masters is what level of education

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

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.

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How do academic degrees go in order?

There are four types of degrees. In order of level of education, they rank as associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s or graduate degrees, and doctorate or professional degrees.

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Master’s Programs in Education

Additional Information

• Download the Master's Viewbook

As you embrace the next chapter in your development as an educator, innovator, and leader, consider a graduate program that builds on a century of innovation, that’s grounded in the skills every educator needs, and that fully supports your current work and future aspirations.

At the Harvard Graduate School of Education, our master’s degree program is driven by passion and empowered by evidence. We share a vision of education where every learner has an opportunity to be seen, to be challenged, to excel, and to reach their full potential. We are motivated by urgency to build a future that recognizes and overcomes grinding systemic inequities.

Whether you seek to make an impact in early education, in K–12 districts and networks, or in higher education — or whether you want to drive educational change outside of those realms — you belong at HGSE. 

No matter which program you choose, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with HGSE’s world-class faculty, build a sustained community of practice and a lifelong professional network, and gain the preparation necessary to grow, advance, and become the type of leader that education needs.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education offers the Master's in Education (Ed.M.) degree in two formats —  residential and online — and in a variety of programs.

Residential Master's

HGSE’s  on-campus master’s degree is a one-year, full-time, immersive Harvard experience. You'll apply directly to one of its five distinct programs, spanning education leadership and entrepreneurship, education policy, human development, teaching and teacher leadership, and learning design and technology. 

Online Master's

Our Online Master's in Education  is a part-time, two-year, online program in education leadership. It is designed for experienced professionals who want to advance in their careers and deepen their impact. The online program in education leadership offers a choice of two pathways, preK–12 or higher education, that complement your career and chosen area of impact.  

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American Education and Higher Ed System: The US Higher Education System Explained

US colleges and universities offer life-changing opportunities for international students. Our definitive guide to higher education in the USA answers all your questions.

If you want to study abroad in America, understanding the US higher education system is vital. Whether you plan to get a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree from one of the many universities in the USA, it is important to learn how it works.

Read on to make the most of your opportunity to pursue post-secondary education in the United States.

What Is the Structure of the US Higher Education System?

As an international student, you may be wondering how colleges and universities fit into the larger US higher education system. Students in America are required to go to school between the ages of six and 18 in what are called grades, which run from first through 12th. (There is also an earlier option, called kindergarten, for the year before first grade, but it is not mandatory in most US states.)

Primary, or elementary, education lasts until fifth grade, middle school or junior high school covers sixth through eighth grade, followed by secondary education in ninth through 12th grades. Secondary education can cover both college-preparatory curriculum or vocational training.

After 12th grade, students have two options for post-secondary education: vocational training (typically a year or two, designed for immediate employment in a trade) or higher education (typically a two-year associate’s degree or four-year bachelor’s degree in an academic program). 

For international students in British-style education systems, you may have had 13 years of education before entering post-secondary studies. Other countries may only have 11 years of pre-university level studies. Typically, for students enrolled in post-secondary education in the United States, US colleges and universities require 12 years of education.

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What Are the Different Types of Higher Education Institutions in the US?

College vs. university.

In many countries, post-secondary institutions are called universities. However, in the US, the words college and university are often used interchangeably . Some are even called institutes (e.g., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology). Within larger universities in the United States, there are different colleges or schools that represent different academic areas of study (e.g., College of Engineering, School of Business).

State Colleges and Private Colleges

Depending on where you are from, the best colleges or universities may be public or run by the national or regional/state government. But in the United States, the federal government does not manage any college or university. Instead, the governments of the individual 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other US territories have the authority to operate, fund, and (in some respects) control public colleges and universities within their boundaries. 

Alternatively, private colleges can operate on their own, without direct control from state or national governments. For instance, hundreds of private colleges in the US were founded by religious denominations or churches, such as the University of Dayton (affiliated with the Catholic church) and the University of the Pacific (a Methodist university). 

According the National Center of Education Statistics , in 2022 there were 5,916 post-secondary colleges and universities in the United States: 1,892 public, 1,754 private, and 2,270 for-profit. Among the top 20 US universities with the most international students (according to the 2022 Open Doors Fast Facts report ), 13 are public and seven are private. So, remember: quality is not determined by whether a college or university is public or private. 

Tech Colleges and Community Colleges

While most international students come to the United States for academic programs, some students enroll in technical or vocational colleges designed for job training, like flight school or air traffic control programs. 

Additionally, another option in American post-secondary education is community college. Community colleges offer low-cost education in local communities and provide workforce preparation or credits toward completing a bachelor’s degree. According to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), there are almost “1,200 two-year, associate degree-granting institutions and more than 12 million students” enrolled in these colleges. Approximately 100,000 international students currently attend community colleges in the United States.

What Are the Different Education Levels and Degree Types at US Colleges and Universities?

Undergraduate .

Undergraduate studies can start immediately after secondary school. There are two main options: a two-year associate’s degree and a four-year bachelor’s degree. 

Generally, associate’s degrees are granted at two-year US community colleges, while bachelor’s degrees are awarded from four-year colleges and universities. In both cases, students choose a focus for their academic studies called a major . In addition to courses in a major, students take required core curriculum or general education classes that develop critical thinking and communication skills.

Graduate studies are only available to students who have completed a bachelor’s degree. In many countries, graduate studies are called post-graduate studies and can take up to five years or more. In the US, the term post-graduate studies can refer to work after a master’s degree program, including studies for a doctoral degree. 

International students who have finished bachelor’s degrees in their home countries, the United States, or third countries have two options for graduate studies in the United States: master’s and doctorate (or doctoral) degrees. 

Master’s degrees can require one to two years of study. In the final term of most master’s programs, students must complete a thesis (a large, well-documented essay) or a project before they will be awarded the master’s degree.

The length of doctorate programs will depend on two things: 

whether students must first complete a master’s degree in a related field, and

how long it takes to complete a dissertation

Generally, if you have finished a master’s degree and are then admitted to a doctoral program, the coursework will take two to three years. After finishing doctoral classes, you typically begin work on a dissertation or research paper/project that serves as the focus of your degree studies. With any paper or project, a faculty member will serve as a director or adviser.

In addition to these degree programs, international students may take various other continuing education or certification courses. Some are in addition to degree studies, while others may count toward meeting licensing requirements to work in certain fields. 

What Should I Know About Courses of Study and Choosing a Major?

The US education system is designed to teach life skills that will serve students well, no matter which career they choose after graduation. So, students enrolled in colleges or universities will take a variety of courses in order to get a degree. 

For many international students, taking courses outside their intended academic field of study is a foreign concept. But US colleges and universities value liberal arts classes in subjects like history, English literature, and foreign language as well as mathematics, social, and natural sciences. These courses are considered important foundations for critical thinking, logical thought, and communications skills.

Majors, Minors, and Concentrations

When starting college or university, international students should not expect to have more than half their total classes in their intended major. Majors represent what students are most interested in learning to prepare for a career in a related field of study or to go on to graduate school. 

Minors are other academic focus areas in addition to a major, and typically require half as many classes as a major.  

Concentrations are specializations within a given major that allow students to explore a more specific area of study. For example, at the University of South Carolina , the department of history offers regional concentrations (i.e., Latin America, Middle East/North Africa, etc.) as well as 13 different subject areas such as political history, history of slavery, or history of religion. 

BA vs BS vs BFA Degrees

When it comes to bachelor’s degrees in the United States , the three most common are BA (bachelor of arts), BS (bachelor of science), and BFA (bachelor of fine arts). BA degrees focus on liberal arts majors in humanities and social sciences, while BS degrees cover business, math, sciences, engineering, health sciences, and other tech fields. BFA degrees align with the creative arts, such as music or dance.

Accreditation

International students may wonder which US colleges and universities are government-approved. Remember, in America, there is no Ministry of Higher Education, and the federal government does not determine which colleges or universities may operate. 

In the US education system, there are six regional accreditation groups that enable nearly all public and private nonprofit colleges and universities to operate. (Most for-profit private colleges are accredited by national accrediting groups.) Within each institution, there may be several academic programs that also have a national program accreditor as well (e.g., ABET , which focuses on the quality of science, technology, engineering, and math — or STEM — programs). Program accreditations are signs of academic quality as well. 

To research the accreditations of the US colleges you are considering, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s online database . When in doubt, only choose accredited US colleges and universities for your academic studies.

As international students, you also will need to check that these universities and colleges are legally able to enroll students who want to study abroad in the USA. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires all US colleges and universities to apply for certification (and recertification every two years) in order to issue the I-20 forms that international students use to apply for student visas . You can research certified colleges on the DHS website  or use the Shorelight School Match tool .

What Do I Need to Know About College Applications and Applying to University in the USA?

When applying to US colleges and universities, be ready for a fairly complex, lengthy, and sometimes confusing process. But with the right approach and appropriate guidance, you can find the right place that meets your needs. (Check out our How to Study in the USA article for all the specifics.) 

