Education and Getting a Degree

Education is one of the most important concerns an employer has when making the decision to hire an employee. Often times, a job candidate who has a higher degree of education will be hired for an open position before a candidate with a lower degree of education. As a result, getting a degree has become a top priority for many people in today's cutthroat corporate world.
 
 
While some employers simply prefer you have a degree, occasionally, others require that you have a certain degree of education to even apply for particular jobs. For example, many corporations will not even call a prospective employee for an interview if their resume doesn't indicate that they have the proper education.
 
Keep in mind that further education isn't just a concern for job applicants. Employees who are being considered for a promotion at their current job may also find that their levels of education come into play when supervisors make their decisions. While the employees who are candidates for the promotion may have the same experience and skills, those who have a higher degree of education will most likely win over the competition.

Associate's Degrees

An associate's degree, which can be earned in two years or less, is often a starting off point for those wanting to get an education. For students who are working a full-time job and have limited time to devote to getting a degree, taking classes part-time is an option. A normal full-time schedule for an associate's degree student usually includes four three-credit classes. A part-time student getting a degree will generally only take two classes.
 
Community colleges and many state universities offer associate's programs at their campuses. The cost of obtaining an associate's degree ranges from $4,500 to $8,000. While these costs may seem outrageous, keep in mind that scholarships and financial aid are usually available for qualified prospective students.
 
In fact, many associate's degree students who continue their education immediately after graduating from high school obtain scholarships from the local, state and federal governments, as well as from a variety of private organizations. After obtaining an associate's degree, some students may decide to further their education by pursuing a bachelor's degree.

Bachelor's Degrees

A bachelor's degree is a degree that usually takes about four years to complete. To earn a bachelor's degree, students have to focus their studies by choosing a major and completing specific, high-level courses associated with that field of study. A full-time student getting a degree generally takes four courses per semester, while a part-time student usually takes only two classes.
 
State and private universities and colleges offer bachelor's degrees. While many educational institutions offer the same base of traditional majors, such as English Literature or Political Science, different universities and colleges will also have their own unique fields of study, such as Architecture or German. In some cases, students will have to do some research to find schools that offer less common programs they want to study.
 
A bachelor's degree can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000 per year to complete. As with Associate's degrees, students working towards a Bachelor's degree can apply for scholarships and student loans to help with the cost of this education. Some bachelor's degree students who have chosen a specific course of study may want to move on and pursue a master's degree.

Master's Degree

A master's degree, sometimes called a graduate degree, takes another two or three years to complete after obtaining a bachelor's degree. Master's degree courses are generally more intense and involved than the courses offered at an undergraduate school. Due to the intense workload involved with gradate programs, graduate students usually only take two courses per semester as full-time students.
 
Many colleges and universities offer graduate study programs and master's degrees in a range of majors.
 
The cost of a master's degree generally depends on the area of study chosen by the student. The total cost can start around $14,000 and range upwards to over $100,000, depending on the program and university you choose. While student loans are available for master's degree students, scholarships are often scarce and hard to obtain. In some cases, employers will pay for their employees to further their education if it's needed for their jobs.

Doctoral Degree

A doctoral degree usually takes four to five years to earn after obtaining a master's degree. The length of attendance depends upon the major of study chosen and how much experience the student has in the subject.
 
To earn a doctoral degree, students must complete a dissertation, which can sometimes take a student up to a year to finish. Most universities offer doctoral education in certain subjects. It is rare to find a university that offers the doctoral degree to part-time students.
 
The cost of a doctoral degree program can start at $28,000 and skyrocket upwards of $100,000. While doctoral students can take out loans to fund their education, they may also want to check with their employers to see if they have programs to help pay for the cost of their employees' furthered education.
 
Resources
 
DegreesToSucceed.com, 2003. Understanding the Types of Degrees. Retrieved February 9, 2008, from the DegreesToSucceed.com Web site.
 
Iowa Western Community College, 2003. General Types of Degrees. Retrieved February 9, 2008, from the IWCC.edu Web site.
 
The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, 2008. Costs & Financial Aid. Retrieved February 9, 2008, from the ChicagoGSB.com Web site.