Explanation of Degrees (2024)

Explanation of Degrees (1)

Your education in California can focus on earning a degree (from an Associate’s to a Doctoral degree) or studying a variety of non-degree programs.

Below, we briefly explain the different educational degrees you may choose when you study in the United States. Following these, we cover a few of the most common non-degree programs.

Educational Degrees

Undergraduate Program

A program leading to a two-year Associate’s degree or a four-year Bachelor’s (also called baccalaureate) degree; generally follow high school or secondary education.

Graduate Program

A program leading to a Master’s degree, doctoral degree, or advanced certificate; advanced study generally following a Bachelor’s degree.

Associate's Degree

A degree granted by a college or university after the satisfactory completion of a two-year, full-time program of study or its part-time equivalent.

Bachelor's or Baccalaureate Degree

A degree received after the satisfactory completion of a four-year or five-year full-time program of study or its part-time equivalent at a college or university. The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) are the most common baccalaureate degrees.

A master’s degree is designed to provide additional education or training in a specialized branch of knowledge, significantly beyond the level of baccalaureate study.

Doctoral Degree

A doctorate degree is the highest level of academic degree in most fields. For research or university teaching, the degree is usually a PhD, while applied professional doctorates include the Doctor of Medicine (MD), the Doctor of Education (EdD), and the Juris Doctor (JD), among others.

PhD

Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated PhD, is an advanced academic degree awarded by universities. In the United States, the PhD is the highest degree one can earn and applies to graduates in a wide array of disciplines in the sciences and humanities. The PhD or equivalent has become a requirement for a career as a university professor or researcher in most fields.

Non-Degree Programs

Here are just a few of the non-degree programs you can study in California.

Certificate

Non-degree award for completing an educational program of study after high school. Certificates are required to become employed in many occupations that don’t require a college degree.

ESL/English Program and Intensive English Program

Provide international students the chance to learn English or improve their English language skills. Can be taken in preparation for a degree program.

Online Program

Education taught completely online with no in-person classes.

Short-Term Program

A variety of topics taught in short timeframes, often 4 weeks or less, including English Language Programs.

Youth Programs

With a variety of subjects, these often give junior high and high school students (generally ages 12-17) the opportunity to experience higher education and prepare for a successful academic future.

Explanation of Degrees (2024)

FAQs

What is degree level explanation? ›

Though it will vary between academic disciplines, associate degrees usually take two years to achieve, bachelor's degrees take four years, master's degrees take two years, and doctorate or professional degrees can take anywhere from four to eight years.

How do you describe your degree? ›

You can either write out your full degree name (like Bachelor of Arts) or use its acronym (like B.A.) if you need to save room. Include honors you were awarded instead of your GPA, especially if you're not a recent grad. If you're a recent grad with a high GPA, you could opt to include your GPA.

How to respond when you don't have a degree? ›

Don't hide your lack of a college degree, but also don't apologize for it. Dilber recommends not mentioning your lack of college experience in a resume or interview unless the hiring manager asks about it. “I don't think you need to proactively say, 'I don't have a degree, but I've done this and this,'” Dilber said.

How do you explain you don't have a degree? ›

For example, you might say you completed a certification course instead of a getting degree because it was more financially responsible or it aligned more with your career goals. You might explain that you took a professional opportunity out of high school and found the practical experience to be more beneficial.

How do you explain degrees? ›

A complete circle rotates at 360° and angles can be measured at different angles showcasing different degrees such as 30°, 45°, 60°, and so on. One rotation is divided into 360 equal parts, and each part is called a degree. We denote a degree with a circle °. For example, 180° means 180 degrees.

How do you explain 1 degree? ›

A degree (in full, a degree of arc, arc degree, or arcdegree), usually denoted by ° (the degree symbol), is a measurement of a plane angle in which one full rotation is 360 degrees. One degree (shown in red) and eighty nine degrees (shown in blue).

How do you answer what is your degree? ›

7 tips for discussing your education
  • Be specific. ...
  • Call out specific courses that relate to the position. ...
  • Mention any additional training. ...
  • Always be honest. ...
  • Talk about your future education goals. ...
  • Let the positives outweigh the negatives. ...
  • Be proud of what you've accomplished.

What do you put for a degree if you haven't graduated yet? ›

How to list an unfinished degree on your resume
  • List school and degree program title. First, list the school you attended and the degree program title. ...
  • Include the expected completion date. ...
  • Include relevant majors and minors. ...
  • Include professional development. ...
  • Include any relevant projects. ...
  • Get started with Coursera.
Apr 4, 2024

What to say in an interview if you don't have a degree? ›

Don't lie about not having your bachelor's degree. You can just simply list to the college that you went to or if you didn't even go to college, don't even list anything; that's fine. It's good– It helps if you have some college courses, but maybe you didn't necessarily finish. It's okay.

How to sell yourself when you don't have a degree? ›

Here are a few ideas to get you started:
  1. Apply to forward-thinking companies. Many organizations today have stopped requiring college degrees as a prerequisite for job interviews. ...
  2. Get certified. Some forward-thinking companies value certifications more than college degrees. ...
  3. Intern or volunteer. ...
  4. Tell a great story.
Mar 29, 2023

How do I list education without a degree? ›

If you've completed some college credits but haven't gotten a degree, you can keep the education section at the bottom of the resume. "Put down the school that you've attended, the years that you attended there or how many credit hours you completed," says Owens.

Can you be successful without a bachelor's degree? ›

So many people find success in life without a college degree. Many are actively pursuing careers they love and are passionate about, with other types of education under their belts.

What is your degree level? ›

Associate degree (undergraduate) Bachelor's degree (undergraduate) Master's degree (graduate) Doctoral degree (graduate)

What is the meaning of degree level of education? ›

Education level can mean different things to different people. In general, it refers to the amount of schooling a person has completed. This can include everything from primary school to graduate school. It can also refer to specific areas of study, such as medical or law school.

What is the meaning of degree program level? ›

Degree level means enrollment in a course or program which could result in the award of a: (a) Certificate, diploma or other program award at an institution; (b) Baccalaureate degree or lower including enrollment in a course by a nondegree-seeking postbaccalaureate student; (c) Graduate degree or graduate certification ...

Is a degree level 7 or 8? ›

University students qualify with Ordinary Bachelors degrees (NFQ Level 7) or Honours Bachelors degrees (NFQ Level 8). Universities also offer Masters (NFQ Level 9) and Doctoral (NFQ Level 10) postgraduate degrees. Technological sector: Technological universities (TUs) make their own awards.

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