College Degrees Guide: List Of College Degrees
Earning a college degree is still the most reliable way to improve your career opportunities and earning potential. As the following chart shows, college graduates earn more than non-degree workers and experience lower rates of unemployment.
Once you’ve made the decision to pursue a college education, it’s time to figure out exactly what type of degree to pursue. There are a variety of college degrees and each has advantages and disadvantages. There isn’t just one “right” type of college degree. The value of a college degree is a function of what the college degree offers you. Your job is to determine which college degree, or certificate, best helps you achieve your personal, educational and career objectives. For example, if you want to become a doctor, earning a bachelor of arts in history probably isn’t going to be as beneficial as an undergraduate degree in biology that will prepare you to take the MCAT. But then again, if you’re passion is history, maybe minoring in history and majoring in biology is the winning combination. If you want to pursue a career in business, then a Masters of Business Administration would be the logical choice, right? Surprisingly, many successful businessmen and entrepreneurs never earned an MBA. There are many educational paths and choices to consider. Below we’ll outline and discuss the different types of college degrees and help you begin exploring your options.
To learn more about types of degrees, select a category below:
Degree Or Graduate Level Apprenticeship
This is a new type of higher level apprenticeship, which can lead to a bachelors degree as part of an apprenticeship. It is important to check the full details of a given job and apprenticeship with the employer and training provider. These courses are a good fit for students who want to gain work experience rather than studying full-time at university, but would like to achieve the same degree status.
Students need to be highly committed competition can be fierce and entry qualifications can be high. If youre considering this option, you may want to keep your options open by making an application to a full-time bachelors degree through UCAS at the same time.
What Subject Is Right For Me
Its important you choose a subject you enjoy and will help you reach your goals. Here are some things to help you choose the right subject for you:
- Think about what you enjoy day-to-day maybe this could be part of a future job role?
- Explore different job sites and graduate career options to look for ideas on what youd like to do once you’ve;finished your studies.
- Think about your career goals and the qualifications required as part of a person specification.
- Take a look at our subject guides;to get an idea of the types of subjects you could study, and the industries graduates go on to work in.
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Its Good To Be Intense
Not all studying is equal. You will accomplish more if you study intensively. Intensive study sessions are short and will allow you to get work done with minimal wasted effort. Shorter, intensive study times are more effective than drawn out studying.
In fact, one of the most impactful study strategies is distributing studying over multiple sessions . Intensive study sessions can last 30 or 45-minute sessions and include active studying strategies. For example, self-testing is an active study strategy that improves the intensity of studying and efficiency of learning. However, planning to spend hours on end self-testing is likely to cause you to become distracted and lose your attention.
On the other hand, if you plan to quiz yourself on the course material for 45 minutes and then take a break, you are much more likely to maintain your attention and retain the information. Furthermore, the shorter, more intense sessions will likely put the pressure on that is needed to prevent procrastination.
How To Apply To A School College Or University
Once you have chosen a place to study you will need to apply to that school, college or university. Every school has different rules on how to apply.
Make sure you apply early for your course of study. Apply at least six months in advance to primary and secondary schools. University and college students should apply a year before they want to start their studies.
Contact the school where you want to study to learn how to apply. They will give you the right application forms and be able to tell you about:
- the cost of applying;
- rent and how much it will cost to live in Canada;
- language tests.
Fill out the application form for the school or schools of your choice, and submit it according to the instructions provided. If the school admits you as a student, they will send you a letter of acceptance. You need a letter of acceptance in order to apply for a Study Permit.
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Problems Are Your Friend
Working and re-working problems is important for technical courses . Be able to explain the steps of the problems and why they work.
In technical courses, it is usually more important to work problems than read the text . In class, write down in detail the practice problems demonstrated by the professor. Annotate each step and ask questions if you are confused. At the very least, record the question and the answer .
When preparing for tests, put together a large list of problems from the course materials and lectures. Work the problems and explain the steps and why they work .
Humanities And Social Sciences
You may not associate degrees in English, philosophy, or sociology with big-money jobs after college, but the critical thinking and communication skills they help develop can be valuable down the road. These degrees are sought-after in MBA and other graduate programs, where those qualities can lead to more insightful, outside-the-box perspectives.
