Selecting a university, certificate program or college can be difficult. The decision of selecting a particular certificate or bachelor degree certificate would vary depending upon the career path chosen. Make sure to research all the options before you decide on a certificate or degree because there are significant differences between graduate certificates, a university certificate and a bachelor's degree certificate.
Types of Degrees
An associate degree is completed in 2 years within a community college. In the case of a bachelor's degree certificate the degree is awarded in 4 years in undergraduate institutions. A master's would be awarded only post-graduation with the program spanning 1 or 2 years, while doctorate degrees are completed in 7 years. There are also certificates that are awarded upon course work completion within a specialized study niche. Certificates can be awarded at the graduate or undergraduate levels.
University Certificate
University certificates are awarded once a particular credit program is completed in a specific study area. These certificates recognize course completion within an undergraduate level. However, this does not indicate that a bachelor's degree certificate has been completed. These certificates have specific criteria including course work completion in a niche study area without prerequisites or electives.
Bachelor's Degree
A bachelor's degree certificate necessitates 4 years study or typically 120 credits. There are several prerequisites as well as elective courses the student must pass in addition to courses listed in the major area of study. Prerequisite type of courses includes basic subjects like science, math, and history. The elective courses may be selected by students based on their interests, like philosophy, pottery, dance, psychology, music or sports. Compared to associate degrees, a bachelor's degree certificate is much higher in ranking. However, a bachelor's degree certificate is not as highly prized as a master's degree.
Graduate Certificate
Graduate certificates are similar to university certificates because both require course work completion in niche study areas. However, in this instance, work should be done at graduate level. This kind of bachelor's degree certificate is awarded in conjunction with a master's but the bachelor's degree certificate alone will not encompass a master's degree.
Other Considerations
When doing your research, be sure to consider the career path you wish to follow. Knowing the kind of bachelor degree certificate you require for that career saves time, money and effort. Make sure the university or college you want your bachelor's degree certificate from has full accreditation. This can mean the difference between a useless degree and an acclaimed bachelor's degree certificate.
It is generally cheaper to get an associate's degree through a community college and then transfer to a college or university for your bachelor's degree certificate. This may require just two additional years of study at the university level, and at the higher tuition rates, in order to complete you bachelor's degree.
