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Some College On Resume: Listing Resume Education

Make the most out of your incomplete degree.

While education isn’t the key decisive factor to invite you for an interview , the hiring managers definitely take notice . A university degree shows that you are persistent and driven enough to succeed in the chosen field, and the prestigious school name can add you points . In certain fields, it also indicates that you have the necessary theoretical foundation to do the job well.

If you have a complete BA, MA or even PhD under your belt, you simply list it on a resume and call it a day. But what if you haven’t completed your college studies? You don’t want to create a gap in a resume, but you also don’t want to mislead the prospective employer. Today, our executive resume writers will throw light on listing an incomplete college degree and explain as follows:

  • When should you list an unfinished degree
  • Where in your resume an incomplete education should be placed, and
  • How to make your education count anyway.

Give your resume a professional upgrade

Whether you are still in college or graduated years ago, your resume should give the big picture of your professional background and position you well for the job. If you’re not happy with the way your resume looks or it doesn’t bring results, it’s time to seek expert help. The writing wizards from Resumeperk.com can prepare an impressive paper for you, focusing the recruiters’ attention on the strengths rather than shortcomings. We only work with in-house American or British writers and ensure your satisfaction with a written resume .

Why mention an unfinished degree?

Career experts agree that in most cases it’s worth it to list a college degree even if you only completed some credits toward it. Some higher education on a resume is better than none. Here are the main reasons why listing it is worth using:

• It shows alignment with your career goals . Let’s say you work in business analysis and plan to boost your career in this field. In this case, a degree in data science – even an incomplete one – will work as an asset, showing that you have relevant knowledge.

• It covers a resume gap . Does eliminating a degree create a gap in your employment history? In this case, it’s better to mention it. Employers don’t like the unexplained career gaps, so be sure to include the specific months and years of your college studies so that your career history looks consistent.

• You are still working towards it . If you’re still in college, whether you attend the lectures of your professor every day or took a semester off, you definitely should include your studies in progress. Below, we’ll recommend how to do it effectively.

During the interview, you’re most likely hear the question “Why should we hire you?” Here’s how to handle it professionally: https://resumeperk.com/blog/why-should-we-hire-you-sample-answers--tips .

When to leave your degree out?

Basically, there are two main cases:

• The area of study is irrelevant to the job . Let’s say you’ve studied accounting for a year, but have worked in media and communications for five years after that. In this case, listing that degree is pointless since it won’t add value to your resume.

• You’ve already completed a different degree . For example, you’ve once studied American History, but didn’t complete the credits towards a degree. And then you’ve obtained a BA in Marketing Management. In this case, you needn’t list the incomplete college studies.

How to list an unfinished degree?

Now, let’s consider the two main scenarios for listing some college degrees and how to do it positively.

♦️ Your degree is in progress right now

This case is pretty simple. You are a college student now, and intend to obtain a degree in the matter of years (or months). Here, you put your educational institution and a degree as if you were describing the complete degree, and include the date of getting a long-awaited diploma .

Take a look at a few pro examples:

1.University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA – Anticipated May 2021

BS in Engineering

2. Cornell University, New York, NY – Expected graduation 2022

BS in Design and Environmental Analysis

Current GPA 3.7

Along with the degree and university name, you may include the GPA, number of credits completed, or relevant coursework.

Do you feel that your college studies are not what you expected and would like to work in a different field? Take a look at our tips for turning your hobby into career . 

♦️ You don’t plan to complete an unfinished degree

You’ve spent a few months or years in college but haven’t completed a degree. Whether you left college for financial reasons, to focus on work or because you realized that you wanted to pursue a different profession, you can still reflect this degree positively. As a rule, you’ll need to include the university name and the area of study:

1.University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Completed 18 credits towards BA in Management

2. Williams College, Massachusetts, MA

Coursework: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Financial markets, Sustainable growth

In both examples, not only you draw the employer’s attention to the fact that you’ve attended some college, but also point out the relevant knowledge you’ve acquired. And even though this might not suffice to compete with the applicants who have completed their degrees, this absolutely adds up to your professional value.

Guidelines for listing education

Whether you are listing some university or a completed advanced degree, follow the recommendations :

♦️ Place the Education section correctly

There are two main variations: above and under your work experience. Put the education above work experience if you are now in college or graduated less than 2 years ago. Given the limited professional experience, the knowledge and skills you’ve gained in college are going to be the main asset for the employer.

Education is listed after experience if you went to college over 2 years ago, no matter if you have completed a degree or not. In this case, your experience and accomplishments are the main focus of the resume, and the education just adds up to that strong professional image, so it doesn’t need to be highlighted.

♦️ Be blatantly honest about your degree

Avoid listing an unfinished degree in a way that could potentially mislead the employer into thinking that you completed it. If you are listing the university name and the degree you worked towards, mention the number of credits or write down that you didn’t graduate. And, more importantly, avoid lying intentionally. Employers will do a reference check, and if they reveal the truth, they’ll withdraw an offer and reject your candidacy because of those lies. This rule applies to the rest of your resume content as well. Honesty is the best policy.

Want to make new friends in the office as soon as you’re hired? Check out how to get along well with colleagues .

♦️ Present your unfinished degree in the good light

You might be concerned because of the incomplete degree and the fact it might send the wrong message. However, there is a number of ways to list it positively:

• Include GPA , if high. If your GPA exceeds 3.5, mention this fact along with the name of the program you studied.

•  List the coursework. If you have studied marketing for 2 years, you might have completed such courses as Microeconomics, Accounting, Business communications, Calculus for business, and more. Even if you don’t have a degree, these courses will show that you have the basic educational background in this field.

• List academic projects. Have you prepared a research or community project as part of your college studies? List these projects, if relevant for your target job. This will show your orientation for delivering results and getting things done.

♦️ Focus on alternative education and courses

If you never pursued a degree, it makes sense for you to highlight the education and training you got on the job or outside college. Workshops, MOOCs, corporate training and courses count as educational background as well, so it’s important that you list all relevant training under Professional Development section. The fact that you continuously grow and develop in the profession through training and learning means that you’re an ambitious and result-driven individual.

Moreover, your training can partially compensate for an incomplete degree: some employers will prefer the ongoing education to a degree completed years ago.

Are you planning to enter the technology industry? Here’s how to start a career in tech this year: https://resumeperk.com/blog/how-to-start-a-career-in-tech-10-expert-tips .

♦️ Apply even if the job listing requires a complete degree

A good share of job listings you’ll find online will require at least a Bachelor’s degree as minimum educational requirements. Even if you didn’t make it to a degree, make an attempt to apply anyway. Many employers see a degree as a desired requirement, not a mandatory one. This means that they’ll be glad to hire someone who can get the job done even if the candidate doesn’t have a diploma. So, if based on the relevant experience you’ve gained you believe that you can excel in the position, apply anyway. And you may use a cover letter to explain what previous experience prepared you for this position even though you don’t have a degree.

♦️ Emphasize your key selling points

As we’ve mentioned above, your degree is important, but it’s not a key decisive factor (we are not speaking about the professions that require a state license to be allowed to do the job). Your career history must have something that you can brag about and what makes you a strong candidate for the job. Maybe, you’ve acquired and retained lots of high-profile clients for your previous employer, saved costs dramatically or delivered projects on time.

Put these accomplishments closer to the top of your resume to focus the employer’s attention on them. If you have a strong skill set and accomplishment track record to offer, the fact that you lack in formal education won’t matter much.

Get professional resume advice

Today, the formal education is losing its importance. Even the top tech giants like Google are willing to hire someone without a college degree. If you still have concerns about reflecting something on a resume effectively, our experts can help. Send us your resume, and one of our resume creators will review it and give recommendations on what should be improved. The writer will cover content, writing style, keywords, design, and more.

Are you serious about landing a new job as soon as possible and are willing to pay expert to write my resume for me ? We also offer affordable resume writing services and 20% off for all new clients. Contact us on support chat to request your discount code.

Our experienced writers can create a powerful resume suitable for each position. However, you may also request a specific resume depending on the job you are applying for, thus it will be tailored individually for your profession:

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Resume title

From Associate to Doctorate: A Complete Guide to College Degree Levels

portrait of Genevieve Carlton, Ph.D.

Genevieve Carlton

Contributing Writer

Learn about our editorial process .

Updated April 12, 2024

Hannah Muniz

Contributing Editor

Reviewed by

Stephanie DeBord

Contributing Reviewer

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Are you ready to discover your college program?

Considering a college degree? First, you'll have to understand the types of degrees and college degree levels.

Different degrees prepare you for different career paths. For example, you can't become a psychologist with just a bachelor's degree — you'd need a master's or doctorate in psychology. And you usually can't become an engineer without at least a bachelor's degree.

Typically, as your university degree level rises, your earning potential increases, and the unemployment rate decreases. That's one more reason it's important to understand the different types of degrees.

What Types of Degrees Are There in College?

There are many types of degrees you can earn in college. College degree levels can be broken down into two categories: undergraduate degrees and graduate degrees.

Here are the college degrees in order, from lowest ranking to highest:

  • Associate degree (undergraduate)
  • Bachelor's degree (undergraduate)
  • Master's degree (graduate)
  • Doctoral degree (graduate)

While a doctorate is the highest education level, some fields may stop at a master's. The phrase "terminal degree" refers to the highest degree in a field.

A professional degree is a type of graduate degree — often a doctorate — that prepares you for a professional career in fields like law and medicine.

Popular Online Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Associate Degree

  • Typical Program Length: 1-2 years
  • Typical Number of Credits: 60

Most associate degrees prepare you to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation. These programs can be found at community and technical colleges and typically last 1-2 years.

An associate degree can also 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.

Some associate degrees require you to complete an internship or practicum in addition to taking classes. This is particularly common among healthcare and tech degrees.

To apply for an associate degree program , you'll need a high school diploma or equivalent, like a GED certificate. Some schools may require you to submit standardized test scores, such as the ACT or the SAT, as well.

Featured Associate Programs

What can you do with an associate degree.

An associate degree prepares you for vocational, allied health, and support roles. For example, you can become a medical assistant , paralegal , or vet tech with an associate degree.

The highest-paying careers with an associate degree pay over $80,000 per year. See the table below for salary information on other popular associate degree jobs.

Source: BLS

Types of Associate Degrees

Colleges can offer three kinds of associate degrees:

  • Associate of Arts (AA)
  • Associate of Science (AS)
  • Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Arts, humanities, and creative fields typically offer an AA, whereas social sciences and natural sciences fields often award an AS. Many applied and vocational programs offer an AAS degree.

The type of degree matters if you're planning to transfer into a bachelor's program. Colleges normally offer fewer transfer credits for an AAS degree.

Popular Associate Degrees

  • Business Administration
  • Business Management
  • Computer Science
  • Criminal Justice
  • Cybersecurity
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Graphic Design
  • Healthcare Management
  • Information Technology
  • Medical Assisting
  • Medical Billing and Coding
  • Pre-Nursing
  • Social Work

Bachelor's Degree

  • Typical Program Length: 4 years
  • Typical Number of Credits: 120

A bachelor's degree prepares you for many career paths. You'll generally spend four years earning a bachelor's degree at a college or university. You'll take general education classes and courses in your major . You can also choose a minor.

