The standard bachelor's degree, otherwise known as a baccalaureate degree, is earned in a four-year program of undergraduate study offered through a college or university. However, the duration of the degree program depends on the specific school, country of location or subject being studied. Nowadays, you can earn a degree through a traditional classroom setting or online.
There are two main types of bachelor's degrees. The bachelor of arts degree or B.A., which involves coursework primarily focused on the arts and humanities and may include majors such as English, history, foreign languages and anthropology. The bachelor of science degree or B.S. offers a curriculum focused on quantitative analysis and sciences, such as biology, chemistry or mathematics.
According to Bachelordegrees.net, a myriad of degree options are available for the student who wishes to study nontraditional subjects or else to study particular subjects in a more detailed manner. For example, you can obtain a degree in architecture (B.Arch), design, (B.Des.), pharmacy (B.Pharm) or computer science (B.CompSc).
The cost of a bachelor's degree varies by institution. Tuition costs can range from a few thousand dollars at state universities to hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of four years at private schools. Financing a college education can be difficult, but a variety of state, federal, and private education grants and scholarships may help.
A majority of colleges require Scholastic Assessment Test scores for admission. According to Collegeboard.com, the SAT is a globally recognized college admission test that tests your knowledge of reading, writing and math and allows colleges to evaluate your chances at succeeding.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the rate of college enrollment immediately after the completion of high school has fluctuated between 62 and 69 percent since 1997. The NCES also states that the percentage of individuals ages 25 to 29 who had completed a bachelor's degree was 31 percent in 2008, with women holding approximately 57 percent of all bachelor's degrees awarded in the 2006-07 academic year.