College Application Forms

While most colleges have their own application forms online, prospective undergraduate international students may also be able to use the Common Application to apply to one (or more) of nearly 900 US colleges and universities. If you are applying to Shorelight universities, you can use one online application to apply to multiple institutions for both undergraduate and graduate programs. Whichever form you use, be aware that each college sets its own application deadlines. Additionally, beyond an application form, each university or college will have its own required application checklist .

Standardized Tests

International student applicants will need to take at least one type of test to determine English proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, Duolingo, iTEP). SAT or ACT test scores may be required for undergraduate students, while graduate programs may need a GRE or GMAT score to submit an application. Ask in advance: a growing number of undergraduate colleges and graduate departments are now test-optional (including Shorelight universities) when it comes to SAT/ACT or GRE/GMAT. 

Academic Records

For most colleges in the US education system, your academic records (translated into English) will be the most important piece of the evaluation process. For undergraduate applicants, that means submitting transcripts from every institution you have previously attended: your complete secondary school academic transcripts, external exams, and (for transfer students) any prior colleges or universities. For graduate applicants, it means submitting official copies of undergraduate (and any graduate) degree transcripts of coursework taken. 

Essay and Recommendations

More selective colleges and universities will require an essay (for undergraduate applicants) or statement of purpose (for graduate applicants) and letters of recommendation . Essay topics can be as broad as “What do you want to do with your life?” or as specific as “What event has had the biggest impact on you?” Letters of recommendation should be written by someone who has either taught you in a class and can speak to your academic abilities, or by an advisor who can provide a more well-rounded perspective on the kind of person you are.

Whichever path you choose, the college application process is not meant to be done alone. A dedicated college guidance counselor or advisor can assist you through the college admissions process.

How Do Transfer Credits Work?

If you have already done some undergraduate coursework, you may be considered a transfer student , and this can change application requirements for study in the US. 

Transfer students have a slightly different application process, especially with standardized test requirements and deadlines. Some colleges and universities may only take transfer undergraduate or graduate applicants for the fall term, while others let transfer students start in spring or even summer. 

The classes you have already taken may count toward your bachelor’s degree requirements. These are called transfer credits . Transfer programs at US colleges and universities are designed for students who have not taken more than two years of study and, at many colleges, no more than two years of course credit can be applied toward fulfilling degree requirements. 

How Is the Academic Year Set Up in the USA?

Semesters, trimesters, quarters.

In the American education system, the academic year typically begins in August or September. Depending on the university, the academic year may be divided into quarters, trimesters, or semesters, and will run until May or June. For colleges that follow semesters, the fall term runs from late August or early September to mid-December, and the spring semester runs from January through May.

When to Apply

For new international undergraduate students considering US colleges and universities, applications are generally accepted as early as a year before the academic term you wish to join. For example, if you want to start at the University of Illinois Chicago in late August 2023, you could have applied for admission as early as September 2022. 

While many selective universities in the USA have regular admissions application deadlines in January or February, some colleges also offer early decision or early action deadlines in November. These earlier deadlines give students the chance to get a decision as far in advance as possible, although it often requires a commitment to enroll if admitted. Other colleges have rolling admissions policies and will accept applications throughout the year for the next academic term (or year).

Typically, early decision or early action applicants find out if they are accepted within a month of the submission deadline. For January or February application deadlines, students will learn if they are admitted in March or early April. International students who apply to rolling admissions colleges, like many of the Shorelight partner universities, generally find out as early as a few days to three to four weeks. 

How to Enroll

After admission, you will be told what your next steps are to accept an offer from a college or university. Many American universities will set a deadline date for admitted students to send in their deposit (the amount varies by college) to hold their place for the next academic year.

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What is the Classroom Experience Like in the US?

The undergrad classroom.

In US colleges, class sizes can be as large as 400 students in an auditorium or as small as four students around a table. At larger state universities, you will likely find big class sizes in the first two years of study. At liberal arts colleges, smaller class sizes (10 to 20 students) are standard. Colleges and universities must list on their websites their average student-to-faculty ratio (i.e., how many students are on campus for every faculty member and the average class size), so you can easily get a sense of the class sizes at the colleges that interest you.

For instruction , professors and academic experts typically teach college classes. Teaching assistants (often graduate students working for a professor) may teach large lecture classes or smaller lab or discussion sections. In addition to teaching staff, you will have either an academic advisor or faculty advisor (once you declare an academic major) who will help you choose classes and make sure you are on track for graduation.

On the first day of each class at the beginning of an academic term, students receive a syllabus from the professor or instructor, which covers what students can expect during the course — all the scheduled quizzes, tests, papers, and final exam requirements. Additionally, the syllabus will list the required textbooks and the reading that must be done for each class meeting. In many classes, the syllabus will also break down what percentage of your course grade comes from papers, quizzes, tests, group projects, mid-term and final exams, and even classroom participation. (That’s right — in many courses your grade is impacted by your involvement in discussions!)

Campus Jobs and Co-ops

Once you are settled, you may want to explore the opportunity to work on campus. Legally, as F-1 student visa holders, if there are jobs on campus available for international students, you can work up to 20 hours per week while classes are in session and up to 40 hours per week during vacation periods. 

As you progress into your academic major, there may be internships , co-ops, or other work options off campus in jobs related to your program. Keep an eye out for these opportunities and be sure to bring this topic up with your academic/faculty advisor and also with your international student advisor, as there are immigration regulations that you will need to be familiar with and permission you will need to receive before working off campus. Many of these internships or co-ops may also offer credits toward your degree studies.

The Grad Student Experience

For graduate students, similar classroom and work rules apply for both master’s degree and doctorate coursework. Graduate students will have a required master’s thesis/project or doctoral dissertation at the end of a graduate program. These could take anywhere from a few months for a master’s thesis to two or more years for a dissertation.

What Is the Grading System at US Colleges and Universities?

Most US colleges use a combination of a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) scale and a letter grading system from A to F. Grades often look like: 

A = 4.0 Best

F = 0.0 Worst

Many American universities will also use different categories — A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, and F — and the +/- will have a different value on the 4.0 scale (e.g., A- = 3.7, B+ 3.3). Some universities offer classes with Pass/Fail or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grades, but these will not impact a student’s GPA. 

Students usually take between three and six classes each academic term, and each class is given a certain number of academic credits. As long as you pass a course (i.e., a D grade or better) you will get full credit for that course. 

Most university classes are worth between three and five credits. The number of credits per class varies by the hours of instruction each week. For example, if you have a course that meets a total of three hours a week over the course of a 16-week semester, that course will typically be worth three credit hours. If you have three hours of instruction plus an hour lab section each week, the course will likely be a four-credit class.

So, over one semester, let’s say you have five classes worth three credits each. If you pass each course, you will receive 15 credits. If, over eight semesters (or four academic years), you took that same number of credits each term and passed each class, you would have 120 credits and the end of your program. Most bachelor’s degrees require 120 to 133 credits, depending on the field of study.

How Successful Are International Students Studying in the USA?

More international students choose to study in the USA than in any other country. According to the Institute of International Education (IIE) 2022 Open Doors Report , foreign students make up 4.7% of all college students in the US, and nearly one million students from overseas studied at American colleges and universities. 

For international students who complete degrees in the United States, roughly 60-65% choose to stay in the US for work opportunities. For F-1 student visa holders, that means one to three years of potential paid employment in your field of study, depending on your major. This work permission is called Optional Practical Training (OPT) . If you enroll in a STEM major, you can have three years of OPT for each degree level (bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral) you complete in the United States. Of the million-plus international students in the United States in the 2018-19 academic year, more than 20% were in OPT.

A 2017 international student satisfaction survey from World Education Services revealed that 92% of current international students and 89% of recent alumni believe their US education was a good investment, and 85% of students and 88% of alumni feel positive about their career prospects.

US Education System Terms to Know: A US Colleges and Universities Glossary

Academic credits: the unit of measure for a student’s progress toward graduation. A typical university-level bachelor’s degree class is worth three credits. Normally, to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, students need to earn between 120 and 133 credits, which equals 40 to 44 classes.

Accreditation: six regional and dozens of program-specific groups, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, that permit colleges to operate as educational institutions.

Associate degree: the first academic degree possible after completing secondary school. This two-year degree program has an academic focus in one area with a number of other classes in the liberal arts. Associate degrees are normally completed at two-year community colleges.

Bachelor’s degree : typically a four-year degree completed at post-secondary colleges and universities.

College: a post-secondary institution in the United States. It can be a two-year institution for either academic or vocational studies or a four-year academic institution. Within universities, the academic divisions may be called colleges (e.g., College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, etc.).

Community college: a two-year post-secondary educational institution that primarily offers associate degree programs.

Doctoral degree: often called a PhD (doctor of philosophy) or EdD (doctor of education), this is the highest academic level of study offered in the United States. Doctoral programs are available to students who have either completed a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in a related subject. The length of the program depends on whether students already have a master’s before entry and the time it takes after completion of coursework to write a required dissertation (between one and four years).

GPA: the academic grade point average students receive from their various classes taken in college or university. Generally, students are graded in each course on a 4.0 scale (4 being high, 0 low). In the US education system, a 4.0 GPA equals an A, 3.0 is a B, 2.0 is a C, 1.0 is a D, and 0.0 is an F.

