What are you

going to do after

High School?

Brainstorm a list of possible options.

Lets Read “Is College for Everyone” to discover alternatives to higher

education.

Community Colleges

State Universities

Public Universities

Independent Colleges

& Universities

Prepares students to transfer to a 4 year institution

Associate’s degree

Offers technical training in specific occupations

(bookkeeping, culinary arts)

Most are nonresidential students live off-campus

Students can attend part-time or full-time

Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees

Accepts High School Seniors and Community College Transfers

Provides broad liberal education and prepares students for professional goals

Accepts High School Seniors and Community College Transfers

Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees

Have Professional Schools: Law, Medicine, Education, Engineering, Journalism, Social Welfare…

Vary in size, prestige, and cost

Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate’s, and

Professional Degrees

Accepts High School Graduates and Community

College Transfers

Professional Schools: Law, Medicine, Education,

Engineering, Journalism, Social Welfare…

Everything You Need

to Know About Degrees

Undergraduate

Associates

Bachelors

Graduate

Masters

Doctorate

What is the difference between undergraduate and graduate degrees?

Undergraduate (associate and bachelor) degrees give you a general foundation plus a basis in your field.

Graduate (master's and doctorate) degrees specialize in a specific field.

Common at community or junior colleges & trade

and professional schools.

Typically requires about 60 hours of course

work.

If you attend school full-time that translates into

two years of college.

Associate-level programs offer different degrees

for a variety of careers.

May provide the necessary training to prepare

students for entry-level positions in fields like

nursing, graphic design and other vocational

areas.

Transferable associate degree programs cover the general education requirements needed to continue a student's education at a 4-year university.

The most popular degrees available at the associate level include these:

✓ Associate of Arts (A.A.)

✓ Associate of Science (A.S.)

✓ Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

✓✓ Paramedic

✓ Digital Imager

✓ Drug Prevention Educator

✓ Emergency Medical Technician

✓ Fashion designer

✓ Fire Fighter

✓ Graphic Artist

✓ Auto Mechanic

✓ Police Officer

✓ Real Estate Agent

✓ Respiratory Technician

✓ Surgical Technician

✓ Telecommunication Technician

✓ Web Designer

✓ Bio-technician

✓ Business Manager

✓ Computer Aided Drafter

Computer Support Specialist

Cosmetician

Dental Assistant

Hygienist

Interior Designer

Journalist

Medical Assistant

Nurse

Paralegal

Usually means attending a four-year college or university.

Requires about 120 hours of class work.

Costs vary for bachelor’s degrees, but in general, it costs $21,000 for a standard four-year public college, and about $40,000 for private colleges and universities (including tuition, room and board).

Requires that students choose a

major area of study.

Graduates are qualified to work

in entry or management level

positions, depending on the

field.

Bachelor's degree usually

required for admittance into a

graduate program.

Different types of degrees

available in a bachelor's degree

program include the following:

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

A Bachelor of Science is more focused on practice while a Bachelor of Arts is more focused on academia and general education.

Bachelor of Science degree includes more courses

that include math, labs or other practical learning situations.

A few of the most popular majors that fall under the

B.S. umbrella include:

Biology Chemistry Engineering Information

Technology Mathematics Nursing

A Bachelor of Arts degree, generally includes classes and electives in areas like foreign language, history, and the arts.

Below are a few of the common majors that fall under the B.A. umbrella:

Anthropology Art History English History

Philosophy Sociology

There’s often a lot of

overlap between these

types of degrees.

Keep in mind that you

don’t have to decide

during your first semester

Demands that you go above and beyond normal levels of academic achievement.

Primarily offered by public and private universities,

Encompass an additional 60 hours of class work (about two years).

May qualify graduates to work in advanced or executive-level positions.

Required for entrance into some doctoral programs.

Along with an undergraduate degree, enrolling in a

master's degree program usually requires a minimum

GPA and an acceptance score on a graduate entrance

exam, such as the Graduate Record Examination

(GRE).

Many master's degree programs require a thesis or

capstone project for graduation.

A few different degree programs available at the master's-level include the following:

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Master of Science (M.S.)

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Master of Engineering (MEng)

Master of Education (Med)

Most advanced type of

degree program available.

Admittance usually requires

a master's degree.

Completing a doctorate

usually takes several years.

Involves the completion of

a dissertation and a major

research project or

publication of a coherent

body of literature.

Qualified to work as experts

Three types of Doctorates:

Research, Professional, Honorary

A few possible degrees include those listed below:

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic)

D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery)

J.D. (Juris Doctor

M.D. (Doctor of Medicine)

D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)

D.P.M. (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine)

D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine)

D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine)

Pharm.D. (Doctor of Pharmacy)

O.D. (Doctor of Optometry)

• Learn the college-preparatory course requirements Push to get into these courses in high school

Push to get into honors and AP courses in high school, if available

• What you do outside of class matters Sports, Clubs, Work, Church, Honor Societies, and various groups

• Take the PSAT by the 9th or 10th grade It’s good practice for the SAT!

1. Size: What is the total student population? How big are the typical freshman classes?

2. Location: How far is the college from home? Is it in a rural, urban, suburban setting? What is the area surrounding the campus like?

3. People: Who are the students and where do they come from?

• 4.Academics: What majors are available? Who teaches the courses? What is the academic reputation of the college?

• 5.Social Opportunities: What clubs and teams are available? Are there fraternities and sororities?

•

• 6.Cost: What is the total cost of attendance, including tuition, room and board, and books? What kind of financial aid is available?

• What’s the highest level of education that your parents received? • What is your goal?

• Why do you seek to receive this degree? What will be its benefits?