Some colleges offer accelerated bachelor's programs , which take less time — often 2-3 years. Degree-completion programs can also speed up the timeline by awarding you credit for previous college coursework.

You can earn your bachelor's degree online as well. An online degree from an accredited college meets the same standards as that of an in-person degree.

You'll need a high school diploma for admission and may also need to submit SAT or ACT scores.

Featured Bachelor's Programs

What can you do with a bachelor's degree.

In diverse industries like business, tech, and education, a bachelor's degree can prepare you for many entry-level careers. Some of the highest-paying jobs with a bachelor's degree include roles in finance, management, and tech.

Graduates with a four-year degree can also benefit from high demand in many lucrative fields, like software development and engineering. The table below introduces some popular jobs with a bachelor's degree.

Types of Bachelor's Degrees

You can earn a bachelor's degree in many fields. Some of the most common types of bachelor's degrees you'll see include:

  • Bachelor of Arts (BA)
  • Bachelor of Science (BS)
  • 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)

The two most popular degrees are a BA and a BS. These degrees cover all arts and sciences majors and some education and engineering degrees.

Popular Bachelor's Degrees

  • Civil Engineering
  • Communication
  • Computer Programming
  • Health Informatics
  • Health Sciences
  • Human Resources
  • Mathematics
  • Organizational Psychology
  • Political Science
  • Public Policy
  • Supply Chain and Logistics

Master's Degree

  • Typical Program Length: 1-3 years
  • Typical Number of Credits: 30

A master's degree can help you gain specialized skills and qualify for higher-paying roles. As a graduate student, you'll work closely with experts in your field to explore advanced topics.

While a master's degree typically takes two years, some universities offer accelerated one-year master's programs. You can also enroll in a bachelor's-to-master's program to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in less time.

Most master's programs require a minimum of 30 credits. Admission and graduation requirements vary depending on the program. For example, many arts and sciences master's programs require GRE scores , while business programs typically require GMAT scores .

Featured Master's Programs

What can you do with a master's degree.

With a master's degree, you can qualify for management-level careers and specialized roles in industries like healthcare, research, and social services. The highest-paying master's degrees include MBAs and nurse practitioner degrees.

Learn more about the earning potential and demand for popular master's degree jobs below.

Types of Master's Degrees

Here are some of the most common types of master's degrees you can earn:

  • 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)

An MA and an MS are among the most popular master's degrees. Humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences fields typically award an MA or an MS. Other popular options include an MBA and an M.Ed.

Popular Master's Degrees

  • Creative Writing
  • Data Science
  • Engineering
  • Healthcare Administration
  • Library and Information Science
  • Network Security
  • Public Health
  • Supply Chain Management

Doctoral Degrees

  • Typical Program Length: 2-10 years
  • Typical Number of Credits: Varies

A doctorate represents the highest degree you can get in academia. There are a few types of doctoral degrees you can get.

Professional doctorates train you for a professional career. For example, law school and med school are two common professional paths. A Ph.D., on the other hand — by far one of the most common types of doctorates — emphasizes theory and research.

In a doctoral program, you'll take graduate-level seminars and courses, take comprehensive exams, conduct original research, and defend a dissertation in front of a faculty committee.

Most applied doctorates take 3-5 years, while a Ph.D. typically requires 4-6 years of coursework. In certain fields, you can earn your doctorate online.

Some doctoral programs require a master's degree for admission, whereas others admit applicants with just a bachelor's degree. You may need to submit standardized test scores depending on the program.

Featured Doctoral Programs

What can you do with a doctorate.

If you want to become a physician , professor , or lawyer, you'll need a doctorate. In many fields, a doctorate translates into higher salaries. Lawyers, pharmacists , and physicists all report median salaries of over $125,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The following table shows the earning potential and demand for popular doctoral degree jobs.

Types of Doctoral Degrees

A doctorate is the highest education level, but there are still several types of doctoral degrees. Here are some of the most common you can get:

  • 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)

A Ph.D. is the most popular doctorate. You can earn a Ph.D. in many arts and sciences fields. Other doctorates take their names from the career path associated with the degree.

Popular Doctoral Degrees

  • Curriculum and Instruction
  • Educational Administration
  • Educational Leadership
  • Human Services
  • Legal Studies
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Public Administration

Frequently Asked Questions About College Degree Levels

What are the four types of college degrees.

The four types of college degrees are associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees. Colleges classify associate and bachelor's degrees as undergraduate degrees and master's and doctoral degrees as graduate degrees.

Within those categories, you can earn many types of degrees. For instance, at the bachelor's level, you could earn a bachelor of arts (BA), a bachelor of science (BS), or a bachelor of fine arts (BFA) degree.

What is a four-year college degree called?

A four-year college degree is called a bachelor's degree. Another term for this degree type is a baccalaureate degree.

Many careers require a bachelor's degree for entry-level roles. For example, most careers in business require you to hold a bachelor's degree. Many roles in tech, education, the public sector, and engineering also require you to have a four-year degree.

Some career paths require a specific major. In many states, you'll need a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) to become a registered nurse . In other fields, your specific major matters less than the quality of your skills.

What is the highest degree?

The highest degree is a doctorate, also called a doctoral degree. In terms of university degree levels, both master's and bachelor's degrees rank below doctorates.

You can earn a doctorate in a wide array of fields, including the social sciences, business, the humanities, education, engineering, and healthcare.

In some fields, however, a master's degree represents the terminal, or highest, degree. For instance, a master of fine arts (MFA) is the terminal degree for creative writing.

What is the hardest college degree?

Most would agree that the hardest college degree is a doctorate. As the highest education level, a doctorate requires significant expertise in the field.

Many Ph.D. programs take six years or more and require you to write a book-length dissertation based on original research.

Because a doctorate represents the top of the university degree levels, it's a relatively uncommon degree. Only around 2% of U.S. adults held a doctorate in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau .

What is the quickest degree?

The fastest degree you can get is either a one-year associate degree or a one-year master's degree. While other types of degrees typically take a minimum of two years, you can earn a master's degree in one year with an accelerated or fast-track program.

You can sometimes add a master's degree to your bachelor's through a 4+1 program, also known as a bachelor's-to-master's program. In this case, some of your coursework counts toward both your undergraduate and graduate degrees, meaning you'll spend an additional year in college to leave with a master's degree.

Explore More College Resources

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Discover schools with the programs and courses you’re interested in, and start learning today.

A Guide to Different Types of College Degrees

From associate degrees to doctorates, options are plentiful for prospective higher education students.

College Degree Levels Explained

The back image of the graduates wearing a yellow tassel hat.

Getty Images

There are numerous higher education options, from credentials such as badges and certificates to a range of college degree levels.

Earning a college degree leads to higher lifetime earnings and lower unemployment rates than those with just a high school diploma, research indicates. There are also nonmonetary advantages, including gaining transferable workforce skills and being more active citizens, experts say.

There are numerous higher education options, from credentials such as badges and certificates to a range of college degree levels. But different jobs or fields strongly encourage or require varying credentials, so students must do their research.

To be an air traffic controller, for instance, an applicant needs at least an associate degree , while a candidate pursuing dentistry must earn a professional degree, such as the Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.).

some college coursework

Students "should go into college knowing that there are opportunities to move on and that learning is a lifelong process," says Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, an organization focused on advancing equity within higher education.

"Rapidly changing technology means rapid obsolescence," she says. "Circumstances in peoples' lives change, as we saw with COVID-19. There's always an opportunity to use the education that they've earned as a foundation for more education and greater career opportunities, or just for a more fulfilling life."

The guide below offers a look at college degree programs, from associate to professional degrees.

Associate Degrees

Commonly offered at community colleges and some universities, a full-time student can earn an associate degree – which typically requires 60 credit hours or more – in two years. Colleges that offer associate degrees have fewer or no residential options on campus.

Some degree options include Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.), Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) and Associate of General Studies (A.G.S.).

"Often individuals are working toward an associate degree with the long-term goal of earning a four-year degree," says Brian Troyer, dean of undergraduate admissions at Marquette University in Wisconsin. "But associate degrees are often degrees that lead to a successful career in a particular field. They provide outstanding training in a very specific discipline."

According to the National Center for Education Statistics , 49% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 29 had an associate degree or higher in 2021. American workers age 25 and over with an associate degree earned a median weekly income of $963 in 2021 compared with $809 for those with a high school diploma and no college, per figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Associate degrees are "usually a very good return on investment because they are inexpensive to begin with" and "targeted toward career preparation," Pasquerella says.

Bachelor's Degrees

A full-time student can expect to finish a bachelor's degree within four years, though that length of time varies by program. A bachelor's degree – which is offered at four-year institutions and a small number of community colleges – typically requires 120 credit hours, sometimes more and occasionally fewer.

Colleges that offer a bachelor's degree are often associated with the more "traditional" residential setting. But that's not always the case, as there are options to commute or attend an online bachelor's program .

Bachelor's degree types include Bachelor of Arts ( B.A. ), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) and other specialty designations.

"You get more of a broad-based approach in taking classes in different subject areas, building both knowledge and skill, as well as critical-thinking and problem-solving skills," says Joe B. Whitehead, Jr., provost and senior vice president of academic and student affairs at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. "Some are more professionally oriented, like a degree in business or engineering."

According to NCES, 39% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 29 had a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021. In 2019, a bachelor's degree was worth nearly $2.8 million in median lifetime earnings, a 2021 report from Georgetown University 's Center on Education and the Workforce found.

Unemployment rates in 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, were much higher for American workers age 25 and over with a high school diploma and no college – 6.2%, compared with those with a bachelor's degree, 3.5%, per BLS figures.

Master's Degrees

A master's degree follows a bachelor's degree for many continuing their postsecondary education. But enrolling directly into a master's program after graduating with a bachelor's degree is not always necessary.

Experts advise students to first ask themselves what steps are required to achieve their career goals and why they want to earn a particular degree.

If an advanced degree is required to meet job qualifications, a student may want to consider an accelerated combined degree program , often known as 4+1 programs – an option to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in five years rather than six years separately.

Going straight into a master's or doctoral program may cause less of an interruption in the life of a student already focused on academic pursuits, says Mildred García, president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

But in other cases, it may be better for a student to enter the workforce first in a field of interest before committing to a master's degree.

"Waiting some time to go back to school to earn a master’s or doctorate can allow the prospective student to gain or deepen their professional experiences, further increase their maturity level and appreciation of the profession they want to enter, and have a higher understanding or focus on the need and use of an advanced degree," García wrote in an email.

Credit hour requirements vary by graduate school , but most require at least 30. A master's degree typically takes an average of two full years to complete, and students often need to submit a final project or thesis to graduate.

Common master's degrees include the Master of Business Administration ( MBA ), Master of Fine Arts ( MFA ) and Master of Science (M.S.). An MFA is considered a terminal degree, the highest degree available in that particular field.

Nine percent of Americans between the ages of 25 and 29 had a master's degree or higher in 2021, according to NCES data. Average lifetime earnings for a master's degree recipient in 2019 were $3.2 million, Georgetown's CEW research shows.

Doctorate Degrees

A doctorate is a research-based degree "intended to develop specific academic skills, like how to design, conduct and analyze research activity," García says.

Earning a doctorate degree – the highest traditional academic degree – can be an arduous and lengthy endeavor, taking anywhere from three to seven years, or more, of study. Candidates can choose from various types, most commonly Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) or Doctor of Philosophy ( Ph.D. ).