Graduate studies: academic programs that start after completing a four-year undergraduate degree and generally lead to master’s or doctorate degrees.

Liberal arts: areas of study covering humanities subjects like history, English literature, foreign language, mathematics, social studies, and natural sciences.

Liberal arts college: post-secondary institutions that focus primarily on academic programs in the humanities and social sciences.

Major: the primary focus of an undergraduate student’s degree studies. Majors are similar to the term “course of study” for international students. In US colleges and universities, the major represents anywhere from 33-50% of the total number of classes a student takes to graduate.

Master’s degree: normally a one- to two-year graduate study degree with an intensive focus in a particular academic subject. A master’s thesis or project is often required.

Quarter: An academic calendar variation that divides the year into four 10-week-long periods, with only three required (fall, winter, spring).

School: a US institution that educates students; often refers to places with K-12 learners. Within colleges and universities, “schools” can be considered a sub-division of a university’s academic areas (e.g., School of Engineering, School of Business). It can also be used as a slang term (e.g., “How many schools are you applying to?”).

Semester: a common measurement for an academic term. Typically, colleges and universities have two semesters (fall and spring) in a required academic year. Each semester is approximately 16 weeks long. Many universities also offer a summer semester for students who do not start in fall or for those who may want or need to take additional courses to accelerate or stay on track with their academic programs.

State university: a public four-year institution, funded in part by the state in which it is located. Public state universities tend to have large student body sizes.

Transfer credits: credits for students who have already completed some academic work at a different university that is then applied toward a degree program at a new university where the student is enrolled.

Trimester: an academic calendar that follows three terms – fall, winter, and spring. Each trimester is 12 to 13 weeks long.

Undergraduate studies: the first level of academic studies students take after completing secondary school. Undergraduate studies lead to either associate’s or bachelor’s degrees.

University: a four-year post-secondary educational institution. These institutions can offer all levels of post-secondary degrees (associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate).

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Demystifying the Terms and Degree Titles in Higher Education

The world of higher education is filled with degree titles and terminology that can be confusing. If you are interested in continuing your education but are lost in the jargon, today’s blog is for you. We’ll break down different degrees so that you can decide what is the best option for you.

Types of Undergraduate Degrees

The term “undergraduate” refers to degrees at the college or university level. As an undergraduate, you can pursue an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree. Below is a comparison of these two types of undergraduate degrees. For a more detailed discussion of associate versus bachelor degrees, Best Colleges has a helpful page on the topic .

Associate Degrees

Associate degrees typically take two years to complete and generally require at least 60 credit hours. Depending upon your choice of study, you will graduate from an associate program with an associate of arts (AA), associate of science (AS), or associate of applied science (AAS). In an AA program, you will study art and humanities, while courses in an AS will be more science, math, or business-oriented. An AAS offers specialized training to help people find work in fields like respiratory therapy, accounting, dental hygiene, etc.

Pros: Associate degrees are appealing because they are often cheaper and require less time than other degrees. You can often complete an associate degree at a community college, which has more reasonable tuition than state or private colleges. 

Cons: The downside of an associate degree is that your job options may be limited. Many people with associate degrees go on to work in successful, high-paying jobs, but there may be fewer job options overall for associate degree holders.

Bachelor’s Degrees

A bachelor’s degree is the other type of undergraduate degree. A bachelor’s program typically takes four years to complete and requires at least 120 credit hours. There are three types of bachelor’s programs: a bachelor of arts (BA), a bachelor of fine arts (BFA), and a bachelor of science (BS). BA and BFA programs will focus on humanities, social sciences, or the arts, while a BS focuses on science, math, business, etc. While BA and BFA degrees are similar, a BFA program will offer more courses concentrating on your major, while a BA program offers a more generalized education.

Pros: A bachelor’s degree gives you more options than an associate degree. With a BA or BS, you will have more employment options, and you can apply for graduate programs if you choose. Plus, if you already hold an associate degree, you may be able to use those credit hours to count toward your bachelor’s degree. 

A bachelor’s degree also challenges you to learn about a variety of topics. Most programs have general education requirements. This might mean you are required to take a biology or language course, even if your major is communications. 

Many programs also allow you to choose elective classes. Electives are courses that you can take about any topic that interests you, such as art history or metalwork. In this way, a bachelor’s degree helps you get a more comprehensive education and gives you space to learn about more varied topics.

Cons: A bachelor’s degree is more of a financial and time commitment than an associate degree. State schools often have lower tuition than private colleges or universities, but the cost of a 4-year degree is significant. Thankfully, there are many financial aid options to help students through college.

Types of Graduate Programs

Once you achieve your undergraduate degree, you may continue your education through a graduate program. There are two types of graduate degrees: master’s programs and PhD programs. 

To apply for a graduate program, you must have a bachelor’s degree . An associate degree will not qualify you for a graduate program. 

Master’s Degrees

The first type of graduate degree is a master’s degree. A master’s degree could be a master of arts (MA), master of science (MS), master of fine arts (MFA), or master of business administration (MBA). MA, MS, and MBA programs are typically two years long, while an MFA may take two or three years to complete. 

Whereas courses in a bachelor’s program often span multiple fields of study, a master’s program typically focuses all classes on one area of study. The focused structure of master’s programs prepares graduate students to be experts in their fields. 

Pros: Because they are so field-specific, master’s programs are great opportunities for networking and building your skillset. In a master’s program, you will learn from experts in your field. If you build connections with your professors, they may help you make professional connections. 

A master’s program will also give you dedicated time to grow your abilities in a field you are passionate about. Whether you pursue an MA in creative writing or an MS in speech pathology, a master’s program dedicates two full years to growing your skills in your chosen field. 

Cons: Again, the cost of higher education prohibits many people from pursuing their master’s degree. To learn more about financial support for graduate students at Emerson, be sure to visit our Financial Aid website.  

Ph.D. Programs

Ph.D. programs are the other type of graduate programs. Generally, you would enroll in a Ph.D. program after you earn a master’s degree. However, some schools allow you to enroll in a PhD program without first getting your master’s. Typically, a Ph.D. program takes three to four years to complete.

Unlike students in master’s programs, all Ph.D. students must complete a thesis. A Ph.D. program is largely centered around independent research, so completing a doctoral thesis is the main task of a Ph.D. program. 

Pros: Generally, earning your Ph.D. gives you the potential to make more money over time. If you want to pursue a career in academia, a Ph.D. may be the path for you. With a Ph.D., you can teach undergraduate and graduate classes, and you may pursue tenure , which offers job protections. 

Another advantage of a Ph.D. program is that most schools pay for your tuition and give you some financial support for living expenses. You may still need to work while pursuing your Ph.D., but typically the education expenses are paid for. This is because you are completing valuable research as a Ph.D. student, and the university you attend gets to attach its name to your research. 

Cons: As with all higher education, earning a Ph.D. takes time, typically 3-4 years. Additionally, earning a Ph.D. is academically and sometimes emotionally challenging. It can be stressful to complete independent research at the doctoral level, but if you are passionate about your field, earning your Ph.D. may be well worth it.

FAQs about Graduate Programs

How are ma and mfa programs different.

It’s easy to confuse MA and MFA programs because they share some characteristics. For more clarification, check out our blog about the similarities and differences between MAs and MFAs . 

Do You Have to Complete a Thesis for a Master’s Degree?

Some master’s programs may require students to complete a thesis, but it is not a universal requirement for all master’s programs. To learn more about what a master’s level thesis is, check out our blog “What is a Thesis?”

What is a Terminal Degree? 

A terminal degree is the highest level of education you can obtain in a given field. Generally, a terminal degree in a given field will be some sort of graduate degree–either a master’s degree or Ph.D.

Sometimes, master’s degrees will be considered terminal degrees. For example, a Creative Writing MFA is a terminal degree for creative writers. In the business world, an MBA is typically considered a terminal degree.

Often, a Ph.D. will be the terminal degree for a given field. Ph.D.s are the terminal degrees for many careers in math and science. For example, a Ph.D. in speech-language pathology or biology would be the terminal degree for those fields. Ph.D.s are also considered terminal degrees in many humanities fields like English or philosophy. 

People who complete a terminal degree in their field often have more job options and can usually negotiate for higher salaries.

Which Degree is Right for You?

Ultimately, the right degree for you depends upon your career goals. If you have a specific job in mind that an associate degree will help you achieve, then maybe an AS or AAS is the route for you. If you’re hoping to teach as a professor for the rest of your career, you’ll likely want to complete a Ph.D. For some careers, like speech pathology or clinical psychology, you need at least a master’s degree to gain licensure. The level of education you should pursue all depends upon your personal goals.

Hopefully, today’s blog helps you clarify which higher education degree is best for you. For more information about Emerson’s graduate programs, visit our website or schedule a call with a graduate admissions counselor.

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Olivia Wachtel

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Olivia is a second-year student in Emerson's Communication Disorders MS program. Originally from Ohio, she is loving Emerson and city life. When she's not writing for the Grad Life blog, she loves to read, bake, and crochet.

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Education Level Meaning: What Does Each Level Of Education Mean?

Understanding formal educational journey can be like exploring a vast, multi-layered map, with each level of education marking a distinct territory of knowledge, skills and abilities.

