Types of Educational Degrees

Education engages approx 30% of an individual life. Most probably an individual spends 20 years of this life for study purpose. There are different kinds of filed and degrees for the student's future employment. On the road of education, there are various degrees to be achieved.

An undergraduate degree (also called a first degree or simply degree) is a colloquial term for an academic degree earned by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. In the United States, it is usually offered at an institution of higher education, such as a college or university. 

The doctoral degree or Ph. D. is the highest academic credential that a student can earn in the U.S., making it arguably the most prestigious. In 2005, U.S. institutions awarded more than 45,000 doctorates.

The different types of degrees are listed below in the hierarchy they fall under:

Foundation Course                                                                                                          

A Foundation Year is a one-year program that prepares students for full-time undergraduate study. The program is available at many universities, and it introduces individuals to a variety of subjects and preps them for more rigorous college coursework.

Students who pursue a Master generally spend one to two years in the enhanced study of their chosen field. This program is taken after receiving a bachelor’s degree, and available areas of study include science, law, technology, finance, social sciences and the arts.

Foundation Course Requirements

Minimum IELTS score of 4.5 or equivalent.

Higher Secondary School Certificate.

Higher Secondary transcripts.

Reference letter from your high school teacher.

Personal statement.

Scanned copy of passport and visa.

Certificate

A certified course is usually for 2 years or less than it. A certified course is mainly for specified profession or foe specified department study. Some certificates are technical skills focused syllabus. The certified course is mainly for the student who does not want to pursue the postgraduate degree immediately after their formal education.

A certificate is an academic achievement indicating that an individual has effectively completed training or received specific instruction in a particular area or field. Certificates may also indicate mastery of a particular skill or that an individual has passed a test or set of tests.

The United States of America is a large country in North America, often referred to as the "USA", the "US", the "United States", "America", or simply "the States". American colleges are funded by "tuition" charged to the student, which is often quite expensive, very commonly reaching into the tens of thousands of dollars per year.

Vocational Diploma

These courses are offered by career colleges, vocational schools, trade schools, and community colleges. Vocational courses are an educational discipline that enables an individual to acquire skills that are required for a particular trade. Vocational courses are traditionally non-academic and are completely related to a specific trade, occupation or vocation. A few examples of courses that come under this category are nursing, cosmetology, electric work etc.

The objectives of vocational education are more varied at the secondary than at the post-secondary level. Secondary vocational courses can be classified into three types: (1) consumer and homemaking education; (2) general labour market preparation; and (3) specific labour market preparation.

Undergraduate Degree

An undergraduate degree is provided to the students who have completed an undergraduate course. The undergraduate degree courses are provided by colleges and universities. An undergraduate program is a 4-year college bachelor's degree program or a 2-year associate's degree program.

There are over 1,000 two-year colleges in the United States. These schools are also known as junior or community colleges. In most states, community colleges are operated either by a division of the state university or by local special districts subject to guidance from a state agency. Students who choose a two-year program route in higher education study to earn an associate degree. Associate degrees are awarded by a community, junior or technical college indicating that you have completed a program of study with a broad base in general education and a concentration in a specific area.

To obtain an associate degree, you must earn 60 semester credit hours, which typically takes about two years. Programs generally consist of three parts: general education requirements, requirements within your major and electives.

Postgraduate Diploma

The postgraduate diploma degree is pursued after student graduation. It is usually awarded by a university or graduate school. The student usually pursues the postgraduate diploma degrees so that they can study in-depth and gain knowledge about a specific area.

Students who pursue a Master generally spend one to two years in the enhanced study of their chosen field. This program is taken after receiving a bachelor’s degree, and available areas of study include science, law, technology, finance, social sciences and the arts.

With over 1700 universities offering varied post-graduation programs, selecting one is not an easy task. There is no limit to the number of universities that a candidate can apply for. So, they have to do thorough research on the university, institution, location, faculty and culture of the place, while setting preferences. Ideally, a candidate should finalize 5-6 universities for initiating the application process.

As this course is more preferable to all student  so I have gave application requirement details as under:

Application Requirements for Post graduation in the USA:

Most of the universities have a similar format for Post Graduation applications, which include: 

1) Application form with basic information like contact details, schools, marks, work experience, community or school-related activities.

2) Standardized test scores

3) Personal statement describing academic interests, professional and personal goals and relevant experience

4) Research statement describing research interests & plans

5) Transcript, or listing of academic results

6) 2-3 Recommendation Letters

7) A CV listing your professional and extracurricular accomplishment

8) Application fee of approximately $50-100 per application

Masters Degree

A master degree is awarded by a university or college on completion of a course after demonstrating a certain mastery in a specific field or area of professional practice. Master degree takes min 1 year or else 2 years it depends on students field.

First and foremost, if you are not from an English-speaking country, it is important to assess your English ability. Are you able to communicate effectively orally and in writing? Can you read and write in English? If you feel like you need to improve your English before heading abroad, take a course or move abroad before classes begin to immerse yourself in the language.

When deciding about getting a master’s degree as an international student, one factor to consider is whether or not to study abroad. There are numerous reasons to study abroad, but there are also ways to study abroad right from your home with online learning.

Doctorate

A doctorate or doctor's degree or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities, derived from the ancient formalism licentia docendi. In most countries, it is a research degree that qualifies the holder to teach at the university level in the degree's field or to work in a specific profession. Students often get confused as to their eligibility for a course, whether their qualifications are adequate for a further studies course and so on. The hierarchy of the degrees makes it a bit easier to understand and make professional decisions that will benefit the student.

Getting your doctorate will make you more likely to earn a higher salary over someone with just a master's degree. According to a study from the US Census Bureau, using data from the most recent comprehensive national census, adults with PhD degrees earn more than those with just master's degrees.