There are many different types of College Degrees available. Each one has its own field of study, time duration and requirements.
Associate degrees are 2-year schooling programs that get students ready for entry-level jobs in a variety of fields or for transferring to a 4-year university. They are typically offered at community colleges, vocational schools and technical colleges.
Associate Degree
The Associate Degree is a two-year college degree that prepares graduates to enter the workforce or continue on to a bachelor’s degree program. It is an excellent way to gain the fundamental skills that potential employers value in today’s competitive job market and it can also be leveraged when seeking a bachelor’s degree, as the credits are often transferable.
Associate degrees are available in many different subject areas, and can be taken for a variety of reasons. They are also highly flexible and can be completed in as little as two years, giving students ample time to find a career that is right for them.
The two most common types of associate degrees are the Associate of Arts (AA) and the Associate of Science (AS). AA programs provide liberal arts courses to help students transition into a bachelor’s program, while AS degrees offer more specialized studies in specific subjects.
Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree is typically earned after a four-year period of postsecondary study. These degrees are offered by both four-year institutions and a few community colleges that have added baccalaureate programs in recent years.
The Bachelor’s Degree has a strong value in terms of lifetime earnings, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). A bachelor’s degree typically earns more than a high school diploma.
Associate degrees are often a cheaper, less time-consuming alternative to a bachelor’s degree. They are also a good option for students who are not sure they want to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
An associate degree is a two-year program that can be earned at a community college, technical school or online university. It teaches basic academic skills and can be used for certain employment opportunities.
An associate degree typically focuses on a specific subject or career area, such as business, nursing, or computer science. It is generally shorter in length and has different college credit requirements than a bachelor’s degree.
Master’s Degree
A master’s degree is an academic degree that demonstrates you have high-level knowledge of a particular area of study or professional practice. Masters have advanced knowledge of a subject matter or specialization, critical-evaluative skills, and the ability to think independently.
A master's degree is typically awarded to students after completing an undergraduate degree program. The curriculum of a master's degree is usually more advanced than that of a bachelor's degree.
Choosing the right master's degree for you is important to your career success. It should be a subject that you're passionate about, one that has significant career potential, and one that will help you accomplish your specific goals.
It should also be something that you have the time to devote to study full-time. This is a long time to be away from your job and from your family, so it's important to consider all the options before enrolling in a master's program.
Doctoral Degree
A Doctoral degree is the highest academic degree that can be earned. It typically requires research and a dissertation, and can take between four and eight years to complete.
It is usually required for those in the medical and legal fields, but can also be useful in a number of other industries. It is often the degree of choice for top scholars, teachers, and researchers.
The average PhD program is about a year and a half in duration, but that can vary widely depending on the school, concentration, and availability of courses (part time studies may make things even longer). It’s common for universities to ask students for a certain amount of credit hours, but that can vary from school to school and state to state.
Besides the obvious coursework, doctoral programs often offer research assistantships and other financial incentives to encourage students to pursue advanced research. These include grants and stipends, as well as the ability to teach undergraduate classes as a sideline.