From the initial steps taken in elementary education to the specialised heights reached in doctoral studies, understanding the meaning behind each educational level is crucial.

This article aims to explore these levels and the significance they hold in an individual’s academic and professional journey. By unraveling the essence of each educational stage, we provide a clearer path for learners to chart their course through the world of academia and beyond.

Elementary Education

Elementary education is the foundational stage in the formal education system, typically covering kindergarten through fifth or sixth grade, depending on the country and region.

Completing this level equips students with basic skills in:

• writing, and
• mathematics.

Students also have an introduction to sciences, social studies, and often a second language. This phase is crucial as it lays the groundwork for all future learning, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving abilities from a young age. 

In the U.S., for instance, a strong emphasis is placed on creating a supportive learning environment that caters to the developmental needs of children.

Successfully completing elementary education means a child is prepared to transition to secondary education, where they will build on this foundational knowledge.

It signifies the end of the initial compulsory phase of schooling, setting the stage for more specialised and advanced learning in high school and beyond.

Secondary Education

Secondary education, often spanning from sixth or seventh to twelfth grade, bridges the gap between elementary schooling and higher education. Completing this level means you’ve acquired a high school diploma, a key milestone in formal education.

This stage introduces more specialised subjects, often allowing students to choose electives based on their interests. These may include subjects like:

• advanced sciences,
• mathematics,
• literature, and
• social studies

For many, it’s a time to explore potential career paths, with schools offering vocational training alongside traditional academic courses.

In the U.S., for instance, secondary education includes various programs like AP courses or dual enrollment options, which can earn college credit.

Successfully graduating from high school prepares students for the next steps in their educational journey, whether it’s:

• enrolling in a college or university for an undergraduate degree,
• entering a vocational program, or
• jumping straight into the workforce.

It signifies a level of education that equips individuals with both the academic and social skills needed to navigate the complexities of adult life and the professional world.

Undergraduate / Bachelor Degree

An undergraduate degree marks a significant milestone in higher education, typically following secondary education. It’s the first level of university education, leading to a bachelor’s degree.

This achievement indicates that you’ve successfully completed a program of study in a specific field, like science, arts, or engineering, at a college or university.

For many, it’s a passport to professional careers or a stepping stone to advanced degrees.

In the U.S., obtaining an undergraduate degree usually involves a mix of general education courses and major-specific classes. This structure ensures a well-rounded education while allowing deep dives into areas of interest.

For example, a bachelor’s in science might require courses in:

• physics, and
• electives in humanities or social sciences.

Completing this level of education means you’ve developed critical thinking, problem-solving, and specialized knowledge in your field.

The journey to an undergraduate degree varies, typically taking four years, but can extend depending on the program or if you’re pursuing a double major.

Graduating with this degree opens doors to various career paths, qualifies you for certain professional certifications, or can be the prerequisite for entering graduate programs, such as a master’s or doctoral degree.

It’s a significant step that prepares you for the challenges and opportunities of the professional world or further academic pursuits.

Masters Degree

A master’s degree represents an advanced level of education that follows an undergraduate degree. It signifies a deeper specialization in a particular field, whether it’s in the arts, sciences, business, or another area.

Completing this degree means you’ve engaged in intensive study and possibly research, culminating in a thesis or comprehensive examination.

For instance, someone with a bachelor’s in psychology might pursue a Master of Science (M.Sc.) to specialize in clinical psychology. This path typically involves:

• coursework,
• practical training, and
• a research project or thesis that contributes new insights to the field.

Similarly, an MBA (Master of Business Administration) prepares graduates for leadership roles in business, combining theoretical knowledge with practical business skills.

Earning a master’s degree can change your career trajectory, opening doors to higher-level positions, increased earning potential, and in some cases, a prerequisite for doctoral studies.

It usually takes one to two years to complete, but this can vary depending on the program and whether you study full-time or part-time.

Graduating with a master’s degree not only enhances your expertise but also demonstrates a commitment to personal and professional development. It’s a significant achievement that sets you apart in the job market, equipping you with advanced knowledge and skills in your chosen field.

Doctoral Degree – Highest Level Of Education

Achieving a doctoral degree is the pinnacle of academic success, representing the highest level of education in various fields, from science to humanities.

This degree signifies not just years of study but a significant contribution to your field through original research.

Completing a doctorate means you’ve conducted a comprehensive study, culminating in a dissertation that presents new knowledge or insights, capable of influencing future research and practice.

For instance, in the U.S., a doctoral candidate in environmental science might spend years studying the impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems, contributing valuable data and strategies for conservation.

Similarly, a doctoral program in education could lead to groundbreaking methodologies in teaching and learning, shaping future educational practices.

Earning a doctoral degree is a rigorous process, typically involving:

• examinations, and
• a lengthy dissertation process.

It requires a deep commitment to research and scholarship, often under the guidance of experienced mentors and advisors. This journey not only hones your expertise in a specific area but also develops a wide range of skills, from critical thinking to problem-solving.

Graduates with a doctoral degree often pursue careers in academia, research, or high-level industry positions, where they can continue to influence and innovate within their fields.

Completing this degree opens doors to opportunities for leadership, teaching, and advanced research, making it a transformative step in both personal and professional development.

Education Level Meaning Explained

Each level of education serves as a building block in the vast architecture of learning, marking significant milestones in an individual’s academic and professional journey.

From the foundational knowledge gained in elementary education to the specialised skills acquired through secondary schooling, and the advanced insights developed during undergraduate and postgraduate studies, each stage prepares learners for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Understanding the meaning and significance of these educational levels not only helps in appreciating the journey but also in making informed decisions about one’s career path and life goals, ultimately shaping a more informed, skilled, and adaptable society.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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Human Development and Education

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Connect pioneering research with practice and policy in human development at every stage — helping you support the unique needs of all learners.

The Human Development and Education (HDE) Program prepares you to support the unique needs and growth of all learners — whether you are interested in exploring a direct service role, starting a nonprofit organization, engaging in clinical or counseling work, or pursuing doctoral research. By linking theories and pioneering research with practice and policy about child, adolescent, and adult development, you will have opportunities to examine different developmental domains — including cognitive, emotional, social, moral, and neurological — as well as design strategies and interventions to promote healthy development. HDE offers a School Counseling Licensure Pathway for students interested in pursuing Massachusetts licensure in school counseling. 

"We know much about the science of human development, but we are just beginning to figure out how to communicate and enact it to actually better the world. Our program helps our students gain a deeper understanding of learning and growth across diverse contexts, as they explore their professional roles in supporting human development for children, families, and communities." Junlei Li Faculty Co-Chair

After completing the HDE Program, you will have a deeper understanding of the following competencies that explore how:

• Learning and development are lifelong processes, with a predictable sequence at the population level and significant variation at the individual level  
• Learning and development are active and interactive, driven by maturity and experience levels  
• Ecological factors — including families, teachers, schools, communities, neighborhoods, and culture — influence learning and development  
• Evaluation of evidence and research from human developmental science can inform effective change strategies to lead, design, and implement intervention, prevention, and support efforts  
• Engagement in continuous learning can emerge from reflective practice, community involvement, and evaluation of intervention, prevention, and support efforts    

Curriculum Information

The HDE Program is designed to help you gain the knowledge and skills essential to promoting healthy development for all learners. A minimum of 42 credits are required to graduate with an Ed.M. degree from HGSE.

The main elements of the 2022–23 academic year are: 

• This program commences with How People Learn, an immersive online course that runs June–July and requires a time commitment of 10-15 hours per week.
• You will continue Foundations with Leading Change, Evidence, and Equity and Opportunity on campus in August. 
• Your Equity and Opportunity Foundations experience culminates in an elected course, which will take place during terms when electives are available.

To fulfill the program requirement, students must take a minimum of 12 credits specific to HDE, including the following:

• The HDE Program Core Experience (4 credits), is a combination of required coursework, program-wide events, and small group experiences. It is designed to help you develop the capacity to bridge research and practice across human development contexts. Whether your professional trajectory leads you to focus on children, families, communities, or organizations, there are "through lines" (ways of thinking and connecting) from the field of human development that can expand our vision and understanding. For example, understanding individual development within the larger ecological contexts or recognizing human relationships as the driver for many different developmental outcomes. The program experience provides opportunities to discuss and reflect on your insights and professional goals with peers and the teaching team.
• Research methods and applied professional skills courses (4 credits), you will choose from a list of qualitative, quantitative, and skills-based courses. Course subject matter may include statistics and data science in education and organizations, participatory action research for educational justice, and ethnographic methods. 
• Human development, age/context/domain-specific courses (4 credits), tailor your coursework to your chosen career pathway by selecting from a rich and diverse set of courses that deepen your knowledge in a specific age category, context, or domain. Course subject matter may include early childhood development, developmental psychology, preventative and developmental group counseling, college student development, or language and literacy development. 
• The remaining credits are taken via  elective coursework , which includes the opportunity to specialize in a  Concentration . 

Explore our  course catalog . Note, a ll information and courses are subject to change.

