Must requirements be college degree or equivalent?

I don't have any college degree or equivalent.
I have my french Baccalaureate in Economics, a diploma in Business Administration,5 languages and6 years of work experience which4 were as a Market Analyst.
I got the "luck" (yes LUCK) that someone chose me for what I am and not what i have.
The position required a degree, but they still took me (out of16 people) for my honesty and I'm not that stupid.
I proved that I can do the work without that piece of paper that gives you theory.
In my opinion, in some jobs, you NEED theory (e.g.: engineering, medicine, astrophysics, teachers, mechanics, climate experts, accountants, financial etc.), while in Marketing, PR, Admin...you can learn by touching it.
But nowadays people put everywhere "a bachelor in X".
Like you said, some don't have the means to study...I didn't have them.
Now that I do, I'll get back studying to get this BACHELOR.
I wouldn't say it's discrimination...but unfair yes.
Nowadays recruiters just stick at looking at a piece of paper and believing what's written on it.
I know persons that studied until Masters and they fail when working.
Recruiters need to see the paper YES...but they also need to see the PERSON face to face even if sometimes the requirements aren't exactly the same.
But you cannot blame them because the demand > offer...so they want someone that has theory and at the same time be operational.
The more we'll move on...the move difficult the situation will be.
After a few years, a bachelor won't be worth anything...they'll require Masters.
Then further more Ph.D.
Unfortunately we're living in a world where progress and innovation are going faster than human evolution.
Like it or not...it's reality.
Regards.

Not unfair and discrimation at all. College degree requires about years plus minus at a cost of patience, money, time, energy etc. Without having no degree get a chance is UNFAIR and DISCRIMINATION?! 

 

I don't think that it is unfair or discriminating if an employer requires a Bachelor's degree for their applicants.
I think it's their prerogative.
Although I agree that some were not able to finish college but have potential.

It is true that college diploma is just a piece of paper but whether we like it or not it is a way to also land in a job.
Companies really looked for college graduate with a bachelor degree or the equivalent not because a person is not capable to do the job but its a thing for them to see if the person will be able to do the job or tasks that will be assign to them.
The real battle is when you are out of the university and face with the real world wherein you need to apply all the things that you learned on the four years of your study.
Skills are still the best gauge of all.
These can't be acquired while you are still in university but with a good education you will be able to compete with others who have the same skills as yours.
You can't also know the skills of the person if companies will not let the person prove of his/her worth.
So, for me, if you are applying for a job always be the best that you can be and have always have an edge with someone.
Learning is also a continuous process so if one do have the means to pursue further studies do so.
The world is continuous progressing and as individuals we need to be also progressing to adapt to the future.
The world is not the one who will adapt to us because technology and innovations is always on its highest level.
People don't stop learning that is why our world is like this...we should also be developing and evolving.

Undergraduate Major Requirements All course work required for a degree must be completed by the end of the quarter filed for graduation.
Every candidate for a bachelor’s degree must have completed a major.
A major shall require the equivalent of twelve or more upper-division courses (forty-eight or more units).
Requirements for majors shall be determined by departments and programs, subject to the approval of the Undergraduate Council.
An undergraduate student must have declared a major or pre-major upon completion of ninety units.
Other requirements for graduation shall be determined by the colleges in conformity with university-wide regulations and subject to approval by the San Diego division of the Academic Senate.
Each college must set a minimum requirement for a bachelor’s degree equivalent to at least180 units, including not less than60 units at the upper-division level.
The minimum number of units required by a college must be the same for the degrees of bachelor of arts and bachelor of science.
Except as may be otherwise provided in the regulations of the Academic Senate or of the San Diego division, no college may set a standard higher than “passing” for the satisfaction of any requirement for graduation.
The value of a course in units (“quarter units” or “quarter credits”) shall be reckoned at the rate of one unit for three hours’ work per week per quarter on the part of the student, or the equivalent.