One often-overlooked option is a degree in political science. Its beneficial if you plan on working in the public sector, of course, but its also a powerful stepping-stone into other fields, such as finance or the lawand attorneys make an annual salary of $126,930, according to the BLS.
Another potentially high-paying field within the social science umbrella: economics. Professionals who are capable of analyzing complex economic data earn a median of $108,350 a year, according to BLS. However, many jobs in this discipline require a masters degree or higher.;
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How Our Editors Choice Videos Are Chosen
The team at College Majors 101 hand selects each video for our individual channels. We base our decision on key factors as: 1) How well the video educates the viewer on the REAL nature the major, and what the student will learn. 2) Quality of film making, how well the video is shot and edited. 3) How well does the video show or explain facilities. 4) The three “C’s”, is the video clear, concise, and compelling. Videos that make our “Editors Choice” list, are those that really stand out as genuinely educational first and formost. These videos clearly show all facets of the major, outcomes, facilities, but are also entertaining and well made.
- Curriculum detailing course plans nationally
- Employer and Internship Links
- Professional and Student National Associations Links
- Industry Publications
A Major Is Required For A College Degree
If you intend to graduate with a bachelors degree that has equipped you for a career in a particular field, then it is essential to complete a major rather than dabble in whatever courses you like for a 4 year time period. It is nearly impossible to earn a bachelors without the formal structure of General Education requirements + College Major + Electives = Bachelors degree.
Not sure which major to pursue? Heres a list of some of the most difficult majors and easiest college majors.
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Review And Reorganize Your Notes
Whether youre using a notebook, a laptop, or good old-fashioned flashcards, reviewing each line of your notes helps ensure that you hit all the right information you reviewed in class and might even remind you of a few things you would have missed otherwise. Its good to review notes shortly after class, and then again a few days later. This allows you to take a break between edits and come back to the information with a fresh perspective.
Reading Is Not Studying
Simply reading and re-reading texts or notes is not actively engaging in the material. It is simply re-reading your notes. Only doing the readings for class is not studying. It is simply doing the reading for class. Re-reading leads to quick forgetting.
Think of reading as an important part of pre-studying, but learning information requires actively engaging in the material . Active engagement is the process of constructing meaning from text that involves making connections to lectures, forming examples, and regulating your own learning . Active studying does not mean highlighting or underlining text, re-reading, or rote memorization. Though these activities may help to keep you engaged in the task, they are not considered active studying techniques and are weakly related to improved learning .
Ideas for active studying include:
Organization and planning will help you to actively study for your courses. When studying for a test, organize your materials first and then begin your active reviewing by topic . Often professors provide subtopics on the syllabi. Use them as a guide to help organize your materials. For example, gather all of the materials for one topic and put them together in a pile. Label each pile with the topic and study by topics.
For more information on the principle behind active studying, check out our tipsheet on metacognition.
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How To Choose A Degree
Dont let yourself get influenced by peoplesopinions, because you surely wouldnt like to end up changing degrees right inthe middle of your studies. Always consider your future and what you would liketo do once you wake up. Although you have found the degree of your dreams, tryto consider the reputation of the university and the courses it offers, sincethey are a great indicator for employability.
Canada has some of the best degrees and thereare plenty of universities in which one can pursue their studies. For those whowant to study law, business, computer science and psychology, these are thebest universities in Canada:
- University of Calgary
How We Determined The Easiest Bachelors Degrees
Theres no set way to universally determine how easy a bachelors degree is, as every major and every school has its own level of rigor. That being said, we used available statistics on GPA to determine our rankings of the easiest bachelors degrees.
According to a study by Cornell University, most science majors tend to have lower than average GPAs, while the college majors weve selected for this list have a higher than average GPA. That means that for many students, achieving a higher GPA in these majors is not as difficult as it is in other majors.
Lets take a look at our list of the easiest majors.
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Consider How The Major You Choose Will Impact Your Bank Account
Though its not the most romantic approach, Bhaskara notes that its important to consider future financials as well. In an ideal world, everyone would be paid an excellent wage for doing work that they loved, but the reality is that different majors make it harder or easier to earn a solid wage, and that some students cant afford to purely follow their heart, he says. That doesnt mean you cant do what you love. He continues, The key here is that it doesnt always have to be a trade-off there are often tangential fields to your area of passion that you can still enjoy while enjoying better career prospects. For example, if youre a painter, graphic design might strike the right balance between something that you would enjoy and more career-oriented.