School Counseling Strand

Students can get licensed as a school counselor by taking two years of sequenced coursework and fieldwork through our School Counseling Licensure Pathway . Year one consists of pursuing an Ed.M. in the HDE Program and our School Counseling Strand. The School Counseling Strand begins the pathway to Massachusetts licensure in school counseling and prepares K–12 school-based counselors-in-training with the skills necessary to promote positive, healthy academic and social emotional development with an emphasis on prevention and social justice.

Year two consists of our Certificate of Advanced Study in Counseling program, which allows students to pursue Massachusetts initial licensure as a school counselor or school adjustment counselor. Through this curricular sequence and field-based placement, graduates will be prepared to enter K–12 schools as counselors, leaders, and advocates.

Program Faculty

Students will work closely with faculty associated with their area of study, but students can also work with and take courses with faculty throughout HGSE and Harvard.  View our faculty directory for a full list of HGSE faculty.

Faculty Co-Chairs

Junlei Li's research and practice focuses on understanding and empowering human relationships across developmental contexts.

Meredith L. Rowe

Meredith Rowe's research focuses on young children's literacy and vocabulary development, particularly as it is influenced by communication between children and their caregivers.

Gretchen Brion-Meisels

Elizabeth Bonawitz

Hadas Eidelman

Catherine Elgin

Nadine Gaab

Paul L. Harris

Nancy E. Hill

Stephanie M. Jones

James S. Kim

Josephine M. Kim

Nonie K. Lesaux

Huan-Tang Lu

Pamela A. Mason

Dana Charles McCoy

Joseph McIntyre

Luke W. Miratrix

Charles Nelson, III

Gabrielle Oliveira

Ola Ozernov-Palchik

Alexis Redding

Mandy Savitz-Romer

Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D.

Catherine Snow

Carola Suarez-Orozco

Paola Uccelli

Adriana Janette Umana-Taylor

Richard Weissbourd

Jacqueline Zeller

Career Pathways

The HDE Program prepares you for a variety of career pathways, including: 

• School counselor (K–12)   
• Curricula developer
• College or university administrator   
• Afterschool program, camp, or youth organization director  
• Researcher (university centers, nonprofit/for-profit think tank)  
• Local, state, or federal government program administrator  
• Field-staff or program manager at domestic or international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) 
• Consultant, trainer, facilitator, technical assistance provider 

Cohort & Community

You will join an extraordinary cohort of students representing a rich diversity of personal and professional backgrounds. As an HDE student, you will engage in events and professional development opportunities that build community — including discussions about career pathways, conversations with faculty members about their research interests, and other community events. You will find that your cohort members exhibit energy, curiosity, and compassion, as well as a common commitment to understanding the deepest puzzles of development and addressing the greatest practical challenges. This community results in an exhilarating learning environment that forms the basis for lifelong friendships and long-term professional networks.

Introduce Yourself

Tell us about yourself so that we can tailor our communication to best fit your interests and provide you with relevant information about our programs, events, and other opportunities to connect with us.

Program Highlights

Explore examples of the Human Development and Education experience and the impact its community is making on the field:

Saved by the Ball

How a high school football team and determined principal helped keep their tiny school from closing

HGSE Honors Master's Students with Intellectual Contribution Award

The Many Types of Education Degrees: How to Pick Your Path

Education degrees aren't just for classroom teachers.

Education Degrees: Picking Your Path

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Though some education degree programs focus on teacher training, others concentrate on education administration, policy or technology. Some education majors explore the unique challenges faced by rural or urban schools.

One common misconception about education degrees is that they're only useful for future classroom teachers.

However, education degrees can lead to all sorts of careers: They're often held by education administrators, policymakers, researchers, technologists, curriculum designers, learning scientists, school counselors or psychologists , standardized test-makers and textbook authors. Staffers at education-oriented government agencies at the local, state and federal level – such as the U.S. Department of Education – frequently have academic degrees in education as well, and the same is true for representatives of education-related charities and nonprofit organizations.

Here's what you need to know about the hierarchy of education degrees and how to choose the right one.

How to Tell if an Education Degree Is a Good Fit

An interest in helping others learn and a desire to work with children are common and compelling reasons for studying education, says Daniel A. Domenech, the executive director of AASA, The School Superintendents Association. Education majors tend to earn less than people who receive a comparable level of training in other fields, so a majority of people who become educators do so for non-financial reasons, he adds.

According to an August 2022 report from the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank that analyzes working conditions for low-income and middle-income workers in the U.S., the pay disparity between teachers and similarly educated professionals reached an all-time high in 2021, when teachers received 23.5% lower wages on average relative to other workers with comparable credentials.

However, some education occupations typically lead to six-figure salaries. For example, the median salary among U.S. school district superintendents, the majority of whom have doctorates, was $147,000 in 2022, according to a recent report from AASA.

Laura W. Perna, vice provost for faculty at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education , says education degree recipients can use their degree to do good work and benefit society. "If we think about the important problems that need to be addressed in our world, you know, so much of the answer comes down to education," Perna says.

Stacey Ludwig Johnson, senior vice president and executive dean of the school of education at Western Governors University , an online university, emphasizes that schools and school districts aren't the only places where education degree recipients can use their skills. For instance, an educator can work as a corporate trainer, helping a business to increase the skills of its workforce, she says.

The Many Kinds of Education Majors

Among teaching degree programs, some focus on a particular level of education, such as preschool, elementary, middle or high school. Teaching degree programs may also hone in on how to teach a particular subject, or they can emphasize teaching methods that work well with a specific student population, such as adult learners, multi-lingual learners or individuals with disabilities.

When comparing education degree specializations, keep in mind that the earning potential of educators varies widely depending on which part of the education system they are trained for and what credential their job usually requires. For example, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary among U.S. high school teachers, who typically had a bachelor's degree, was about $61,820 in May 2021. That's about twice the median salary of preschool teachers, who usually had an associate degree and earned $30,210. The median salary among principals, who usually had a master's degree, was $98,420.

Sometimes educators with the same level of education earn different amounts depending on their area of focus. For instance, BLS data reveals that though teachers who specialize in basic adult education generally had the same amount of training as high school teachers – a bachelor's degree – their 2021 median salary was roughly $2,100 lower.

Education Degree Levels and How to Find the Right Tier

Leadership roles in the education sector generally require graduate education . The more training educators have, the higher their salaries tend to be. For example, according to PayScale, a compensation data company, the average base salary for U.S. workers with a Bachelor of Education , or B.Ed. degree, was $57,000, whereas the average annual base salary among those with a Doctor of Education, or Ed.D. degree, was $80,000.

Prospective education students should analyze the resumes of people who have jobs they are interested in to figure out the highest level of education to pursue, experts say.

Associate Degrees

Many preschool teaching jobs require at least a two-year associate degree in early childhood education. Teachers' assistants or paraprofessionals usually need at least two years of college coursework or an associate degree to work in public school classrooms.

Bachelor's Degrees

A bachelor's is the minimum amount of education needed for an entry-level K-12 teaching position at a U.S. public school.

Master's Degrees

A few states require teachers to begin pursuing a master's degree within several years of beginning teaching to maintain their license. Teachers may also move up the pay scale with a master's. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 58% of U.S. public school teachers who taught during the 2017-18 school year had a more advanced degree than a bachelor's.

Instructional coordinators or curriculum specialists, the educational administrators who oversee curricula, standards, teaching materials and often assessments, usually have a master's, and their median salary was $63,740 in May 2021, BLS data shows.

College and university administrators, who earned a median annual salary of $96,910 in May 2021, also typically have master's degrees, according to the BLS. Work in education policy typically requires a master's degree as well.

Master's degrees in education usually require two years of coursework.

College faculty who research and teach about education typically have Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D., degrees, and they sometimes have Ed.D. degrees. According to PayScale, the average salary for a worker with a Ph.D. in education was $87,000. Doctoral programs in education usually last at least three years and often take longer to finish.

School district administration positions sometimes require doctoral education, and certain managerial roles at government agencies and nonprofit organizations are reserved for individuals with doctorates. Education researchers frequently have doctorates, and so do school psychologists.

Guidance on Figuring Out How Much Schooling You Need

When deciding how high of a degree they should aim for, education students should think about the level of expertise and the kinds of skills that their desired job requires, says Carol Basile, dean of Arizona State University's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College . "As you continue to move up in any education organization, there begins to be more of a requirement for a doctorate," she says.

Searching for a grad school? Get our  complete rankings of Best Graduate Schools.

Grad Degree Jobs With $100K+ Salaries

Tags: education , education policy , education graduate school , teachers , careers , students

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Undergraduate vs. Graduate: Educate Yourself On The Difference

• Undergraduate Meaning
• Undergraduate Student And Degree
• Graduate Meaning
• Graduate Degree And Student
• Graduate Origin
• Postgraduate Meaning

⚡ Quick summary

The main difference between undergraduate and graduate is that undergraduate is always used in the context of the first level of college or university education (the level where you can earn a bachelor’s degree ). In terms like graduate student and graduate degree , graduate refers to a level of advanced education beyond the undergraduate level, especially a master’s degree or doctorate . The noun graduate is more general, simply referring to a person who has completed a level of education (someone who has graduated ).

