Four-Type Higher Education System in the USA
The contemporary higher educational system identifies the four college degree types: associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctor of philosophy. Each of these degrees is based upon various curricula and educational programs. These degrees play their own set of important roles for career preparation and development, personal satisfaction and intellectual fulfillment for different individuals.
Associate’s degree is two-year college degree type with around 60 credit hours. It’s offered by community or junior colleges, career schools and universities. Those establishments follow a set pattern of rewarding degrees such as the associate’s degree. In the USA this degree is regarded equivalent to the first two years of a four-year college or university degree. This degree represents pre-professional fields of study and works towards preparing graduates to advance their education and pursue entry-level jobs in their area of study.
After students complete a four-year undergraduate College Degree program, they are conferred upon by a bachelor’s degree. Also known as baccalaureate in some states, this degree involves of about 120 credit hours of full classes. Those classes are divided between basic education requirements and core degree classes. In the USA, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) are the primary kinds of bachelor’s degrees.
Students who have accomplished their bachelor’s degree are the eligible candidates for bidding another two years of study, to receive a master’s degree; a more complicated level than the bachelor’s. The primary kinds of degree are Master of Arts (M.A) or Master of Science (M.S). In this 60 credit hours of study, students get involved in many dedicated courses in their area of interest.
Having received a master’s degree, some students may further pursue their studies in another two years of more fieldwork and research and obtain the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. Here the students are demanded to demonstrate extensive knowledge of a subject, through original research. This degree is generally achieved by lawyers, professors, therapists and the like.
