Ok! This sounds stupid, but what is: Undergraduate and Graduate Majors/ etc....????

Question

About Universities... Because I was on this site and I feel stupid!!!

Answer 1

The undergraduate degree is what you get after completing four years of college. It's also known as a Bachelor's degree or baccalaureate.

A graduate degree is a degree you get if you continue in school after you get your 4-year college degree. There are two kinds of graduate degrees: Master's level and Doctorate level, Doctorate being the more advanced of the two. Typically, it takes 1 to 2 years to complete a Master's degree, and 3 to 5 years to complete a Doctorate. Some people get a Master's degree first, then pursue a Doctorate. It's also possible to get a Doctorate without formally receiving a Master's degree. People who are pursuing a Master's or Doctorate are called graduate students, and the process is known as graduate school. Most graduate schools have undergraduate students; in most large universities, the graduate students do much of the actual teaching of undergraduates.

When studying for a Master's, the material is usually less broad than in undergraduate, and is certainly more detailed. A Doctorate is even more focused and in-depth. Most Doctorate degrees involve original research and the production of a thesis, which is a very long report that explains what your research was and the results. The research is done under the supervision of a professor, who is known as your "advisor." Many Master's programs also require a thesis, but it is not required to be as long or detailed as with a Doctorate. There is no special title conferred by a Master's, but people who complete a Doctorate have the privilege of being called "Doctor." The majority of Doctorate degrees are Doctors of Philosophy, also known as PhDs (pronounced "Pee-Ach-Dee"). Some fields have their own special Doctorate, for example, PsychD (Doctor of Psychology) and PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy). A Doctorate degree is almost always required for a career as a college professor.

Another kind of Doctorate is the professional kind, which you get from graduating from medical school, dental school, etc. These degrees are considered equally as advanced as the Doctor of Philosophy so, of course, you call your physician and dentist "Doctor" as well.

Answer 2

Undergraduate degrees are Bachelor degrees, graduate degrees are Masters. One goes for a bachelor in a field before going for their masters.

Colleges tend to only be undergraduate studies. Universities offer both. Although there are some colleges that work with individuals in creating a master's degree program.

Undergraduate Degrees: BS, BFA, BA, etc
Graduate Degrees: MFA, PhD, etc.

Answer 3

An undergraduate is studying for a Bachelor's degree in a specific field (your Major). BA means Bachelor of Arts, BS means Bachelor of Science. Obtaining a Bachelor's degree usually takes about 4 years. At my university it requires 120 credits, including many general education requirements such as English, History, Humanities, Science, Math, etc. 48 of these credits must be in upper level classes (300 or 400 level, or Junior and Senior level classes). Your Major defines your focus of studies (English, History, Biology, etc.). To earn a Major in a particular field entails taking required classes in that field as well as a total of 39 credit hours in that field, 18 of which must be upper division classes (300 - 400 level). For instance, I am going for a BA in History, meaning that History is my Major. So I will need to take at least 13 History classes, since each class is worth 3 credits. 6 of those classes must be upper division courses. I am also Minoring in Anthropology, which only requires half as much course load as a Major (18 credits, of which 9 must be upper division), and will also be part of my degree when I graduate. If you wish to continue your education after graduating with a Bachelor's degree, then you become a Graduate student (as you have already graduated with either a BS or BA). Graduate students usually spend another 2 years obtaining a Master's degree, and may even continue further toward a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy). In my case I am planning on becoming a teacher, so after getting my BA in History I will need to get my Master's degree in Education. I hope this helps. Good luck in your college career.

Answer 4

Basically.... an undergraduate is a person going into the college/university and are stukdyingto get their BS degree or an AA degree... The gradute degrees are those that are beyond the BS degree(Bachelor of Science) .. If you are studying for your MS(Master of Science degree) or your Doctorate degree. then you are in t he GRADUATE majors

Answer 5

In addition to what others have said, it's worth noting that in graduate school (at least in the US) you rarely have majors. People enter programs not majors. So while in college, you major in some topic. However, once in graduate school, you are in a graduate program, not a major.

While in college you can switch majors with relative ease (depends on specifics though), in graduate school it's usually more complicated to switch programs and you often have to start over and apply to a new program if you want to change your focus of study.

Answer 6

Right i'm in my second year at uni and so havent completed it yet therefore i am an UNDERGRADUATE and i MAJOR in Communication Studies but i also do a MINOR (like half a degree/major)in Public Relations. Someday I will have my graduation and will then become a GRADUATE because i've finished university. hope thats helpful??

Answer 7

undergraduate is when your going for your bachelor's once you got your bachelors your considered as a graduate which means the next thing is for you to get a graduate degree or Masters....