United States Degrees

Bachelor’s Degree

U.S. students can go on to college or university after finishing high school (12th grade). Upon entering a college or university, students work toward their bachelor’s degree during the first four years.

Students in the first year are called “freshmen.” They are “sophomores” in the second year. “Junior” and “senior” refer to the third and fourth years. The U.S. undergraduate educational system is different from many other systems because students have more control over their courses. Also, students are not typically admitted directly into their “major” field of study. Instead, most undergraduates are in general studies programs until just before their junior year.

Students must take a certain number of courses in areas outside their major department or field in order to earn a bachelor’s degree in the United States. This is based on the philosophy that students at the undergraduate level get the best education by being exposed to several areas of study.

In some degree programs, students also choose a “minor” field that may or may not be closely related to their major. For example, a student could choose to major in marketing and minor in French. Students also choose some “elective” (extra) courses in other subjects.

Master’s Degree

A master’s degree follows the bachelor’s degree. It involves more study of a certain subject. This degree is required in some professions. The M.B.A., or Master of Business Administration, is a popular degree that usually takes two years. Some master’s programs take only one year.

Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.)

The doctoral degree is the highest degree you can earn in the United States. Examples include Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy), J.D. (Doctor of Law), M.D. (Doctor of Medicine), and D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery).

The Ph.D. requires course work, an examination, original research, and a dissertation. Most Ph.D. programs require at least three years of study after the master’s level. Most students take longer to finish this degree.

The first two years include classes and seminars. For another year or more, students will do research and write a thesis or dissertation. A dissertation is a written report of your original doctoral research. This paper must include views, designs, or research that has not been published before.

Students must pass a qualifying examination to get into the Ph.D. program. Later, they must pass an oral examination on the same topic as the dissertation.

B Bachelor
BA Bachelor of Arts
BAS Bachelor of Applied Science
BS Bachelor of Science
CRT Certified Respiratory Therapist (Bachelor of Science degree program in Respiratory Care)
DDS Doctor of Dental Surgery
DMA Doctor of Musical Arts
DMD Harvard University only grants degrees in Latin. Harvard did not adopt the D.D.S. or “Doctor of Dental Surgery” degree because the Latin translation was “Chirurgae Dentium Doctoris” or C.D.D. The people at Harvard thought that C.D.D. was cumbersome. A Latin scholar was consulted. The scholar suggested the ancient “Medicinae Doctor” be prefixed with “Dentariae”. This is how the D.M.D. or “Dentariae Medicinae Doctor” degree was started.
DPM Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
DVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
EDD Doctor of Education
EDM Master of Education
EDS Specialist in Education (EDucational Specialist)
ENG Engineer
IA Information Architecture
JD Juris Doctor
JM Juris Master
JSD Doctor of Juridical Science
JSM Master of Juridical Science
LLB Bachelor of Laws
LLM Master of Laws
MA Master of Arts
MAR Master of Arts in Religion
MAT Master of Arts in Teaching
MBA Master of Business Administration
MD Doctor of Medicine
MEA Master of Engineering Administration
MFA Master of Fine Arts
MLA Master of Landscape Architecture
MLS Master of Library Science
MPH Master of Public Health
MS Master of Science
MSD Master of Science in Design
MSM Master of Science in Management
MSMMaster of Sacred Music
MSW Master in Social Welfare
PHD Doctor of Philosophy
RN Registered Nurse