What is an example of a degree program

Universities want to make sure that you receive a broad education that includes history, government, composition, natural sciences, ethics, and so on.

Typically, you spend your first two years in college completing these General Education requirements. I completed all my general education classes like history and math, plus all the classes required in my college major like business law, economics, accounting, and so on. So, your college major is biology and when you graduate in four years, your college degree will be: Bachelor of Science in Biology.

Once you finish all your general education requirements, you get the opportunity to really focus on your college major. Your college major is usually about 12 classes. Most classes are 3 credit hours, so your college major will be about 36 credit hours.

A major is made up of 36 credit hours with a predetermined number of required courses in higher-level courses. These courses are usually numbered in the to range. For example, if your major was biology, the course BIO would be a high-level biology course that would fulfill one of the requirements of your Biology major. There are a wide variety of majors available to study during your undergraduate career, as you can see in this list below of some of the most popular majors.

A major sets the focus and direction of an undergraduate degree, with all the other courses aligning around this core.

A degree and a major work hand-in-hand, with the major providing the focus while the degree provides an overarching structure and direction for your undergraduate studies.

As many people know, however, life rarely goes according to your original plans. Financial, family, and personal circumstances can change unexpectedly, forcing some students to slow down the pursuit of their degrees or put their educational goals on hold indefinitely. According to the National Center for Education Statistics NCES , fewer than 40 percent of all students enrolling in four-year colleges graduate within four years, and more than half of students who start college drop out within six years.

One such option is to enroll in a degree completion program. A degree completion program is an academic program specifically designed for students who have started, but not finished, a four-year undergraduate degree.

By accepting some or all of the credits that a student has already earned from their previous education, degree completion programs offer students a faster and often less expensive alternative to starting over an undergraduate education from scratch. Degree completion programs come in many different varieties in order to appeal to different kinds of students and learners. In order to maximize the likelihood of completion, it is important for students to choose a program that best aligns with their personal learning preferences.

For example, in-person courses might be best for students who need the added structure of a classroom setting. Online courses, on the other hand, offer increased flexibility. Thus, they may be a better fit for students who are completing their degree while working or caring for a family. Hybrid options, which merge in-person and online courses, are also often available. Degree completion programs offer a viable path forward for anyone who has started a college education and maintains a desire to finish it, regardless of background or personal motivation.

Other factors that could determine the exact duration will depend on the individual student. For example, someone who is able to transfer in credits from another accredited graduate program may be required to take fewer courses, allowing them to finish sooner. On the other hand, many graduate programs, like the ones at National, allow students to pursue their degree at their own pace.

And then, they can pick their education at the start of the next monthly start session. Sometimes, people seeking an MPA may also already have existing careers or volunteer positions in related fields and are looking to move up. So your classmates might include case workers, nurses, veterans, data analysts, city council members, publicists, firefighters, consultants, and budget managers. All of these professional experiences can serve as a foundation for a career with a nonprofit or public entity.

Online degrees are an especially ideal fit for these already-working students as they provide more flexibility. Goldberg says National University has a large veteran population, and that the MPA is a popular graduate degree among students with military experience. He cites an example of a marine who pursued his online MPA degree from National while still in the service.

Aside from teaching, college professors also dedicate time to scholarly research. Goldberg says those currently working in or retired from public administration or nonprofits bring value to the classroom. These practitioners can use recent real-world experiences and case study examples from their own careers.

So, what is an MPA degree? But no matter what brings someone to a program, the end goal is likely similar. I confirm that the information provided on this form is accurate and complete. I also understand that certain degree programs may not be available in all states. Message and data rates may apply.

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County administrator. Recreation manager. Urban and regional planner. Duration: Can last from years or more and may require specific prerequisite coursework and degree s before enrolling. Cost: Will vary greatly by program type and industry. Some degrees in this area allow for loan forgiveness or repayment based on where and how you practice after completion of the program.

Special Considerations: After completion you will be prepared to begin your career in the field and pursue advanced study. Funding will vary by program type and industry. Overview: Research doctoral degrees are designed with the intention to pursue research in a given field. Rather than a licensure exam, research doctoral programs require completion of comprehensive exams and defense of an independent research project, the dissertation. These programs will prepare you to pursue an academic or research based career.

Duration: Cand can last anywhere from years. The length of the program will be dictated by the field of study, institution, and even the funding source s.

Cost: You may have heard that PhD programs are fully funded. There is some truth to this but it depends greatly on the institution, academic focus, program, and related funding sources.

The funding structure should be clearly defined before accepting any offers of admission. Special Considerations: In some industries, there is a very clear limit to what types of positions you can hold without a PhD. In addition to the PhD there are a number of other research based doctoral degrees available in the US and abroad. Consult closely with your advisors, mentors, faculty, and post-docs. Overview: This is a very broadly defined track, as it simply means enrollment in two graduate programs, usually concurrently.

These program can be a great option if your career and academic interests span multiple industries or academic disciplines. Special Considerations: Some programs are very formal arrangements with a set curriculum, requiring one application with multiple essays or statements. Other programs will require you, the applicant, to apply to each program separately and coordinate the curriculum between departments or schools.

Pay careful attention to deadlines and details when applying. Most programs require acceptance to both programs separately. Work closely with your Career Advisor, Mentor, and academic advisor to craft an application plan.