What is a Bachelor’s degree?

There are many things people have perceived a Bachelor’s degree to be or mean both correct and incorrect but this article has been written with the objective to set you straight on everything entailing a Bachelor’s degree.

A degree is an advanced education option where you pick an area of study to be your major.

However, in addition to classes that are specific to your major, you must also complete general classes, like English, history, math, and other topics. This provides a well-rounded education.

An academic degree is a qualification awarded to students upon successful conclusion of a course of study in higher education, usually at a college or university.

Meaning of Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelors is a four-year degree program where learners study a specific subject, such as economics, biology, or communications.

These degrees equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue various careers.

Many students sign up for bachelor’s programs immediately after high school.

There are various types of degrees but the most common degree is the bachelor’s degree.

Although in some countries there are lower-level higher education qualifications that are also titled degrees like; associate degrees and foundation degrees.

A bachelor’s degree is simply a popular academic pathway designed for those who want to open the door to professional opportunities or in layman terms.

It is the degree you achieve when you’ve successfully completed your college or university education.

A bachelor’s degree also known as baccalaureusor baccalaureatusin Middle Latin and Modern Latin respectively is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years depending on the institution and academic discipline.

In some institutions and educational systems, some bachelor’s degrees can only be taken as graduate or postgraduate educations after a first degree has been completed.

Although more commonly the successful completion of a bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for further courses such as a master’s or a doctorate.

In countries with qualifications frameworks, bachelor’s degrees are typically one of the major levels in the framework (sometimes two levels where non-honors and honors bachelor’s degrees are considered separately).

Although some qualifications titled bachelor’s degrees may be at other levels like MBBS and some qualifications with non-bachelor’s titles may be classified as bachelor’s degrees like the Scottish MA and Canadian MD.

The term bachelor in the 12th century referred to a knight bachelor, who was either too young or poor to gather vassals under his own banner.

And by the end of the 13th century, it was also used by junior members of guilds or universities.

By folk etymology or wordplay, the word “baccalaureus” came to be associated with bacca Lauri (“laurel berry”) in reference to laurels being awarded for academic success or honors.

According to Wikipedia, under the British system, and those influenced by it, undergraduate academic degrees are differentiated between honors degrees (sometimes denoted by the addition of “(Hons)” after the degree abbreviation) and non-honours degrees (known variously as pass degrees, ordinary degrees or general degrees).

An honors degree generally requires a higher academic standard than a pass degree, and in some systems an additional year of study beyond the non-honors bachelors.

Some countries, such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, have a postgraduate “bachelor with honours” degree.

This may be taken as a consecutive academic degree, continuing on from the completion of a bachelor’s degree program in the same field, or as part of an integrated honors program.

Programs like these typically require the completion of a full-year-long research thesis project.

Most Common Bachelor’s Degrees

The two most common bachelor’s degrees are the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Science (BS or BSc).

You may not think gaining a bachelor’s degree is worth it because the cost is relatively high.

Yes, the price is high but it’s worth it because according to the Social Security Administration, the 2015 median increase in lifetime earnings ranged from $1.1 to $1.5 million more to workers with bachelor degrees than those with only a high school diploma. 

The majority of jobs paying from $35,000 to a median of $56,000 a year for people aged 25-44, go to those with a bachelor’s degree.

And besides, on average, more education means higher earnings.

Most professional and technical jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree to enter the field.

There are many schools offering degrees on-campus or online, full-time or part-time, and programs for people with prior educational or work experience to accelerate their degree.

More advantages of having a bachelor’s degree includes the fact that the educational qualification necessary for many jobs in today’s economy is a bachelor’s degree.

For jobs where a bachelor’s degree is not required, employers are still likely to prefer those with the degree over those with less education.

While there are some professional trials where people with an associate’s degree can earn equal amounts or more than those with a bachelor’s degree.

A bachelor’s degree will lead to higher earning potential in the long run than lesser educational qualifications.

Today it is easier to find a bachelor’s degree program to fit your schedule and career goals than ever before like the online programs which allow students to continue their work or fulfill family commitments while balancing a successful education from wherever they feel like.

Many people who entered the workforce without a bachelor’s are now returning to complete their degree online and gain access to a higher lifetime earning potential.

Types of Bachelor’s Degrees

A Bachelor’s degree differs from every other type of academic degree and there are different types of bachelor’s degrees which include:

1. Bachelor of Arts (BA)

This is the holder of a bachelor’s degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts.

A Bachelor of Arts degree focuses on exploring the liberal arts, generally requiring students to take fewer concentration courses.

This basically alludes to success in any professional arena through studies in a mixture of subjects.

BA students have the freedom of customizing their education to fulfill career goals and academic aspirations.

Some of the most common majors include Digital Media Communications, Journalism, Modern Languages, and Interdisciplinary Studies.

A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years, depending on the country and institution.

2. Bachelor of Science (BSc)

The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of London in 1860.

A bachelor of science degree typically centers on courses that help students understand the technical aspects of a field.

A bachelor of science degree, in particular, is a four-year undergraduate degree with common majors such as science or psychology.

Students with a B.S. degree often go on to work in more research-based fields.

Readers should note that certain majors, like psychology, allow students to earn either a B.S. or a B.A. degree.

Each degree can lead to a different career trajectory.

For instance, a B.S. in psychology may require classes in biology, chemistry, and mathematics, and can lead students to a career working in a research lab.

A bachelor of science may also prepare students for medical school or more technical graduate programs.

3. Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

This is a standard undergraduate degree for students pursuing professional education in the visual, fine, or performing arts. It is also called Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) in some cases.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts is a vocational or professional degree.

The goal of a BFA program is for its graduates to gain specific competencies and enter professional, studio-based spheres in fields including design, fine arts, and other distinctive crafts.

This ranges from dancers, singers, and actors to painters and sculptors, just to name a few. 

Like the BS degree, the main difference between a BFA and a BA program is the tendency to focus more on major concentrations than on general studies.

A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree will often require an area of specialties such as acting, architecture, musical theatre, game design, ceramics, computer animation, creative writing, dance, dramatic writing, drawing, fibre, film production, visual effects, animation, graphic design, illustration, industrial design, visual arts, technical arts, interior design, metalworking, music, new media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, stage management, or television production.

Some schools instead give their students a broad education in many disciplines of the arts.

Although a Bachelor of Fine Arts is traditionally considered a four-year degree, a BFA program may take shorter or longer to complete because of the amount of studio coursework required.

After completing this degree, the learner may acquire a postgraduate degree; a Master of Fine Arts.

Final thoughts on Bachelor’s degree.

We’ll be really glad to know that this article has helped you know what a bachelor’s degree is and entails.

All types of bachelor degrees require liberal arts and general education classes. 

Many students will take course loads which include English, critical thinking, psychology, history, mathematics, etc. 

Typically, only 30 to 36 credits—10 to 12 courses—will be in a student’s major area of study. 

This system paves the way to entry-level careers and graduate-level education.

In most cases, attending professional graduate school in law, medicine, teacher education or psychology requires that students hold a bachelor’s degree.

Students will almost always need a bachelor’s before enrolling in a master’s program. 

Working adults who earn their baccalaureate degree have the valuable choice of pursuing graduate studies to become qualified for the highest-level jobs where a graduate degree is necessary. 

Seeking a bachelor’s degree is the first step toward this professional standard.

And besides, having a bachelor’s degree makes you stand out both in an academic environment and otherwise.

It also boosts and augments your charisma in a lot of ways.

If you’re impressed with this article and you feel it’s helped you feel free to like and share it with your friends.

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