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College Degrees
Colleges offer higher education in a number of specialized disciplines to students who have completed their higher secondary education. These courses are known as degree courses. As evidence of having successfully completed all the requirements of these courses the college presents the students with a certificate, known as college degree.
Colleges offer various types of college degrees. The most common is the Bachelor's Degree, which is given in recognition of having successfully completed undergraduate studies. The period for obtaining a Bachelor Degree is three to four years. After completing the undergraduate studies students can opt to take up postgraduate studies.
The college degree offered to such students is called Master's Degree. Some students still continue with their education. The studies now involve intensive research and the students are required to expand the realm of existing knowledge. Successful students are awarded a Doctorate Degree called Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D. in short). For a Doctorate Degree students have to work under instructors who have already acquired
their Doctorate Degrees. Some colleges also offer Associate Degrees. This is meant for students who are not sure that they want to complete the studies required for a Bachelor's Degree. They can study for two years for an Associate Degree and can later complete the course for a Bachelor's Degree.
College degrees are offered in many disciplines. In the sciences degrees are offered in pure sciences such as physics and chemistry and in various branches of engineering. In the humanities degrees are offered in subjects such as economics, sociology and literature. Some colleges offer degrees in performing arts like music, dance and filmmaking. Degrees are also offered in professional disciplines like law, medicine and accountancy.
College degrees are very important because not only do they open the doors to preferred employment but also bring in respect for the degree holder.
Associates Degree
Students who are seeking undergraduate studies will usually begin their college education by finding top associate degree programs. Many colleges and vocational schools offer associate degrees in a variety of subjects that take about two years to complete.
Associate degrees offer a flexible platform for quick entry into many professions. Community colleges, vocational schools and trade schools will offer the associate's in a number of subjects, from aeronautics to x-ray technician and beyond. The usual prerequisite for enrollment in undergraduate degree programs is a high school diploma or GED. This is not always the case, however; some schools will look more favorably on
those with a high grade point average, and some colleges will accept relevant work experience in lieu of a diploma to qualify the student for entry.
Associate degrees are generally comprised of Associate of Arts (AA), and Associate of Science (AS). These undergraduate degree programs are course specific and may only touch briefly on a variety of in-depth subtopics; therefore, individuals may opt to take a double major combining two subjects to prepare for a specific career path or for higher degrees. When two subjects are studied at once, the education can be especially valuable in certain fields, such as Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Business, Information
Technology and Health Care, etc. You can discuss your aspirations with college admissions administrators to get a good grasp of the level of education you will need to achieve your goals.
Associate degrees will satisfy many employers, and this level of college education will suffice for many students who simply wish to enter the work force directly after graduation. However, the associate degree is most often sought as a launching platform to the next level, a Bachelor degree program.
Credits may be earned in at community colleges or vocational schools and transferred to another school or college after graduation.
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Bachelor Degree
The bachelor’s degree may be defined as “An award that normally requires at least 4 but not more than 5 years of full-time equivalent college-level work. This includes all bachelor's degrees conferred in a 5-year cooperative (work-study) program. A cooperative plan provides for alternate class attendance and employment in business, industry, or government; thus, it allows students to combine actual work experience with their college studies. Also includes bachelor's degrees in which the normal 4 years of work are
completed in 3 years.”
U.S. bachelor degree programs usually include requirements for breadth as well as depth of study, and students will fulfill what are called liberal or general studies requirements for introductory knowledge in several subjects as well as a concentration in one or more subjects, called a “major.” Students are assigned a faculty advisor, usually in the intended field of study, who assists the student in developing a plan of study that is coherent and uses the general education requirements to support the major. Many students become
exempt from the general requirements through faculty examinations, presentation of Advanced Placement (AP) examination scores (3 or higher), or presentation of an International Baccalaureate (IB) or other advanced or honors secondary qualification.Some U.S. undergraduate students’ transcripts may show that remedial courses were completed, or examinations taken, in order to correct deficiencies or to complete prerequisites for certain subjects. It is important to know, however, that U.S. accreditation rules do not allow remedial work
to be awarded undergraduate credit.
Inter- or multi-disciplinarity is a major thrust of U.S. higher education, and it begins with the first degree level. U.S. educators and employers believe strongly that the bachelor’s degree should prepare students for entry-level jobs as well as for possible advanced study. Whether students continue their studies or enter the labor market, they will need to understand the basic principles of fields other than their own narrow specialization, and they will need skills - such as languages, IT and computational skills - that cannot be obtained exclusively in their major field. This extra knowledge and skill must be obtained at the higher education level. Secondary-level preparation cannot substitute for it. And the degree program should be structured so
that the additional knowledge and skill complements the main subject concentration.
