college 101
degree types
Four Major Degree Levels X P LA I N E D
E
College is on the horizon for many indecisive high school juniors
and seniors who soon will be asking the question: “What am I going
to do with my life?” For many, the answer will depend on the type
of college degree they choose to pursue after graduation. There are
four major types of college degrees — each with their own prerequi-
sites — that can lead to fulfilling careers and professions within two
to eight years.
Associate degree
4
Master’s degree
Bachelor’s degree
Doctoral degree
ASSOCIATE DEGREE – An associate degree is a two-year degree to prepare
CLASS OPTIONS:
• C
ampus - Program can be
completed without taking online
classes
• O
nline - Entire program offered
online
• H
ybrid - Program can be
completed taking some courses
online and others face-to-face
students for vocational areas and fields such as nursing, office administration, cos-
metology or Engineering technology. This degree transfers to a four-year university
to complete a bachelor’s degree. BACHELOR’S DEGREES:
BACHELOR’S DEGREE – A bachelor’s degree is a four-year degree that provides MASTER’S DEGREES:
educational resources, including general education classes and classes that relate to a
particular subject matter or industry such as health, business, education or biology.
A bachelor’s degree can help students gain entrance into graduate degree programs.
MASTER’S DEGREE – A master’s degree is a graduate degree that can typically
be completed within one or two years to help students go further in their field of
interest. This degree is designed to advance students in their careers to upper level
management positions and improve their earning potential. The most common
master’s degree is the Master of Business Administration (MBA).
DOCTORAL DEGREE – A doctoral degree is the highest and most advanced
degree earned in many fields and usually involves research. The degree, which may
take several years to complete, typically helps students become experts in their field
and increases their professional credibility. This degree requires a deeper focus in
specific areas such as medicine, psychology, or law.
Education is a lifelong journey. Regardless of the degree level you achieve, embrace the
path you choose because your education is an achievement that stays with you for the
rest of your life.
Article contributor: Auburn University at Montgomery
16
From Business to Nursing and
Psychology to Information
Systems, Auburn University at
Montgomery instructors and
professors provide students with
award-winning, experienced
teaching talent in on-campus,
online and hybrid (on-campus and
online blended) environments.
| Summer 2020
www.potentialmagazine.com
60+ degrees—see aum.edu for all.
• Accounting
• Business Administration
• Computer Science
• Criminal Justice
• Economics
• Education
• Geographic Information Systems
• Management Information Systems
• Liberal Arts
• Nursing
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Public Administration
• Teaching Writing
DOCTORATE DEGREES:
• Nursing
• Public Administration
Check out http://aum.edu/degrees
for their full list of program
offerings.