Doctoral candidates also are expected to conduct research and write a dissertation, although some programs do not require the extensive research paper.

"Dissertations are publications that showcase a body of work over the students' graduate career," Pasquerella says. "So to get a Ph.D, you often have to pass comprehensive exams – which test you over the first two years – and qualifying exams to qualify to write a thesis. And then you have the thesis itself, where you have to demonstrate that you are making unique and distinctive contributions to the field through your research."

Georgetown's CEW found that average lifetime earnings for doctoral degree holders were $4 million in 2019, with median weekly earnings of $1,909 in 2021, per BLS data.

Professional Degrees

To become licensed to work in professions like medicine or law, students need to earn professional degrees.

Aspiring attorneys generally attend law school to earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, which typically take three years of full-time study to complete. To become a licensed lawyer, graduates must also pass the bar exam in their jurisdiction.

On the other hand, prospective doctors attend medical school to earn a degree such as Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) or another degree more specific to their field of study.

Medical degrees typically take four years to complete in addition to a residency program – a period of training for graduates to practice first-hand what was taught in the classroom. The length of residency programs varies by specialty but can last between three and seven years.

Those who completed a professional degree have lifetime earnings of more than $4.7 million, Georgetown's CEW found, with average annual earnings of $117,500 – 68% higher than pay for workers with a bachelor's degree.

Deciding on the Right Degree

To find the right degree fit, students should consider several factors, including their professional and personal goals, program costs , salary expectations – both at the beginning and long term – and employment rates of graduates with the same degree, García says.

Troyer advises students to meet with or shadow a professional in their field of interest to learn what it took for that individual to earn their particular degree and job position.

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"These educational opportunities exist for individuals who are arriving to this post-secondary journey perhaps in different stages of their own life, with different priorities and different needs," he says. "So I'm a firm believer that there's no particular degree or there's no specific institution per se that's perfect for any given student. What really matters is what matters to the student and what they are looking for."

It's always advantageous to formally gain more knowledge, depending on "when one does it and when they can do it," Whitehead says.

"Students should aspire to be the best they can be," he adds. "We're becoming a highly technical world, an information economy. So with that said, the more knowledge one can acquire will be beneficial going forward."

Searching for a college? Get our  complete rankings  of Best Colleges.

10 Majors With Highest Starting Salaries

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6-Week Online College Course Guide

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Turn Your Dreams Into Reality

Take our quiz and we'll do the homework for you! Compare your school matches and apply to your top choice today.

Want to fast-track your college degree? Then, consider taking a six-week course. By working through your classes on an accelerated track , you can graduate in less time and put your degree to use. All you have to do is choose a class to get started.

What are the most popular six-week college courses online? You can study business, criminal justice, education, or healthcare, all in an accelerated format.

Popular Online 6-Week College Courses

Check out our list of 15 popular six-week college courses:

  • Business Administration
  • Communications
  • Computer Science
  • Computer Information Systems
  • Criminal Justice
  • Healthcare Administration
  • Information Technology
  • Social Work

Plus, you can turn your six-week college classes into a degree — jumpstarting your career. Discover some of the accelerated course options available, and decide whether one of them is right for you.

1. Accounting

Want to become an accountant in less time? Then research 6-week online courses for accounting majors. Many colleges offer online accounting degrees with accelerated classes. You can become an accountant, auditor, or budget analyst after finishing your accounting degree.

Featured Accounting Program

Stay on top of your accelerated accounting classes by creating a schedule and tracking assignment deadlines.

2. Business Administration

Build your business skills quickly by taking 6-week college courses online. With an online business administration bachelor's degree , you'll qualify for in-demand roles like financial analyst, market research analyst, and human resources specialist.

Featured Business Administration Program

Did you know that business is the most popular major ? Six-week courses can help you finish a business degree in less time.

3. Communications

Strengthen your writing and communication skills with 6-week online courses in communications. By taking accelerated classes, you can earn a bachelor's in communications or specialize in an area like public relations or media communications .

Featured Communications Program

Put your communications degree to work as a journalist, public relations specialist, market research analyst, or editor.

4. Computer Science

If you like all things gadgets and gizmos, consider taking an accelerated computer science course. It's a great way to earn your computer science degree in less time. You'll study software development , database management, and computer science theory in your 6-week online courses.

Featured Computer Science Program

Computer science careers pay high salaries and they're part of a growing field. Plus, an accelerated degree means you'll enter the workforce sooner.

5. Computer Information Systems

Specialize in data management by taking 6-week online courses in computer information systems . You'll learn how to organize and distribute data across networks. With a degree in computer information systems, you can qualify for roles like network administrator and information security analyst .

Featured Computer Information Systems Program

Interested in cybersecurity careers ? Courses in computer information systems can help you prepare for these roles.

6. Criminal Justice

Whether you want to work in law enforcement or corrections, a criminal justice degree can help get you there. You can also specialize in areas like criminology, crime scene investigation, or legal studies to prepare for the job market.

Featured Criminal Justice Program

You'll study criminal behavior, investigative procedure, and the justice system in your accelerated classes.

7. Education

An education degree can open doors to careers as a teacher or early childhood educator. And by taking 6-week college courses, you can build assessment, classroom management, and instructional skills. Online programs even incorporate hands-on student teaching experience .

Featured Education Program

Pro Tip : If you know you want to become a teacher, then make sure to check whether the program meets your state's requirements for a teaching license.

Finance is one of the highest-paying fields. By taking accelerated, 6-week college courses online, you can earn a finance bachelor's degree quickly. Then, you'll qualify for roles such as financial analyst . Plus, the field reports a median annual salary of $95,570, according to May 2021 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Featured Finance Program

Accelerated finance classes train you in financial accounting, investment strategy, and portfolio management.

9. Healthcare Administration

Learn how to manage healthcare departments and oversee non-clinical responsibilities with 6-week online courses in healthcare administration. With a healthcare administration degree , you'll qualify for roles like health information specialist and patient services representative. And with experience, you can become a hospital administrator or health services manager.

Featured Healthcare Administration Program

Take classes in healthcare finance, human resources, or informatics to pursue specialized career paths.

10. Information Technology

It's no secret that tech skills are in high demand. By taking 6-week college courses online, you can earn an information technology degree . Use your skills in information security analyst, quality analyst, or database administrator roles.

Featured Information Technology Program

You can even learn new programming languages with accelerated classes — and put your newfound skills to work faster.

11. Management

Hone your leadership skills with accelerated management classes. You can earn a degree in general management or choose a specialty like hospitality management bachelor's instead. With strong analytical and leadership skills, you can take on supervisory responsibilities or launch your own business.

Featured Management Program

Looking for similar classes? Check out supply chain management , entrepreneurship, and organizational behavior.

12. Marketing

Learn how to analyze customer demand and outsmart your competition in marketing classes. After taking 6-week college courses online, you can even earn a marketing bachelor's degree . Then, put your analytical and research skills to work as a market research analyst.

Featured Marketing Program

How much can you earn as a market research analyst ? The field reports an above-average median salary of nearly $64,000 (BLS, May 2021).

13. Nursing

Launch your career in an in-demand field with accelerated nursing classes. With a bachelor's in nursing , you can earn your nursing license and work as a pediatric nurse, lead nurse, or ER nurse. Or you can choose to specialize in areas like oncology, surgical care, or critical care.

Featured Nursing Program

Nursing is a fast-growing field with many advancement opportunities. If you decide you want a little more responsibility, you can become a nurse practitioner and increase your earning potential.

14. Psychology

Psych majors examine human behaviors and mental health disorders. In 6-week online courses, you can study human development, personalities, and social psychology. With a psychology degree , you can pursue careers in business, social services, or public affairs.

Featured Psychology Program

You'll gain strong analytical, communication, and research skills as a psych major — and those skills can help you in many career paths.

15. Social Work

You can study social welfare and client advocacy by taking 6-week college courses online. Earn an accelerated social work degree to fast-track your career as a caseworker, adoption advocate, or social worker.

Featured Social Work Program

Interested in clinical social work careers ? You'll need a master's degree, but a bachelor's in social work can cut time off your MSW program .

Get Your Degree Faster With a 6-Week Certification Course

Most college classes take 15 weeks or longer. But with six-week courses, you can earn credits faster and finish your degree in less time. That means you'll graduate sooner and start seeing the payoff of a college degree. In addition to 6-week classes, some colleges also offer 4-8 week accelerated classes .

Frequently Asked Questions About Six-Week Online Courses

What certification course takes the least amount of time.

You can earn a certificate in real estate, emergency care, or medical coding in a few months. By researching 6-week certification programs online, you can quickly complete a certificate and launch your career.

In many cases, you can also transfer the credits from a certificate program to an associate degree or a bachelor's degree program.

Is a six-week course hard?

Yes, many students find 6-week courses challenging because of the accelerated format. You'll cover the same material as a typical 15-week semester-long course on a faster timeline.

How long does a typical college course take?

Most colleges operate on a semester schedule, so typical courses take 15-16 weeks. Some schools use a quarter system with 10-week classes.

A growing number of colleges offer accelerated classes on a shorter term. For example, some schools break the 16-week semester into two 8-week terms so students can focus on a smaller number of courses at a time.

Explore More College Resources

Fast online bachelor’s degrees guide, easiest college majors and degrees.

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Is an Accelerated Degree Program Right for Me?

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Compare Your School Options

View the most relevant schools for your interests and compare them by tuition, programs, acceptance rate, and other factors important to finding your college home.

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What Is a Major in College?

Pursuing your interests and turning them into a potential career is an exciting part about college. Start by learning how to choose your major.

[Featured image] A bachelor's degree student at a desk with a laptop computer and an open book.

When considering earning a bachelor's degree , you'll want to think about what you want to study. A major is the field of study you choose to pursue when completing your general education requirements in college. Examples of common majors include business administration, computer science, and psychology.

Learning more about college majors can help make the decision process easier. This article covers when and why to declare a major, along with examples of popular college majors and corresponding coursework.

What is a college major?

A major in college or university is the specific field of study that you choose as your specialization. Every student who enrolls in college needs to choose a major. Your major determines which types of courses you'll take, in addition to your core requirements, which may vary depending on your college.

In each school, there are departments, like business or science. Within those departments, there are majors that you can choose from. Within business, you might choose from finance, marketing, and sales. Within science, you might choose from biology, chemistry, or physics. And so on.

Your major determines the type of career you might choose to pursue after college. But if you're unsure about what major to choose, don't fret. You'll have time to switch throughout your first year. Plus, many people end up in careers that are not directly connected to their choice of major.

Examples of college majors you might choose

If you're undecided about which field you want to study, here are several examples of popular college majors. In addition, you'll find the types of courses you would take and different career options available.

There are many career paths you can pursue as a business major, including a marketing executive, accountant, business owner, or financial analyst . Courses you might take along the way include:

Business management

Entrepreneurship

Human resources

Read more: 10 In-Demand Jobs You Can Get with a Business Degree

Communications

With a major in communications, you'll have a variety of career choices. You might consider a job in advertising, media, human resources, government, or public relations. Courses you might take in communications include:

Public speaking

Social media and advertising

Political communication

Read more: What Can You Do with a Communication Degree: 10 Career Paths

Computer science

When studying computer science, you'll learn about computer hardware and software, as well as their applications. You might become a computer programmer, web developer , software engineer , or systems analyst. Specific areas of study in computer science can include:

Artificial intelligence

Cryptography

Gaming technology

Machine learning

Programming languages

Learn more: What Can You Do with a Computer Science Degree?