The difference between undergraduate and graduate is a difference of degrees (*throws graduation cap in the air to celebrate the pun*).

The level of education that each word involves varies depending on how the word is being used, and there are situations in which both words can be used in the same situation. For example, you can become a graduate student after graduating with an undergraduate degree.

The word graduate can mean very different things depending on whether it’s used as a noun (as in recent   high school graduates ), an adjective (as in graduate student and graduate degree ), or a verb (as in I plan to graduate next May ). The same goes for its shortened form, grad , which can be used as a noun (as in Congrats, grads! ) or an adjective (as in grad program ).

Undergraduate can also be used both as a noun (as in I’m an undergraduate at Stanford University ) or an adjective (as in I’m working toward my undergraduate degree ). It can be shortened to undergrad in both cases.

By the end of this article, you’ll have an advanced degree in all the different ways graduate, grad , undergraduate , and undergrad are used, and what they mean in each case.

What does undergraduate mean?

An undergraduate is “a student in a university or college who has not received a first, especially a bachelor’s, degree.” For example, a college student might say I’m an undergraduate at the University of Texas if they were pursuing a bachelor’s degree there.

Undergraduate is also commonly used as an adjective in this same context, in terms like undergraduate student , undergraduate degree , and undergraduate studies.

Undergraduate is often shortened to undergrad as both a noun and an adjective.

In undergraduate, the prefix under- is used to indicate a lower rank or status. The educational status of an undergraduate student is below that of a graduate student.

What’s the difference between wisdom and knowledge ? Here’s a lesson on the two terms.

What is an undergraduate student ? And what is an undergraduate degree ?

An undergraduate student is a student who is pursuing a degree at the first level of higher education (meaning the level after high school) at a college or university. Undergraduate students are typically those working to earn a bachelor’s degree (or, less commonly, an associate’s degree ). These degrees are often referred to with the general term undergraduate degree.

Outside of the US, an undergraduate degree is sometimes called a first degree. There are also other types of undergraduate degrees outside of the US, such as a foundation degree (which, like an associate’s degree, is typically a two-year degree).

What does graduate mean?

As a noun, the word graduate  [  graj -oo-it ] refers to “a person who has received a degree or diploma on completing a course of study.” In other words, a graduate is someone who has completed a particular level of schooling or an educational program—a child who just finished kindergarten and a doctor who just completed medical school are both graduates. It can even be used figuratively , as in She’s a graduate of the school of hard knocks.

As a verb, graduate [  graj -oo-eyt ] means “to receive a degree or diploma on completing a course of study.” The process of graduating—and the ceremony itself—is called graduation .

As an adjective, graduate [  graj -oo-it ] means something more specific. It’s used to indicate that a student, degree, or educational program is an advanced one, beyond the level of a bachelor’s degree. This sense of graduate is most commonly used in terms like graduate degree, graduate school , graduate program, and graduate student.

What is a graduate degree ? And what is a graduate student ?

Graduate degree typically refers to a degree beyond a bachelor’s, most commonly a master’s.

A graduate student is a student who’s pursuing an advanced degree after having earned their undergraduate degree (such as a bachelor’s degree) by graduating from an undergraduate program. Calling someone a graduate student most often means they are pursuing their master’s degree, but it may be another advanced degree, such as a PhD (You’d most commonly call such students PhD students. Or you might say they are working toward their doctorate or their doctoral degree.)

To earn a graduate degree, graduate students go to a division of a university known as graduate school , and such a program is often called a graduate program. In all of these terms, graduate is often shortened to grad : grad school , grad student , grad program . (A student doesn’t become a graduate student until they take graduate-level courses. For example, if a student graduates with a bachelor’s degree and then later pursues a different bachelor’s degree, they are still an undergraduate student .)

Some graduate studies are referred to in more specific ways: medical students go to medical school to earn their medical degree ; law students go to law school to earn their law degree.

Do you know the difference between these highly-esteemed graduate degrees and titles: PhD, MD, and Dr ?

Where does the word graduate come from?

Graduate comes from the Medieval Latin graduārī, meaning “to take a degree.” It ultimately derives from the Latin gradus, meaning “a step.” Each time you graduate, you take a step to the next level of education.

What does postgraduate mean?

The adjective postgraduate is sometimes used in the same way as the adjective sense of the word graduate, especially in the UK, as in postgraduate student or postgraduate studies.

Postgraduate should not be confused with postdoctoral , which refers to studies, research, or professional work above the level of a doctorate.

How to use undergraduate vs. graduate

The best way to sort out the different meanings of undergraduate and graduate is to determine whether each word is being used as a noun, an adjective, or a verb. Here’s an easy breakdown of the differences.

• undergraduate (noun): A college student pursuing a non-advanced degree, most commonly a bachelor’s degree. Can be shortened to undergrad.
• undergraduate (adjective): Used in the context of colleges and university programs ( undergraduate programs ) where students are pursuing a degree (generally referred to as an undergraduate degree ) that is not an advanced degree. Also sometimes shortened to undergrad.
• graduate (noun): A person who has completed a particular level of schooling or educational program. Can be shortened to grad.
• graduate (verb): To complete a level of schooling (and, typically, to receive a degree or diploma). You can graduate from kindergarten, high school, college, graduate school, medical school, etc.
• graduate (adjective): Used in the context of advanced schooling—a level beyond a bachelor’s degree, most commonly a master’s program. Used in terms like graduate student , graduate school , graduate degree , graduate program , graduate courses , etc. Often shortened to grad.

Examples of undergraduate, undergrad, graduate, and grad used in a sentence

Let’s look at some examples of these words in actual, real-life use to get the meanings straight.

• As an undergraduate, she had studied engineering; as a graduate student, she switched to architecture.
• I completed my undergraduate degree after five years and a lot of hard work.
• As a graduate student, you will be expected to complete a thesis.
• You should start thinking about graduate school applications before you graduate.
• Most of the applicants for this position are recent college graduates.
• I’m still an undergrad, but I’m hoping to start grad school next fall.
• I’m a UGA grad, but I almost went to Georgia Tech.

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No matter who is graduating, here are tips on how to craft a perfect congratulations card for their achievement.

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10 facts about today’s college graduates

Having a bachelor’s degree remains an important advantage in many sectors of the U.S. labor market. College graduates generally out-earn those who have not attended college, and they are more likely to be employed in the first place. At the same time, many Americans say they cannot afford to get a four-year degree – or that they just don’t want to.

Here are key facts about American college graduates.

This Pew Research Center analysis about U.S. college graduates relies on data from sources including the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Center for Education Statistics, the National Student Clearinghouse and the Federal Reserve Bank, as well as surveys conducted by the Center.

Everyone who took the Pew Research Center surveys cited is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about  the ATP’s methodology .

Nearly four-in-ten Americans ages 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree, a share that has grown over the last decade. As of 2021, 37.9% of adults in this age group held a bachelor’s degree, including 14.3% who also obtained a graduate or professional degree, according to data from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey. That share is up 7.5 percentage points from 30.4% in 2011.

An additional 10.5% had an associate degree in 2021. About four-in-ten Americans ages 25 and older had a high school diploma with no further education (25.3%) or completed some college but didn’t have a degree (14.9%).

In a reversal, women are now more likely than men to graduate from college, according to the Current Population Survey . In 2021, 39% of women ages 25 and older had a bachelor’s degree or more education, compared with 37% of men in the same age range. The gap in college completion is even wider among adults ages 25 to 34: 46% of women in this age group have at least a bachelor’s degree, compared with 36% of men.

In an October 2021 Pew Research Center survey of Americans without a degree, 34% of men said a major reason why they have not received a four-year college degree is that they just didn’t want to. Only one-in-four women said the same. Men were also more likely to say a major reason they didn’t have a four-year degree is that they didn’t need more education for the job or career they wanted (26% of men said this vs. 20% of women).

Women (44%) were more likely than men (39%) to say not being able to afford college was a major reason they don’t have a bachelor’s degree. Men and women were about equally likely to say a major impediment was needing to work to help support their family.

There are racial and ethnic differences in college graduation patterns, as well as in the reasons for not completing a degree. Among adults ages 25 and older, 61% of Asian Americans have a bachelor’s degree or more education, along with 42% of White adults, 28% of Black adults and 21% of Hispanic adults, according to 2021 Current Population Survey data. The share of bachelor’s degree holders in each group has increased since 2010. That year, 52% of Asian Americans had a four-year degree or more, compared with a third of White adults, 20% of Black adults and 14% of Hispanic adults.

The October 2021 Center survey found that among adults without a bachelor’s degree, Hispanic adults (52%) were more likely than those who are White (39%) or Black (41%) to say a major reason they didn’t graduate from a four-year college is that they couldn’t afford it. Hispanic and Black adults were more likely than their White counterparts to say needing to work to support their family was a major reason.

While a third of White adults said not wanting to go to school was a major reason they didn’t complete a four-year degree, smaller shares of Black (22%) and Hispanic (23%) adults said the same. White adults were also more likely to cite not needing more education for the job or career they wanted. (There weren’t enough Asian adults without a bachelor’s degree in the sample to analyze separately.)

