College degrees?

Question

Can anyone tell me about college degrees? Such as bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, PH.D etc.. Which one is the highest and lowest and how many years do you need to study to get them?

Thanks!

Answer 1

An associates degree is the lowest degree after a high school diploma. It takes two years of full-time study (or more than two part time). Generally, associates degrees are granted by two-year institutions such as community colleges and junior colleges. People generally have only a high school diploma when they start working on their associates degree.

A bachelor's degree is what you get from a normal four-year college. It takes four-years of full time study, or several years of part-time study. There are two kinds of bachelor's degrees: bachelor of arts (BA) and bachelor of science (BSc). A BSc is more technical, as is generally only for science subjects. A BA is based on a liberal-arts curriculum, but can be granted in science areas as well (I'm majoring in biology but will graduate with a BA rather than a BSc because I go to a liberal arts college). Many people start working on a BA or BSc with just a high school diploma. Other people get an associates degree first. Many four-year schools will apply the credits earned at a two-year school towards the bachelor's degree, allowing students who've already completed an associates degree to earn a bachelor's with only two additional years of study.

Next up the scale is a master's degree. This generally takes two years of full-time study (or several years part-time). Students are generally required to have already earned a BA or BSc before being accepted to a master's program.

Next is a PhD (stands for doctorate of philosophy, which has nothing to do with being a medical docotor, by the way). That typically requires 3-6 years of full-time study, or an insanely long time part-time. PhD students complete original research in their field rather than taking classes (many programs include one to two years of classes in addition to the thesis work, but the thesis is still the focus), so they graduate when they finish their thesis to the satisfaction of their advisior, rather than when they've accumulated enough credit hours, which is why there's so much variation in completion time. Students have to have a BA or BSc before they are admitted to a PhD program, and many people do a masters before they start their PhD, or take a few years to work in their chosen field before starting a PhD program.

The only other degrees I can think of are an MD (medical doctor) and PsyD (doctorate of psycology). I'm not sure where to put MD on that list because it varies depending what country you're in. In the US, medical students finish their bachelor's degree and then do four years of medical school. In the UK, med school is six years straight out of high school. In other places there are other versions. Since I don't know where you live, I don't know which of those programs is relevent to your question. A PsyD is something I encountered for the first time about a week ago, and, quite frankly, I have no idea how many years of school are involved, which is why I don't know where to put that one either, but I though I sould include it for completeness.

There are also various less-standard programs that will result in different degrees. For example, when I finish college, I plan to go into some form of medical research, and I'm considering doing a combined MD/PhD program, which takes 7 to 8 years of full-time study depend on the school, and results in both a PhD and an MD (which is ideal for certain areas of medical research because it gives you both research and clinical training).

Answer 2

The "lowest" degree is an Associate degree. An associate degree is generally a 2 year degree - meaning that one attended college full time for 2 years. (Full time is 12 credits - 4 classes per semester)

Next up the ladder is the Bachelor Degree. Usually considered a 4 year degree. Meaning that you have attended college for 4 years full time. This could mean that you already have an Associate degree and now have attended 2 more years to get the Bachelor.

Next up is the Masters Degree. This varies in time frame and structure as many people do not go full time. It is possible to complete this degree in 2 years attending full time which is 3 classes = 9 credits per semester.

And finally is the PhD or Doctorate Degree. Again this varies in time frame and structure.

It is feasible to obtain a PhD in some fields within 8- 10 years. Of course becoming a Medical Doctor may take a bit longer considering the Residency requirements. And there are other requirements for other professions depending on the field of study that could extend the school time.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Associate degrees - two years

Bachelor's degrees - four years

Masters- one to two years after (in addition to) your Bachelor's

PH.D- varies but it usually takes years.

Answer 4

I believe it goes associate (2), bachelor (4), master (?), and Phd (?).

Answer 5

All of them. If you don't study you don't learn.