Difference between Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate Degrees
Degree Usual time to Where to earn the Common abbreviation and name Common description of the complete degree degree
Associate Degree 2 years >Community College AA Associate of Arts AA and AS usually transfer to a >Junior College AS Associate of Science 4year institution to complete >Technical College additional education >Some 4year institutions AAS Associate of Applied Science AAS usually a technical degree that prepares you for immediate employment, such as nursing, welding, pharmacy tech, health informatics, electronic engineering tech, computer support specialist
Bachelor’s Degree 4 years Undergraduates at 4year BA Bachelor of Arts BA a degree with a broad group (or 2 years college or university of subjects in arts, humanities, after english, social sciences and completing an **Occurs after completing foreign language Associate an Associate degree BS Bachelor of Science BS a degree that focuses more degree) on the subject of the degree and **Undergraduates are less on other subjects and is people who do not have a usually associated with technical Bachelor’s degree and scientific areas like computer science, nursing, math, chemistry, physics BFA Bachelor of Fine Arts BFA a degree that is usually about ⅔ arts classes such as visual, performing and writing
Master’s Degree 12 years Graduate school of a MA Master of Arts MA awarded after taking 4year college or additional advanced courses in university an arts major, is designed for students who plan to work **Occurs after completing toward a doctoral degree a Bachelor’s degree MS Master of Science MS awarded after completing advanced courses in sciences **Graduates are people or technical programs, is who have earned a designed for students who plan Bachelor’s degree and to work toward a doctoral are pursuing more MBA Master of Business degree education Administration MBA awarded after taking advanced courses in business and is intended to be a terminal degree
Doctorate Degree 58 years Graduate school of a PhD Doctor of Philosophy PhD the most commonly awarded 4year college or doctorate, requires an original university piece of significant research, a written dissertation and a **After completing at least successful defense before a a Bachelor’s degree and panel of faculty members who frequently after specialize in the discipline completing a Master’s MD Doctor of Medicine MD regular medical doctors earn degree this degree after completing medical school and internships JD Doctor of Jurisprudence JD what a lawyer earns after completing law school EdD Doctor of Education EdD awarded mostly to people in the education profession, very similar to the PhD with the only difference being the type of school where the degree is earned
Certificates Usually less Professional Organization **No special name but is identified by Certificates are mainly job specific, than 1 year Community College the certificate earned** you do not need to learn other Junior College things besides the topic of Technical College **Certificate levels can occur at any specialization, frequently Some 4year institutions point in education associated with professional >>while in high school or organizations and designations >>before starting any college or >>between degree levels or >>even after completing a terminal degree**