College & Career Publishing. Permission to use with usworkworld.com subscription.	
Why do you need to earn a college certificate or degree? 
1) To get a good job:	  In college you will learn skills that help you 	qualify 	
for jobs	 or 	qualify for state job license tests. 	 For example, police 	
departments may require Certificate or Associate Degree in Police Science 
to apply for job openings.  Or, states may require job seekers to complete 
a course in cosmetology or hair stylists, then pass a state licensing ex
am to 
qualify earn the Cosmetology License before applying for a job.
2) To more easily get hired for jobs:	  Employers may prefer to hire job 	
seekers who completed college classes or earned a Certificate or Degree in 
the job area.  When you complete college classes, earn a Certificate, or earn 
a Degree, you prove to the employer:  a) You are able to set goals and 
complete goals.  b) You have skills in the job area.  c) You are able to get 	
along with different types of people.  d) You are able to perform under pressure since you earned passing 
grades.  e) You are a productive person who works to better him or her	-	
self for the future.  f) You will be a good listener and learner on the job.
3) To earn more money: 	 Students with college training earn higher 	
wages than students who have only high school diplomas or no high 
school diplomas.  There are exceptions.  Rock stars and professional 
athletes may not have college training yet earn a lot of money.  For the 
average worker, 	statistics show	 that the more certificates or degrees you 	
earn, the higher the wages you earn. When you decide to go to college, you will need to decide the type of  
Certificate or Degree is required for job you want.  There are 6 types of college degrees:
1) Certificate:	  Certificates require six months to two years of classes in a major that teaches skills such as 	
airframe and powerplant mechanic (A&P Mechanic), medical assistant, dental assistant, carpentry, 
electrician, computer technician, radiation therapist, hair stylist, and
 others.    
 
2) Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS) Degree: 	 Associate degrees 	
require 60 units (two full-time years of college studies) — 	30 units of general 	
education classes, plus 30 units in the major. 	 Associate degree majors may be in:  	
a) technical skills area	 such as fire fighting, police science, registered nurse, or diesel 	
mechanic; 	b) academic subject area	, such as history or psychology; 	c) or transfer 	
studies major	 that meets requirements for transfer to four-year colleges.  	
3) Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS): 	 Bachelor degrees require 	
four year full-time course of study — two years of  general education classes, and two 
years in a major.  Bachelor degree majors may be in:  	a) technical skills area	 such as 	
engineering, dietitian, business, computer science, agriculture, archite
cture; 
b) academic subject area 	such as English, biology, history, math.  
Types of College Degrees  (page 1 of 2)	
Types of College Degrees

Types of College Degrees (page 2 of 2)	
1. a) List 3 reasons why you need to earn a college 	
certificate or degree.  b) In college you learn 
skills that will qualify you for what 2 things?	
2. List 6 things that completion of college classes, 	
certificate, or degree show employers.	
3. What do statistics show?
4. How long does it take to earn certificates?  
5. a) How long does it take to earn an associate 	
degree?  b) In what 2 areas must you earn 30 
units?  c) List the 3 types of Associate majors.	
6. a) How long does it take to earn a bachelor 	
degree?  b) List the 2 types of Bachelor majors.  	
7. a) How long does it take to earn Master degree?
 b)  Master degree qualifies students for what 2 	
types of jobs?	
 8. a) How long does it take to earn a doctorate?  
  b) List 3 top-level jobs.
9. Professional degrees:  a) How long does it take 	
to earn?  b) List 3 jobs areas for this degree.	
10. a) Give one example of a high paying job that 	
does not require 4 years of college.  b) What do 
you need to connect that puts you on your way 
to an interesting and profitable future?	
11.  a) If you take 2 classes each semester (6 units), 	
how many semesters will it take to earn an 	
 Associate (60 units)?  b) If there are 2 semesters 	
per school year, how many years will it take to 
earn that Associate?  c) Do you think it is worth 
this time to earn high pay for the next 35 years 
of your life?  d) Give a reason for your answer. 	
12.  List 5 benefits (good) of you going to college.	
QUICK CHECK:	
4) Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS): 	 Master degrees require six 	
years of studies — two years beyond the Bachelor degree.  All Master degree 
classes are related to the major.  Master degree qualifies students for 	high-level 	
skills jobs 	such as physical therapy, physician assistant, speech therapist; or to 	
qualify students for 	management jobs 	such as head nurse, business consultant, 	
hospital administrator, engineering project specialist.
5) Doctorate degree: 	 Doctorate degrees require eight years of studies — two 	
years beyond the Master degree.  Doctorate degree classes are related to
 the 
major.  Doctorate degree qualifies students for 	top-level jobs	 such as college 	
professor, psychiatrist, research scientist, and book writer.  Doctorate degrees 
may be earned in any subject area such as English, Spanish, history, psychology, 	
physical education, math, sociology.  Doctorate degrees have initials:  Doctor or Philosophy (PhD); 
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD); Doctor of Education (EdD); Doctorate of
 Theology (ThD).
6) Professional degree: 	 Professional degrees require six to nine years of studies in college.  
Professional 	
degrees prepare and qualify student for openings in jobs that require a 
professional degree.  Professional 
degrees are required for the job areas of Denistry (DDS); Law (JD); 
Medicine (MD), Chiropractic or 
Osteopathic Medicine (DO); Pharmacy (PharmD); Theology (MDiv); Podiatry (DPM), 
Veterinary Medicine (DVM).	
What type of degree are you willing to earn?
Not all jobs require 4 years of college.  For example, the job of regist
ered nurse is high paying, 
yet requires only two years of college.  Each type of college degrees pr
epares students for high 
paying jobs.  Decide the type of degree you are willing to earn; then research jobs to find the 
most interesting and highest paying job that requires the degree you are
 willing to earn.  When 
you connect 	your willingness to go to college and learn skills	 — with 	job research, 	you are 	
on your way to an interesting and profitable future.