list it accordingly along with my MBA.

To be honest, I'd probably look into the A&M college of business and see if this is something that should be reported. Good luck trying to tell someone your an Engineer or Architect and not have the degree or board licensing.
Reload8098
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AG
Totally dishonest. That would end the potential to interview.
samurai_science
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Big red flag, hit delete
Señor Chang
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AG
From the A&M website, it looks like University Studies is under the College of Arts & Sciences, no matter which concentration. If my quick research is accurate, I'd say this is an intentional misrepresentation of their degree.
OldArmy97
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I'm curious the job he/she is applying for?

Is this some young Aggie grad or older Aggie grad with experience?

What does LinkedIn say?

I think this person is being dishonest and I'm sure HR will verify the truth (transcript/degree) when y'all do the background check.

I do believe some universities offer a B.S. Business - just not at A&M - if in fact he/she states A&M on their resume being the case.
lunchbox
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Señor Chang said:

From the A&M website, it looks like University Studies is under the College of Arts & Sciences, no matter which concentration. If my quick research is accurate, I'd say this is an intentional misrepresentation of their degree.
Yeah that is what I was curious about...IIRC, the A&M Architecture program moved from one college to another in the last few years. Is there any way University Studies did as well?
AgLA06
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The Architecture department moved from the College of Architecture?
BrazosDog02
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Kelsey Odair 09 said:

I received a resume from someone who listed their degree as "Bachelor of Science in Business" from Texas A&M. A quick check on the Association's website showed their degree was actually in University Studies. Do y'all feel it was dishonest for them to put it on their resume like that?


If I had time, I'd call them in just to make them squirm. Im a curious guy and I would have to meet the person that thought that was a smart move.

Yes, it's dishonest and completely unnecessary.
histag10
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AgLA06 said:

The Architecture department moved from the College of Architecture?


University Studies isn't the same as general studies. Almost every college has a university studies degree now. It allows the student to generalize in the overall area, and carry 2 minors.

This person likely had a Bachelor of Science - University Studies Business and then carried 2 minors (at least 1 In the college of business and the other can be wherever if I remember correctly)
HollywoodBQ
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If I see anything funny looking on a resume, I'll check it out. In my line of work, I don't see too many Aggies.

I recently got a resume where somebody was claiming a degree in Engineering Management & Leadership from Santa Clara University. Degree sounded totally bogus but, it turns out it's a real degree.
https://www.scu.edu/engineering/academic-programs/department-of-engineering-management--leadership/bsms-program/
jpd301
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histag10 said:

AgLA06 said:

The Architecture department moved from the College of Architecture?


University Studies isn't the same as general studies. Almost every college has a university studies degree now. It allows the student to generalize in the overall area, and carry 2 minors.

This person likely had a Bachelor of Science - University Studies Business and then carried 2 minors (at least 1 In the college of business and the other can be wherever if I remember correctly)
On the university catalog website they definitely describe what you mention - a major + two minors. However, the website does not presently list business as one of the current concentrations. Looking in the archives though it was a previous offering listed as: University Studies - BS, Business Concentration - so that's probably what the person should put on their resume.

Quote:

Students who earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) in University Studies are able to tailor their undergraduate coursework to align with future personal and career objectives. Specific requirements, course offerings, and restrictions exist for the University Studies-Business degree. The degree program offers a number of unique features and benefits:

Foundational knowledge
: The business concentration provides students with a firm grasp of the basic aspects of business including accounting, finance, management, management information systems, marketing and supply chain management.

Interdisciplinary study
: Students pursue two minors that involve coursework in other Texas A&M colleges and departments. Students are encouraged to identify minors that complement the business concentration and reflect their individual interests and strengths.

Flexibility for the future
: Students who earn this degree find they have flexible options after graduation since they are prepared to pursue a wide range of careers and graduate programs.
Careers pursued by University Studies-Business graduates include financial advisor, account manager, marketing coordinator, sales representative, web developer, public relations specialist, consultant, and human resource specialist.

https://catalog.tamu.edu/archives/2022-2023/undergraduate/arts-and-sciences/university-studies/business-university-studies-bs/#programrequirementstext

Looking at the catalog curriculum linked above - they definitely took some business courses in Mays but yeah - its not a business degree from Mays.

