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A bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate degree that usually requires four years of fulltime study. Students typically need 180 credits to graduate. Coursework for the degree includes a mix of general education courses and specialized courses in a major field chosen by the student.
Most four-year undergraduate courses of study lead to the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. Some colleges and universities in the United States confer the BA for all academic degrees, while others award only the BS. Certain schools give the BA for the humanities and the BS for the sciences. Still other institutions allow students to choose a BA or BS. The two degrees are equivalent.
Almost all graduate programs in the U.S. require a bachelor’s degree for advanced study toward a master’s or doctoral degree.
Schooling
In the United States a bachelor’s degree typically takes four years to complete. Students may choose to complete their programs in three years by taking more courses per semester or adding credits during vacations. Other students attend part time and take longer to earn their degrees.
Another approach to a BA or BS is to first get a two-year associate’s degree (AA or AS). Community colleges and technical colleges offer associate’s degrees. Tuition is usually lower at two-year institutions than at four-year colleges. Students need to make sure that credits from the two-year schools are transferable to the four-year colleges they plan to attend.
Distance learning, usually through online courses, offers another route to a bachelor’s degree. Many colleges and universities offer distance learning options in addition to classroom education, while other schools specialize in distance learning. In some programs students can earn a bachelor’s degree online in as little as two years. Students should check the accreditation of online programs before enrolling and make sure credits are transferable.
Jobs and Wages
Many occupations are open to people with bachelor’s degrees. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the fastest growing occupations that require a bachelor’s degree.
Expected Fastest-growing Occupations (2006-2016) with
Bachelor’s Degree and Median Wages
Occupation |
Median wages in 2006 (per year unless noted) * |
Network systems and data communications analyst |
$64,600 |
Computer applications software engineer |
$79,800 |
Personal financial advisor |
$66,120 |
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselor |
$34,040 |
Financial analyst |
$66,590 |
Forensic science technician |
$21.79 / hr |
Database administrator |
$64,670 |
Computer systems software engineer |
$85,370 |
Network and computer systems administrator |
$62,130 |
Computer systems analyst |
$69,760 |
*Median wages indicate that the wages of half the people in these occupations were higher than this and half were lower. Wages vary by location, amount of work experience, and overall condition of the economy.
As the table shows, business- and computer-related jobs are among the fastest growing occupations. Teaching and healthcare also offer careers that require a bachelor’s degree and expect very high growth in the next decade. A bachelor’s degree is the key to many other career opportunities in addition to those mentioned here.
While salaries for bachelor’s degree holders vary greatly, according to the 2000 census average annual salary was $52,200. Average salaries went up $10,000 with a master’s degree.
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