Degree Explorer: Undergraduate Programmes: A Student’s Guide
Welcome to Degree Explorer! Whether you are still in high school, thinking of what course to take upon graduation, or a career changer who wants to pursue an undergraduate degree, choosing that right course of study is one of the most productive decisions you can ever make towards your personal and career fulfillment. This guide will assist you in sorting through all of those choices, learning about what different degrees are out there and what they involve, and deciding what you want to do with your life.
An undergraduate degree is an academic course which is offered by universities and other institutions of higher learning to students scoring high grades at the high school level.
Undergraduate degree is the first level of higher education which one can gain after passing the secondary school level. Usually it combines lectures of the humanities, mathematics, natural, social sciences and professional courses depending on the discipline one has taken.
Types of Undergraduate Degrees
1. Associate Degree
Duration: Typically 2 years
– **Focus:** It is the basic knowledge and skills that one needs in order to work in that particular field. Most of the time it is conducted at community colleges or technical schools.
– **Types:** Associate of Arts (AA) Associate of Science (AS), Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
– **Career Paths:** Including beginners’ jobs in areas such as healthcare, information technology, and business.
### 2. **Bachelor’s Degree**
– **Duration:** Generally it takes 4 years.
– **Focus:** Prepares students for more specialized study in a particular area of concentration in a chosen major.
– **Types:** BA, BS, BFA, BBA and other bachelor degrees.
– **Career Paths:** Full employment assignments of professions in engineering, education, arts, sciences, business among others.
Choosing the Right Degree
### **Interests and Passion**
Begin by thinking overall what kind of topics or things you like to do most. Your interests can lead you to study the major which will be useful for your employment and will also inspire you.
### **Career Goals**
Steady your thoughts and come up with the longer-term goals in your employment sector. Find out about various fields and job market and determine the degrees that go with your intended occupations.
**Skills and Strengths**
Self assess yourself in terms of strengths and skills. No two degrees are really the same, so try to select a degree course which you will enjoy and which will make the best use of your strengths and skills.