Navigating Higher Education: A Comprehensive Guide to Undergraduate Degree Courses

Choosing the right path in higher education can feel like navigating a complex maze. This article breaks down the different types of undergraduate degrees, common majors, and strategies for making informed decisions about your academic future. Whether you're a high school student planning for college or an adult learner considering a career change, understanding your options is the first step toward achieving your goals.

Understanding Degree Types

The higher education system offers a range of degrees, each designed to provide specific skills and knowledge. Understanding the differences between these degrees is crucial for aligning your education with your career aspirations. Degree programs are not the same as a major. Your major refers to the academic field you will study, such as majoring in accounting, music, engineering, or mathematics. By comparison, your degree indicates the level of education that you have completed or are pursuing. For example, you can earn a bachelor’s degree in a field like psychology or business administration before going on to earn your master’s or even doctorate in the same field or a related field. In addition to these four types of academic degrees, many educational institutions also award a variety of credentials and/or certificates, which signify that the holder has achieved proficiency with a certain skill or specialty. Let's explore the most common undergraduate degree options: associate and bachelor's degrees.

Associate Degrees: A Launchpad

An associate degree is a two-year undergraduate program that provides foundational knowledge and skills in a specific field. It's an efficient, affordable, and pragmatic entry point into a diverse range of careers. An associate degree is a great way to jump into a career or test the waters before committing to a four-year program. While an associate’s degree program typically requires two years to complete, you may be able to earn your degree even faster by enrolling in an accelerated program.

Benefits of an Associate Degree:

Time and cost-effective: Associate degrees require less time and money compared to bachelor's degrees.
Career-focused: They prepare you for vocational, allied health, and support roles. For example, you can become a medical assistant, paralegal, or vet tech with an associate degree.
Transferable credits: An associate degree can serve as the foundation for a bachelor’s program. You may even be able to transfer some of the credits you earned for your associate degree toward a four-year degree.

Types of Associate Degrees:

Associate of Arts (AA): Typically offered in arts, humanities, and creative fields.
Associate of Science (AS): Often awarded in social sciences and natural sciences.
Associate of Applied Science (AAS): Common in applied and vocational programs. Colleges normally offer fewer transfer credits for an AAS degree.

Popular Associate Degrees:

Accounting
Business Administration
Computer Science
Criminal Justice
Cybersecurity
Healthcare Management
Information Technology
Medical Assisting
Pre-Nursing

Bachelor's Degrees: The Foundation for Many Careers

A bachelor’s degree is the most common college degree. It is a four-year undergraduate degree offered by colleges and universities. You’ll take general education classes, electives, and upper-level courses in your major, providing you with a well-rounded academic foundation. It typically takes four years to complete and is required for many professional careers. With options to complete coursework online, National University provides students with the framework to finish their degrees faster and embark on rewarding careers sooner.

Types of Bachelor's Degrees:

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Focuses on humanities, social sciences, and communication.
Bachelor of Science (BS): Focuses on math, science, and technical fields.
Bachelor of Applied Arts (BAA)
Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)
Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.)
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Popular Bachelor's Degrees:

Business Administration
Business Management
Civil Engineering
Communication
Computer Programming
Computer Science
Criminal Justice
Economics
English
Finance
Graphic Design
Health Sciences
History
Human Resources
Information Technology
Marketing
Mathematics
Nursing
Political Science
Psychology
Social Work

Exploring Common College Majors

A college major is a focused area of study. Students today have hundreds of options when it comes to selecting a college major. In fact, there are so many options that the decision can often feel overwhelming, especially if you have limited work or volunteer experience to base your decision upon. High school students who explore a variety of subject areas might discover a college major they’d never thought about before, so be sure to learn as much as you can about anything that interests you while considering your college plans.

