Earning an associate degree only takes two years to complete and it has two main types, transfer degrees and occupational or technical degrees. Transfer degrees have a coursework designed to allow students continue their education to earn a bachelor's degree, while occupational or technical degrees are designed to create a highly trained student in a field of his choice.
A bachelor's degree is awarded to students completing a four-year course. The first two years of college is usually concentrated on general education, while the last two years are designed to teach students all the concepts they need to work in their chosen fields. Types of bachelor's degrees are numerous and the most common titles awarded are the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science. These titles are given depending on the student's field of study. A bachelor's degree also allows you to pursue graduate studies if desired.
There are two types of master's degrees; professional and academic. Both types take around two full years to complete. Professional master's degrees are often called "terminal" degrees and they are taken by people who wish to enhance their professional knowledge in their chosen fields. Professional master's degrees are designed to teach students specific and more complicated concepts. They are labeled as terminal because they do not automatically qualify students the opportunity to pursue a doctorate degree.
Academic master's degrees are advisable to students who want to pursue a doctorate degree, as its coursework is designed to teach them a broader and more academic approach in their fields. In order to graduate, a student must either complete a thesis or a comprehensive test. A thesis consists of researching an aspect related to your field of study; the thesis is usually a summarized argument or innovative angle on a point related to the research.
The most common doctorate degree awarded to students is the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). In most colleges, this is the highest degree you can earn. The basic requirement in enrolling for a Ph.D. is to complete a master's degree in the same field of study; however, there are some colleges that allow students to pursue a doctorate degree without completing a master's degree first. A dissertation is required for completing a Ph.D. and it usually takes two to three years of full-time work to accomplish.
Very similar to a thesis, students completing a Ph.D. are required to complete a dissertation. The dissertation usually requires active research, which is then summarized into an innovative hypothesis and conclusion.