Earn a degree

You already know that when you earn a degree you have a better chance to get the job you want. What certifications, diplomas, degrees should you choose to earn? There is no right or wrong answer to this question or any question regarding your education.

Some career choices have predefined degree and certification requirements. If you choose one of those fields, then the minimum degree requirements are laid out for you.

Remember, that in any field you can earn more advanced degrees that will give you more advanced career opportunities, if that is what you want. Earning more advanced degrees can also allow you to diversify and include additional college majors that you listed in your notebook while determining your college majors.

Write down all the degree possibilites you wish to consider in your notebook. Talk to your teachers, counselors and family. When all this is done, listen to your heart and what is important to you.

• Certificates or diplomas: You can earn nondegree educational credentials that give you qualifications to enter into some occupational field at an entry level. The programs that offer these vary in length.

• Associate degrees Earn two year degrees offered by community colleges or four-year colleges and universities upon completion of a program of study in a techological or vocational field. You earn an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree.

• Bachelor's or baccalaureate degrees Upon the successful comcpletion of a four or five year full-time, or part-time equivalent of study, You earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS)

• First professional degrees require at least two years of college work for entrance, and at least six total years for completion. This enables you to become licensed in a recognized profession.

• Combined bachelor's/graduate degrees (or joint degrees) allow you to earn both bachelor's and master's degrees (or first-professional degrees) in less than the usual amount of itme. You would apply to the graduate program sometime during your first three years, and begin the graduate program in the fourth year.

• International baccalaureates (I.B.) are similar to the final year of secondary school in Europe and are taken in the final two years of high school. the program is rigorous, and you will find some colleges that award credit or advanced placement to you if you earn this credential.

• Liberal arts/career combinations You complete three years of study in a liberal arts field, and then two years in a professional/technical study to earn this degree. Engineering is one example of this. At the end of this program you earn a BA and both BA and BS degrees.

• Teacher certificationc are different in every state as the requirements are set by the state. Courses include three areas: liberal arts, your major teaching area, and professional education courses, including student teaching. You must also pass an achievement test in the field in which you will teach.