There are a wide variety of degrees offered at hundreds of secondary schools in the nation. The degrees offered generally fall into two categories: arts degrees or science degrees. Arts degrees, such as Degrees in Liberal Arts or Associate of Arts, allow students to take a diverse range of courses that provide some flexibility in their education and career direction. Science degrees require students to take courses offered through the program that are more science-oriented or technical in nature.
Determining which type of degree to obtain can be a challenge. However, you should always look to your ultimate career goals for inspiration. If you want to work in fields where technical skills are highly valued, like computer programming jobs, you should probably choose science degrees offered in your area of interest. Consider the many degree programs offered in the field and determine if you want to pursue a Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Science degree, for example.
Deciding the type of degree to get is only the tip of the iceberg. For as long as they have existed, colleges and universities have offered degrees in hundreds of subjects. Picking the right one is essential for preparing you for the challenges of your chosen profession. Educational topics fall into seven major categories; social sciences, math and science, liberal arts, visual and performing arts, business, professional, and vocational.
Degrees are offered in multiple subjects within each category. For example, in the social science category, psychology, political science, and sociology rank high for people who want to have an impact on society. Picking from the multitude of degrees offered means taking a hard look at what interests you the most. Speaking to people who are in the career that you want to enter is another good way to find out what degree you should obtain.
Here are a few topics within each category to get you started:
- Professional Studies - Medicine, Education, Law
- Visual and Performing Arts - Fashion Design, Performing Arts, Television
- Social Sciences - Political Science, Anthropology, Psychology
- Business - International Business, Management, Finance
- Vocational Studies - Computer Technician, Cosmetologist, Chef
- Math & Science - Environmental Science, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry
- Liberal Arts - Communications, History, Journalism
The type of school you attend will determine which kinds of degrees will be offered to you. It is important that you know what the difference is between those types of schools.
Online Schools - The number of Internet based schools continues to grow exponentially as the Internet integrates itself into daily life. The degrees offered from these types of schools vary from institution to institution, but it is possible to earn anything from an Associate's degree to a Doctorate online.
Universities - These are typically a collection of colleges that, together, offer a wide range of academic degree programs. Students can earn up to a Doctorate without having to transfer to another school. Most states have one public university which offers residents lower tuition rates than privately run schools.
Colleges - Generally, these are small, privately run schools which have typically offered either limited or specialized degrees. For example, a business college would award business degrees in specific studies like marketing or economics.
Community Colleges - Often referred to as junior colleges, community colleges usually only offer associate's degrees that can be completed in two years. Because the cost is lower than a regular college or university, many students attend a community college to complete their general undergraduate coursework before transferring to a four year institution to finish the upper classes offered by the school for their degrees.
Career Schools/Technical Schools - These schools focus on imparting specific skills and knowledge in a short amount of time so students can enter the workforce quicker. For example, someone who wants to work on computers may go to a technical school to earn a two year computer technician degree. A few of these schools do offer four year degrees, however, most only have degrees offered at the associate level or certifications.