As an education major, you'll learn how to manage a classroom and how to design curricula, which are the lessons and academic content teachers provide to their students. Depending on your interests, you can become a preschool teacher, elementary teacher, or high school teacher, or you can specialize in a particular field like art, music, or special education. When studying education, you might take courses like:

Child psychology and development

Behavior management

Education theory

Childhood assessment

Curriculum development

When majoring in psychology, you'll study the human mind and human behavior. This field crosses the line between social and natural sciences, and classes you might take include experimental psychology, cognition, and statistics. With an undergrad degree in psychology, you can pursue various careers in areas like:

Developmental psychology

Clinical psychology

Cognitive psychology

Statistics and research methods

Read more: What Can You Do With a Psychology Degree?

When should you declare your major?

Some students know what they want to major in before college, while others need extra time to decide. Many colleges ask prospective students to list a major on their college application, but you can usually change this once you enroll. Typically, most students have to declare a major by the end of the second (sophomore) year. That's when people complete general education requirements and begin major coursework to dig into your chosen subject.

It’s common for students to change their major during their time in school. Three-quarters of American college students start as undecided or change their major at least once [ 1 ]. As a result, waiting until the beginning of your sophomore or junior year can be a good idea because you'll have more time to take an array of classes and see what most interests you.

However, it’s important to check the class requirements for fields that interest you before declaring your major. If a degree program requires that you take classes in a particular order, it may benefit you to declare your major in your freshman year. 

Tips for choosing a major

Many factors go into choosing a field of study in college. For help making this important decision, consider these tips:

Explore your values and interests: What are some hobbies that you really enjoyed, now or as a child? Are you interested in working in an international setting? Do you enjoy conducting science experiments? Or telling stories through video or photos?

Consider strengths you might have: Are you a problem solver? A good public speaker? Are you an empathetic person?

Think about what you want to be doing in five or ten years: Medical careers like becoming a doctor or psychologist require much more planning and education than others, like business or engineering. What do you envision for your future?

Learn more : What Should I Major In? 5 Things to Consider

How to satisfy major requirements

Before you choose a major, it's important to determine if there are any prerequisites required. For instance, some majors require taking specific high school classes or intro-level college courses. Other majors call for a minimum high school or college GPA.

To earn a bachelor's degree , you'll be required to take 120 to 128 college credits. Around half of these are general education courses like algebra, English composition, and a foreign language. Your major coursework will comprise another one-third to one-half of the credits you earn. The remainder of the credits will be elective courses. Several factors can influence your choice of electives, including personal interest, professional goals, class size, and options for online instruction. 

Benefits of declaring a major

Declaring a major is an important decision that you should make carefully. Here are some benefits of declaring a major: 

Declaring a major is the first step toward getting a bachelor's degree

Having a plan for your education helps reduce stress in colle

Enrolling in classes specific to your major saves you time and money. 

The earlier you declare your major, the more time you'll have to get to know your academic advisors

Declaring a major gives you access to scholarships, activities, and organizations within your chosen department

Minors, double majors, and dual degrees 

If you're interested in having a broader education, a single major may not be enough. Adding a minor to your academic plan allows you to widen your field of study with another focus. A minor can be related to your major (i.e., a psychology major and a minor in marketing ) or something completely different (i.e., a psychology major and a minor in French ). Typically, earning a minor requires at least 18 additional credit hours of coursework.   

You also have the option of completing a double major, which allows you to study a related subject to a more in-depth extent than a minor. Double major subjects are often in similar or complementary disciplines, like marketing and psychology , or international relations and Spanish . A double major usually requires at least 30 credits of classwork per major, and as such may require a minimum of an additional year of coursework. 

Get your bachelor's degree online

Choosing a major is an essential step toward getting your college degree. Now that you've learned more about declaring your major and the benefits of doing so, you can start thinking more about where you want to study. On Coursera, you can earn your bachelor's degree in a number of popular majors from storied universities. Check out degree options in Applied Arts and Sciences , Marketing , and Business Administration .

Keep reading

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Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

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Extracurriculars.

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List of 200 College Majors: Which Is Right For You?

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What’s Covered:

How to pick a major, will your major impact your college chances, ultimate list of college majors, how to find the right school for your major.

With so many majors and programs available, how do you know which one is the best pick for you? It can be hard to decide when you’re still in high school, honing your interests and figuring out your career goals.

But, knowing what major you’re interested in can play a role in determining the right college for you – so it’s an important factor to consider. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 200 college majors. 

NB: Few schools offer all the majors on this list. Use our school-search tool to find colleges with the program that interests you.

So, among these 200 majors (and more, if you can find them), how do you decide on a program ? Here are factors to consider.

Your personal interests, strengths, and experiences

This combination of factors is probably most important in finding the right major for you. What are your passions? Where do you thrive? What have you achieved in both your academic and extracurricular life? While you can certainly change course in college and try something new, your background can play a pivotal role in shaping your path forward.

Your career goals

Hand-in-hand with your passions are your career goals. What do you want to do after you graduate? While some students end up pursuing careers that are wholly unrelated to their majors in college, others adhere to the same path and find that their undergraduate programs provide ample preparation for their careers.

The requirements

Of course, just because a program seems appealing to you doesn’t mean it’s without its hitches. When you ultimately declare a major in college, you will have looked at the requirements, but it’s also a good idea to study up on what’s typically required while you’re still applying. Take a look at requirements for the same major across different colleges, too, because they often vary, depending on the school. This can also help you narrow down your college list.

The Return on Investment (ROI)

In today’s competitive job market, ROI is critical — especially since college is so expensive. Often, you can find data on how many graduates from a particular program find employment within a certain period of time after graduating. You can also find statistics on the earning potential for specific majors. While this shouldn’t be the sole determining factor in choosing a major — after all, graduates of different majors often go into a variety of careers — it’s certainly something to consider.

Usually, your choice of major won’t have much of an effect on your overall chances of admission to a specific college. One exception is if the college has particularly selective programs or schools that you need to apply to directly. For example, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business tends to be more selective than the larger university and some other colleges or schools within it, so if you choose to apply to this school, then it will impact your chances of admission.

We advise against trying to apply under a supposedly “easier” major that you believe offers higher chances of admission just because you think you’re more likely to get in. Adcoms are likely to see through this tactic because the major you select won’t align with your profile. Also, bear in mind that at some colleges, such as Cornell University, it can be difficult to transfer internally after you’re accepted if the major you really wanted is in another school within the larger institution.

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Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

Agriculture, Outdoor, and Construction

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  • Agricultural Business & Technology
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  • Agricultural Economics
  • Agricultural Operations
  • Animal Sciences
  • Construction Engineering Technology
  • Construction Management
  • Fish and Wildlands Science and Management
  • Food Science
  • Art History
  • Cinematography
  • Digital Arts
  • Fashion Design
  • Game Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Industrial Design
  • Illustration
  • Interior Design
  • Music Management
  • Music Performance
  • Photography
  • Visual and Performing Arts
  • Visual Design
  • Actuarial Science
  • Advertising
  • Business Administration
  • Business, Management, and Related Support Services
  • Econometrics
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Fashion Merchandising
  • Human Resources Management
  • International Business
  • Management Information Systems
  • Management Science
  • Managerial Economics
  • Operations Management
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  • Supply Chain Management
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  • Elementary Education
  • Health and Physical Education
  • Language Arts Teacher Education
  • Mathematics Teacher Education
  • Middle School Education
  • Music Teacher Education
  • Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
  • Secondary Education
  • Special Education
  • Teacher Education
  • Athletic Training
  • Clinical Laboratory Science
  • Cognitive Science
  • Communication Sciences
  • Community Health
  • Community Health Services
  • Dental Hygiene
  • Health and Wellness
  • Health Care Administration
  • Health Information
  • Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
  • Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences
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  • Hospital and Health Care Facilities Administration
  • Medical Radiologic Technology
  • Nursing Research
  • Nursing Science
  • Nutrition Sciences
  • Public Health
  • Public Health Education
  • Radiologic Technology
  • Respiratory Care Therapy
  • Speech-Language Pathology
  • Applied Communication
  • Biblical Studies
  • Communication
  • Communication and Media Studies
  • Creative Writing
  • Digital Communication and Multimedia
  • Foreign Languages and Literature
  • French Language and Literature
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  • Radio and Television
  • Religious Studies
  • Rhetoric and Composition
  • Spanish Language and Literature
  • Speech and Rhetoric
  • Talmudic Studies

Law and Politics

  • Community Organization and Advocacy
  • International Relations
  • International Studies
  • Legal Assistant
  • Legal Studies
  • Political Science
  • Public Administration
  • Public Policy Analysis
  • Social Work

Social Science

  • Anthropology
  • Behavioral Sciences
  • Child Development
  • Criminology
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Human Development and Family Studies
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Architecture
  • Astrophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
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  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
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  • Computer Science
  • Computer Software Engineering
  • Computer Systems Networking
  • Conservation
  • Earth Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental Studies
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Informatics
  • Information Science
  • Information Systems Security
  • Information Technology (IT)
  • Kinesiology
  • Marine Biology
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Microbiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Petroleum Engineering
  • Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences, Other
  • Apparel and Textiles
  • Corrections and Criminal Justice
  • Criminal Justice
  • Electromechanical Technology
  • Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies
  • Forensic Science and Technology
  • Hospitality Administration
  • Hotel Management
  • Human Sciences (General)
  • Human Services
  • Law Enforcement Administration
  • Police Science
  • Sport and Fitness Administration

Program availability is one factor in choosing the right college for you, but there’s plenty more to consider. Using our school-search tool , you can find the best fits for you, filtering by criteria like major, finances, location, size, and more. Find out your real chances of getting into your dream school with CollegeVine’s chancing engine .

Not sure what you want to study? Check out our list of the best colleges for undecided students .

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High School Classes Colleges Look For

Find the right college for you..

If you’re in high school and thinking about college─and you should be─you should know that the courses you take matter. That’s because college admissions officers want to see a solid foundation of learning you can build on in college.

To create that foundation, take at least five solid academic classes every semester. Start with the basics, and then move on to challenging yourself in advanced courses. The courses listed below should prepare you for success in college and beyond.

English (Language Arts)

Take English every year. Traditional courses, such as American and English literature, help improve your writing skills, reading comprehension, and vocabulary.

two female students in front of a computer

Algebra and geometry help you succeed on admission tests and in college math classes. Take them early so that you'll have time for advanced science and math, which will show colleges that you're ready for higher-level work.

Most colleges want students with three years of high school math. The more competitive colleges prefer four years. Take some combination of the following:

  • Trigonometry
  • Precalculus

Science teaches you how to think analytically and apply theories to reality. Colleges want to see that you’ve taken at least three years of laboratory science classes. A good combination includes a year of each of these:

  • Chemistry or physics
  • Earth or physical science

Competitive schools expect four years of lab science courses, which you may be able to get by taking advanced classes in these same areas.

