Classification of Academic Degrees

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The most commonly awarded degrees include:

Associate degrees

Bachelor’s Degrees

Master’s Degrees

Doctorates

Work Experience Based Education

Associate's degrees

Associate degrees are classified into an undergraduate academic degree awarded to those who complete two years of coursework after high school. It is generally awarded by community colleges, junior colleges and technical educational institutes. An associate degree is almost equivalent to the first two years of the four year bachelor program. It is the lowest level of education after high school and termed to be the first level postsecondary academic degree.

The time requirement of associate degree is generally two years, completing 60 semester credit hours. Different prerequisites incorporate "general ed" courses, for example, English synthesis, Algebra, social collaboration, humanities, and so on. Some individuals allude to associate degrees as "two-year" degrees in light of the fact that it is conceivable to get the degree in approximately that time span. For learners who place into developmental (frequently called pre-college or remedial) courses, the time will be stretched out since these credits will not count toward the associate degree.[1] Conversely, secondary school graduates who enter school with a high measure of exchange credits could complete the degree in less than two years. In extraordinary circumstances, a few people take one year to earn the associate degree.

Bachelor’s degrees

The time requirement to complete a bachelor's degree is usually four years for a regular program, completing 120 semester hours. Examples of bachelor's degree include Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts, and Bachelor of Science.[2]

Master’s degrees

Master’s degrees are awarded to scholars who have done advanced study having specialized in a discipline. Within the study toward a master's degree, graduates are engage in self-propelled learning of a specific group of hypothetical and connected subjects; high aptitudes in examination, basic assessment or expert requisition; and the capacity to tackle complex issues and think thoroughly and autonomously.

In the United States education system, a master's program generally requires two years after the four-year bachelor's degree program. The duration can be long or short depending on the education system of different countries. Master's degree programs can incorporate 36 credit hours after the four-year completion of a bachelor's degree.

The most common types of master's degree are the Master of Arts and Master of Science.

Doctoral Degree

Doctoral degrees are commonly called professional degrees. In most nations, doctorates qualify the holders to instruct at the postsecondary level in the particular field of his or her degree, or to work in a particular calling. While the structure of U.S. doctoral projects is more formal and intricate than in other frameworks, the doctoral examination is not granted for the preparatory progressed study, but for adequately finishing and defending the student's autonomous research which is explicated in the doctoral thesis or dissertation.

The duration can differ depending on the educational system of different countries, the subject being pursued and the school at which a doctoral student is completing their doctorate.

Experience-based Degrees

Experience-based degrees are professional degrees offered as a recognition for services offered in certain field. It can also be termed as life experience based degrees where college credits are given to recipients for certain years of practical life experience.[3] The credit hours and time span differ in experience based degrees in different countries based on their educational standards.

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