Undergraduate | Drexel University (2024)

FAQs

What does undergraduate mean in university? ›

An undergraduate is a person who's on the path to earning a bachelor's degree, which typically takes four years to complete. When people use the phrase “college degree,” they're usually referring to an undergraduate degree.

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.

Four-Year Undergraduate Degrees

If you choose to earn a B.A., the majority of your coursework will typically be in the arts, such as social sciences, humanities or fine arts. Students who earn a B.S. degree take the majority of their courses in life, physical or mathematical sciences.

Four-year and two-year colleges

Four-year institutions are referred to as undergraduate colleges. Four-year colleges specifically offer bachelor's degree programs. These include universities and liberal arts colleges. Two-year colleges offer certificate programs that can be completed in under two years.

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.

These studies usually take place at a college or university. Students who pursue these studies are called undergraduate students, working to earn a bachelor's degree or an associate degree. Undergraduate studies take four years, while associate degrees require two years.

The average of just over four years to complete a bachelor's degree isn't surprising. After all, bachelor's degrees are frequently called “four-year” degrees and institutions offering them are often called “four-year” colleges. It's important to keep in mind, however, that this result is simply an average.

Is grad school harder than undergrad? By the nature of learning and growth, it's fair to expect the subject material in grad school to be more advanced than the material you'd learn in an undergrad program in the same field.

There are generally four categories of college degrees: associate degree, bachelor's degree, graduate degree, and doctorate or professional degree. Each category comes with its own particular subcategories, and there are some subtle differences between a doctorate and a professional degree.

Associate degrees (undergraduate)

An associate degree is an education level beyond a high school diploma but not yet to the level of a bachelor's degree. Typically, associate degrees are two-year programs (or 60 course hours) offered in community colleges and technical colleges.

What degree is 8 years of college? ›

An “eight-year degree” typically refers to a doctorate degree or PhD. Although some doctorates can be completed in as little as three years, these degrees typically require more time studying highly specialized subjects.

Most master's degree programs will take an average of two years from start to finish — about half of the time it takes to earn your bachelor's degree.

A graduate is a person who has completed and been awarded a degree from a university (sometimes known as an alumnus). Postgraduate qualifications are for students who have already completed an undergraduate qualification (ie, graduates) and involve more advanced study in the area of your undergraduate qualification.

Undergraduate degrees typically span two to four years, depending on your field of study. They will also grant you different qualifications. Two-year programs: A two-year undergraduate program is commonly known as an associate degree.

Assuming you are enrolled to take college classes in the fall, you are an undergraduate student as soon as you begin your college classes. If you are going out into the work place instead, you are a high school graduate.

An undergraduate student in the United States is seeking one of two higher education degrees—an associate degree or a bachelor's degree.

The term 'undergraduate' refers to a Bachelors degree, while 'postgraduate' is used to describe graduate students studying for a second qualification, typically a masters, postgraduate certificate (PGCert) or postgraduate diploma (PGDip).