Social Studies

Improve your understanding of local and world events by studying the cultures and history that helped shape them. Here’s a suggested high school course plan:

  • U.S. History
  • U.S. Government
  • World History and Geography

Foreign Languages

Studying a foreign language shows you're willing to stretch beyond the basics. Many colleges require at least two years of study in the same foreign language, while others prefer more.

The arts help you recognize patterns, learn to notice differences and similarities, and exercise your mind in unique ways.

Some colleges require or recommend one or two semesters in the arts. Choices include studio art, dance, music, and drama.

Advanced College Courses

To ready yourself for college-level work, enroll in challenging high school courses , such as honors classes, AP courses, or IB-program courses. Find out about taking college classes in high school or at a local college.

Get Help Choosing Courses Admissions Officers Want to See

Use College Search to research the academic requirements of your preferred college to ensure you’re on the path to admission. Also, you can meet with a school counselor or teacher to ask questions about choosing classes and staying on track for college.

Do colleges look at specific classes?

Yes. Colleges look at the specific classes you take in high school. Admissions officers want to know whether you took all the core courses, including math, science, foreign language, English, and social studies. They also take note of whether you progressed to higher-level classes in the core subjects. Then they look at your elective courses to get an idea of your interests.

What is the minimum GPA for college?

Most colleges don’t have a specific GPA requirement because high schools calculate GPA differently from colleges. For admissions, many colleges will r ecalculate student GPA so there’s consistency across applications. College admissions officers consider more than just a student’s GPA. They look at SAT scores and whether a student is taking college classes in high school, among other factors.

What classes do most colleges require?

Most colleges are looking for students with a foundation of courses in the core subjects. College admissions officials look at your core course levels from your first year through your senior year. They want to see if you advanced to more challenging material in these subjects as you progressed through high school.

What types of elective courses do colleges look for?

Most colleges aren’t looking for certain types of elective courses. Instead, admissions officers look at your elective courses for some insight into your interests. The variety of elective courses you choose conveys something about your willingness to learn about different subjects.

Are college admissions officials looking for AP courses on my high school transcript?

College admissions staff are looking to see if you’ve challenged yourself and taken the most rigorous courses your school offers. That could be Advanced Placement® courses, honors courses, or other advanced courses. A student who’s successful in rigorous courses in high school is likely to be prepared for challenging work in college.

How do colleges view online high school?

You should check with your preferred colleges to get more information about how those colleges view online high schools.

Are extracurricular activities important to colleges?

Yes. Though extracurricular activities aren’t the most important thing college admissions officials look at, they do factor into their decision. The clubs and organizations you belong to communicate a lot about your interests. If you do volunteer work, college admissions officials are going to take note of where you volunteered and for how long. For example, volunteering for four years at a local animal shelter shows dedication to something you enjoy that helps your community.

When should a high school student start to research college admissions requirements?

The sooner, the better. Researching college admissions requirements as a first-year student allows you to create future class schedules with those requirements in mind. You may discover one of your preferred colleges likes applicants to have at least three years of foreign language study. Making a long-term plan means you’ll be well prepared to apply to colleges by the start of your high school senior year.

Related Articles

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Tens of thousands of community college students still taking unnecessary remedial classes

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San Francisco native Veronica Garcia sits for a portrait at Bernal Heights park on Feb. 18, 2021. Garcia says when she entered San Francisco City College in 2008 she was required to take remedial classes which caused her to take more than four years before she was able to transfer to a four-year university. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

A 2017 law started to phase out remedial courses at community colleges, but while there’s been progress, many students still end up taking classes experts say they don’t need.

When Veronica Garcia entered community college in 2008 at City College of San Francisco, she had to start her math and English classes three tiers below the level students need to ultimately transfer into the University of California and California State University.

Once she cleared her remedial obligations, which took three years, Garcia passed both transfer-level math and English on her first attempts. She needed four years to finish her studies at the community college, eventually transferring to San Francisco State and earning her bachelor’s in two years.

“I never had a counselor or a mentor or anyone else tell me, no you’re capable of so much more,” she said of her time in community college, a trying period when she was raising two kids, caring for her sick mother, and juggling a full course load. The years in remedial classes pulled her from quality time with her loved ones. “There were just a lot of things that I missed out on.“

Garcia’s experience was one of countless tales that, coupled with lots of data showing the lack of efficacy of remedial classes, spurred the passage of a 2017 law that required community colleges to phase out remedial classes unless they could improve the classes or prove they were effective. 

“The more that we dumb down students and the more that we believe that they’re not capable of doing something, then they won’t necessarily step up to the challenge” veronica garcia, former community college transfer

Despite the law, AB 705, many students still end up taking remedial courses. 

Twenty-two percent of first-time students took remedial math courses in 2019, the latest year for which data is available, and more than half of California’s community colleges offered more than a fifth of their introductory math classes at the remedial level. Some colleges even offered more remedial courses than the year prior, according to a December report from the California Acceleration Project.

The remedial courses are also an equity issue: Black and Latino students were more likely than white and Asian students to take remedial math courses.

“What is it going to take, what do we need to do?” asked Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, during a meeting last month of the California Community College Board of Governors. “Because if there is one kid, one aspiring kid in this state, who has a dream of college, who gets put into a remedial course when they don’t need to be there, that’s too many.”

Uneven progress

In some ways the law is working as intended: This year at least five colleges are requiring some students to enroll in remedial math courses, according to a CalMatters analysis, down from 26 in fall 2019, Public Policy Institute of California told Calmatters.

Additionally, in 2019, the number of students able to take a transfer-level course without needing a remedial one first had increased by 100,000 for English students and 73,000 for math students since 2015. And though the percentage of students passing these transfer level courses has declined compared to past years, tens of thousands more students are completing these courses because so many more are being allowed to take them directly, according to a report released last month by the RP Group . 

Statewide progress has been uneven in part because the system allowed colleges a two-year window to “innovate” with remedial courses in 2019. If colleges can’t prove their remedial approach is better for students by this July, they’ll have to adopt the system’s default standard, which doesn’t call for students to take remedial courses.

The system’s chancellor, Eloy Ortiz Oakley, told CalMatters this month that he’s “prepared” to “get to a point when we are requiring colleges to do away with remedial courses.” He didn’t want to set a firm date because if colleges continue removing their remedial offerings, no action will be necessary. 

How we got here

For decades, colleges have often forced students to enroll in remedial courses under the impression the experience would better prepare students for more advanced courses. Remedial courses can take up multiple semesters of the student’s time and often rehash material already covered in high school and even middle school. The majority of students in these remedial classes failed to ever reach and pass the all-important transferable courses.

Data championed by the community college system leadership showed that students were more likely to pass a transfer-level course within a year if they enrolled in it directly, rather than taking a remedial course first. That held true even among students who had low high school GPAs and across all racial and ethnic groups. Similar findings were true for students who entered so-called “corequisite” classes, which have surged in popularity in recent years. These classes are paired with transfer-level courses and come with an extra period of instruction or tutoring to help students who’d otherwise be in remedial courses. 

Data showed that students were more likely to pass a transfer-level course within a year if they enrolled in it directly, rather than taking a remedial course first.

Garcia — who’s now a coordinator at Students Making a Change, an organization that advocates for remedial education reform and other issues of equity — said that had she been allowed to take corequisite courses instead of years of remediation, she would have passed her transfer-level math and English requirements from the get go. 

“The more that we dumb down students and the more that we believe that they’re not capable of doing something, then they won’t necessarily step up to the challenge,” she said.

Student options

That any colleges continue to offer remedial courses at all frustrates Katie Hern, an English professor at Skyline College in Silicon Valley and a leading advocate for ending remedial courses as co-founder of the California Acceleration Project. 

“If all the research shows that every student group studied has higher completion if they begin at a transfer-level class, then why are we using our resources that way?” she asked. The risk is that students self-place themselves without realizing a transfer course with corequisite support is available.

But completely ditching remedial courses is a mistake, said Mendocino College math professor Leslie Banta. 

San Francisco native Veronica Garcia sits for a portrait at Bernal Heights park on Feb. 18, 2021. Garcia says when she entered San Francisco City College in 2008 she was required to take remedial classes which caused her to take more than four years before she was able to transfer to a four-year university. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

While she encourages students to take transfer-level courses, not all of them want to, she said, out of anxiety over math or a desire to learn the basics first. And though intermediate algebra doesn’t transfer, the class satisfies math requirements for associate degrees. But so does statistics, which is transferable. That allows students who decide to pursue a bachelor’s later in their journey a head start by clearing a key milestone, critics of remedial courses point out.

Mendocino College requires a small share of students to first take intermediate algebra — a below-transfer class — before taking the first of the transfer-level math courses students need to major in business and STEM. The rule applies to students who didn’t take algebra II in high school, though students can appeal by citing related work experience, for example. 

Requiring intermediate algebra stems from the fact that the local high schools only require one year of algebra to graduate, not two, Banta said. That the chancellor’s office created placement policies for the whole state overlooked that regional complexity, she and other math faculty contend . 

Santa Barbara City College has a similar policy for precalculus, which affects about 50 students. Most students taking math in community college pursue statistics rather than math for STEM because their majors in the humanities and social sciences don’t require the calculus route.

“We wanted to have a pathway for students who maybe hadn’t considered STEM before or who had a non-traditional preparation,” Banta said.

Mendocino doesn’t have corequisites for its STEM-related math courses, such as precalculus, even as many colleges do. Banta said Mendocino could create them if data from their two-year period of innovation indicate the college needs them. 

Some college websites don’t make it clear that students no longer have to take a remedial class first. Columbia College is working to update its website to reflect that, said Brian K. Sanders, the vice president of instruction there. “You should not need to email someone to get an answer to a simple question like this.”

Whether colleges require some kind of remedial math or not, a sizable share are below the system average of students taking transfer-level math. In fall 2019, 78% of students systemwide took a transfer-level math course as their first math course, according to Public Policy Institute of California data . Eleven colleges were below 60%.

Oakley, the system chancellor, said he’s not making excuses for any college.

“We expect all of our colleges to pick up the pace.”

more on community colleges

A billion dollars in federal relief is coming to California’s community colleges and their students

A billion dollars in federal relief is coming to California’s community colleges and their students

Assuming the president approves Congress’ bipartisan relief package of $900 billion, California community colleges expect to receive $1 billion in sorely needed cash, money meant for direct student aid and to shore up colleges’ battered finances.

Avatar photo

How California community college vocational programs have adapted to COVID-19

A lot of Career Technical Education programs require a great deal of hands-on experience. In a situation where in-person teaching is inherently dangerous, that’s required a lot of innovation on the part of educators.

Community college enrollment falls as students grapple with job loss, online learning

Community college enrollment falls as students grapple with job loss, online learning

Lea este artículo en español.  David Lewis was just a few credits shy of earning his associate’s degree in journalism from Long Beach City College when the pandemic hit. Lewis, 29, was already encountering scheduling conflicts between his classes and a new job at Trader Joe’s. As the assignments for his online classes started to pile…

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Mikhail Zinshteyn Higher Education Reporter

Mikhail Zinshteyn has been a higher education reporter since 2015. As a freelancer, he contributed to The Atlantic, The Hechinger Report, Inside Higher Ed and The 74. Previously, he was a reporter at EdSource... More by Mikhail Zinshteyn

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How to List Relevant Coursework On Resume [Tips & Examples!]

