Types of College Degrees

January 16th, 2008

Three things you must know about choosing an education for career advancement: education levels, potential earnings and your career choices.

The ability for career advancement starts with the right education. There are many factors involved when determining your career path. How much time are you willing to invest? What level of education or type of degree does your chosen career require? What are your salary expectations? And, what jobs are available to you at each level of education or type of degree?

At each advancing level of education, you can expect to increase your earning potential and career choices. The different levels of education include: certificates, diplomas, and the different types of degrees: Associates, Bachelor's, Master's and Ph.D.

The less time consuming of the bunch are certificates and diplomas. These take, on average, two to twelve months to complete and are typically attained through specific programs at Trade, Vocational or Technical schools. This is direct career training, typically consisting of hands-on experience.

Career options for employment certificate and diploma programs may include: Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Assistant, Massage Therapist, Pharmacy Technician, Practical Nursing, Paramedical Esthetician, Medical Billing & Coding, Electronic Repair Technician, Legal Office Administrative Assistant, Court Reporter, Computerized Office Administrator, Business clerk, Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Electrical Construction and Maintenance and Electronic Systems Technician.

An Associates degree is typically a two-year, higher education degree with an overall emphasis on hands-on training in order to gain job placement. For most, this is just a stepping-stone to obtaining a Bachelor's degree. An Associates degree can be obtained through career training institutes, community colleges, state and private colleges and universities.

Career options for an Associates degree may include: Aircraft and Avionics Technicians, Business Administrator, Cardiovascular Technologists Computer Support Specialists, Dental Hygienist, Drafters, Engineering Technicians, Forestry Technicians, Human-Service Assistants, Lodging Managers, Paralegals, Pharmacy Technicians, Physical Therapist Assistants, Preschool Teachers, Registered Nurses and Science Technicians, to name a few.

A Bachelor's degree requires a good, solid 4-year run of college learning. It isn't out of the ordinary for this higher education degree to take longer to complete. The time to complete this degree can change depending on whether the student is transferring credits, attending classes full-time or part-time and if they have added additional majors or minors. Typically, this level of education is where the student earns his or her wings in a certain field, making their knowledge more valuable in the workplace. Advancement in some careers may require an additional higher education degree, such as a Master's degree.

Career options for a Bachelor's degree may include: Accountants, Air Traffic Controllers, Business Administrator, Clinical Laboratory Technologists, Computer Systems Analysts, Construction Managers, Engineers, Federal Agents, Graphic Designers, Insurance Agents, Journalists, Landscape Architects, Personal Financial Advisors, Physician Assistants, Teachers and Wildlife Technicians. The possibilities in career options are extensive and vary depending on the types of college degrees.

A Master's degree is a popular higher education degree that requires, in most cases, a minimum of an additional 2 years of schooling (sometimes more). The Master's Degree can also be grouped in the Graduate and Post-Graduate categories.

Career options for a Master's degree may include: Advanced-Practice Nurses, Archaeologists, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officers, College Professors, Curators, Economists, Lawyers, Librarians, Physical Therapists, Psychologists, Rehabilitation Counselors and Scientists.

A Ph.D. is also known as the Doctor of Philosophy degree. This is the highest form of higher education degree available. Most, if not all, doctors have earned their Ph.D. Typically a large thesis must be written in addition to additional coursework in order to earn the higher education degree.

Career options for a Ph.D. may include: Advanced-Practice Nurses, Archaeologists, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officers, College Professors, Curators, Dentists, Doctors, Economists, Lawyers, Librarians, Physical Therapists, Psychologists, Rehabilitation Counselors, Scientists, Statisticians and Veterinarians.

It's important to be aware of salary expectations for the career field you wish to get into. It may be more or less beneficial to you to complete more schooling. However, on average, the more advanced the higher education degree obtained, the higher your salary will be.

What can someone expect to earn, on average if they carry any one of these employment certificates, diplomas or degrees? Aside from the field of work chosen, the general consensus for earnings by each particular level of education, is as follows:

For an employment certificate or diploma, one can expect to earn anywhere from $18-$29,000 or possibly more. By holding an Associates Degree, one can expect to earn anywhere from $22-$34,000 or possibly more. On average, a Bachelor's degree holder can expect to make somewhere in the range of $32-$50,000 per year; while those with a Master's Degree may earn a salary of about $65-$100,000 yearly or higher. The highest honor, Ph.D., can generate an income of $100,000 and up (Campusdirt.com).

There are many careers to choose from and plenty of programs to get you started in the right direction. Choose a school and educational program based on the length of time and levels of education you desire. Your salary expectations should always be considered, but knowing what to expect and how to continuously advance your education for career options is essential for success!

Remember, employment certificates or diplomas are below the standard of the Associates degree, which is below the Bachelor's degree. A Master's degree is taken after the Bachelor's degree and a Ph. D is the highest level of education obtainable.

Once you decide what career path to follow, finding the right school will set you on your way to a more rewarding future! Get an education for career advancement today!