If they are otherwise a good candidate I might bring them in for an interview and pointedly ask about it and see how they handle the discussion. That may tell you even more about their character than the stretch on the resume.

I could almost see this being bad advice they would get at some resume clinic where someone tells them that "University Studies - BS, Business Concentration" is too long to list and just shorten it to BS Business.
histag10
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How is it not a business degree from May's? It's literally a generalized degree in the college of business. It's probably the closest thing to a "business degree" you could get at TAMU, as every other degree is specific to an aspect of business (marketing, management, accounting, etc)
TJaggie14
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AG
Knew someone that graduated with this degree. They graduated with the Mays business school kids, and their advisor they saw was in Mays not the general studies office.

Could be a simple mistake/confusion since their concentration was in Business and they thought it was okay.
AgLA06
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histag10 said:

How is it not a business degree from May's? It's literally a generalized degree in the college of business. It's probably the closest thing to a "business degree" you could get at TAMU, as every other degree is specific to an aspect of business (marketing, management, accounting, etc)


What does the deploma say? Because that's all that matters.
jpd301
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histag10 said:

How is it not a business degree from May's? It's literally a generalized degree in the college of business. It's probably the closest thing to a "business degree" you could get at TAMU, as every other degree is specific to an aspect of business (marketing, management, accounting, etc)
Honestly I don't know.

I said it simply based on the fact that the University Studies BS degree with Business concentration I referenced degrees is out of the College of Arts and Sciences vs the Mays Business School. One could argue that this - https://catalog.tamu.edu/undergraduate/business/business-bs/ - is the closest thing to a Business BS degree the school offers - and it does come out of Mays. I think its clear from the discussions here there is room for debate and confusion. I think the proliferation of majors and areas of studies, and changes over the years further cloud the waters.

Even more reason that I took the position of bring the kid in and ask them directly. But i do wonder whats on the actual diploma - University Studies or Business

histag10
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AgLA06 said:

histag10 said:

How is it not a business degree from May's? It's literally a generalized degree in the college of business. It's probably the closest thing to a "business degree" you could get at TAMU, as every other degree is specific to an aspect of business (marketing, management, accounting, etc)


What does the deploma say? Because that's all that matters.


Don't know for sure, but would assume it says "University Studies - Business", since that would be the official program name in Mays. It's also how the career center lists it.

https://careercenter.tamu.edu/current-students/explore-majors-and-careers/majors/university-studies-business#:~:text=This%20major%20encompasses%20a%20foundational,of%2015%2D18%20hours%20each.

I have no skin in this fight, as my degree is in History, but I know the university was marketing these majors heavily as a way to get a generalized degree to allow for flexibility within individual colleges.
histag10
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jpd301 said:

histag10 said:

How is it not a business degree from May's? It's literally a generalized degree in the college of business. It's probably the closest thing to a "business degree" you could get at TAMU, as every other degree is specific to an aspect of business (marketing, management, accounting, etc)
Honestly I don't know.

I said it simply based on the fact that the University Studies BS degree with Business concentration I referenced degrees is out of the College of Arts and Sciences vs the Mays Business School. One could argue that this - https://catalog.tamu.edu/undergraduate/business/business-bs/ - is the closest thing to a Business BS degree the school offers - and it does come out of Mays. I think its clear from the discussions here there is room for debate and confusion. I think the proliferation of majors and areas of studies, and changes over the years further cloud the waters.

Even more reason that I took the position of bring the kid in and ask them directly. But i do wonder whats on the actual diploma - University Studies or Business




The one that was offered with a business concentration was out of Mays. They graduated with the rest of the business school, and their advisors were in Mays. The one for Arts and Sciences is a different degree in a different college.

Edit- it looks like Mays did away with that degree (understandably)- though it was offered previously.
jpd301
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hsistag covered this - but my post got messed up -

Looking back further in the catalog archives there was a Universty Studies in Business that did come out of Mays in the past. https://catalog.tamu.edu/archives/2015-2016/undergraduate/business/university-studies/

I have no idea when it switched schools and/or went away - but it looks like the person may be stretching the truth less than some of us think.
TJaggie14
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Asked friend to send a photo of their degree.

