What is an academic degree?
Q: What is an academic degree?
A: An academic degree is a certification that students receive when they graduate from a university. It shows that they have successfully completed their classes and passed a final examination, and it is an official credential.
Q: How long are courses for different degrees?
A: The length of courses, and the number of courses vary depending on which college is attended. Associate's degrees typically take two years to complete, while bachelor's degrees usually take three or four years. Master's degrees can take one or two years, and doctoral degrees typically require four to six years of study.
Q: What are some examples of higher degrees?
A: Higher degrees include master's and doctoral degrees as well as licentiate degrees in some countries. In medicine, membership of specialist societies are also considered higher-level qualifications, as well as fellowships which require postgraduate training and practical experience.
Q: What do high schools give out to graduating students?
A: High schools in the United States give out diplomas to graduating students rather than academic degrees; these diplomas are not considered official credentials like academic degrees are.
Q: Are upper-level courses difficult because they assume knowledge from earlier college courses?
A: Yes, upper-level courses such as those needed for a master's or doctorate degree often assume knowledge from earlier college courses; this includes having to know technical terms such as Latin names for bones in the human body which would be extremely difficult to understand without prior knowledge from undergraduate studies.
Q: Is there any way for people with a degree to show it after their name?
A: Yes, many countries allow people with certain types of academic degree (such as bachelor's) to put letters after their name indicating what type of degree they have earned; for example John Smith BA indicates that John has earned a bachelor's degree.