Switch Up Your Study Spots
Studying in the same spot can get tedious, so why not mix it up and get a new perspective on things? College campuses have tons of study spots for studentsfrom the library to the campus lawn to local cafes . Take advantage of these study areas, both indoors and outdoors, and give yourself a new view every day!
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Six Tips To Help You Choose What To Study In College
The start of the second semester marks a time when many universities require college sophomores to declare their majors. By the time spring rolls around, students have conquered a variety of classes and discovered what appeals to them, but narrowing it down to a single subject or two can still seem like a make-or-break decision. An important thing to keep in mind is that, while college majors certainly affect the jobs you’ll apply for after school, they don’t necessarily dictate your future. Internships, part-time jobs, grad school, and other resume-builders will make a big impact on the direction your career will take, too.
We talked to college students about how they chose what to study while pursuing undergrad degrees, and what kind of advice they have for those who are still undecided.
Look to your family for insight. Sometimes it’s hard to recognize your own strengths and skills; your family and close friends are a great sounding board when it comes to outlining your talents and tapping into your passions. “I consulted with my parents and my siblings, because they’re my biggest support group and know me the best out of everyone,” says Chanel, 19, from California. “Although my family influenced what I decided on, they never pushed or pressured me to major in something I wouldn’t enjoy. It was exciting to have the liberty to choose what I wanted to do, knowing I would be happy and successful.”
Don’t Know What You Want To Do Yet Don’t Worry Big Decisions Take Time
You can go through all these tips carefully and still find yourself asking, “What do I major in?!” That’s perfectly OK. Take a lot of different classes early on that might help provide some clarity. You can also consider a double major. Find what works for you, even if that means taking extra time to figure it out!
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Use As Many Senses As Possible
We’re all multi-sensory beings. So we can study most effectively by engaging with information in multiple ways. Using different senses makes it more likely that you’ll cement the information you’re studying in your memory. Draw diagrams or word webs to make a visual representation of key concepts. If you’re looking at an image, use your finger to outline it or trace it. Read your textbook out loud. And even if you use a laptop to take notes in class, it can be helpful to recopy important points using a pen and paperâstudies have shown that we remember things better when we write them out by hand than we do when we type them.
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
According to NCES, U.S. colleges and universities bestowed 119,000 bachelor’s degrees in biological and biomedical sciences in 2017-18. This figure represents a 68% increase since 2005-06, when nearly 71,000 degrees were conferred in this field.
Biological sciences majors have grown rapidly in popularity since 2005-06.
Many biology-related occupations promise high earning potential and ongoing job growth, which may help explain why this field is so popular. Biochemists and biophysicists currently earn a median annual salary of $94,490, whereas all other biological scientists make around $82,220 a year. Employment of biochemists and biophysicists is projected to grow 4% through 2029.
Undergraduate biology programs explore a diverse number of subjects, such as ecology, cell biology, and genetics. Often, biology majors will specialize in a particular area of study to pursue a specific career path.
Biological and Biomedical Sciences Career Paths
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How To Pick A Field Of Study
A field of study may be your major, or the department to which your major belongs. For instance, you may choose to major in post-war American Literature while studying English. The important thing to remember, is that your major should be something you are genuinely interested in, and for which you have a real talent. You must also consider your ultimate career goal. It is all very well to major in post-war American Literature, but to what end. Do you want to be a novelist, or are you planning on becoming a college professor? It may not be the most exciting aspect of your decision, but you need to know your ultimate career goals after graduation. How will your chosen major affect your professional life after you leave college?
Here are a couple of useful tips to help you decide on your college major.
Top 10 College Majors
College offers you many academic freedoms. You can cultivate existing passions and explore new interestsand find a major that will put you on the career path you want.
Whatever major you choose, don’t pick based on the courses that come easiest to you, or what your friends are studying, because you’ll be cheating yourself out of some great opportunities and self-discovery!;
We compiled this list of best college majors based on research covering job prospects, alumni salaries, and popularity. That doesnt mean every course of study listed here will guarantee you a job, or a huge paycheckbut each of these majors does offer unique intellectual challenges and will help you develop skill sets that will be applicable in a variety of professional positions.
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