I'm not sure about the whole bachelor's degree and master's degree stuff?

Question

okay say i go to a 4 year university.....does that mean I get a bachelor's degree on my major? and what about the master's?

because a whole bunch of people talk about the master's, doctorate

blah blah and I'm so confused

does a person have to go to school again to acquire a master's degree after graduating from a 4 year university?

like grad school or no? its all confusing

Answer 1

If you get a degree in 2 years, it's an Associate degree.

If you get a degree in 4 years (possibly 5), it's a Bachelor's degree.

If you go back to school for 2 or 3 more years, it's probably a Master's degree.

If you have to do a Doctoral dissertation, usually after about 8 years of college education, that's a doctorate (aka a Ph.D.)

Answer 2

When you go to a four year college/university students usually graduate with a bachelor's degree. This can be a B.A., B.S., BSW, etc.  It all depends on your major.  

Typically.... during your senior year of college or after graduation, many students decide to apply to graduate school or law school.  Law school is a 3 year program.  Some people go to grad school to get their masters in a certain field (which doesnt have to be what your undergraduate major was, and often isnt).Some programs require coursework, a comp exam, or a thesis in order for student to get their masters. Programs vary from 1-3 years;  It all depends on the school and the field.  MBAs (Masters in Business Admin) and MPA (Masters in Public Admin) tend to be about 2 years.  A master's in Social Work can take 3 years because of various clinical requirements.  

Now, where it gets complicated is a new trend in education that has   5 year programs.  Students enroll in these programs when they declare their majors or shortly afterwards.  If they complete all of the work, students leave with a bachelors and a masters degree. Students need to complete all of the requirements of both programs.  What usually happens is the student starts taking graduate level course during their senior year and less electives (basket weaving).

PhD's are something you wont have to worry about for years....  

Answer 3

At a 4-year university you are likely studying for a bachelor's degree. You could be earning a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science. The difference simply depends on whether you choose to place a greater emphasis on the arts or the sciences for your degree requirements (the courses for either type of degree are outlined by your university - so check with an advisor).

This is the hierarchy of degrees:

* associates: 2 years

* bachelors: 4 years

* Master's: bachelors + (at least) 1 year

* PhD: Master's + (at least) 1 year

Each degree basically means you've mastered a certain subject to a certain level of proficiency. Each level means you are more specialized in whichever field you studied. You don't necessarily have to study the same subject for each degree, though. To earn an associates and bachelors you take courses within a specific discipline (or more than one if you double major). To earn a Master's you take courses within a specific discipline and then write a thesis (basically create a new piece of research within your field - you must make an argument, research it and write your thesis, and defend your ideas to professionals in that field) or portfolio (again, demonstrating the depth of your knowledge). A PhD is similar, except you write a dissertation and defend it rather than a thesis or portfolio. Associates is the least specialized, PhD is the most.

You may start with either an associate's or a bachelor's, but you can't progress without a bachelor's degree. Earning a Master's degree does require lots of time and money in addition to a bachelor's degree (grad school is typically 1-2 years, but you can take up to 5 years at many schools) and isn't generally required. It depends on your profession. I want to be a teacher and am required to have earned a Master's degree within five years of teaching (so basically within five years of earning my bachelor's degree).

People talking about Master's degrees are likely talking about their future plans if they're in your courses/age group. Undergraduate students taking 400-level courses (senior level) may be combined with 5oo-level students (graduate level), but the students would still have different academic requirements for the course.

(As an English major I took several courses with grad students - I thought they were great resources in class discussion and they often had to 'teach' class once a term about a topic they chose for a research paper that I wouldn't have to do or that I would have much shorter requirements for)

Hope that helps! :)

Answer 4

A four-year degree is a Bachelors degree in your major. You can then go ahead (grades permitting) to graduate school for a Masters degree in your field. After the Masters you may then go on to get a doctorate in your field.

Graduate school has a separate curriculum from undergraduate school. Whether you need to go on for a post-graduate degree depends on what you want to do after school.

Regards,

Dan

Answer 5

A bachelor's degree is an 'undergraduate' qualification.  It's usually a minimum of three years of university study.  You can then do an Honours fourth year (required for some areas of professional work).  A master's degree is a 'postgraduate' qualification.  That brings you up to six years of university study.  If you want to specialise in a field of study, you would then apply to complete a Ph.D or 'doctorate'.  Although a master's degree can be either all coursework (subjects) or a combination of coursework and research, a Ph.D is just research.  Ph.D candidates complete a long thesis known as a 'dissertation' in their special field of study.  I hope this clarifies it for you.  Good luck with your studies!