Subjects to Study
You have a choice of subjects to study in college. If you attend a four-year college or university, you'll select a major area of study as well as a minor.
Major: The primary subject area in which you choose to specialize. Typically a major comprises one-third to one-half of your four years of undergraduate coursework.
When choosing your major, consider more than what classes your friends are in, what classes meet at your favorite times or what your parents say you should do.
Research and think about which major would be best for you.
Nearly two-thirds of all college freshmen start off with no major, and 55 percent to 60 percent of college students change their major at least once during their college career.
Although employers look to see that you've completed a degree program, they want to hire you, not your major. Your major may be the least important factor in your qualifications for a job.
Minor: A secondary area of specialization, typically requiring six to eight courses to complete. A minor allows you to develop skills not necessarily related to your major. For example, you could declare a chemistry major and a creative writing minor.
Which Degree Is Right for Me?
An academic degree is a credential presented by a school to a student who completes all coursework and requirements of a particular program.
Professional/technical programs: These programs are designed to provide entry into technical or semi-professional occupations or provide additional training for those who seek advancement in a field in which they're already working. Typically, students receive a certificate, not a degree, upon completion of these types of programs.
Associate' degree: Associate degrees are offered at community colleges. The Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate In Science (AS) degrees are two-year programs of study. An Associate In Applied Science (AAS) is a two-year technical or vocational program, usually requiring an apprenticeship.
Many if not all of the credits you earn at a community college may be transferred to a four-year school. Each school has different rules about the credits they'll accept from other schools, so check with yours to be sure. If you're a Washington state resident, you may want to take advantage of the Direct Transfer Agreement between Washington state community colleges and four-year institutions, which gives you the opportunity to transfer into a four-year institution after obtaining an approved associate degree.
Bachelor's degree: Also known as undergraduate degrees, bachelor's degrees are offered at four-year colleges and universities. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Science (BS) are the most common and generally take students four or five years of full-time study to complete. If you transfer into one of these programs with an approved associate degree, you could obtain a bachelor's degree in just two to three years of additional full-time study.
Master's degree: Also known as graduate degrees, master's degrees are offered at select four-year colleges and universities. There are several types of master's degrees including: Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Fine Art (MFA), and Master of Business Administration (MBA). Master's programs take students between one and three years of full-time study, depending on the program. Most programs require you to complete a thesis or major project that illustrates your mastery of the subject area.
Doctoral degree: Doctoral degrees are awarded to students who successfully complete a specialized program of two or more years beyond the master's degree. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the most common doctoral degree. In many cases, students need a master's degree for entry into a PhD program, although some programs allow students to start on the PhD and obtain a master's degree along the way as part of their course of study.
Professional degree: A professional degree prepares you to work in professions such as law, medicine or architecture and generally take two or more years beyond a bachelor's degree to complete.