What is the difference between bachelor and master degree

Higher education beyond the high-school level is divided into at least two sections, usually called undergraduate and graduate study. Undergraduate study, while more specialized than secondary or high school, still usually maintains a level of liberal arts, or general study. Additionally undergraduate study almost always awards a Bachelor's degree. Graduate study, on the other hand, is more specific, advanced and professional. Graduate programs award different degrees depending on the field and the level of study.

Undergraduate Degrees

Completing an undergraduate course of study results in receiving a Bachelor's degree. There are several different kinds of Bachelor's degree, and the most common are the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science, abbreviated B.A. and B.S. respectively. A Bachelor of Arts has concentrated more heavily on humanities, but the primary focus or major of the study could be a large number of things. A Bachelor of Science, likewise, could have majored in many areas, but has spent more time in quantitative study, such as math and sciences. A Bachelor of Fine Arts is another degree awarded to students with an undergraduate focus on the study and creation of the fine arts. Bachelor degrees are usually awarded for completing a specified amount of coursework.

Masters and Doctoral Degrees

Most graduate programs grant either a Master's or Doctorate degree at completion. The most common Master's degrees are Masters of Science and Masters of Arts, which continue the undergraduate study in a more directed and specific way, culminating in a long piece of academic writing called a thesis. Those pursuing a Masters will usually have to defend their thesis in front of a committee of faculty who interrogate the research and claims the thesis makes. Doctoral degrees are less directed and class-based, but focus on another long piece of academic work, usually including research, called a dissertation.

Other Graduate Degrees

There are many other graduate-level degrees associated with specific disciplines and professions. For example, a Medical Doctorate, or M.D. is the degree necessary to practice medicine, while to practice dentistry one must acquire a D.D.S. or Doctor of Dental Sciences. An M.B.A. is a Master of Business Administration. A Juris Doctorate, or J.D., is required to practice law. There are many professional doctoral and masters degrees that are required for specific professions, each providing the intensive training and experience specific to that discipline.

What Degrees Do

While an undergraduate degree might make a student highly qualified for a job, usually a graduate degree is required to teach at a university level. Often graduate degrees are required for high-level management positions, and for some specific highly technical jobs with a lot of specialized knowledge, such as practicing law or medicine.

There are several types of college degrees suited for different purposes: an associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree are the most popular types. Each type is based on the length of time spent in school as well as the complexity of the study program. A high school diploma or GED is required before entering any of these programs. Additionally, suitable scores on entrance exams such as the SAT or ACT for the associate's and bachelor's degree are required as well as a GRE, GMAT, or other test for the master's degree. For more information on degree types, visit this link from Gear Up! www.gearup.wa.gov/resource/types-degrees.

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree is normally earned at a community college and is earned in two years. It usually focuses on general education requirements that can be later used towards completing a bachelor's degree after two more years of study. Some associate programs are also geared towards a specific profession such as one in the healthcare industry, computer technology, or business administration. Visiting an online college's program of study page can provide you with some ideas.

Bachelor's Degree

While a person can use an associate's degree towards a bachelor's degree, most students enroll straight into the bachelor's degree program. Programs can be found in virtually every field of interest from animal husbandry to languages to fashion design. These four-year programs provide the foundation required for attaining the majority of jobs in the United States. Roughly two years of the program are spent on a broad general education covering subjects commonly seen in high school: mathematics, English, sciences, history, and languages. Traditionally, students spend between 15-18 hours per week in the classroom.

Master's Degree

A master's degree is an advanced degree completed after the person has completed his or her bachelor's degree. The college or university normally requires the bachelor's degree to be in a related field. For instance, a person with a bachelor's degree in English literature will likely need to take some science courses before being able to enter a program for a master's degree in Chemistry. Master's programs are highly specialized depending on the job that the student is interested in obtaining upon graduation. Programs can vary but last from one to four years depending on the field of study and how many classes the student takes per year. Oftentimes master's students are attending classes while also working full time. Some jobs, such as a lawyer or doctor, require such complicated training that they will require further education past a master's degree called a doctorate.

Determining the type of job that you wish to obtain will help you to choose which degree and which field of study to follow. Asking people in the career you are interested in about their education level is one place to start. Additional resources can be found at a school career center or community job center. For a look at recent college graduates and which degrees they hold, check out this information from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

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