Undergraduate and graduate degrees in the international marketplace
Higher education ranges from the basic bachelor degree to more advanced levels of study. Familiarizing yourself with each type of degree will help you plan for the future.
Undergraduate Degrees
Undergraduate degrees, or bachelor degrees, are designed for students who have completed high school or who have relevant work and/or life experience. Bachelor students receive a broad education with one or more concentrations, also called majors. The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) are the most common undergraduate degrees. The B.S. typically encompasses a science or trade, such as biochemistry or journalism. B.A.s focus more on the humanities, such as linguistics and sociology.
A bachelor degree broadens your options for employment. For instance, someone with a B.A. in music could work as a teacher, critic, or disc jockey, to name a few. In the US, the Census Bureau estimates that individuals with a bachelor degree earn nearly double the salary of those who do not graduate from college.
Undergraduate degrees take three to four years of full-time study to complete. Transferring universities, changing majors or taking a light course load can lengthen the time it takes to earn your degree.
Postgraduate study
Postgraduate study is appropriate for students who hold a bachelor degree and wish to do advanced study in a particular field. Several types of postgraduate qualifications exist, including masters and doctoral degrees.
A masters program takes one to two years to complete and generally consists of specialized coursework and/or a research project.
To obtain a doctorate, which is the highest level of academic achievement, candidates must research a topic in depth and successfully defend their findings before a committee of experts.
Those holding a postgraduate qualification earn up to four times more money than people with just a high school education, the US Census Bureau reports. People with doctorates or professional degrees are considered experts in their field; they are sought after as authors, public speakers and college professors.
