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[–] theoldguy 1 point 17 points (+18|-1) ago  (edited ago)

I believe non-STEM degrees are worth less, yes. Not zero, although for some things they're awfully close.

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[–] zambeezy ago 

Why do you believe they are worth less?

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[–] daskapitalist 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

It's really not a matter of belief - it's a matter of fact. Employment rates, starting salaries, and mid career salaries are quite distinct between STEM and non-STEM degrees.

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[–] theoldguy ago 

The things learned getting a STEM degree can be used to build whatever, the non-STEM stuff tends to be "I got a job teaching my major to students who will eventually get a job teaching the same."

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[–] Feeling_my_goats 0 points 11 points (+11|-0) ago 

I got a degree in economics and finance and haven't found it to be worthless.

I probably didn't need a degree to do any of the jobs that I've had -most stuff is learned on the job, right? But to get many jobs they require degrees so I'm glad I have one.

[–] [deleted] 1 point 3 points (+4|-1) ago 

[Deleted]

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[–] zambeezy 0 points 5 points (+5|-0) ago 

so it's a stem degree

It isn't. Finance is almost always a Bachelor's of Business Administration and Economics. I dual-majored in Finance and Accounting but Finance wasn't a STEM degree, and that's perfectly OK because it is an incredibly useful degree that allowed me to land a great job with well above average pay right out of undergrad which I am at currently as I type this sentence.

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[–] Feeling_my_goats 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago 

I wouldn't call it a stem degree at all. I went to a small liberal arts college and spent much more time reading enlightenment philosophy than playing with complex math equations.

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[–] Limpingdead 1 point 9 points (+10|-1) ago 

I have a non stem degree, I make more money then most stem holders and have a more prestigious job then most of them as well. Of course I did not get a philosophy degree or art history but Psychology/Criminal Justice is not STEM.

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[–] zambeezy ago 

Same here with my BBA in Finance

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[–] totally_an_admin 0 points 5 points (+5|-0) ago 

Fine Arts is definitely different from "non-STEM." For example, I'm studying Geospatial Intelligence which is in the college of social sciences at my university. That classification is utter bullshit, but the point is that it's not "STEM" by the university's definition but it's much closer to that than fine arts.

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[–] taxation_is_slavery 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Outside of the context of getting an interview for a job, absolutely worthless.

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[–] Grunge 0 points 4 points (+4|-0) ago 

from what I have found, nothing is more important than who you know and how good at chit-chatting you are with people above you.

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[–] wylan 0 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago 

^ this. Networking is king.

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[–] J50 0 points 5 points (+5|-0) ago  (edited ago)

For a lot of us, the whole STEM circlejerk isn't about pushing students into STEM fields.I dislike that students are often pushed into a general liberal arts degree with no specific major/job goal in mind. They are told that simply getting a college degree is enough (it isn't). These students then often end up with a job that doesn't use their degree and have a hard time paying off their student loans. These students shouldn't be in college.

People who get STEM degrees have a solid career goal in mind. They aren't there to party or "explore themselves" as a young adult. Students don't select a STEM degree with the primary intention to party.

There is nothing wrong with getting an english degree when you're a passionate creative writer or a psychology degree because you want to pursue a career in psychology. It's wrong to go to college without a goal in mind and take a liberal arts degree without any motivation; that's asking for student loan debt and it devalues a college education. Liberal arts degrees are valuable on a valuable individual.

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[–] ghotioninabarrel 0 points 13 points (+13|-0) ago 

Depends on the specific degree. Ones that still deal with facts are ok, as they get more subjective they get worse. By the time you've got to degrees like "women's studies" they actually have negative value.

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[–] 2027083? 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Some degrees are almost useless outside of teaching/writing about that subject or just as a general "I have a degree" to get into management.

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[–] ghotioninabarrel 0 points 4 points (+4|-0) ago 

Yes, but society needs at least a few historians, if only to prevent too much revisionism.

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