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If you’re a college student, recent graduate, or entry-level professional, chances are you don’t have a lot of professional experience to list on your resume. 

This, in turn, might make you feel insecure about your application, especially considering that the work experience section is among the most important section of a resume. 

Well, listing your relevant coursework might just be the answer!

By listing the courses that are relevant to the job position or internship you’re applying for, you can show recruiters that while you don’t have much work experience, you have the right skills and knowledge for the job.

But what is the right way to list relevant coursework on your resume and is there a time when you shouldn’t list it all? And what exactly is relevant, to begin with?

In this article, we’re going to answer all those questions and more. Read on to learn:

When Is Relevant Coursework Necessary on a Resume?

  • How to List Relevant Coursework on Your Resume in 3 Steps

7 Tips on Listing Relevant Coursework on Your Resume

Resume example with relevant coursework.

And more! Let’s dive right in. 

What Makes Coursework Relevant?

Professional experience is one of the most important sections of a successful resume, but you first need to land a job to start building it. 

Which begs the question, how can a recent graduate or entry-level professional prove they’ve got what it takes for an entry-level position with no, or minimal, professional experience ? 

Well, this is where coursework comes in. 

Together with academic projects and achievements, as well as extracurricular activities, listing relevant coursework can help students and entry-level professionals show they’ve got the necessary skills for the job despite not having the relevant professional experience.

The coursework you list on your resume should actually be related to the position you’re applying for.

For example, if you’re applying for a job as a graphic designer, listing your achievements in your World History class won’t really impress recruiters. If, on the other hand, you mention that you were top of your class in Design and Layout , you’ll be effectively showing recruiters that you have great potential as an up-and-coming graphic designer. 

To sum things up, here are the top cases when relevant coursework is necessary on a resume:

  • When you’re still a student
  • When you’re applying with an entry-level resume
  • When you’re applying for an internship
  • When the coursework is directly related to the job position 

If, on the other hand, you have 2+ years of work experience in the field, as well as the needed skill-set, coursework on your resume will only take up space and can be skipped entirely.

Checking the job description is another way of determining whether you should add relevant coursework to your resume. If, for example, the job description requires that you list your majors, GPA, diploma, or portfolio, chances are they’ll also be interested in your coursework, especially if it’s relevant to the position. 

How to List Relevant Coursework on Your Resume in 3 Steps 

So you’ve established that you should include relevant coursework on your resume. Now, you may be wondering where exactly to include it. 

As a rule of thumb, coursework is listed under an applicant’s education history. Depending on whether you have any professional experience to list, the education section may come before or after the work experience section. 

Here are the four best ways to add relevant coursework to your resume: 

#1. Add a New Line in Your Education Section

Instead of creating a fresh section called “Relevant Coursework,” you’re better off just adding the courses to your education section.

As a student resume can be one-page max , this helps you to save up the space needed for other essential resume sections.

Here’s a practical example of what this looks like on the resume of a recent graduate applying for a high-school teaching position: 

BA in World Literature 

UC Berkeley

2012 - 2016

Relevant coursework: British Literature, American Literature, Medieval Literature, William Shakespeare, Language and Cognitive Development 

#2. List Your Relevant Coursework in Bullet Points

To make your relevant coursework more visible and reader-friendly, list them in bullet points underneath your diploma title. 

Here’s how the above Literature graduate’s resume would look like following this formatting: 

Relevant Coursework: 

  • British Literature
  • American Literature 
  • Medieval Literature 
  • William Shakespeare 
  • Language and Cognitive Development

#3. Explain How The Coursework is Relevant to the Position 

Finally, if you want to take your relevant coursework resume section to the next level, add detailed explanations to your courses to support how they’re relevant to the position you’re applying for or how they helped develop your skill-set. 

A recent study found that companies are suspending the use of degree completion as a proxy and instead now favor hiring on the basis of demonstrated skills and competencies . This means that your relevant coursework should aim to show exactly how it has helped you acquire the skills required for the position. 

Here’s an example of how that would play out for a journalism student applying for an entry-level reporting job at a newspaper:

B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication

Northwestern University, IL

2015 - 2018

  • Writing and Reporting: Learned the ins and outs of news reporting through several practical assignments and exams.
  • Media Ethics: Got introduced to the most essential ethical theories and decision-making strategies in journalism and wrote a paper on Ethical Journalism and Human Rights that got published in the Political Communication Journal.
  • Gathering and Developing the News: Gained first-hand experience in interviewing, researching, newsgathering, and communicating with sources.

To make sure your coursework is as relevant as possible, check out the required skills in the job description. If you have taken classes that have helped you master those skills, then make sure to mention how by adding all the necessary details, as shown above. 

Here are seven tips you should always keep in mind when listing coursework on your resume: 

  • Take advantage of keywords . When evaluating your resume, recruiters scan it to look for the keywords that were mentioned in the job description (e.g. skills, experiences, etc.). You can re-read the job ad and, where relevant, include these keywords in your coursework section.
  • Tailor your resume to the job offer.  In order for your coursework to add value to your resume, it really needs to be relevant. So, if you’re applying for a job that doesn’t take academic background into consideration or that’s completely unrelated to your major, you’re better off omitting coursework altogether and focusing on other important sections, such as your hard and soft skills. 
  • List online courses. If you’ve completed some online courses that are relevant to the position you’re applying for, feel free to also include them under relevant coursework. 
  • Add value through other academic achievements. Relevant coursework can say a lot about your potential, but recruiters will be even more easily convinced if you support it with other academic achievements, including your GPA, extracurricular activities, etc. 
  • Show how you’ve grown. When you’re explaining your relevant coursework in detail, you can include how you’ve grown by listing all the skills you acquired in the process. Those can be both soft skills, like communication and interpersonal skills, and hard skills like programming or doing extensive research. 
  • Change the relevant coursework as you progress. Many college students start working in their freshman year. If that’s the case with you, make sure to update your resume from year to year to reflect your academic journey and most recently acquired skills. 
  • Check for errors. A well-written, error-free resume shows that you’re attentive to detail and that you care to make a good impression. 

relevant coursework resume

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! You now have all the necessary information to add relevant coursework to your resume effectively. 

Before you start working on your resume, though, here’s a brief summary of the key points covered in this article:

  • Listing relevant coursework on your resume is not mandatory but can be very helpful if you’re a student or an entry-level professional.
  • If you have at least a year of professional experience, drop your relevant coursework and focus on tailoring your work experience and skills sections to the position. 
  • Relevant coursework typically goes under the education section. You can either give a general or a detailed summary of your coursework. 
  • You can make a separate relevant coursework section only if the job you’re applying for requires a strong academic record. 
  • Your coursework needs to be relevant to the position. This means you should leave them out of your resume if they have nothing to do with the role.

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EducationEffects

What Does ‘some College’ Mean

In today’s world where a college degree can greatly impact one’s career prospects many Americans find themselves in the category of ‘some college no degree.

‘ But what exactly does that mean?

This article aims to answer the question: What does ‘some college’ mean?

What Does 'Some College' Mean

Understanding ‘Some College’

What does ‘some college’ mean? The term “some college” refers to individuals who have been awarded college credit but have not completed a degree.

It can apply to those who have dropped out been expelled or are still enrolled in a course of study. Lumina Foundation’s report shows that in 2013 there were approximately 36.4 million Americans aged 25 to 64 with ‘some college no degree’.

The Adult College Completion Network (ACCN) aimed to reduce the number of ‘some college no degree’ adults to 35.5 million by 2016.

Educational Attainment: Some College

Why is ‘some college’ an important measure? ‘Some college no degree’ is a checkbox option used to measure educational attainment but it may not accurately represent the actual achievements of individuals.

The first federal survey to use a new approach found that nearly a quarter of adults with ‘some college’ had completed a formal credential. Adults with ‘some college’ and a certificate or certification had higher median monthly earnings compared to their peers who hadn’t earned an additional credential.

The goal is to ensure that every student who enters college leaves with a credential that prepares them for a better career and life. Collecting more information about educational certificates and professional certifications can provide a more accurate picture of educational attainment and the strength of the nation.

College Credits: What’s Considered ‘Some College’

‘Some college’ refers to individuals who have been awarded college credit but have not completed a degree. This can apply to those who have dropped out been expelled or are still enrolled in a course of study.

In the American education system college credits can be accumulated and typically signify the progress made towards a degree.

According to the American Community Survey an estimated 36.4 million Americans ages 25 to 64 had ‘some college no degree’ in 2013. The term “some college” is often used on job applications resumes and federal surveys to measure educational attainment.

Non-Graduates with Some College

Not everyone who starts a college degree finishes it. Some people may leave college with only a small amount of credits while others may be just a few courses shy of completing their degree.

In either case they are considered to have ‘some college’ experience.

Having ‘some college’ can be seen as both a positive and negative attribute. On one hand it shows that the individual has pursued a higher education and gained some knowledge and skills.

On the other hand it may also indicate that they did not commit to or complete their course of study.

  • Some college experience can be beneficial for entry-level jobs in certain fields
  • It may also serve as a stepping stone for individuals looking to re-enter the education system and complete their degree later in life
  • However the absence of a degree may also limit career growth and opportunities

In recent years there has been a push to better understand the value of ‘some college no degree’ in terms of additional credentials like educational certificates and professional certifications. A new approach to federal survey data found that nearly a quarter of adults with ‘some college’ had completed a formal credential making it a noteworthy achievement.

As we can see from the table above adults with ‘some college’ and an additional certificate or certification have higher median monthly earnings compared to their peers who have not earned an additional credential. This highlights the importance of recognizing the achievements of non-graduates with some college experience and the potential value of alternative learning paths.

Achieving Success with ‘Some College’

The term ‘some college’ refers to individuals who have been awarded college credit but have not completed a degree. This can apply to those who have dropped out been expelled or are still enrolled in a course of study.

Dropping out of college presents a unique opportunity to make the most of the time and resources saved. Skills can be developed personal projects can be pursued and knowledge can be gained outside of a formal college education.

Building a personal brand through blogging and social media presence is recommended. Learning a skill and starting to sell it even if not fully ready can lead to opportunities and experience.

Reading books and following blogs can provide valuable insights and knowledge.

  • Get a job become a minimalist and save money for financial stability and work experience
  • Create something every month to build a portfolio and gain practical experience
  • Establish a routine of healthy habits for overall success
  • Become an expert in a specific area for networking opportunities and differentiation
  • Enjoy life and have fun to prevent stress and burnout from traditional education

In 2013 it was estimated that there were approximately 36.4 million Americans ages 25 to 64 with ‘some college no degree’. The Adult College Completion Network (ACCN) aimed to reduce this number to 35.5 million by 2016.

Some College vs. Graduating: Understanding the Difference

‘Some college’ refers to a person who has completed a certain amount of college-level education but has not graduated with a degree. It indicates that the person has taken some courses or spent some time in college but not enough to earn a degree.

The term ‘some’ signifies an unspecified or indefinite amount depending on the context. In relation to time ‘some’ can indicate a short duration or a longer period depending on the subject being considered.

The concept of ‘some college’ is more applicable in the American education system where college credits can be accumulated over a flexible timeframe. It is important to distinguish between ‘some college’ and ‘graduating from college’ as they represent different levels of educational attainment.

