Vocational/Career College: A vocational school, sometimes called a trade school or vocational college, is a post-secondary educational institution designed to provide the technical skills required to perform the tasks of a particular job. For example, there are specific schools that train students for careers in technology, animal care, the automotive industry, beauty and cosmetology, and the culinary field.

Community College: Two-year schools provide affordable post-secondary education as a pathway to a four-year degree. Community colleges do not offer four-year baccalaureate degrees. They have a two-year curriculum that typically terminates with an associate's degree. Shorter programs may lead to specific professional certifications. Many students transfer from community colleges to four-year colleges.

Liberal Arts College: A liberal arts college is a four-year college with an emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences. A liberal arts college aims to impart a broad general knowledge and develop general intellectual capacities, in contrast to a professional, vocational, or technical
curriculum.

University: An institution of learning of the highest level, having a college of liberal arts and a program of graduate studies together with several professional schools, such as theology, law, medicine, and engineering, and authorized to confer both undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Associate Degree: An Associate’s Degree typically take two years to complete, usually requiring 60 hours of coursework, including general education courses and courses associated with a major. Associates Degrees are often earned at community colleges, but are also available through four - year schools. Students often apply the credits earned in an associate’s program towards a Bachelor’s Degree program.

• Careers available with an associates degree include dental hygienist, police office, registered nurse and web developer.

Bachelor Degrees: Not only is the Bachelor’s Degree the degree of choice among employers looking to fill entry-level positions, but students who want to pursue a graduate or professional degree must first earn a Bachelor’s Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees typically take four years to complete, requiring 120 course hours including general education and courses associated with a major. Bachelor’s Degrees are awarded by liberal arts colleges and universities.

• There are many careers available to individuals with Bachelor’s Degrees, including teaching, engineering, journalism, sales & marketing, hospitality managers and pilots.

Master’s Degrees: A Master’s Degree is a graduate degree that is only available to individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree. Master’s Degrees typically require one to three years of school to complete
and allow students to select a specific focus of interest/specialization. Master’s Degrees are most commonly awarded by universities.

• Individuals with Master’s Degrees typically earn more money than those with Bachelor’s degrees and are able to work in specialized jobs such as social worker, counselor or physical therapist.

Doctoral Degree (PhD): A doctorate or doctor's degree, more commonly known as a PhD is the highest academic degree awarded by universities outside of professional degrees. Many PhD programs require students to have already earned their Master’s Degree, though many do not as this requirement varies
by field of study. PhD programs typically take four to six years to complete and require intensive study of a specialized topic.

• Individuals with Doctoral Degrees are typically awarded the top positions in their field. Those withPhD’s are also often colle with Doctoral Degrees include university professor.

Professional Degrees:

• MD: Doctor of Medicine. Medical schools in the United States and Canada award an M.D. degree, usually after 4 years undergraduate study at a college or university followed by 4 years of medical school.
• JD: Juris Doctor. Anyone pursuing law will likely be interested in obtaining a Juris Doctorate degree or JD Degree. This is the highest education available in the legal profession in the United States and is considered a professional degree. The J.D. will prepare the student to take the state bar exam allowing them to practice law in their state. The Juris Doctorate degree is obtained by going to a law school that has been approved by the American Bar Association.
• DDS and DMD: They both mean the same thing—your dentist graduated from an accredited dental school. The DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine) are the same degrees. Dentists who have a DMD or DDS have the same education.
• DNP: The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a terminal professional degree in nursing. The DNP is one of two doctorate degrees in nursing, the other being the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing).

Career Oriented Majors: Some college majors focus on preparing students for very specific careers. For example, a nursing major gives you the technical skills and knowledge you need to work as a nurse, and prepares you to pass the licensing exam for that career. We can call majors like these career-oriented majors.