Degree Programme and Professional Development - Assignment Example

Difference between Studying on a Training and a Degree Programme and Professional Development prior to the Degree Programme Date Difference between Studying on a Training Course and a Degree Programme and Professional Development prior to the Degree Programme Introduction A training course can be termed as a program that is geared towards availing the necessary teaching of a specific set of skills that are requisite for a certain occupation or field. As such, training programs are particulate in nature. Degree programs on the other hand are general forms of study that confer the individual with the power to lead and further their knowledge into depths unknown. They are offered as the starting points of any university entry without any prior access into the same institution (National Research Council (U.S.) Committee on Fire Research, 1970, pp. 129-132). With these definitions, the paper shall look at the differences that exist between a degree program and a training course while examining the professional development that is needed for one to prepare him or herself for a degree program.. Hence, this is a vital topic that shall help explain and clear out the thoughts in a way or the other where possible. A great feature of degree programs is their generality. They tend to teach the student a collection of knowledge that is diverse in the concept it avails. Thus, it is up to the student to determine the place he or she will obtain the degree program. A degree program needs a student who has passed in all of his or her previous modes of study. Thus, there is a procedure that is followed, which requires him or her to show that what he or she has achieved academically is true. Thus, degree programs include courses in education that avail a large array of certain subjects. The person has to make a decision for wanting to pursue a certain degree program. Training courses tend to be specific in terms of what they cover unlike degree programs that are general. The specificity of training programs make them unique to a certain group of people. By being particular, training courses differ from degree programs as their coverage is minimised. However, it depends on training that is being offered, unlike in degree programs where training is availed for multiple things that will help an individual to be an all-round person who is knowledgeable and ready for so many differing aspects in life. The specificity of training courses is determined by the aim, the role, and the problem to be solved. This is not the same for degree programs because it is stipulated that people follow a specific curriculum and complete a certain number of subjects as required in the degree program. Due to the differences in the specificity and generalization of the training courses and degree programs, the number of persons differs. Degree programs tend to have many more people and the teaching is more from a class perspective. However, for training courses, the teaching is more personalized as the number of people is much fewer. This makes training program to focus more on the skill-set needed to accomplish a certain role unlike degree programs where the skill-set is mainly done through laboratory classes and activities. In training courses, it is about a specific set or sets of skills that are deemed necessary for reasons such as improvement of the productivity. Even as the term suggests, training, it means that individuals are being trained more on how to solve a certain problem. In training programs research is normally done during and after the training is completed. Nevertheless, research in degree programs depends on the course being undertaken and even the period of study. Most of the people who take training courses are professionals who are already employees in certain fields. It can also be taken by persons who have completed a specific degree program and they want to gain certain skills that are vital for their career. Personal Development As an individual, it is important that the preparation for the degree begins by researching what the degree is all about. Research shall help me to have a clue of what the degree entails. It will also function to do away with negative anxiety, which may make it hard for me to set solid foundation in the degree program. I will also seek the advice of a mentor, someone who has been there before me and gone through the same system in order to give me insights into what is expected of me. Mentoring will boost my morale and ensure that the right steps are taken when venturing into the degree program. Further, it will enhance and cultivate in me the correct attitude, which is needed to adapt to the new pressures that will come with the degree program. In addition, I will buy some motivational books of people who have touched on how to deal with negative pressures that may arise from the degree program. Reading several motivational books will be a great boost to my attitude and expectations. It will be good to take guidance and counselling sessions that will teach me about the varying aspects of peer pressure that I am bound to face while taking the degree program. This will help me to be prepared, more so, when it comes to choosing and making new friends. I will also look to visit several people who have been to the institution where the degree program shall be offered in order to listen to a word or two from them. Conclusion It can be said that training courses and degree programs do differ in various aspects such as in the speciality, skills-set, the number of people, and type of people who take them. Hence, training courses have been found to be particulate and focus on a certain group of people unlike degree programs. Personal development is vital in preparing a person for what he or she anticipates. It is crucial in ensuring that a firm foundation is set-up in ensuring that an individual places him or herself in the best conditions to garner the best out of the new experience, such as the degree program in this case. References National Research Council (U.S.) Committee on Fire Research, 1970. Training and Education in the Fire Services: Proceedings of a Symposium Conducted by [the] Committee on Fire Research, Division of Engineering, National Research Coundil. Washington, D. C.: National Academies. Read More