Read also: Undergraduate Programs at UNC

STEM Majors: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

The science, technology, engineering and math - collectively known as STEM - fields present a wide variety of in-demand and potentially high-paying jobs. Those who major in engineering or computer science might see a particularly good return on their investment. Students with an aptitude and interest for math and science might consider one of these majors. According to the BLS, computer hardware engineers made an average salary of $140,830 in 2022, while computer network architects made an average of $129,490 and aerospace engineers made an average salary of $127,090. Some employers may prefer employees in these roles to have a master’s degree, while others may hire bachelor’s degree-holders. Majors include:

Computer Science
Engineering (various disciplines)
Mathematics
Statistics
Data Science

Social Sciences and Humanities Majors

Chances are, you’ll take some introductory courses for social sciences and humanities regardless of your major. But students who choose to major in one of these subject areas go deeper, on their way toward becoming experts in their field. Social sciences and humanities majors include:

History
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
English
Philosophy
Anthropology
Archaeology

Business and Economics Majors

If you declare a business major, you’ll be in good company on your campus. Business is one of the most common undergraduate majors, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. While some majors in this field, like accounting, are more tailored toward a specific career, others, like a general business degree, can provide a broader scope of the subject area. Business and economics majors include:

Business Administration
Accounting
Finance
Economics
Marketing
Management
Human Resources

Arts and Communication Majors

Arts and communication majors likely won’t receive paychecks as large as those their peers in some science or business roles get, but they use their skills to tell stories and convey messages, whether for education or entertainment. Some popular majors for students who want to hone their arts and communication skills include:

Graphic Design
Journalism
Film Studies
Communication
Fine Arts
Music
Theater

Health and Medical Majors

Jobs in the health care field are always in demand. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs including physical therapist, registered nurse and pharmacist are projected to grow by at least an average rate. While some roles in this field can be obtained with a bachelor’s degree, others require further schooling. And for students who hope to be accepted into medical school, majoring in a related field for their undergraduate education can lay a firm foundation for the rest of their studies. Health and medical majors include:

Nursing
Biology
Pre-Med
Health Sciences
Public Health

Education Majors

Students who have a passion for learning may also desire to foster that same trait in others. Whether they plan to teach at a certain grade level or in a specific subject area, or they hope to be a principal or superintendent someday, students who choose an education major learn how to effectively instruct others. Education majors include:

Elementary Education
Secondary Education
Special Education

Niche and Emerging Majors

While college students have been majoring in areas like education and business for decades, other majors have developed over time in response to growing areas of need or interest. Degrees in more niche subject areas may not be offered by as many schools as the more common majors, so prospective students should keep this in mind as part of their college search.

Sustainability Studies
Data Analytics
Artificial Intelligence

Career Paths and Opportunities

Crucially, what a student chooses to major in sets the course for their next steps after graduation. A company looking to hire a graphic designer is more likely to be interested in a candidate who has a degree in graphic design and built a portfolio of design projects while in school than it is in someone who majored in an unrelated field.

While many students’ formal education culminates in a bachelor’s degree, that’s not always the case. For careers that require a master’s, doctorate or professional degree, undergraduates should plan ahead as much as possible. Some graduate programs may only consider applicants who meet minimum GPA requirements, have a bachelor’s degree in a related field or completed relevant coursework in undergrad. Students who know they want to apply for dental school, for example, should look at the prerequisites for dental programs and make sure their major and the courses they take while earning their bachelor’s degree is in line with those requirements.

Other students may want to enter the workforce after graduation and apply for graduate school after gaining a few years of relevant professional experience. Master’s in Business Administration programs tend to prefer applicants who have real-world experience, for instance.

Read also: Boost Your Financial IQ

Highest-Paying College Majors

Students who major in the STEM fields tend to see some of the highest starting salaries in the workforce. Those who major in engineering or computer science might see a particularly good return on their investment. Health care professionals like surgeons, emergency medicine physicians and anesthesiologists also have high salaries, but these jobs require years of postgraduate education.

Lowest-Paying College Majors

While undergraduate students may pay similar tuition rates regardless of their major, the resulting payoff isn’t always the same. Majors in the arts and humanities tend to lead to lower-paying jobs than some roles STEM majors can obtain. Despite the gap in pay between majors, a college degree generally can pay off in the long run. According to a Georgetown University study, bachelor’s degree holders earn 31% more than associate’s degree holders and 84% more than people whose highest level of education is a high school diploma.

Strategies for Choosing a College Major

When choosing a college major, students should consider their interests and talents as well as career goals and potential future earnings.

