Analyzing the types of college degrees and choosing one which suits you best can be a pretty extensive process. There are several factors which you need to consider while picking from the college degree types which is best for you, such as cost of the course, duration of the course, the career opportunities after completion of the course and also whether you have an inclination to learn the subject matter contained in the course. Because lets face it, whatever you learn in college will be what you will do for the rest of your life. Hence, for your career development, it is important to know what types of college degrees are there and which one of them suits your liking.
Types of Academic Degrees
Here are the main types of college degrees for you to choose from.
Certificate Programs
Certificate programs are the simplest courses, but are often a fast track option to a specialized career of your choice. Certificate programs generally are short term courses which train you in a very niche segment of your career and are used by people who are looking to update their knowledge of a particular subject. Certificate programs enhance your know how of a particular subject, so they should be supplemented with some other course as well. What these types of college degrees do is that they provide you a skill, which may be a beneficial to you on the job, but you may not have learned. For example, suppose you are an engineer in a company, but also want to learn how the finances work, you can enroll yourself in such a certificate program and that qualification can suffice if you wish to work in the financial department of your company. The good thing about certificate courses is that you are provided with the coursework and tests online, which negates the need to sit in a classroom.
Diploma Programs
So, while certificate programs will help you add a complimentary skill to the existing pool of skills which you already possess, diploma programs are tools, which can veer you to a completely new career. While diplomas often form a basis for your existing career, if you are looking for a career change, you can take a diploma course in the career, which you are looking for and hence change your ‘line’. Diploma courses are generally for a year or two and may be classroom based or online education depending on the type of diploma you opt for. Diploma courses can unlock new career opportunities for you. They have a more detailed course curriculum as compared to certificate programs.
Associates Degree
To gain an associates degree, you will in all probability have to enroll in some full time education for two years. An associates degree course is most often done at the undergraduate level and often there are different online degree programs. This type of college degree forms the base for all your further education. An associates degree equips you with the basic knowledge in the field which you are taught and helps you understand the basics of the subjects. The list of college degrees under this type of college degree covers several fields of education like art, science, business, legal, medical, nursing and trade.
Bachelors Degree
The bachelors degree is one of the most traditional types of college degrees. The bachelors degrees are generally 4 years or 5 years, depending on the course and are mostly all classroom courses, but you may also find online bachelors degree, if you search hard enough. The course is generally a broad one which covers a wide range of subjects, in which you can specialize in the final year and further at the end of the course. One of the most common examples of the bachelors degree is the bachelors degree in medicine where all the fields of medicine are covered in basic detail, so that towards the final year, the student has a feel of all the subjects being taught and is hence in a position to judge which one to specialize in.
Masters Degrees
Among all the types of college degrees, the second most common type is the masters degree. To enroll in a masters degree program, you have to first complete your bachelors. Like I mentioned before, the bachelors degree will give you a feel of what you would like to specialize in and the masters degree course imparts detailed knowledge of the subject of your choice. A masters degree program generally takes 2 years.
Doctoral Degree
Widely considered as the highest degree is the doctoral degree. After completing your masters, you may choose to write a thesis or a research paper on a subject of your choice, which if approved by the concerned body, will give you the title of ‘Doctor’. This sort of doctor has precise, accurate and perfect knowledge for his field of study. Find out more information on online college degrees.
So these were the types of college degrees. Education is an important stepping stone for a human being and hence, it is essential that one gets the right education and the right course. So while evaluating different types of college degrees, be sure to choose the one which is best for you!
