Academic degree facts for kids

An academic degree is a special award or certificate that students get when they finish their studies at a university or college. It shows that they have successfully completed their classes and passed a final examination.

Getting a degree is like earning an official badge that proves you have learned a lot about a certain subject. The time it takes to earn a degree and the number of courses you need to take can be different depending on the college. In the U.S.A., high schools give out diplomas when students graduate, but these are not the same as academic degrees.

There are many different types of academic degrees. They are usually grouped into a few main categories:

First Degrees

These are often the first degrees students earn after high school.

Associate's Degree

• This degree usually takes about two years to complete.
• You can often get it from a junior college or community college.

Bachelor's Degree

• This degree typically takes three or four years to finish.
• It's a common first degree for many subjects.

Licentiate

• This degree is given in some countries.
• It means you have permission (a licence) to teach or work in a specific area.
• Its level can vary, but it's often similar to a bachelor's degree or sometimes higher.

Higher Degrees

After earning a bachelor's degree, students can choose to continue their studies to get "higher degrees."

Master's Degree

• This degree usually takes one or two more years after a bachelor's degree.
• You earn it by taking advanced classes and working on special projects.

Doctoral Degree

• This is the highest academic degree, often taking four to six years after a bachelor's degree.
• To get this degree, you must do new research and write a long paper called a thesis about your findings.

Specialized Degrees

Some fields have their own unique degrees.

Medical Degrees

In medicine, doctors earn degrees like the Doctor of Medicine (MD). They can also become members of special medical groups, which are like higher degrees. For example, MRCP means "Member of the Royal College of Physicians." These degrees require a lot of training and real-world experience after medical school.

Law Degrees

A Juris Doctor (JD) is a degree earned by finishing law school in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. After getting a JD, people usually need to pass another exam to become a practicing lawyer.

What You Learn

The courses for master's or doctoral degrees are very advanced and can be difficult. They build on all the knowledge you gained during your bachelor's degree. This means you need to know many technical terms and ideas from earlier courses to understand the higher-level subjects.

Showing Your Degree

In many countries, people can put letters after their name to show their degrees. For example, if someone has a Bachelor of Arts degree, their name might be "John Smith, BA."

When a student is studying for their first degree, they are called an "undergraduate." After they finish and get their degree, they become a "graduate." Graduates can then choose to continue studying for a master's degree or a doctoral degree. A doctor's degree (like a PhD) does not always mean someone is a medical doctor.

Examples of Degrees

Here are some common examples of academic degrees:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Science (BSc)
• Bachelor of Music (BMus)
• Master of Arts (MA)
• Master of Science (MS or MSc)
• Master of Music (MMus)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Public Administration (MPA)
• Doctor of Medicine (MD or MB, ChB)
• Doctor of Music (DMus)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD or D.Phil)

Related pages

• Diploma

Images for kids

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  Meeting of doctors at the University of Paris (16th-century miniature)

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  Spanish Official University Education Legal Framework 02

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  Spanish Official University Education Legal Framework 01

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  Students celebrating after getting their bachelor's degrees at King's College London

See also

In Spanish: Título académico para niños