Only 62% of students who start a degree or certificate program finish their program within six years, according to the most recent data from the  National Student Clearinghouse , a nonprofit verification and research organization that tracked first-time college students who enrolled in fall 2015 with the intent of pursuing a degree or certificate. The degree completion rate for this group was highest among students who started at four-year, private, nonprofit schools (78.3%), and lowest among those who started at two-year public institutions (42.2%).

Business is the most commonly held bachelor’s degree, followed by health professions.  According to the  National Center for Education Statistics , about a fifth (19%) of the roughly 2 million bachelor’s degrees conferred in 2019-20 were in business. Health professions and related programs were the second most-popular field, making up 12.6% of degrees conferred that year. Business has been the single most common major since 1980-81; before that, education led the way.

The  least  common bachelor’s degrees in 2019-20 were in military technologies and applied sciences (1,156 degrees conferred in 2019-20), library science (118), and precision production (39).

There is a growing earnings gap between young college graduates and their counterparts without degrees. In 2021, full-time workers ages 22 to 27 who held a bachelor’s degree, but no further education, made a median annual wage of $52,000, compared with $30,000 for full-time workers of the same age with a high school diploma and no degree, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This gap has widened over time. Young bachelor’s degree holders earned a median annual wage of $48,481 in 1990, compared with $35,257 for full-time workers ages 22 to 27 with a high school diploma.

The unemployment rate is lower for college graduates than for workers without a bachelor’s degree, and that gap widened as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In February 2020, just before the COVID-19 outbreak began in the U.S., only 1.9% of college graduates ages 25 and older were unemployed, compared with 3.1% of workers who completed some college but not a four-year degree, and 3.7% of workers with only a high school diploma. By June 2020, after the pandemic hit, 6.8% of college grads, 10.8% of workers with some college, and 12.2% of high school grads were unemployed.

By March 2022, the unemployment rate had nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels for college graduates (2%) while dropping to 3% among those with some college education but no four-year degree, and 4% among those with only a high school diploma.

Recent college graduates are more likely than graduates overall to be underemployed – that is, working in jobs that typically do not require a college degree, according to an analysis of Census Bureau and BLS data by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York . As of December 2021, 41% of college graduates ages 22 to 27 were underemployed, compared with 34% among all college graduates. The underemployment rates for recent college grads rose in 2020 as the COVID-19 outbreak strained the job market, but have since returned to pre-pandemic levels.

As of the end of 2021, only 34% of underemployed graduates ages 22 to 27 worked what the Fed defines as “good non-college jobs” – those paying at least $45,000 a year – down from around half in the 1990s. The share of underemployed graduates ages 22 to 27 in low-wage jobs – those earning less than $25,000 annually – rose from about 9% in 1990 to 11% last year.

When it comes to income and wealth accumulation, first-generation college graduates lag substantially behind those with college-educated parents, according to a May 2021 Pew Research Center analysis . Households headed by a first-generation college graduate – that is, someone who has completed at least a bachelor’s degree but does not have a parent with a college degree – had a median annual income of $99,600 in 2019, compared with $135,800 for households headed by those with at least one parent who graduated from college. The median wealth of households headed by first-generation college graduates ($152,000) also trailed that of households headed by someone with a parent who graduated from college ($244,500). The higher household income of the latter facilitates saving and wealth accumulation.

The gap also reflects differences in how individuals finance their education. Second-generation college graduates tend to come from  more affluent families , while first-generation college graduates are more likely to incur education debt than those with a college-educated parent.

Most Americans with college degrees see value in their experience. In the Center’s October 2021 survey , majorities of graduates said their college education was extremely or very useful when it came to helping them grow personally and intellectually (79%), opening doors to job opportunities (70%) and developing specific skills and knowledge that could be used in the workplace (65%).

Younger college graduates were less likely than older ones to see value in their college education. For example, only a third of college graduates younger than 50 said their college experience was extremely useful in helping them develop skills and knowledge that could be used in the workplace. Among college graduates ages 50 and older, 45% said this.

• Higher Education

Katherine Schaeffer is a research analyst at Pew Research Center

Most Americans think U.S. K-12 STEM education isn’t above average, but test results paint a mixed picture

About 1 in 4 u.s. teachers say their school went into a gun-related lockdown in the last school year, about half of americans say public k-12 education is going in the wrong direction, what public k-12 teachers want americans to know about teaching, what’s it like to be a teacher in america today, most popular.

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• Education and learning
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What qualification levels mean

England, wales and northern ireland.

There are 9 qualification levels.

Entry level

Each entry level qualification is available at three sub-levels - 1, 2 and 3. Entry level 3 is the most difficult.

Entry level qualifications are:

• entry level award
• entry level certificate ( ELC )
• entry level diploma
• entry level English for speakers of other languages ( ESOL )
• entry level essential skills
• entry level functional skills
• Skills for Life

Level 1 qualifications are:

• first certificate
• GCSE - grades 3, 2, 1 or grades D, E, F, G
• level 1 award
• level 1 certificate
• level 1 diploma
• level 1 ESOL
• level 1 essential skills
• level 1 functional skills
• level 1 national vocational qualification ( NVQ )
• music grades 1, 2 and 3

Level 2 qualifications are:

• CSE - grade 1
• GCSE - grades 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 or grades A*, A, B, C
• intermediate apprenticeship
• level 2 award
• level 2 certificate
• level 2 diploma
• level 2 ESOL
• level 2 essential skills
• level 2 functional skills
• level 2 national certificate
• level 2 national diploma
• level 2 NVQ
• music grades 4 and 5
• O level - grade A, B or C

Level 3 qualifications are:

• access to higher education diploma
• advanced apprenticeship
• applied general
• international Baccalaureate diploma
• level 3 award
• level 3 certificate
• level 3 diploma
• level 3 ESOL
• level 3 national certificate
• level 3 national diploma
• level 3 NVQ
• music grades 6, 7 and 8

Level 4 qualifications are:

• certificate of higher education ( CertHE )
• higher apprenticeship
• higher national certificate ( HNC )
• level 4 award
• level 4 certificate
• level 4 diploma
• level 4 NVQ

Level 5 qualifications are:

• diploma of higher education ( DipHE )
• foundation degree
• higher national diploma ( HND )
• level 5 award
• level 5 certificate
• level 5 diploma
• level 5 NVQ

Level 6 qualifications are:

• degree apprenticeship
• degree with honours - for example bachelor of the arts ( BA ) hons, bachelor of science ( BSc ) hons
• graduate certificate
• graduate diploma
• level 6 award
• level 6 certificate
• level 6 diploma
• level 6 NVQ
• ordinary degree without honours

Level 7 qualifications are:

• integrated master’s degree, for example master of engineering ( MEng )
• level 7 award
• level 7 certificate
• level 7 diploma
• level 7 NVQ
• master’s degree, for example master of arts ( MA ), master of science ( MSc )
• postgraduate certificate
• postgraduate certificate in education ( PGCE )
• postgraduate diploma

Level 8 qualifications are:

• doctorate, for example doctor of philosophy ( PhD or DPhil )
• level 8 award
• level 8 certificate
• level 8 diploma

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Zambia visit shows SSW’s global impact

A UNC School of Social Work delegation saw how their research helped a nonprofit create jobs in rural areas.

A small delegation from the UNC School of Social Work visited the growing rural town of Solwezi (population 90,000) in the North-Western Province of Zambia in March. They came to learn about the impact of local women’s savings and credit groups and their financial literacy training.

The trip was coordinated by Gina Chowa and Rain Masa from the school’s center for  Global Social Development Innovations in partnership with longtime collaborator Mathias Zimba, executive director of  Rising Fountains Development Program in Zambia.

“As partners, we work together to identify ideas and practices that will change lives for the better,” Masa said. “Researchers and graduate students at the school can help build the evidence needed to demonstrate to policymakers, officials and the business community what is needed to  improve the lives of rural Zambians .”

Improving lives in six countries

Masa is an associate professor who also serves as GSDI’s research director. He has worked collaboratively on both economic security and HIV treatment projects with Rising Fountains, a Zambian nonprofit dedicated to improving the livelihoods of women and children in rural areas.

Masa emphasized how community involvement localizes these economic programs and increases their chance of success and relevance.

“Economic security is the focal point of our work,” said Masa. “We provide funding and, maybe more importantly, we are available to Mathias and his team for ongoing capacity support as well.”

Paving career paths

During the visit to her native Zambia, Chowa was visibly moved at the end of a day spent at a teen center and a church. The delegation heard from over a dozen enthusiastic groups of about 20 women each and the men who had joined in support of them.

“These people. This is why I do the work I do,” Chowa said.

Following the presentations, the delegation went to see the small business owners in action. These included a man who bought spare parts for just one bicycle and now runs a repair shop with several assistants, craftswomen who purchased a sewing machine and yarn to create and sell clothing, and a woman who uses a mobile phone and SIM cards to help townspeople make financial transactions.

“This is not about politics,” said one Solwezi community leader. “I stand in the middle in support of our people helping better their lives and those of their families.”

At the end of the visit, local residents piled baskets full of sweet melons, gourds and pineapples at the front of a small church as parting gifts.

