Your College Degree Options
Which Kind of Degree Do You Want?
Saying you want to earn a college degree could mean a number of things. Part of your college-selection process should be thinking about what kind of degree you want to earn, and which college can get you there. Here are some of your options.
Associate Degree
You receive an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degree after completing two years of study that are similar to the first two years of a four-year college program. Community colleges, and some four-year universities, offer associate degrees. After earning an A.A. or an A.S., some students transfer to a four-year college to complete the requirements for a bachelor's degree. Others enter the workforce right away. The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree is awarded on completion of technological or vocational programs of study. Some careers, such as nursing, require only an associate degree.
Bachelor's or Baccalaureate Degree
You receive a bachelor’s degree after completing a four- or five-year, full-time program of study at a college. The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) are the most common. Other colleges award very specific degrees, such as the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) or Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.).
Graduate Degree
After completing a bachelor’s degree, you may decide to pursue an advanced or graduate degree. In general, you can earn a master’s degree after studying for two more years. Studying for four years after getting your bachelor’s can earn you a doctoral degree. Many students go into the workforce after getting a bachelor’s degree and then return to college later to pursue a master’s degree, often one in a different subject area than their first degree.
Professional Degree
Earning a professional degree means completing the academic requirements to become licensed in a recognized profession. For example, if you want to be a doctor, lawyer, veterinarian or pharmacist, you’ll need a professional degree. These programs of study require at least two years of previous college work for entrance, and at least six years of total college work for completion.
Combined Bachelor's and Graduate Degree (or Joint Degree)
A combined degree allows you to complete a bachelor's degree and a master's or professional degree in less than the usual amount of time. In most programs, students apply to the graduate program during their first three years of undergraduate study, and begin the graduate program in their fourth year.
Liberal Arts and Career Combination
In this program, also known as a 3-2 program or dual degree program, you typically complete three years of study in a liberal arts field followed by two years of professional or technical study (for example, engineering). At the end of this study, you're awarded two degrees — usually a B.A. and a B.S.
Teacher Certification
At some colleges, you can receive teacher certification by completing a bachelor's degree and state certification requirements as part of the same program. Your college adviser can help you prepare a plan of study to meet these twin demands. All institutions that prepare teachers are accredited by the state; each state sets its own certificate standards.
A program leading to teacher certification typically involves three types of courses:
- General liberal arts courses
- The major (such as elementary education or mathematics)
- Professional education courses, including student teaching
To gain certification in most states, you must pass an achievement test in the field in which you plan to teach.
