Exams ✓

Diploma ✓

Grad. Party

✓

What are you going to do after High

School?

What can

you do after

graduating?

Brainstorm a list of possible options.

Alternativ

es to

College

Lets Read “Is College for Everyone” to discover

alternatives to higher education.

Systems of

Higher

Education

Community Colleges

State Universities

Public Universities

Independent Colleges & Universities

Communit

y College

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

State

Universitie

s

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

Large state universities typically enroll 7,000 or

more students, are publicly funded, and offer both undergraduate and

graduate work

Public

Universitie

s

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…

Most public universities and colleges were founded by state

governments to give residents the opportunity to receive

public college education. Today,

state governments pay for most

of the cost of operating public universities.

-

Private

Universitie

s &

Colleges

Vary in size, prestige, and cost Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate’s, and

Professional DegreesAccepts High School Graduates and Community

College TransfersProfessional Schools: Law, Medicine, Education,

Engineering, Journalism, Social Welfare…

A private college is an independent school that sets its own policies and goals, and is

privately funded. Private colleges are generally smaller than public

or private universities. The average enrollment at private

colleges is only 1,900 students.

✓ Associates

✓ Bachelors

✓ Masters

✓ Doctorate

Everything You Need to Know About Degrees

Knowing the types of college

degrees makes it easier to decide

your collegiate academic path.

Get to know them, and factor in

those degrees into your college

research process.

Degree

Classifications

Undergraduate

Associates

Bachelors

Graduate

Masters

Doctorate

Undergraduat

e vs.

Graduate

Degrees

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.

Associates

Degree

(undergraduate)

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.

Associates

Degree

(undergraduate)

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.

Associates

Degree

(undergraduate)

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)

Career

Opportunitie

s with an

Associates

Degree

✓✓ 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

Bachelors

Degree

(undergraduate)

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).

Bachelors

Degree

(undergraduate)

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)

Bachelor

of Science

vs.

Bachelor

of Arts

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

Bachelor

of Science

vs.

Bachelor

of Arts

✓ 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

Masters

Degree(Graduate)

✓ 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.

Masters

Degree(Graduate)

✓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.

Masters

Degree(Graduate)

✓ 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)

Doctorate

Degree(Graduate)

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

Doctorate

Degree(Graduate)

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)

Start

Preparing

for

College

Now

• 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!

Factors to

Consider

When

Selecting A

College

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?

Factors to

Consider

When

Selecting

A College

• 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?