Why Is A University Degree Important?

A university degree in the United States is used synonymously with the term "college degree." Both a college degree and a university degree in the country offer the same thing - evidence that a student has spent four years of course work and testing honing skills in a particular field. In other countries, including Canada, a university degree signifies a degree that offers more challenging and abstract learning than a college. In either case, unlike degrees offered at technical colleges or junior colleges, a university degree does not stress "practical" job skills. Despite this, many employers have found that students with a university degree often make the best employees. The truth is, a university degree is the prefect way to develop intellectually. Through four years of intensive study in one field, students learn skills such as analysis, research, communications, and writing. These skills are necessary in every field, since communication is the hallmark of virtually all jobs. Students with a university degree also have honed critical thinking skills and research skills which allow them to be lifelong learners. This may seem trite, until you really consider what that means. A degree that stresses practical field knowledge is very useful in helping students enter the work force. However, a university degree, although it offers slightly less tangible skills, prepares a student to enter a career. Learning to think and create arguments in academic essays allows the holder of a university degree to argue in a cover letter why they are the best candidate for the job. The advanced writing and research skills students learn in a university degree allow students to draft convincing reports, develop creative ideas in meetings, and communicate more effectively with clients and colleagues in the workplace. This makes the university degree holder invaluable in most work environments. Many jobs skills - such as the ability to use a specific

computer program - can be quickly and easily taught on the job. Intangible skills such as quick thinking and effective communication are just as important and cannot be taught easily within the workplace. Even better, research has shown that students with experience in university degree programs learn more quickly on the job. This is excellent news for employers, as it means that the university graduate they have hired can quickly learn job-specific tasks while already possessing the necessary thinking skills for the job. When you choose a university degree, you choose to expand your mind in a way that makes you more valuable and therefore more likely to occupy higher-level job positions.