Richard Vedder, director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, joined Andy Nash in this week’s episode of InsideAcademia.tv. Vedder drove home the point that much of the problem with college — probably the core factor leading to a “higher-ed bubble” — is simply that ”number of graduates is growing faster than the number of jobs.”
At the five-minute mark, Vedder also hits on an under-discussed issue: that despite high subsidies in many states for public colleges and universities, states are still experiencing lackluster economic growth.
The biggest reason that college graduates cannot find work is that not all degrees are equal. A degree in engineering or computer science has more intrinsic value than a degree in, for instance, [insert subject here] studies. Engineers can find work whereas [insert subject here] studies majors are having a difficult time (unless they can find a job at a university teaching [insert subject here] studies.)
I am a physicist and I have found ample opportunities for work. The only challenging courses I had were in math and science whereas I breezed through my general education courses with A's.
The biggest reason that college graduates cannot find work is that not all degrees are equal. A degree in engineering or computer science has more intrinsic value than a degree in, for instance, [insert subject here] studies. Engineers can find work whereas [insert subject here] studies majors are having a difficult time (unless they can find a job at a university teaching [insert subject here] studies.)
I am a physicist and I have found ample opportunities for work. The only challenging courses I had were in math and science whereas I breezed through my general education courses with A's.
I can't figure out if I'm channeling Vedder, or he's channeling me. But YES, states aren't getting a good ROI for their investment. DUH!
And as Kevin alludes to, much of that is b/c your _____ Studies major hasn't learned anything of value.
Public universities were set up (using taxpayer's money) with the explicit agreement that they'd help their state's economy. To offer worthless classes and degree programs, to hire communists...those are all violations of the basic contract. The administrators should be sued for breech, and the universities should return to their mission of providing some value to the taxpayers who fund them.
Simple, make the cost for the useless ____________studies courses higher than courses where there is a return on our investment. I have long held that we Iowans were being taken for a ride by the state universities since there have almost never been enough jobs in our state for all the graduates. A very high percentage of grads, or even those who don't matriculate, leave the state. What a waste of money.
Most math and science Ph.Ds go to people from India and other countries. Americans are getting doctorates in sociology and basketweaving. They will contribute little to progress in the 21st century and America will continue falling behind. But, that is the liberal plan for America.
Take a look at job ads in the paper or on websites. Most good paying jobs require hard skills, be that an engineering or computer science degree or some form of specialized training. Generic degrees in Art History are gonna get you nowhere.
I slightly resent the comments about useless degrees as my degree in music education would likely be categorized as such. While most of my colleagues in the field think it is only about teaching music, I have taken a much different view. I learned through college that Americans lack any sense of what it means to truly master a task. I see music as a tool to teach mastery on a very high level with great attention to detail.
The biggest reason that college graduates cannot find work is that not all degrees are equal. A degree in engineering or computer science has more intrinsic value than a degree in, for instance, [insert subject here] studies. Engineers can find work whereas [insert subject here] studies majors are having a difficult time (unless they can find a job at a university teaching [insert subject here] studies.)
I am a physicist and I have found ample opportunities for work. The only challenging courses I had were in math and science whereas I breezed through my general education courses with A's.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe biggest reason that college graduates cannot find work is that not all degrees are equal. A degree in engineering or computer science has more intrinsic value than a degree in, for instance, [insert subject here] studies. Engineers can find work whereas [insert subject here] studies majors are having a difficult time (unless they can find a job at a university teaching [insert subject here] studies.)
I am a physicist and I have found ample opportunities for work. The only challenging courses I had were in math and science whereas I breezed through my general education courses with A's.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI can't figure out if I'm channeling Vedder, or he's channeling me. But YES, states aren't getting a good ROI for their investment. DUH!
And as Kevin alludes to, much of that is b/c your _____ Studies major hasn't learned anything of value.
Public universities were set up (using taxpayer's money) with the explicit agreement that they'd help their state's economy. To offer worthless classes and degree programs, to hire communists...those are all violations of the basic contract. The administrators should be sued for breech, and the universities should return to their mission of providing some value to the taxpayers who fund them.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSimple, make the cost for the useless ____________studies courses higher than courses where there is a return on our investment. I have long held that we Iowans were being taken for a ride by the state universities since there have almost never been enough jobs in our state for all the graduates. A very high percentage of grads, or even those who don't matriculate, leave the state. What a waste of money.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMost math and science Ph.Ds go to people from India and other countries. Americans are getting doctorates in sociology and basketweaving. They will contribute little to progress in the 21st century and America will continue falling behind. But, that is the liberal plan for America.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTake a look at job ads in the paper or on websites. Most good paying jobs require hard skills, be that an engineering or computer science degree or some form of specialized training. Generic degrees in Art History are gonna get you nowhere.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI slightly resent the comments about useless degrees as my degree in music education would likely be categorized as such. While most of my colleagues in the field think it is only about teaching music, I have taken a much different view. I learned through college that Americans lack any sense of what it means to truly master a task. I see music as a tool to teach mastery on a very high level with great attention to detail.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse