Page 163 - Foundations of Learning, 4th Edition (Revised)

Higher Education Degrees

The following section provides a brief discussion about the most common types of degrees offered by
colleges and universities in the United States.

Associate’s Degree
Two-year colleges, such as community colleges, offer Associate degrees. Some four-year institutions
also offer Associate degrees. The number of credits for an Associate’s degree typically ranges from 60-
68 credits. The two most common Associate’s degrees are the Associate of Arts (A.A.) and the Associate
of Science (A.S.) Arts degrees generally designate majors in the arts and humanities; science degrees
generally designate majors in sciences, both general and applied.

Bachelor’s Degree
A degree granted after the completion of between 120-132 credit hours, is called a Bachelor’s degree,
As with the Associate’s degree, there is the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science. Colleges
differ in how they designate a B.A, versus a B.S. Some colleges only grant B.A. degrees, reinforcing
their image as a liberal arts college. In other colleges, some departments may decide all their degrees
are one kind or another. In some institutions, such as the State University of New York, the designation
depends on the amount of liberal arts credit in the program. Those with greater than 75% liberal
arts are designated as B.A, while those with between 50% and 75% liberal arts credit are given the
designation of B.S. You may also have heard of the Bachelor of Professional Studies (B.P.S.), which is
similar to the A.A.S., as a degree in an applied area. There is also the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.).

You will need to check your college catalog to see what degree designations are available and how
they are defined.

Master’s Degree
Study (generally of two to three years) beyond the Bachelor degree can lead to a Master’s degree.
Again, the college or university will decide on the designation. Those in the humanities will most likely
be a Master of Arts (M.A.); there is also the Master of Science (M.S.) In addition, some colleges and
university offer other Master’s degrees such as the M.F.A. (similar to the B.F.A), the M.Ed. (Master in
Education) and the M.E. (Master in Engineering).

If you have any interest in continuing toward a Master’s degree, you really need to check requirements
now. For example, a Master’s degree may require several terms of economics or statistics. Knowledge
of these requirements may well influence the development of your Educational Plan.

Doctoral Degree or Doctorate
A Doctorate is generally the highest degree awarded by a university. Some build on the Master’s degree
and some are totally separate from a Master’s program of study. For most Doctorates, a dissertation
or extended writing (often the length of a book) is required. As with previous degrees, there are many
kinds of Doctorates. The most common are the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), the Doctor of Medicine
(M.D.) and the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.).

Chapter 6 — Context of Performance 157