Find online degrees and online degree programs sorted by online college degree levels.
Learn how to earn Online Degrees and Online Degree Programs include Online Bachelors Degree, Online Certification
Programs, Online Masters Degrees, Online MBA Degrees. Find out what you need to know to get an online education.
Associate Degree Programs
Associate's Degree GraduateAn Associate's degree is an academic degree typically awarded by community colleges, junior colleges and some bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of 60 undergraduate credits.
Full-time students traditionally earn an Associate's degree in two years. Many students complete their Associate's degree online in less time. Part-time students enjoy greater scheduling flexibility with our online classes, and most students have access to a much broader selection of programs than are available through their local colleges and universities.
There are two primary types of Associate's degrees: transfer degrees and vocational or professional degrees. Transfer degrees form the foundation of a Bachelor's degree by enabling students to complete some or all of the general education requirements to transfer to a Bachelor's degree program.
The most common transfer degrees are:
- An Associate of Arts (AA) degree, typically for majors in the social sciences or humanities or general studies.
- An Associate of Science (AS) degree, typically for majors in mathematics, natural sciences, or technology.
Bachelor's Degree
Bachelors Degree Baccalaureate degrees are four-year degrees awarded by colleges or universities. This undergraduate degree allows students to select both a major which is the area of study, and a minor which is the more specific area of concentration. In most cases, the bachelor degree must be completed before embarking on a master's or doctoral degree.
Types of Bachelor Degrees
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) - This type of degree type usually requires a majority of coursework be taken in the arts; areas such as social science, humanities, music or fine arts.
• Bachelor of Science (BS)
- This type of degree usually requires a majority of coursework be taken in the sciences; areas such as life sciences, physical sciences, or mathematical sciences
It is important to make sure that the bachelors degree programs you are considering are fully accredited and the units you earn are transferable. All universities and colleges on Online Degree Center are accredited institutions and other colleges should recognize a bachelors degree from that college or online program.
Master's Degree
A Master's degree is a graduate academic degree from a college or university that typically requires one to three years of study. Most Master's programs require a Bachelor's degree as a prerequisite for admission.
In North America, the Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) are the most familiar types of Master's degrees. There are also numerous specialized Master's degrees offered in a wide variety of professional disciplines including: Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Education (Med), Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and Master of Project Management (MPM). (cont.)
Master's programs range from being entirely course-based to entirely research based, with most programs structured to combine both approaches.
Whatever your profession, a Master's degree is always a great career move. On average, the lifetime income of workers with Master's degrees is approximately 25% higher than those with Bachelor's. Increasingly, employers recruiting for management positions in fields such as sales and marketing, information technology, nursing, engineering and finance seek candidates with Master's degrees. A Master's is also a minimum requirement for most post-secondary teaching positions from the community college to the university level.
Doctorate Degree
A doctorate is an academic degree of the highest level. Traditionally, the award of a doctorate implies recognition of the candidate as an equal by the college or university faculty under which he or she studied.
The two primary types of doctoral degrees are research doctorates and professional doctorates. Research doctorates are typically awarded in recognition of peer-reviewed academic research that is of a publishable standard. Professional doctoral degrees are awarded in fields such as medicine (MD) and law (JD) where candidates focus on qualifying for professional licensure rather than on research.
To qualify for a research doctoral program, candidates must first earn a Master's degree. Candidate must complete a course of study, do original research, write a thesis or dissertation and successfully defend it before a faculty committee. The time required to complete a doctoral program varies widely from a minimum of three years and longer, depending on the program and whether the student is full- or part-time. The most common research doctoral degree is the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), with other designations in various specialties such as EdD (Doctor of Education) and PsyD (Doctor of Psychology).