Associate degrees (undergraduate)
An associate degree is an education level beyond a high school diploma but not yet to the level of a bachelor’s degree. Typically, associate degrees are two-year programs (or 60 course hours) offered in community colleges and technical colleges. They prepare you to go directly into the workforce, though some associate degree graduates will go on to earn their bachelor’s degree as some course credits may transfer to four-year colleges.
There are three types of associate degrees: Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.) and Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.). An A.A.S. in Nursing is a specific degree program that transfers into a specific vocation, whereas an A.A. in Liberal Arts is a generalized program of study.
Popular associate degree careers include:
- Dental hygienist
- Web developer
- Paralegal
- Veterinary technician
Bachelor’s degrees (undergraduate)
A bachelor’s degree is a four-year program (or 120 course hours) offered by colleges and universities. Bachelor’s degrees require you to take general education courses (such as math, English and science) and specialized courses related to your chosen major.
Bachelor’s degrees offer a broad variety of subjects – more than any of the other levels of college degrees. You may choose from arts and sciences, business, psychology, and studio art, to name a few. Each of these programs of study will come with a different designation, such as the two most popular levels of bachelor’s degrees – B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) or B.S. (Bachelor of Science).
A Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree covers all arts studies, including anthropology, communications, French, music and politics (to name a few). In contrast, a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) includes studies of sciences, including engineering, mathematics, neuroscience and public \health.
Popular careers that require a bachelor’s degree include:
- Software developer
- Microbiologist
- Registered nurse
- High School teacher
- Graphic designer
Master’s degrees (graduate)
A master’s degree is an advanced degree obtained after a bachelor’s, typically requiring 1-2 years of additional study (or 30 course hours). Master’s degrees allow students to specialize in a particular area of interest, such as business, health and sciences or art, to become more employable or knowledgeable in an area of study.
Some master’s programs offer accelerated timelines, online-only programs or even nighttime courses for professionals in full-time careers. In 2021, 52.8 million people held a bachelor’s degree, while 24.1 million held a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree.
A Master of Arts (M.A.) and Master of Science (M.S.) are the most popular master’s degree programs. However, Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) and Master of Social Work (MSW) are also popular programs.
Popular careers that typically require a master’s degree include:
- Physician assistant
- Political scientist
- Occupational therapist
- Historian
- Social worker
Doctoral degrees (graduate)
A doctoral degree (Ph.D.) is the highest level of degree, often requiring several years of research and study beyond a master’s degree. The length of time and course hours needed vary depending on the focus of the study.
Doctoral degrees emphasize research; therefore, Ph.D. students often find careers in academia or highly specialized fields, such as medical, political or legal. A doctoral program requires students to participate in advanced courses, graduate-level seminars, and research labs and defend a dissertation to a committee.
A Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is the most commonly known doctoral degree, but these degree programs are not reserved for philosophy students. You can earn a Ph.D. in many other subjects, such as health and sciences or the arts. Other popular doctoral degrees include the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) and Juris Doctor (J.D.), which includes lawyers.
Popular professions that require a doctoral degree include:
- Physician or surgeon
- Pharmacist
- Lawyer
- Postsecondary teacher or professor
- Dentist
