Your Child's College Degree Options

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The Right Degree for Your Child's Career Path

When students say they want to earn a "college degree," that could mean any number of things. Part of the college selection process involves thinking about exactly what kind of degree they want to earn, and which college can get them there. Here are some options to consider:

Certificate or Diploma

These non-degree offerings generally lead to employment in an occupational field. For example, to enter fields such as computer science or teaching, your child may first have to get a certificate or diploma.

Associate's Degree

Students receive an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degree after completing two years of study similar to the first two years of a four-year college. Community colleges or four-year universities offer associate degrees. After earning an A.A. or an A.S., your child may transfer to a four-year college to complete the requirements for a bachelor's degree. The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree is awarded on completion of technological or vocational programs of study.

Bachelor's or Baccalaureate Degree

Your child may complete a four- or five-year, full-time program of study (or its part-time equivalent) at a college. The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) are the most common.

First Professional Degree

Your child may complete academic requirements to become licensed in a recognized profession. The programs of study require at least two years of previous college work for entrance, and at least six years of college work for completion.

Combined Bachelor's/Graduate Degree (or Joint Degree)

Your child may complete a bachelor's degree and a master's or first-professional degree in less than the usual amount of time. In most programs, students apply to the graduate program during their first three years of undergraduate study, and begin the graduate program in their fourth year of college. Successful completion results in awarding of both bachelor's and graduate degrees.

International Baccalaureate (I.B.)

This comprehensive and rigorous two-year curriculum (usually taken in the final two years of high school) is similar to the final year of secondary school in Europe. Some colleges award credit or advanced placement to students who have completed this program.

Liberal Arts/Career Combination

In this program of study, also known as the 3-2 Program, students typically complete three years of study in a liberal arts field followed by two years of professional/technical study (for example, engineering). At the end of this study, your child will be awarded B.A. and B.S. degrees.

Teacher Certification

At some schools, students can receive a teacher certification by completing bachelor's degree and state certification requirements. Your child's college advisor can help prepare a plan of study to meet these twin demands. All institutions that prepare teachers are accredited by the state; each state sets its own certificate standards.

A program leading to teacher certification typically involves three types of courses:

General liberal arts courses
The major (such as elementary education or mathematics)
Professional education courses, including student teaching

In order to gain certification in most states, students must pass an achievement test in the field in which they plan to teach.