The bachelor's degree is largely considered the second level of higher education, after the associate's, and is designed to help students achieve a broad understanding of a general area, as well as a more specific knowledge of one subject. A bachelor's consists of the general education classes required for an associate's, plus a number of other classes in many different areas. Bachelor of arts degrees are awarded to those with a major in the arts, including language and philosophy; bachelor of science degrees cover scientific and technological fields. Some schools, often termed liberal arts schools, only award BAs, even in fields such as biology that would normally receive a BS. All universities and four-year institutions offer at least one bachelor's degree program.
Just about all schools require a student to take around thirty-six classes---about four years of full-time enrollment---including general education courses as well as electives and major requirements. Although many students take much longer to graduate, this is the average for those who maintain full-time enrollment in good standing and do not change their major or drop more than a few classes. Clearly, most students do not have their education this well planned out. Many universities also offer summer school and mid-semester courses to help students catch up or get ahead. Unlike high school, there is no requirement about how long you stay in college; rather, you can complete a bachelor's degree in a few years, or a decade--however long it takes you to complete all credits.
The main educational component of a bachelor's degree program is the college's course credit requirement. Although some schools and subjects might require career training experience such as an internship, the majority of institutions rely upon the student's transcript to speak for his skills. Generally, there are three different types of classes required for a bachelor's degree. General education courses consist of several hours in English composition, math, science and social science or arts. In addition to these, which vary in specifics by school, there are also electives, which are essentially blank spaces on the student's curriculum. Students can choose to take a large number of classes; counselors often advise underclassmen to take a wide variety of subjects as a way to choose a major. A major is a subject area like biology, English or religion. By the time a student has completed most of the general education requirements, he also probably will have taken several courses toward a major as well. Most departments, even within their major, require students to take several specific classes but leave room for them to find interests within their major field.
While many bachelor's degrees do not require outside work experience or other, non-educational requirements, some do require some additional classes or experiences. Some schools require seniors to research and write a thesis or take a test over their subject area and general education skills. Internship programs are also common, especially in psychology and business. An internship is an entry-level training position with a company or institution; sometimes they pay, but often they do not. Generally, it is the student's responsibility to find and organize an internship or job that will fit the school's work experience requirement. Similarly, the thesis or candidacy exam also tests student's ability to complete deadlines by working at their own pace. Graduating necessitates careful planning, especially when taking into consideration any extra requirements.
There are many benefits to completing all the education and training for a bachelor's degree, many of which are noticeable upon receiving your first paycheck. In addition to usually guaranteeing a better job with more security and benefits, a degree also gives people a general understanding of the world and the way it works. College is a great time for social networking, which can later help someone get a job or gain recognition in their field. Internships often lead to careers after graduation, and it is possible to publish a paper written for class. A bachelor's degree also qualifies you for further study, including the possibility of completing a graduate degree in an area of interest.