Students who have completed high school and go on to college take undergraduate courses to earn a degree. Graduate courses allow students with college degrees to pursue advanced study.
Students take undergraduate courses to earn associate's and bachelor's degrees. They take graduate courses to earn master's or doctoral degrees.
Students pursuing a bachelor's degree take courses in a variety of areas, in addition to their major field of study, to receive a well-rounded education.
Graduate-level study is usually specific to a student's chosen field, in contrast to undergraduate coursework.
Undergraduate courses provide a basic foundation of knowledge in a given academic discipline. Students in graduate courses often must read and absorb a greater volume of material than in undergraduate classes.