* Associate's Degree (A.A., A.S.): Typically a two-year degree from a community college or vocational school. It can provide a foundation for further education or prepare you for entry-level positions in certain fields (e.g., nursing assistant, some technical jobs).
* Bachelor's Degree (B.A., B.S.): A four-year degree from a college or university. This is the most common degree for many professional fields, including business, education, engineering, and many others. Many professional careers require or strongly prefer a bachelor's degree.
* Master's Degree (M.A., M.S., M.B.A., etc.): A graduate degree typically requiring one to two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. It's often needed for advanced positions in many fields or for specific professions (e.g., teaching, some areas of business).
* Doctoral Degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.): The highest academic degree, usually requiring several years of advanced study and research beyond a master's degree. These are commonly pursued by those aiming for research positions in academia or highly specialized professions.
* Professional Degrees (J.D., M.D., D.D.S., etc.): These are specialized degrees for professions like law (J.D.), medicine (M.D.), dentistry (D.D.S.), etc. They often involve extensive coursework and clinical experience.
In short, you don't "need" any specific degree unless a particular job or professional license requires it. The degrees you should pursue depend on your career goals, interests, and financial situation. Researching potential careers and the educational requirements for those careers is crucial in deciding what degree, if any, is right for you.