[url=https://ibb.co/nQ4nCLY][/url]
histag10
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Thanks! That is helpful. So university studies, but it lists Mays Business School.
OldArmy97
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Quite the conundrum - so, is he/she lying on their resume?

I graduated in 1997 so naturally I assumed no chance this was accurate but 18 years later and times change.

If this were my degree (based on this picture above), I would say I had a B.S. of University Studies.

On my resume though, if I were trying to get a job in business, you know to pay bills, I would put something like this:

EDUCATION
Texas A&M University
Mays Business School
May 2015 - Bachelor of Science; University Studies

And letting the hiring manager infer if I qualify for xyz position - at time of interview - where I can defend what I studied at the business school from my University of Studies degree (ex BANA 105 - if still exists from memory)

Must be a sales role….
lunchbox
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AgLA06 said:

The Architecture department moved from the College of Architecture?
Whatever I am thinking about happened 7-10+ years ago. There was some sort of org change with the college...the only way I heard about it was because my sister got her degree in Architecture and she made a comment about it.
AgLA06
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I was honestly curious as I graduated from the College of Architecture and don't remember hearing anything. But I haven't been in a correlating field in over a decade so I don't exactly pay much attention to it anymore.

Just generally curious. A quick Google search showed it looked structured the same, but was apparently "School of Architecture" instead of College on the web page. Mo idea what that means or why.
AJ02
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So what is "University Studies"? I always assumed that was a sort of generic degree for someone who didn't know what they wanted to major in.
weebles2
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I'll give you my experience from 1990 when I was interviewing for a new job and put on my resume I had a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering. The company I was interviewing with made me an offer and I accepted. Prior to hiring on, they were doing a background check and dotting all of their i's and crossing all of their t's before officially hiring me.

One day before I started working for them, the guy who had interviewed me called and said we checked with Texas A&M University in order to confirm your degree and they say it's in Forestry (or something like that). I said I can assure you my degree is in Petroleum Engineering.

So I began inquiring about it with a representative from A&M. Turns out at the time I believe he said they were using microfilm to store graduates information including what their degree was in and sure enough they somehow showed I had a degree in Forestry. This information was eventually changed to reflect my actual degree (Petroleum Engineering) and the company hired me and I worked for them for 24 years.
AgLA06
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Sure. Accidents happen.

But the degree you claimed actually existed as an option.
GT_Aggie2015
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TJaggie14 said:

Asked friend to send a photo of their degree.

[url=https://ibb.co/nQ4nCLY][/url]
Have a buddy who graduated with this same exact degree on this same day. The business concentration definitely existed at one point.
agmom95
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My son got a University Studies degree. It fell under the College of Agriculture.

It was a Leadership Emphasis and had two minors. He chose Business and entrepreneurship.

So on his resume he says:

Bachelor of Science
University Studies - Leadership
Minors in Business and entrepreneurship

AggieArchitect04
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Misleading at a time when authenticity is best for both parties.

There's building yourself up on a resume and then there is outright lying. There are a bunch of people who went through the business school curriculum/plan that would probably agree that this is disingenuous.

Also, the College of Architecture was renamed to the School of Architecture recently, but I don't think that any of the degrees changed names, IIRC.
Seamaster
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Weird.

Maybe there are simply too many random whacked out degrees?

Signed, Proud holder of a BA in "International Studies" - whatever the F that is!

I Am A Critic
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They could've received bad advice somewhere and it could be an honest mistake. Since they're young, I'd be inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt. If I hired them or not, I'd definitely point it out though so they don't continue the mistake going forward.
Username checks out.
fightingfarmer09
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AJ02 said:

So what is "University Studies"? I always assumed that was a sort of generic degree for someone who didn't know what they wanted to major in.
No they are much different. When I was there (Class of 2009) these were marketed to customize a focus by combining multiple minors into one pathway. I know of two classmates that used this to create a degree that was more focused on what they were interested in. It was much different than a General Studies diploma. I don't think it's dishonest in what the applicant did. Just look at how many people on this thread instantly discounted the degree because of the name. It's salesmanship, not fraud.
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