COLLEGE/EDUCATION INFORMATION

COLLEGE EDUCATION INFO


There are many different levels of education. Different careers require different degree levels:

  • HIGH SCHOOL - okay for unskilled, generally lower-paying jobs (service industry, etc.)
  • VOCATIONAL/CERTIFICATE - required for "skilled" trades (construction, drafting, machinist, etc.) (usu. 1-2 yrs). Courses are focused on developing specific job skills.
  • ASSOCIATES DEGREE (AS) - required for xxx. (1-2 yrs). Courses cover jobs skills but also some general education (math, english, etc.)
  • BACHELORS DEGREE (BS) - required for "professions" (engineer, chemist, biologist, accountant, etc.) (usu. 4-5 yrs)
    • Courses cover the area of study, but also extensive general education (writing, math, language, economics, etc.). Study at this level is often called "undergraduate".
  • MASTER'S DEGREE (MS) - required for higher-level professional positions (usu. 1-2 yrs), or teaching at community college level. Courses are focused on more advanced concepts in area of study.
  • DOCTORAL DEGREE (PhD) - or "doctor of philosophy", (usu. 4-7 yrs). Required for high level positions in industry (senior scientist, project scientist), or teaching at the university level. Courses are highly focused on area of study, and research is a primary focus as well.


DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHOOLS & DEGREES OFFERED:

  • COMMUNITY COLLEGE - vocational certificates and AS degrees (example: Santa Ana College)
  • LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES - Bachelor's degrees (example: Loyola Marymount University, University of San Diego). These are privately-run schools & are often quite expensive (though student/teacher ratios are often lower).
  • CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY - Bachelor's and Master's Degrees (examples: Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach, Cal Poly Pomona)
  • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - Bachelor, Master, PhD degrees (examples: UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Berkeley)