Interests and passions. What do you love and care about? How do you spend your free time?
Aptitudes and strengths. What are you good at? Are you an excellent problem solver (in complex situations or when doing math homework)? Do you have a knack for writing or public speaking? Consider how your strengths might benefit you in a variety of careers. At the same time, be aware of your weaknesses.
Career goals and prospects. What do you want to accomplish in your professional career, and how might a college degree help you achieve that? Do your goals align with the demands of the job market?
Flexibility and exploration.
Meet with a guidance or career counselor at your school.
Learn about programs at your preferred colleges and universities. Sometimes, the decisions of what to study and where to study can go hand in hand. What majors do your dream school and backup schools offer?
Job shadow or conduct informational interviews. Do any adults in your life have jobs that look like something you might want to do in the future? Do you know any current college students who might want to provide you with insight into the coursework for their major? It’s not uncommon for people to talk to high school students about what they plan to do after graduation, so don't be afraid to ask people about what a typical day on their job looks like.

Majors in High Demand

While majors like business have remained consistently popular over the years, others have seen higher or lower enrollment rates depending on the needs of the ever-evolving workforce. Students who major in a STEM or health care field can expect their skills and expertise to be in demand: Among the 10 jobs from which the BLS expects to see the fastest growth are nurse practitioners, data scientists, information security analysts, medical and health services managers, physician assistants and software developers. While nurse practitioners and physician assistants typically need a master’s degree, these other roles typically require only a bachelor’s degree.

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023, which examines how jobs might evolve over a five-year period, states that the fastest-growing occupations relative to their size include roles in technology like artificial intelligence and machine learning specialists, as well as sustainability, like renewable energy engineers.

Flexibility and Adaptability in Choosing a Major

While choosing a college major is a big decision, it’s not uncommon for students to change majors at some point during their undergraduate career. But switching majors doesn’t come without risk - you may find yourself taking extra classes to meet the degree requirements for your new major, which can lead to you spending more time and money than it would have cost to follow one degree track from the beginning of your time in college.

Many colleges and universities don’t require students to declare a major until their sophomore year, or until they have completed a certain number of credit hours. So if you’re undecided at the start of your college journey, register for required core classes and take advantage of campus resources and elective courses that can help you find the right major.

Some majors allow students to specialize further by choosing a concentration within their major based on what they intend for their career path. Concentrations vary by institution, but for example, students majoring in sports management might be able to specialize in topics like sports business, analytics, marketing or administration, depending on what area of sports management they want to work in.

Some students find that declaring a double major might help them reach their career goals. Students who double major still only earn one degree - and therefore can still complete their bachelor’s degree in four years - but double majoring means they’ve earned enough credits in two (often related) subject areas for both to be considered a major.

In addition to a major, students commonly declare a minor, a secondary subject area in which to focus. A minor can complement your studies without requiring as many courses in a specialty area as a major. Your chosen minor might not be directly related to your major, but it could help equip you for reaching your career goals. For example, a journalism major who ultimately wants to cover politics may minor in political science, and a fine arts major who hopes to open their own studio someday might choose to minor in business or education.

But even with all these options, students aren’t necessarily limited to specific majors offered at their chosen college or university. Many schools offer an interdisciplinary studies major, or custom study path that incorporates coursework from multiple subject areas to align with a student’s career goals. Students who are interested in interdisciplinary studies or a custom degree should meet with their academic adviser and learn their school’s process for assembling a custom program of study.

Beyond the Bachelor's: Graduate Degrees

If you’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree and want to take your education (and earning potential) to the next level, a master’s degree might be for you. Doctoral degrees, also known as Ph.D. or professional degrees, represent the highest level of education.

Master's Degrees

A master’s degree is a more advanced degree that enables holders to both increase their earning potential while qualifying for more specialized or leadership-oriented roles in the workplace. Additionally, certain careers or job titles require applicants to hold a master’s degree, which is something you should research carefully when mapping out your academic journey. That isn’t the only reason to consider pursuing a graduate degree. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), workers who hold a master’s degree earn more per week on average than workers who hold a bachelor’s or associate degree: more than $1,840 per week compared to approximately $1,543 or $1,099 per week, respectively.

Types of Master's Degrees:

Master of Arts (MA)
Master of Science (MS)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Master of Laws (LL.M.)
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Master of Public Policy (MPP)
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Master of Social Work (MSW)

Doctoral Degrees

A doctorate or doctoral degree is the highest and most advanced form of degree you can earn, regardless of the industry or field you have chosen. A doctoral degree allows you to pursue advanced career pathways. The skills you learn during your doctorate program will allow you to better apply the principles of that field to the problems you face in everyday situations. Because students learn to think this way, you will find that many who achieve doctorate level degrees shape the minds of those around them through teaching, consulting, or other means.

Types of Doctoral Degrees:

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)
Juris Doctor (JD)

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