I wonder whether I could keep taking undergraduate courses after finishing my undergraduate program which I have already enrolled myself in.
It was a generation ago, but a college friend of mine did this. After getting her degree in art history, she realized she really wanted to be a vet and so started taking classes toward a second bachelor’s degree. Her parents were unamused and made her pay for the second degree herself.
Sure. People who are changing careers do it all the time.
I took chemistry at a community college, and one of my classmates was a former schoolteacher with a master’s degree who wanted to be a pharmacist (and did become one). It was the cheapest way to do it, and it was also well-known that the professors there were better than any at the 4-year colleges in the region.
Sure - this happens all the time. If you’re interested in something and have the time, money, and inclination to take a class in it, go for it.
This, on the other hand, is a bad idea in most (research-based) graduate programs. Classes are a relatively minor part of graduate work, and if you’re going to devote extra effort to something, you should put it towards your own projects. Get a head start on your own research prospectus, write a proposal to a professional organization or a students’ association at the school, spend extra time in your adviser’s lab and contribute to (and learn from) the ongoing research work there… but don’t take a step back and go for more undergraduate level classwork. At this level, you should be driving your own learning rather than being taught.
I have a literature degree and started going to CC for business classes. I decided after taking a few bus,. classes I wanted to be an accountant. At first I thought I would just go and get another undergrad degree, so I went to the four year college in the state system I’m in (which actually has a fairly prestigious business school).
They said I had almost no chance of being accepted to the undergrad part for accounting becuase in the situation it would not make sense; either what I should do is take the accounting classes needed to pass the CPA exam at CC or apply for an MBA or masters in accounting depending on what I wanted to do. Getting another undergraduate degree would be completely counterproductive.
So, it may depend on the specifics of the situation.
I did my education in Canada, not the US, but I assume things are similar.
I took extra courses after graduating simply by becoming an unclassified student after I graduated (terminology might vary - I am referring to someone taking university credit courses without intending to get a degree). In my case I took them because I LIKE taking courses if they are in areas that interest me. The only thing stopping me from taking more undergrad courses is because tuition is so bloody expensive these days and I am not prepared to spend the $.
I took several undergraduate courses after I graduated to explore a new field, one in which I eventually earned a doctorate.
As for graduate programs, doctoral students would be highly unlikely to take undergraduate courses or even graduate-undergraduate courses. It would be a bad move even if permitted. MA students might well. I often have an MA student in an otherwise undergraduate course; in order to receive graduate credit, the student must write a significant research paper in addition to other course requirements.
But MA programs in many academic disciiplines (say, history, sociology, political science) are not worth doing in the first place for most people. You’re just paying for a full ride so the doctoral students get funded.
Back in then 70s at Pitt (which was almost like a real college or university) you could continue for some period of time — say 2 years? — after which someone at the university was supposed to ask you about your intentions. If you could show you were going after a different/additional degrees it was no problem at all.
They also had an odd ruling that you could take Masters classes as an undergrad and at undergrad rates per credit if you got permission from the Dean of that department. That one I used to get most of my work done on the cheap and saved big bucks on those extra letters after my name.
I took undergrad classes after my degree so I could get to 150 hours and sit for the CPA.
Yes, most colleges/universities in the US also offer courses to non-degree seeking students from the local community. At the university where I currently work they’re just called non-degree students, but at the university I attended they were called guest students. There are probably still other terms used at different schools. The OP should look for a page on the university’s website about continuing education, community engagement, and/or outreach and engagement for more information on their policies regarding non-degree seeking students.
I agree with those above who said that taking undergrad courses as a grad student is almost certainly a waste of time and money, both of which are precious when you’re in grad school. You can take classes for fun after you finish your degree.
I’m a graduate student in an undergraduate course. I go to class but I’m graded differently. Instead of two small papers with a midterm and final (I wish) I do a single, much longer and more in depth paper.
I took undergrad courses after completing my bachelor’s degree because I decided I wanted to go to grad school in a different field than the one I got my undergrad degree in. It was no problem to enroll, and I’m sure I wouldn’t have gotten into the grad program without it.
Not a problem. Just check with an advisor about the rules at your local place. You might need to be categorized in a certain way to ensure you can take the classes you want, paying undergrad tuition.
In Florida, non-degree-seeking students at state universities (and I would guess at community colleges) are charged the out-of-state tuition rate. I think you might also be ineligible for federal student aid. YSMV.