Adults with ‘some college’ and a certificate or certification had higher median monthly earnings compared to their peers who hadn’t earned an additional credential.

The first federal survey to use a new approach found that nearly a quarter of adults with ‘some college’ had completed a formal credential. Collecting more information about educational certificates and professional certifications can provide a more accurate picture of educational attainment and the strength of the nation.

some college coursework

Some SUNY schools now offering free college courses to become a Direct Support Professional

A state funding boost will expand the reach of a free college credential program for direct support professionals, who provide assistance to people with disabilities, in the hopes of building that workforce in New York.

The program, a DSP microcredential, is already offered at Dutchess Community College , and will be offered at Orange County Community College this summer.

Flexible scheduling for classes, no cost and support provided throughout the process are facets of the short-term credential, designed to open the door to college experience for those who may have limited accessibility.

Lacie Reilly, project coordinator for the Direct Support Professional program, instructor and chair of the Human Services Program at Dutchess Community College, says this program is knocking down barriers to education.

Background on the DSP program: How can you go to college for free?

The Direct Support Professional program was formed through the partnership of SUNY , the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities and the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals , along with a $5 million boost in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

In an effort to help the Direct Support Professional workforce crisis in New York, the goal of this microcredential program is to upskill and retain personnel already in the field and encourage new Direct Support Professionals.

Reilly also said this partnership allows for further professionalization of the career path, aims to help an underrepresented workforce, allows an opportunity for upward mobility in the field and creates a better standard of care for clients.

The connection to the NADSP gives students a path to national certification, along with 27 college credits — about half of an associate degree — through the three-tiered microcredential. College credits may also be applied to a degree program if the student wishes to further their education in human services, psychology, sociology or addiction studies.

Upon acceptance into the program, the student's spot is held to complete all three tiers of the microcredential, although you can stop at tier one and tier two. Along with this, $2,300 is available for each student as student support funds, and a $750 incentive is awarded to students upon completion of each microcredential tier with a minimum 2.0 GPA.

The $2,300 in funding offered can be allocated for use from anything from technology to childcare to transportation to household costs. "It's designed to help break down barriers for success and participation," Reilly said.

"OPWDD wanted to make sure that not only are we providing an opportunity, but it's a reachable attainable goal for this particular cohort," Reilly said.

What does the DSP program entail?

The microcredential is split into three levels: DSP I, DSP II and DSP III. "Each of those levels contains three classes, so it's nine credits per microcredential," Reilly said. With each completed level, the student also fulfills a national certification through the NADSP.

They offer spring, summer and fall courses, in person or online. Applications for the summer term are open now. Students can choose what schedule works best for them, and don't have to take three classes all at once. They can break it down to one or two classes at a time if necessary.

Along with the coursework , for those who are not already a part of the DSP field or an agency such as the Cardinal Hayes Home for Children , The Arc Mid-Hudson or Greystone , students will engage in a work-based opportunity, as it is required for the NADSP national certification.

"This is a theory-to-practice experiential program," Reilly said. "They're learning all the theories, skills and practices in their classes, and then they're applying them at their agencies."

Reilly also notes the experience those already in the field bring to the classes is invaluable. She said when she's teaching concepts, being able to have a DSP share their real-world experience adds a third dimension to what they're talking about in the coursework.

Expansion to the Direct Support Professional Program

At Dutchess Community College on Wednesday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced an expansion to the DSP microcredential program, through a $32 million investment.

The funding will allow the program to grow on campuses where it already exists and reach six new campuses, grow the Direct Support Professional workforce in New York, and in the process, support those in the state with developmental disabilities. The program will now be offered at Orange County Community College, SUNY Canton, Farmingdale State College, Jamestown Community College, North Country Community College and SUNY Oneonta.

The colleges that already offer the program include Niagara County Community College, SUNY Corning, Dutchess Community College, Empire State University, Finger Lakes Community College, Fulton-Montgomery Community College, Jefferson Community College, Mohawk Valley Community College, SUNY Morrisville, Onondaga Community College, SUNY Schenectady and Tompkins Cortland Community College.

According to a statement, SUNY anticipates to support 6,000 students by 2030 with the investment.

“Every day, direct support professionals help New Yorkers with developmental disabilities thrive in their day-to-day lives,” Hochul said in a statement. “Through this $32 million expansion, we are helping to grow this crucial field and ensure students have the training they need to pursue this vital career path and care for their fellow New Yorkers.”

Wednesday's event at DCC also hosted a recognition ceremony of the college's first cohort of 14 students, who completed the microcredential in the fall 2023 semester. SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. and OPWDD Commissioner Kerri E. Neifeld joined President Peter Grant Jordan at the celebration.

As of the spring 2024 semester, the college has 173 students participating in the program.

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Some SUNY schools now offering free college courses to become a Direct Support Professional

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What is a coursework exactly? Answered

Hi! I'm an international student from Turkey. When I'm filling my CommonApp I saw a section about Coursework. However, I'm not sure if there is an equivalent version. Thus, I wish to know what is coursework exactly? Thank you.

Earn karma by helping others:

Yes, within the Common App is a section under Education called "Current or most recent courses"

Besides having your HS counselor send in your most recent transcript containing your classes, grades, and GPA from 9th, 10th, and 11th grade, the Common app wants you to list out the courses you are registering for 12th grade or your final year of HS. If you are already attending 12th grade or your final year, then list out the classes you are currently taking.

This section allows the person reading your Common Application to assess your course rigor for your final year of HS and make sure you are taking all the requisite HS requirements their school may have. For example, if you are applying to an Ivy League school like Harvard, their HS course requirements are 4 years of math, 4 years of English, 4 years of Foreign Languages, 3 years of History (including Euro History and US History), and 4 years of Science (with one advance course such as AP Physics or IB HL Physics).

Therefore, if you list out your final year of high school courses, the admissions officer at Harvard would be able to see if you have met the threshold requirements to be considered as a viable applicant. They are not asking for grades here. If they didn't do this, then millions of students would be applying without letting their admissions officers know what 25% of the HS course are. The final year's classes would be a guessing game for those reading the common app file.

Here in the US, some 12th graders feel that they deserve to take it easy during senior year and that phenomenon is called "Senior Slump" or "Senioritis". What this translates into is many seniors take fewer classes and easier classes because they feel that only their 9th through 11th-grade efforts count. While this might be true in practice, some colleges fully expect you to give it your all during your final year of high school.

Although only your 1st or Fall Semester grades and coursework will count in the official admissions process, if an applicant wants to end strong or show their Admissions Officer that they are challenging themselves with the hardest available classes they can take, that may help their chances of getting into a school versus someone who has taken their "foot off the gas" and decided to "coast into graduation". By providing you with some context, I hope you can now have a better appreciation for why this is asked of HS students who are using the Common App to apply to many colleges at once.

Thanks for the help but I guess there is nothing to do since I cannot decide which course I will take here. In my college, the school administration decides our courses including the selective ones, unfortunately.

I see that's too bad. I wonder if it would help you if you tried to guess what the courses might be.

Most likely the Coursework refers to the classes you took in High school from 9-12th as well as if you took any college classes through high school. Good Luck!!!

Enter the following about each class:

Type: Choose from the drop-down list, the type that best represents this particular class, e.g. an honors class, AP or IB. The listed types are possible descriptions your school might use. If you're unsure of the type, select "regular". You can also select "Other" to manually enter the class type, if it's not included in the drop-down list.

Subject area: Choose from the drop-down list to subject area that best describes the class. If you need help figuring out the subject area, see Subject Area Examples.

Class/Class Name on Transcript: Enter the official class name from your transcript so that admissions offices can match the course you are reporting here with your transcript.

College credit? Check the box if you took this class at a college or received college credit for it. Select the college from the list (of colleges you already entered in the College Information section), or add a new college if necessary.

Select a grading scale: Choose from the options (such as letter grade, number grade).

Select how it was reported on your transcript: one final grade or multiple grades.

Enter your final grade: The options reflect what type of grades you specified (letter, number, and so on)

Block scheduling? Select the checkbox for "uses block scheduling" if this high school offers certain classes on different days of the week (for example, some classes meet Mon/Wed/Fri and other classes meet Tue/Thu).

When class occurred: Select if the class was during the regular school year or summer.

Your Grade when taking class: Select the grade you were in when you took the class. If you took the class before high school (such as in middle school) select "9th or earlier."

Once you have added all the information, either save and add another class, or save and close.

Thanks for the help!

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30 Best universities for Mechanical Engineering in Moscow, Russia

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in Moscow ranked based on their research performance in Mechanical Engineering. A graph of 269K citations received by 45.8K academic papers made by 30 universities in Moscow was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Moscow State University

For Mechanical Engineering

Moscow State University logo

2. Bauman Moscow State Technical University

Bauman Moscow State Technical University logo

3. National Research University Higher School of Economics

National Research University Higher School of Economics logo

4. Moscow Aviation Institute

Moscow Aviation Institute logo

5. N.R.U. Moscow Power Engineering Institute

N.R.U. Moscow Power Engineering Institute logo

6. National Research Nuclear University MEPI

National Research Nuclear University MEPI logo

7. National University of Science and Technology "MISIS"

National University of Science and Technology "MISIS" logo

8. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology logo

9. Moscow State Technological University "Stankin"

Moscow State Technological University "Stankin" logo

10. RUDN University

RUDN University logo

11. Moscow Polytech

Moscow Polytech logo

12. Moscow State University of Railway Engineering

Moscow State University of Railway Engineering logo

13. Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation

Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation logo

14. Moscow Medical Academy

Moscow Medical Academy logo

15. Russian State University of Oil and Gas

16. mendeleev university of chemical technology of russia.

Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia logo

17. Russian National Research Medical University

Russian National Research Medical University logo

18. Plekhanov Russian University of Economics

Plekhanov Russian University of Economics logo

19. National Research University of Electronic Technology

National Research University of Electronic Technology logo

20. Moscow State Pedagogical University

Moscow State Pedagogical University logo

21. Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration

Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration logo

22. State University of Management

State University of Management logo

23. Moscow State Institute of International Relations

Moscow State Institute of International Relations logo

24. Russian State Geological Prospecting University

25. russian state agricultural university.

Russian State Agricultural University logo

26. New Economic School

New Economic School logo

27. Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation

Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation logo

28. Russian State University for the Humanities

Russian State University for the Humanities logo

29. Russian State Social University

Russian State Social University logo

30. Moscow State Linguistic University

Moscow State Linguistic University logo

Universities for Mechanical Engineering near Moscow

Engineering subfields in moscow.

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Registration Prerequisites: Complete the following Google form to request a permission number from the instructor ( https://forms.gle/Y81FGaJivoqMQYtq5 ). Students are expected to have a solid foundation in either data visualization, computer graphics, computer vision, or HCI. Having expertise in all would be perfect! However, a robust interest and eagerness to delve into these subjects can be equally valuable, even though it means you need to learn some basic concepts independently.