Most bachelor’s degrees are titled Bachelor of Arts (BA or AB) or Bachelor of Science (BS or SB), but there are many other bachelor’s degree titles in use
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Masters Degree
Typically, it’s two years beyond the bachelor’s degree, but those additional two years open the door to many career opportunities that are personally, professionally, and financially fulfilling. The most common master’s degrees are the master of arts (MA) and master of science (MS). Note that whether you earn an MA or MS depends more on the school you attend than the academic requirements fulfilled; the two are different only in name - not in educational requirements or status. Master’s degrees are offered in a variety of fields (e.g.,
psychology, mathematics, biology, etc.), just as bachelor’s degrees are offered in many fields. Some fields have special degrees, like the MSW for social work and the MBA for business.
Master’s degree programs entail classes, similar to your undergraduate classes. However the classes are usually conducted as seminars, with a great deal of discussion. The professors tend to expect a higher level of analysis in master’s classes than undergraduate classes.
Most master’s degree programs require students to complete a master’s thesis, or an extended research paper. Depending on the field, your master’s thesis may entail conducting a thorough analysis of the literature or a scientific experiment. Some master’s programs offer alternatives to the master’s thesis, such as written comprehensive exams or other written projects that are less rigorous than theses. In service-oriented fields like clinical and counseling psychology, and social work, master’s degrees usually include a practicum or internship in which you learn applied skills like how to perform therapy.
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PHD or Doctorate Degree
PhD refers to the doctoral degree. It is technically a doctor of philosophy degree, but it is awarded in all disciplines. Typically it requires several years of study beyond the master's degree and sometimes up to 8 years of study depending on the field, the student's research topic, and the student's skills. Most PhD degrees require the completion of coursework, comprehensive exams, and a dissertation.
U.S. doctorates are structured programs of advanced study and supervised research. Students admitted to doctoral programs must complete all qualifying graduate-level coursework and participate in doctoral seminars and colloquia. No coursework is credited toward the doctoral program unless it is doctoral-level and part of the research seminar and colloquia preparation for advancement to candidacy. Students who complete these
preliminary requirements at a satisfactory level (usually an A average grade is required) must then pass written comprehensive examinations that cover their chosen research specialization plus two or more adjunct specialties, one of which is often in a related subject area. Successful students who pass the examinations and receive the recommendation of the doctoral faculty are advanced to candidacy for the doctorate.
Some U.S. graduate students’ transcripts may show that undergraduate courses were completed in subjects such as languages, quantitative methods or a second subject, particularly if the student entered pre-doctoral studies from the bachelor’s degree level, is undertaking interdisciplinary studies, or is changing subjects. It is important to know, however, that U.S. accreditation rules do not allow such undergraduate credit to be counted toward graduate studies. Only if undergraduate courses are taken for graduate credit -
requiring additional work - and are certified as such by the graduate faculty will an award of
credit be considered.
The doctoral candidate selects a doctoral dissertation advisor and doctoral committee (usually 2-5 senior faculty, frequently with at least one member from another subject area or university). The advisor and committee approve the dissertation research proposal and are available to advise on the progress of the independent research program. When the candidate and the advisor judge that the research is completed and the dissertation is finished, the candidate is scheduled for a public oral examination defending the dissertation. At the conclusion of the oral defense, the dissertation committee votes on whether to award the doctorate and sign the dissertation, which is then published via university printing services and made available electronically for the academic community. Many dissertations are later revised, edited, and published commercially as academic monographs.
Read more on PHD-Doctorate Degree Page


Resources
On line Degrees
Economic downturns can be hard on education plans. It's easy to start second-guessing yourself and wondering if you should have chosen this year's high-paying profession as your major.
You love what you're doing, your boss thinks you possess a lot of initiative for pursuing an education, and your family admires you… and still you wonder.
You're worried about your job security, the high cost of food, and paying your mortgage. If tuition continues to increase, how will you pay for it? Is your investment in education going to "recession-proof" you?
Did you know that, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans who have a college degree are less likely to be unemployed? Distance learning is a great way to keep your current job while strengthening your job skills. Is distance learning for you? Is now the right time to go back to school? What happens if you are unable to continue your education?
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