5 Sections in this article
Undergraduate Education
Associate Degree | Bachelor’s Degree
BSc. – Bachelor of Science | B.A. – Bachelor of Arts
BBA – Bachelor of Business Administration
Undergraduate Education
An undergraduate educational degree is basically a colloquial term that is used for an academic degree acquired by a student who has successfully completed an undergraduate academic degree program.
The degree is offered by a university (also known as college in the USA) or an educational institution where students obtain higher education.
Types of undergraduate degrees
Associate degrees and Bachelor degrees are undergraduate degrees that one can apply for. Typically, an Associate degree requires a student to complete two years of full time study at a college/university/institution, whereas a Bachelor’s degree requires four years of study.
An undergraduate degree program provides basic educational foundations for advanced studies. The programs may vary from general educational courses or core courses, to optional classes as well.
Programs
There are various kinds of undergraduate degree programs.
Whether you wish to become a physician, a biologist or an accountant, there is an undergraduate program for everyone. All you have to do is to select the field you would like to etch a career in and choose the appropriate undergraduate program for it.
Some of the undergraduate programs offered by universities are: biochemistry, communication, biology, accounting, history, health science, English, computer science, economics, chemistry, business administration, engineering, languages, liberal arts, math, music, philosophy, nursing, sociology and psychology.
Applying for an undergraduate program
There are different requirements for pursuing undergraduate degree programs put forward by each country. In the U.S., an applicant needs to complete twelve years of primary and secondary education before applying for an undergraduate degree.
Undergraduate degree classification
U.S. universities and colleges award undergraduate degrees with honors. These notations require grade point average (GPA) scores. The highest average of GPA calls for distinction in the course. Most programs require four years of full time study but there are a few that require five years.
Associate Degree
Definition
An Associate degree is basically an undergraduate academic degree that is awarded by a college, academic institution, junior college, community college, bachelor’s degree grants college or a university.
The degree is awarded to a student on successful completion of a full time/part time academic course that usually lasts for two years – 60-65 credit hours.
In the U.S. and Canada, an associate degree is considered to be equivalent to the first two years of study at a four year college/university degree. An associate degree is the lowest degree as compared to other secondary academic degrees offered in these two countries.
An associate degree can be obtained across various subjects. Some of the most common associate degrees are: fine arts, physical therapy, arts, teaching, general studies, political science, social science and IT.
Categories of Associate degrees
Associate degrees can be broadly classified into two kinds:
1. Transfer degrees
A transfer degree is more of a foundation course to a bachelor’s degree program. This degree provides general education that is essential prior to pursuing a bachelor’s degree course. Thus, students can easily transfer or migrate to a full time four year bachelor’s degree program at a higher university.
2. Technical degrees
A technical degree is suitable for those who wish to start employment upon graduating from the college. The degree enables students to comply with certain general education requirements for studying enhanced course work in their chosen area.
Bachelor’s Degree
Definition
A bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate academic degree that is awarded to students when they complete an undergraduate course. The degree requires students to successfully complete four years of full time study in an academic discipline. However, the duration of the course varies from country to country, as many countries require two years of study while others require six years of study, for obtaining a bachelor’s degree.
A bachelor’s degree is a standard degree that is required to either pursue higher education in an academic discipline or obtaining a job and etching a career in the chosen field of interest. A bachelor’s degree is a highly recommended degree as it opens avenues in your chosen professional field – your future occupation.
Bachelor’s Degree in the Academic Institutions
Most of the countries that follow the British pattern of awarding degrees differentiate bachelor degrees into two categories:
- Pass degree: A pass bachelor’s degree requires less stringent study patterns and focuses on providing general understanding of a certain academic course.
- Honor’s degree: An honor’s degree expects a higher academic standard from the students. In many countries, an honor’s degree requires one additional year of study over and above the two years of a pass degree.
Some of the most common bachelor degrees are:
- Bachelor of Art
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Fine Arts
- Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery
- Bachelor of Law (L.L.B.)