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Meeting Time: 09:45 AM‑11:00 AM  Instructor: Abhishek Chandra Course Description: In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the pervasiveness, scale, and distribution of computing infrastructure: ranging from cloud, HPC systems, and data centers to edge computing and pervasive computing in the form of micro-data centers, mobile phones, sensors, and IoT devices embedded in the environment around us. The growing amount of computing, storage, and networking demand leads to increased energy usage, carbon emissions, and natural resource consumption. To reduce their environmental impact, there is a growing need to make computing systems sustainable. In this course, we will examine sustainable computing from a systems perspective. We will examine a number of questions:   • How can we design and build sustainable computing systems?   • How can we manage resources efficiently?   • What system software and algorithms can reduce computational needs?    Topics of interest would include:   • Sustainable system design and architectures   • Sustainability-aware systems software and management   • Sustainability in large-scale distributed computing (clouds, data centers, HPC)   • Sustainability in dispersed computing (edge, mobile computing, sensors/IoT)

Registration Prerequisites: This course is targeted towards students with a strong interest in computer systems (Operating Systems, Distributed Systems, Networking, Databases, etc.). Background in Operating Systems (Equivalent of CSCI 5103) and basic understanding of Computer Networking (Equivalent of CSCI 4211) is required.

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Spatial Variations of the Activity of 137 Cs and the Contents of Heavy Metals and Petroleum Products in the Polluted Soils of the City of Elektrostal

  • DEGRADATION, REHABILITATION, AND CONSERVATION OF SOILS
  • Open access
  • Published: 15 June 2022
  • Volume 55 , pages 840–848, ( 2022 )

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  • D. N. Lipatov 1 ,
  • V. A. Varachenkov 1 ,
  • D. V. Manakhov 1 ,
  • M. M. Karpukhin 1 &
  • S. V. Mamikhin 1  

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The levels of specific activity of 137 Cs and the contents of mobile forms (1 M ammonium acetate extraction) of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Pb) and petroleum products were studied in the upper soil horizon of urban landscapes of the city of Elektrostal under conditions of local radioactive and chemical contamination were studied. In the soils within a short radius (0–100 m) around the heavy engineering plant, the specific activity of 137 Cs and the contents of mobile forms of Pb, Cu, and Zn were increased. The lognormal distribution law of 137 Cs was found in the upper (0–10 cm) soil layer; five years after the radiation accident, the specific activity of 137 Cs varied from 6 to 4238 Bq/kg. The coefficients of variation increased with an increase in the degree of soil contamination in the following sequence: Co < Ni < petroleum products < Cr < 137 Cs < Zn < Pb < Cu ranging from 50 to 435%. Statistically significant direct correlation was found between the specific activity of 137 Cs and the contents of mobile forms of Pb, Cu, and Zn in the upper horizon of urban soils, and this fact indicated the spatial conjugacy of local spots of radioactive and polymetallic contamination in the studied area. It was shown that the specific activity of 137 Cs, as well as the content of heavy metals and petroleum products in the upper layer (0–10 cm) of the soils disturbed in the course of decontamination, earthwork and reclamation is reduced.

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INTRODUCTION

Contaminants migrate and accumulate in urban ecosystems under the impact of both natural and technogenic factors. The processes of technogenic migration of 137 Cs are most pronounced in radioactively contaminated territories. It was found in urboecological studies that the intensity of sedimentation of aerosol particles containing radionuclides and heavy metals is determined by the types of the surfaces of roofs, walls, roads, lawns, and parks and by their position within the urban wind field [ 12 , 26 ]. Traffic in the cities results in significant transport of dust and associated contaminants and radionuclides [ 15 , 24 ]. During decontamination measures in the areas of Chernobyl radioactive trace, not only the decrease in the level of contamination but also the possibility of secondary radioactive contamination because of the transportation of contaminated soil particles by wind or water, or anthropogenic transfer of transferring of ground were observed [ 5 , 6 ]. Rainstorm runoff and hydrological transport of dissolved and colloidal forms of 137 Cs can result in the accumulation of this radionuclide in meso- and microdepressions, where sedimentation takes place [ 10 , 16 ]. Different spatial distribution patterns of 137 Cs in soils of particular urban landscapes were found in the city of Ozersk near the nuclear fuel cycle works [ 17 ]. Natural character of 137 Cs migration in soils of Moscow forest-parks and a decrease in its specific activity in industrial areas have been revealed [ 10 ]. Determination of the mean level and parameters of spatial variations of 137 Cs in soils is one of primary tasks of radioecological monitoring of cities, including both unpolluted (background) and contaminated territories.

Emissions and discharges from numerous sources of contamination can cause the accumulation of a wide range of toxicants in urban soils: heavy metals (HMs), oil products (OPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and other chemical substances. Soil contamination by several groups of toxicants is often observed in urban landscapes [ 20 , 23 ] because of the common contamination source or close pathways of the migration of different contaminants. A comprehensive analysis of contamination of urban soils by radionuclides and heavy metals has been performed in some studies [ 21 , 25 ]. The determination of possible spatial interrelationships between radioactive and chemical contaminations in urban soils is an important problem in urban ecology.

A radiation accident took place in the Elektrostal heavy engineering works (EHEW) in April 2013: a capacious source of 137 Cs entered the smelt furnace, and emission of radioactive aerosols from the aerating duct into the urban environment took place. The activity of molten source was estimated at about 1000–7000 Ci [ 14 ]. The area of contamination in the territory of the plant reached 7500 m 2 . However, radioactive aerosols affected a much larger area around the EHEW, including Krasnaya and Pervomaiskaya streets, and reached Lenin Prospect.

Geochemical evaluation of contamination of the upper soil horizon in the city of Elektrostal was carried out in 1989–1991. This survey indicated the anomalies of concentrations of wolfram, nickel, molybdenum, chromium, and other heavy metals related to accumulation of alloying constituent and impurities of non-ferrous metals in the emissions of steelmaking works [ 19 ].

The aim of our work was to determine the levels of specific activity of 137 Cs, concentrations of mobile forms of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, and Pb) and oil products in the upper soil horizons in different urban landscapes of the city of Elektrostal under the conditions of local radioactive and chemical contamination.

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D. N. Lipatov, V. A. Varachenkov, D. V. Manakhov, M. M. Karpukhin & S. V. Mamikhin

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Lipatov, D.N., Varachenkov, V.A., Manakhov, D.V. et al. Spatial Variations of the Activity of 137 Cs and the Contents of Heavy Metals and Petroleum Products in the Polluted Soils of the City of Elektrostal. Eurasian Soil Sc. 55 , 840–848 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229322060072

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Received : 21 October 2021

Revised : 22 December 2021

Accepted : 30 December 2021

Published : 15 June 2022

Issue Date : June 2022

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229322060072

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    A major is the field of study you choose to pursue when completing your general education requirements in college. Examples of common majors include business administration, computer science, and psychology. Learning more about college majors can help make the decision process easier. This article covers when and why to declare a major, along ...

  14. List of 200 College Majors: Which Is Right For You?

    She also writes satire and humor, which has appeared in Slackjaw, Points in Case, Little Old Lady Comedy, Jane Austen's Wastebasket, and Funny-ish. View her work and get in touch at: www.lauraberlinskyschine.com. This is a list of 200 college majors all in one place. It will help you understand what options are available.

  15. High School Classes Colleges Look For

    Some colleges require or recommend one or two semesters in the arts. Choices include studio art, dance, music, and drama. Advanced College Courses. To ready yourself for college-level work, enroll in challenging high school courses, such as honors classes, AP courses, or IB-program courses. Find out about taking college classes in high school ...

  16. Thousands of college students still taking unneeded classes

    Additionally, in 2019, the number of students able to take a transfer-level course without needing a remedial one first had increased by 100,000 for English students and 73,000 for math students since 2015. And though the percentage of students passing these transfer level courses has declined compared to past years, tens of thousands more ...

  17. How to List Relevant Coursework On Resume [Tips & Examples!]

    Relevant coursework: British Literature, American Literature, Medieval Literature, William Shakespeare, Language and Cognitive Development. #2. List Your Relevant Coursework in Bullet Points. To make your relevant coursework more visible and reader-friendly, list them in bullet points underneath your diploma title.

  18. What Does 'some College' Mean

    The term 'some college' refers to individuals who have been awarded college credit but have not completed a degree. This can apply to those who have dropped out been expelled or are still enrolled in a course of study. Dropping out of college presents a unique opportunity to make the most of the time and resources saved.

  19. How to List an Unfinished Degree on a Resume (With Examples)

    Here's an example of how to list an unfinished degree on your resume: SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY - Syracuse, NY. 2017-2019. If you took some courses related to the job, include those under your university information. You can list them by individual courses taken or by number of credits earned in a certain area of study.

  20. Some SUNY schools now offering free college courses to become a Direct

    Some SUNY schools now offering free college courses to become a Direct Support Professional. A state funding boost will expand the reach of a free college credential program for direct support ...

  21. What is a coursework exactly?

    2,283 answers, 8,467 votes. • 3 years ago [edited] Yes, within the Common App is a section under Education called "Current or most recent courses". Besides having your HS counselor send in your most recent transcript containing your classes, grades, and GPA from 9th, 10th, and 11th grade, the Common app wants you to list out the courses you ...

  22. Online Bachelor of Social Work Degree

    The skills you'll develop in this online BSW. In this program, you'll take courses sequentially, allowing you to build a foundation in social work concepts and apply them in practice. The curriculum is designed to build your abilities as a social work generalist. Key areas of learning include advocacy, consultation and education, as well as ...

  23. Mechanical Engineering in Russia: Best universities Ranked

    Below is a list of best universities in Russia ranked based on their research performance in Mechanical Engineering. A graph of 714K citations received by 136K academic papers made by 158 universities in Russia was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

  24. Moscow, Russia's best Mechanical Engineering universities [Rankings]

    EduRank.org is an independent metric-based ranking of 14,131 universities from 183 countries. We utilize the world's largest scholarly papers database with 98,302,198 scientific publications and 2,149,512,106 citations to rank universities across 246 research topics.

  25. Fall 2024 CSCI Special Topics Courses

    Visualization with AI. Meeting Time: 04:00 PM‑05:15 PM TTh. Instructor: Qianwen Wang. Course Description: This course aims to investigate how visualization techniques and AI technologies work together to enhance understanding, insights, or outcomes. This is a seminar style course consisting of lectures, paper presentation, and interactive ...

  26. 4 Key Money Moves for College Grads

    I definitely have some advantages: Unlike more than half of college grads (according to a College Board study from 2022), I don't have student loans to pay off, and like many recent grads, I ...

  27. Residents Outside Moscow Protest Power Outage, Demand Heating Amid

    Residents of a Moscow region town impacted by power outages have taken to the streets, demanding that local authorities restore heat to their homes as subzero temperatures grip the region, Russian ...

  28. Job Fairs at Fresno City College

    Apr 16, 2024 —. The Career and Employment Center (CEC) is hosting its in-person Spring 2024 Job Fair on the University Mall in front of the Library building Wednesday, April 17, from 9 am — 12 pm. The 36 employers that are attending have a wide variety of jobs they are seeking to fill. Some employers offer internships for students as well.

  29. Spatial Variations of the Activity of 137Cs and the Contents of Heavy

    Abstract The levels of specific activity of 137Cs and the contents of mobile forms (1 M ammonium acetate extraction) of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Pb) and petroleum products were studied in the upper soil horizon of urban landscapes of the city of Elektrostal under conditions of local radioactive and chemical contamination were studied. In the soils within a short radius (0-100 m ...