“The bounty and generosity of spirit of the nearly 150 people of Solwezi whom we visited with earlier this month made a lasting impression,” said Alice Washington, a longtime member of the school’s advisory board.

Read more about the Zambia trip and support the UNC School of Social Work’s global partnerships by making a gift to the  Global Social Development Innovations Fund .

The recipients include two housekeepers, two administrators, two academic staff members and one executive assistant.

Nursing alumnus trains with NASA

Over eight days at sea, Joey Biddix worked with astronauts and Navy specialists to prepare for a water recovery mission.

Nature is good for kids

A new study from FPG researchers suggests preschoolers living near green space have better mental health.

Washington Week introduces students to alumni diplomats

Tar Heels networked about foreign affairs careers through this UNC Global Affairs program.

Men’s golf claims first ACC title since 2006

The Tar Heels defeated Florida State in Charlotte to earn their 12th conference championship.

Library MakerSpace and Music Library to move in summer

The popular services will relocate to the Undergraduate and Davis libraries, respectively, for greater access.

CHASE Solar Hub pioneers liquid fuel conversion

At the center's Chapel Hill headquarters, more than 100 researchers work to turn sunlight into methanol.

Trash Force picks up after campus

What started as an extra credit opportunity grew into a club who has fun keeping Carolina clean.

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Applying to UW-Stout

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Elevate Your Business

Our Polytechnic Advantage

Top level: game design programs ranked best in wisconsin, among best in midwest, nation.

One of the nation’s premier college ranking organizations has given high marks to UW-Stout’s academic programs in game design.

The 2024 rankings by Princeton Review list the  Bachelor of Fine Arts in game design and development-art and  Master of Fine Arts in design -game design focus as the best in Wisconsin and Minnesota, top five in the Midwest and, for public colleges, top 10 in the nation.

“We’re again honored to continue to be considered a top-tier institution in these categories, both on the undergraduate and graduate level,” said Dave Beck, School of Art and Design director . “This is truly a testament to the diversity of creative disciplines, faculty expertise and hands-on facilities that we strive to offer at UW-Stout.”  

For more than a decade, UW-Stout’s game design programs have led state rankings and have been among the national leaders. They are part of UW-Stout’s  polytechnic , lab-based, hands-on approach to learning. The  School of Art and Design is the largest in the Upper Midwest with approximately 1,300 students.

The  15th annual Princeton Review rankings cover more than 150 schools. Criteria considered included academics, faculty, technology and career prospects.

“The schools that made our lists for 2024 have awesome game design programs,” said  Rob Franek , Princeton Review's editor-in-chief. “Their faculties are superb. Their facilities are state-of-the-art, and their alumni include many of the industry’s most successful game designers, developers and entrepreneurs. We recommend them highly to all students aspiring to a career in this exciting field.”

The average starting salary of students completing their game design studies with a bachelor's degree from the schools was $64,065 and master's degree $73,947.

Ninety-seven percent of undergraduates and 96% of graduate students developed an actionable plan to launch a functional game after graduation.

In the U.S., video games have become a $56.6 billion a year industry, nearly quadrupling in the past 10 years. Worldwide, the video game sector is the largest in the entertainment industry and is expected to grow by nearly 9% over the next three years.

Princeton Review ranked UW-Stout’s bachelor’s program in game design:

• No. 1 in Wisconsin and Minnesota
• No. 4 in Midwest among public colleges
• No. 7 in U.S. overall among public colleges
• No. 29 in U.S. overall (up one place from 2023)

“Now in its second decade, our undergraduate program has matured and the rankings reflect that stability,” said Associate Professor Kim Loken, program director . “Fundamentally, this is a mark of students’ individual and collective achievements. They are exhibiting at conferences and competitions; they are finding success both in the games industry and adjacent industries with their creative, technical and collaborative skills.”

The university also offers a Bachelor of Science degree in  computer science with a  concentration in game design and development .

The Master of Fine Arts in design , with an option of a game design focus, was ranked:

• No. 2 in Midwest
• No. 5 in U.S. among public colleges
• No. 19 in U.S. overall (up four places from 2023)

“It's outstanding to hear that our M.F.A. in design continues to do well on the national and international scene,” said Professor Erik Evensen, program director . “Our graduate students are continually engaged in interdisciplinary research, leveraging our excellent labs, faculty and resources to explore topics in and around the field of game design.”

Animation Career Review rankings

Industry leader  Animation Career Review also ranked game design programs for 2024. UW-Stout was:

• No. 1 in Wisconsin
• No. 7 in Midwest
• No. 21 in U.S. among public colleges (No. 45 overall)

For  animation programs , Animation Career Review listed UW-Stout’s  animation and digital media Bachelor of Fine Arts, among public colleges:

• No. 6 in Midwest 
• No. 32 in U.S.

More than 200 schools were surveyed.

Another college ranking organization, College Factual, lists the bachelor’s in game design at UW-Stout No. 1 in the U.S. for best value. For program quality, it’s No. 2 in the Midwest and No. 5 in the U.S., along with high marks for other UW-Stout programs .

UW-Stout’s game design and animation lab spaces include a state-of-the-art Vicon  Motion Capture Studio , along with many other  labs, studios and galleries . The semiannual Stout Game Expo, SGX, is the largest event of its kind in the Upper Midwest.

The School of Art and Design will offer a new program, illustration, in the fall. It was  recently approved  by the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents. Illustration joins a lineup of six other B.F.A. programs.

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Irish universities risk undermining their autonomy through self-inflicted wounds

Universities are in many respects authors of their own misfortune – which threatens to become a misfortune for all of us.

The University of Limerick. The chancellor of the university is reported as having recently told staff and students that the university will be subjected to 'extreme oversight' by the Higher Education Authority due to spending concerns. Photograph: Liam Burke

Our universities are again in the crosshairs of the media and the political system, and on the face of it for good reasons – financial deficits, overspending and apparent failures of governance and management at the institutional level.

Time, and the outcome of ongoing reviews, will give a fuller and truer picture but there is no doubting the reputational damage that current controversies relating to certain universities are causing and the risks they pose to all universities – to their autonomy, which has been a central pillar of their effectiveness, and to the strength and legitimacy of their claims for more public funding.

It is a fact worth repeating that our universities are overwhelmingly well-governed and managed, and deliver considerable benefits for individuals, society and the economy. And so they should being substantially funded by taxpayers. The view that some universities arrogantly disregard their public duties is an overblown caricature.

There is a high level of respect in the Irish administrative and political system and generally for the autonomy of universities to manage their internal affairs – a principle reconfirmed in the European Strategy for Universities (2022) as a fundamental principle of European higher education. Autonomy, however, has to be balanced by reasonable external oversight and accountability.

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This balance between autonomy and accountability is a very fine one, and is one easily disrupted, even by the universities themselves.

Problems in successive years relating to overpayment of academic staff, problematic property transactions and inadequate response to whistleblower allegations have shaken that balance and opened the door to those who would more tightly regulate the sector.

When, as has happened, a university stands on its autonomy and shelters in the impotence of government to intervene in the public interest there can be only one outcome in the longer term – government, through legislation, will give to itself the necessary powers.

The Higher Education Authority Act 2021 was in many respects an inevitable response of the Government to its impotence to respond to previous controversies. The Act now provides powers to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to impose “remedial measures”, including those relating to funding, in circumstances where there are significant concerns regarding the governance of an institution, its performance or its compliance with its obligations.

As a demonstration in practice of what this means the chancellor of the University of Limerick is reported as having recently told staff and students that the university will be subjected to “extreme oversight” by the HEA because of concerns surrounding the acquisition of houses for student accommodation.

The Higher Education Authority Act had from the outset the potential to dilute institutional autonomy due to the new powers of intervention by the HEA in internal university affairs. It might have been hoped that the powers would need to be used infrequently, if at all, as universities – individually and collectively – recognised the hazard they posed and would act in their own best interests. And yet, just 18 months after enactment, here we are!

There is now a clear danger that the response from the political system will be that even stronger powers are needed to regulate the universities.

We can expect robust exchanges, with some grandstanding, at the Public Accounts Committee. It is hoped that, after the inevitable fire and fury, politicians will see the value that institutional autonomy brings to the effectiveness of our universities and their reputation, national and international, and resist that all too reasonable urge to “put manners” on the universities.

But it’s not enough to point fingers at politicians. Universities and their representative bodies have to understand that their status as autonomous institutions brings a heightened level of accountability to act responsibly in all circumstances, especially when it comes to the use of public funds. They need to understand, if they do not already, that the actions of one have implications for all.

This is nowhere more relevant than in the issue of funding. Successive governments have failed abysmally to put in place a sustainable and appropriate level and model of funding for higher education. But the failure of governments is all too easily, and for them conveniently, masked by misuse by universities of such public funding as is made available.

Controversies like those currently roiling the sector take the ground from under those supporting the universities’ case for additional public funding.

Universities are in many respects authors of their own misfortune – which threatens to become a misfortune for all of us.

Tom Boland and Ellen Hazelkorn are joint managing partners in BH Associates. Tom Boland is a former chief executive of the Higher Education Authority and Ellen Hazelkorn is an emerita professor of TU Dublin.

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