Academic degree

An academic degree is a formal certification earned by a student upon completion of a scholastic program at an accredited institution of higher learning. Various systems are used in different countries, but in general, three main degree levels enjoy widespread recognition. In order from lowest (least amount of study) to highest (greatest amount of study), they are: baccalaureate or bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctorate degrees. Other degree designations, such as the below-bachelor's associate degree, also exist in some places.

The highest degree attainable in a particular field of study is known as a terminal degree. In most academic fields, a doctorate is the terminal degree. In others, such as many creative and fine arts fields, it is a master's degree. Students can continue their studies after obtaining a terminal degree but cannot attain any higher degree designations in the field in question. Rather, such pursuits are usually classified as postdoctoral research or postgraduate research and are included on the individual's curriculum vitae, resume, or biographical profile.

Brief History

According to W.N. Hargreaves-Mawdsley's 1963 book The History of Academical Dress in Europe until the End of the Eighteenth Century, academic degrees have been a feature of European higher education since the thirteenth century. The institutions that were established at that time adopted various systems, all of which had three common degree levels: scholar, bachelor, and master. People at each level played specific roles within the higher education system, with scholars taking classes and following prescribed courses of study, bachelors acting as student teachers while pursuing formal teaching licenses, and masters gaining universal recognition at the summit of their respective fields and earning the title professor.

At the time, masters were also subject to certain obligations, such as undertaking a professorship at the degree-granting institution for a period of at least two years following the completion of their studies. An additional differentiation was made between regent and non-regent masters, with regents continuing to hold professorships at their respective institutions and non-regents holding no such position, either by choice or circumstance. In general, regents enjoyed higher status. Though the degree names have undergone some slight changes over the centuries, this three-tiered system continues to form the basis of the major degree designations awarded by contemporary institutions.

The etymological origin of the term bachelor merits mention in the context of academic degrees. The bachelor designation, which some sources ascribe to the notion that they required so much work that men who pursued them were unable to marry, evolved from the modern Latin word baccalaureatus, a variation of the root word baccalaureus, which means "a student with the first degree." This word evolved from baccalarius, a Medieval Latin term that referred to a student who has completed a scholar-level education and proceeded to the next level under the direct supervision of a master (or professor). Baccalarius is, in turn, is an amalgamation of bacca lauri, meaning "laurel berry," in reference to the laurel crowns traditionally awarded to scholars upon successful completion of their studies. In modern times, some institutions have modified their degree terminology, replacing the gender-specific bachelor's designation with the gender-neutral term baccalaureate.

Overview

The three primary academic degrees can be divided into two categories: undergraduate and graduate. Bachelor's degrees are at the undergraduate level, meaning that students have not yet completed studies at the post-secondary level in the academic field in question. Master's and doctorate degrees are at the graduate level, reflecting that candidates must first complete a bachelor's degree to qualify for advancement into these programs.

By and large, bachelor's degrees usually take four or five academic years to complete, though exceptional or highly motivated students can earn them on accelerated schedules. In the United States, programs leading to bachelor's degrees include specific requirements that are often subdivided into two main areas. First, general prerequisite courses provide introductory-level, foundational knowledge across a range of academic fields related to the primary area of study. Next, students take courses with more detailed, rigorous, and specific focuses. In bachelor's programs, students frequently complete prerequisites in the first semester or year of study before proceeding into more specific concentrations, or majors.

Master's degrees can typically be completed in one or two academic years but are far more demanding than undergraduate degrees. Students are expected to show advanced engagement with course material, perform at a higher level, and display greater independence. Students also frequently have the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of focus at the master's level. For example, a student in a program leading to a master's degree in English literature might choose to specialize in a particular genre or critical subdivision, such as postcolonial literature or twentieth-century literature.

Doctorate degrees are immersive and highly intensive, requiring that students attain expert-level knowledge of their chosen field. They also tend to be even more specialized than master's degrees; continuing with the previous example, a doctorate-level English literature student might choose to focus exclusively on the work of an important author.

The three widely recognized types of doctorate degrees are professional, research, and higher doctorates. Professional doctorates lead to advanced credentials that enable graduates to pursue a particular career path. The MD or Doctor of Medicine degree is a well-known example. These degrees are preceded by undergraduate and master's-level degrees in professional fields that are commonly called first professional degrees. The ML or LLM Master of Laws degree is an example of a first professional degree; graduates have the option to proceed into certification paths leading to a license to practice law or to study at the doctorate level and work toward a JD or Juris Doctor law degree. Research doctorates reflect extensive, advanced study of a particular academic field. Higher doctorates, which are more common in Europe than the United States, are an upper tier of research doctorates that reflect deeper, more detailed study.

In some countries, including the United States, another type of undergraduate degree known as an associate degree is also recognized. Associate degrees are typically awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, vocational schools, or technical schools and usually take about two years to complete. In many cases, associate degree holders can apply their credentials toward a bachelor's degree at a four-year college or university by achieving transfer credits for their previously completed coursework. Associate degrees are usually general in nature, but some programs are designed to prepare students for further studies in a specific or professional field.

Bibliography

"Baccalaureate." Online Etymology Dictionary, www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed‗in‗frame=0&search=baccalaureate. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

Carlton, Genevieve. “From Associate to Doctorate: A Complete Guide To College Degree Levels.” TheBestSchools.org, 12 Sept. 2024, thebestschools.org/degrees/college-degree-levels. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

Crow, Michael M. and William B. Dabars. Designing the New American University. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2015.

Hargreaves-Mawdsley, W.N. The History of Academical Dress in Europe until the End of the Eighteenth Century. Oxford University Press, 1963.

"Recognition of Academic Diplomas." Europa: Your Europe, 24 Nov. 2024, europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/education/university/recognition/index‗en.htm. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.