- Bachelor’s degree in Science of Nursing
- Bachelor of Veterinary Science
- Bachelor of Pharmacy
- Bachelor of Aviation
- Bachelor of Architecture
- Bachelor of Journalism
- Bachelor of Film and Television
B.Sc – Bachelor of Science
Definition
B.Sc stands for Bachelor of Science. It is an undergraduate academic degree that requires students to enroll and complete three to five years of full time study at a university or any academic institution. However, the duration of the course depends upon the university/institution one has chosen and the country/state in which it is situated.
A B.Sc degree exposes students to a scientific approach of understanding, analyzing and solving a problem or issue. It helps students in developing mental faculties for learning to critically analyze issues and take logical steps by utilizing scientific tools and processes.
B.Sc program study
A B.Sc degree is suitable for those individuals who have a scientific mind and are well adept in scientific subjects such as chemistry, physics and math. Such students can grasp the scientific methodologies and apply them across diverse subjects and fields of study.
A B.Sc degree does not limit a student for being able to pursue scientific careers only; it opens other avenues as well.
B.Sc graduates can not only pursue higher education in science but can also obtain jobs across various industries.
Who needs B.Sc?
Of late, B.Sc degrees have come in demand as it hones graduates with a specific set of technical skills.
Most popular degrees are: physics, life science, computer science and engineering fields.
More and more B.Sc graduates are being offered jobs. The reason for this is that every field involves scientific methodologies directly or indirectly. Thus, the need to involve B.Sc graduates comes into the fore.
It is imperative for students to look for the credentials of a university before enrolling for a full time/part time B.Sc degree. Ideally, one should make sure that the university is recognized by an accreditation agency.
Scope of studying for a B.Sc degree
A B.Sc degree prepares students to pursue M.Sc degree, Master’s in Science related subjects. It helps students in securing high paying jobs as well.
B.A. – Bachelor of Arts
Definition
B.A. degree stands for Bachelor of Arts.
The academic degree discipline may be in liberal arts, science or both. It is an academic degree that requires students to enroll and successfully complete two to four years of full time undergraduate degree study at a university or an academic institution. However, the duration of the academic degree varies from country to country, as in many countries it requires a full time study of six years. The duration of a BA degree also depends upon the major that a student has applied for.
What is a BA degree in college?
The academic coursework of a BA degree often overlaps with that of Bachelor of Fine Arts. Perhaps the only difference between the two is that the latter focuses on studio and performance while the former is more study oriented.
A BA degree marks the name of the university or institution studied at, signatures of the officials, the conferring authority and the percentage obtained. The degree is printed in parchment and inscribed with ornamented lettering.
The most commonly studied subjects in a BA degree are English literature, History, Geography, Sociology, Political Science and Psychology. Students can also attain mastery on one subject; in such cases, BA is referred to as BA honors.
What makes BA degrees so popular?
A BA degree covers the most general topics of study. Thus, the students are exposed to a range of topics that are more or less in demand. This increases their chances of obtaining jobs across industries and also helps them pursue a higher education in a given field.
B.BA – Bachelor of Business Administration
Definition
A Business Administration degree is also referred to as B.BA – Bachelor of Business Administration.
The academic degree is an undergraduate degree in business that requires students to study four years of full time study at a university or an institution. The students need to study at least one subject related to business as a specialization.
A Business Administration degree is also referred to as B.MS (Bachelor of Management Studies) and BSBA (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration).
Business Administration Major
The academic degree exposes students to various actualities of a business environment.
Students are given knowledge about functional aspects of a business organization, the interconnection of departments and an in-depth study of each department. Thus, it is quite apt to say that a Business Administration degree enables students to study core business subjects and also specialize in a chosen few.
The academic degree hones managerial skills of students, their business communication skills and most importantly, their decision making abilities. It is a course that provides a 360 degree scope of learning.
A B.BA degree involves many interactive tools for enhancing the holistic development of students, such as case studies, presentations, internships, industrial visits, seminars and workshops to widen their knowledge base and sharpen their skills.
A Business Administration graduate can pursue higher education in business, a graduate program called MBA (Masters of Business Administration).
Core Courses
The basic topics covered in courses are: accounting, sales and marketing, human resources, operations, law and ethics, business communication, quantitative techniques and organizational behavior.