Associate Degree: An undergraduate degree that can be earned at most two-year colleges. The associate of arts (A.A.) or associate of science (A.S.) degree is granted after students complete a program of study similar to the first two years of a four-year college curriculum. The associate of applied science (A.A.S.) degree is awarded by many colleges upon completion of a two-year technological or vocational program of study.

Bachelor’s Degree: A degree received after the satisfactory completion of four- or five-years of full-time study at a college or university. Sometimes called baccalaureate degrees, they are more often called either bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.) degrees. Policies concerning the awarding of B.A. and B.S. degrees vary from college to college.

Certificate: A certificate is awarded for successful completion of a specialized program of study. A certificate may be for graduate (such as SGC - Specialized Graduate Certificate) or under graduate programs (such as ATC - Advanced Technical Certificate) and is usually not more than one year in length.

Advanced Technical Certificate: The Advanced Technical Certificate (ATC) is available to students who have already been awarded an Associate in Science degree and wish to upgrade their skills. Students must successfully complete a prescribed set of courses at the advanced level in order to be awarded the Certificate.

Continuing Education: Continuing Education is a category that indicates a collection of courses for completion of a specialized program of study. The Continuing Education category includes for-credit program of study (awarding a specific number of credits), Continuing Education Units (CEU), and the broader non-credit program of study commonly known as Continuing Education.

Diploma: A postsecondary diploma is awarded for successful completion of a program intended to provide students with employment skills. A diploma is usually one to two years in length.

Master’s Degree: The first graduate (post-baccalaureate) degree in the liberal arts, sciences, and certain professional fields, usually requiring one to two years of full-time study.

Doctoral Degree: Graduate degree awarded after successfully completing a program of two or more years beyond the bachelor’s degree, and in most cases beyond a master’s degree. A Ph.D. Or Doctor of Philosophy usually requires three or more years. Law (J.D. or Doctor of Jurisprudence) and medical degrees (M.D. or Medical Doctor) require three years.

First Professional Degree: The degree required to practice in certain professions, such as law and medicine. Study usually requires a total of at least six years, including prior college-level work. First professional degrees may be awarded in architecture, chiropractic, dentistry, engineering, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, podiatric medicine, rabbinical and talmudic studies, theology, and veterinary medicine.

Post-Masters/Education Specialist certificate: The education specialist (Ed.S.) provides 36 semester credits of study beyond the master's level. The Ed.S. is designed for career classroom teachers, teacher-leaders and others who hold or seek leadership positions in curriculum and instruction and/or professional training and development.