Undergraduate degree
Encyclopedia
An undergraduate degree (also called first degree or simply degree) is a colloquial term for an academic degree
taken by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. It is usually offered at an institution of higher education
, such as a university
. The most common type of this degree is the bachelor's degree
, which typically takes three or four years to complete.
, the degree of bachelor is the most common type of "undergraduate degree", although some master's degree
s can be undertaken immediately after finishing secondary education
, however these courses are extended versions of bachelors degree programs, taking an additional year to complete. Most bachelors degrees take three years to complete, with some notable exceptions such as Medicine taking five years. Often students can initially enroll in a 4 year program then leave after three years and be awarded a bachelors degree, similarly some schools allow students to extend their three year courses to four. A student undertaking a four-year master's undergraduate course is eligible for an SLC student loan
s to cover all four years, rather than just the first three.
s sometimes contain the word 'Doctor', but are still considered to be "undergraduate degrees" in most countries, including Canada
. For example, the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program in Canada is considered an "undergraduate degree." However, in the United States
, most first professional degrees are considered graduate programs by the U.S. Department of Education
and require students to already possess an "undergraduate degree" before admission. These degrees are not research doctorates and not equivalent to the Ph.D.
Many countries offer bachelors degrees that are equivalent to American graduate degrees, for example the M.D. degree offered in the U.S. is equivalent to the MBBS or MBChB
degree.
In the United States and sometimes in Canada, an Associate's Degree
is a two-year degree. It is occasionally undertaken as the beginning of a four-year degree. When doing so, a student transferring to a four-year institution can have difficulty in convincing the receiving institution to acknowledge his previous coursework so that he does not need to repeat a course. Problems are not limited to specific class requirements, but also to requisites for graduation and pre-requisites of the new institution. Such a situation can cause the transferring student to remain in the larger institution longer than originally intended. Some two-year institutions have transfer agreements with four-year institutions, which specify which courses will transfer without problems.
To obtain an AGEC certification one must:
Although an AGEC certification meets the requirements for the Bachelors Degree Lower Level it may or may not meet any prerequisite requirements for any given degree program. Associates degrees with an AGEC certification are ofter custom tailored with electives to meet the prerequisite requirements for the program and university the student wishes to transfer to.
Through system-wide agreements, students who graduate from one of Virginia's 23 community colleges with a transfer associates degree and a minimum grade point average may obtain GUARANTEED admission to more than 20 of the commonwealth's colleges and universities.
The Guaranteed Admissions Agreements between Virginia's community colleges and four-year colleges and universities are available in .pdf format at the following link.
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
taken by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. It is usually offered at an institution of higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
, such as a university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
. The most common type of this degree is the bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, which typically takes three or four years to complete.
United Kingdom
In the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the degree of bachelor is the most common type of "undergraduate degree", although some master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
s can be undertaken immediately after finishing secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
, however these courses are extended versions of bachelors degree programs, taking an additional year to complete. Most bachelors degrees take three years to complete, with some notable exceptions such as Medicine taking five years. Often students can initially enroll in a 4 year program then leave after three years and be awarded a bachelors degree, similarly some schools allow students to extend their three year courses to four. A student undertaking a four-year master's undergraduate course is eligible for an SLC student loan
Student loan
A student loan is designed to help students pay for university tuition, books, and living expenses. It may differ from other types of loans in that the interest rate may be substantially lower and the repayment schedule may be deferred while the student is still in education...
s to cover all four years, rather than just the first three.
North America
First professional degreeFirst professional degree
A professional degree prepares the holder for a particular profession by emphasizing competency skills along with theory and analysis. These professions are typically licensed or otherwise regulated by a governmental or government-approved body...
s sometimes contain the word 'Doctor', but are still considered to be "undergraduate degrees" in most countries, including Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. For example, the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program in Canada is considered an "undergraduate degree." However, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, most first professional degrees are considered graduate programs by the U.S. Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
and require students to already possess an "undergraduate degree" before admission. These degrees are not research doctorates and not equivalent to the Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
Many countries offer bachelors degrees that are equivalent to American graduate degrees, for example the M.D. degree offered in the U.S. is equivalent to the MBBS or MBChB
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, or in Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae , are the two first professional degrees awarded upon graduation from medical school in medicine and surgery by universities in various countries...
degree.
In the United States and sometimes in Canada, an Associate's Degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
is a two-year degree. It is occasionally undertaken as the beginning of a four-year degree. When doing so, a student transferring to a four-year institution can have difficulty in convincing the receiving institution to acknowledge his previous coursework so that he does not need to repeat a course. Problems are not limited to specific class requirements, but also to requisites for graduation and pre-requisites of the new institution. Such a situation can cause the transferring student to remain in the larger institution longer than originally intended. Some two-year institutions have transfer agreements with four-year institutions, which specify which courses will transfer without problems.
Arizona
The Arizona General Education Curriculum certification(AGEC), awarded for the completion of an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Business degree respectively, indicates the completion of all Bachelor degree lower level course work and permits the Student to block transfer to any of the three state Universities and several private universities as a third year student or Junior. .To obtain an AGEC certification one must:
- Complete all Associate Degree credits at regionally accredited colleges (no Secondary(High) School credits accepted);
- Satisfy all their Bachelor's Degree Lower Division Credits and Courses;
- Meet credit transfer restriction guidelines; and,
- Maintain a GPA of 2.0
Although an AGEC certification meets the requirements for the Bachelors Degree Lower Level it may or may not meet any prerequisite requirements for any given degree program. Associates degrees with an AGEC certification are ofter custom tailored with electives to meet the prerequisite requirements for the program and university the student wishes to transfer to.
Virginia
Virginia’s community colleges offer students more than the opportunity to earn a degree or certificate. They provide a gateway to the Commonwealth’s four-year colleges and universities.Through system-wide agreements, students who graduate from one of Virginia's 23 community colleges with a transfer associates degree and a minimum grade point average may obtain GUARANTEED admission to more than 20 of the commonwealth's colleges and universities.
The Guaranteed Admissions Agreements between Virginia's community colleges and four-year colleges and universities are available in .pdf format at the following link.