Potential hack to get admitted into Master's without Bachelor's

[GoNo]

For anyone exploring Master's programs without a Bachelor's degree, some institutions like UniAthena offer a Mature Entry Route. If you have around 3 to 5 years of managerial experience, you may be eligible to apply even without an undergraduate degree.

It’s a great option for professionals who’ve gained practical experience but didn’t follow the traditional academic path. Definitely worth checking out if that applies to you.

How much does it cost?

[smartdegree]

As an employer, I would generally prefer to hire someone who has a bachelor’s degree but no master’s over someone who has a master’s degree but no bachelor’s. While a master’s is technically a higher qualification, lacking a bachelor’s degree raises a significant red flag that outweighs the advantage of the master’s.

[huiwh1998]

CU Boulder at Coursera. MEEM. MSCS, MSDS, MSEE, MSAI. No Bachelor's required, Performance-Based Admission.

Heriot-Watt University Online MBA. Performance-Based Admission as well.

[Stonybeach]

As an employer, I would generally prefer to hire someone who has a bachelor’s degree but no master’s over someone who has a master’s degree but no bachelor’s. While a master’s is technically a higher qualification, lacking a bachelor’s degree raises a significant red flag that outweighs the advantage of the master’s.

I'm just happy to hire someone who is competent/proficient.

[SteveFoerster]

One used to be able to enter a California-approved JD program with 60 credits of CLEP. Not sure whether that's still the case, but if so, then boom.

[bjcheung77]

CU Boulder at Coursera. MEEM. MSCS, MSDS, MSEE, MSAI. No Bachelor's required, Performance-Based Admission.

Heriot-Watt University Online MBA. Performance-Based Admission as well.

Yes, These are great options! There are MOOC and other non-traditional programs that allow people who have considerable experience entry into these Masters without a Bachelors degree.

[SophiaPrincess]

Well I have two more hacks.
1) You see, I have a Bachelor's in Japanese, and no one has ever asked to see the degree or transcript unless it was for visa purposes, because I have never found a job I could get in the field with it. No hiring manager has asked me what getting the degree was like, or anything like that - not even when I was in Japan. So when the application form or interviewer asks you for your Bachelor's, just say it was in (random, completely unrelated subject you actually know something about). Most people are not even going to bring it up.

2) My coworker took a test which gives him a time-limited official state equivalent to a Bachelor's degree, supposedly valid in all areas a Bachelor's degree is, and it also enables him to get a Master's degree. This "degree" is valid for 5 years before he has to take a test to renew it again. It was in something like geology for cement mixing, and he has another one in nuclear something-something. Anyways he said there are preparation programs and you can take college courses for it, but he just self-studied and passed and now can list a Bachelor's on his resume. But like me, it hasn't gotten him any jobs so no one really asks him about it.

No one has brought this up so I will. I am all for creative means to obtain degrees and credentials but hack #1 encourages job seekers to fabricate their credentials. That could have serious ramifications.  This forum contains a wealth of information to obtain degrees quickly and inexpensively.  There is no reason to risk the consequences of misrepresenting your academic background.

[Heartstrings]

I have been asked on my job to provide proof of my education. The jobs that didn't require them were probably for jobs that didn't need them. I just saw on the news that this woman lied about having a doctorate degree in psychology from a school in England. She applied for licensure in the US and received licensure and was found out to be a fraud. She is spending time in prison.