phd vs undergraduate

Quick Guide: Your College Degree Options

Find the right college for you.

There are generally four categories of college degrees: associate degree, bachelor’s degree, graduate degree, and doctorate or professional degree. Each category comes with its own particular subcategories, and there are some subtle differences between a doctorate and a professional degree.

If you ever find yourself lost in the sea of abbreviations for degrees, you're not alone. This quick guide is here to clear the air regarding the types of degrees available to you and what each one means.

Guide to College Degrees, Professional Studies & Certifications

Associate degree.

An associate degree is a two-year degree typically offered at community colleges, technical colleges, and career colleges. However, some four-year universities offer them as well. Examples of some associate degrees include Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS).

AS degrees are generally more narrowly focused and prepare students for science and math-related careers. AA degrees are broader and focus on fields outside of math and science such as liberal arts, business administration, criminal justice, and culinary arts.

Some students who earn an associate degree transfer to a four-year program to earn a bachelor’s degree. Others complete associate degrees and then go straight to work.

Bachelor's or Baccalaureate Degree

Bachelor’s degrees require students to complete four- or five-year programs in a specific academic discipline. The two most common types of bachelor’s degrees are bachelor of arts (BA) and bachelor of science (BS). Other types of bachelor’s degrees include the bachelor of fine arts (BFA), and bachelor of architecture (BArch).

Because bachelor’s degrees train students to enter a specific field, many professional careers require them. Earning a bachelor’s degree can open the door to many job opportunities and increase your potential income.

Some institutions offer a liberal arts and career combination program, also called a 3-2 program. This is a type of dual degree in which a student completes three years of liberal arts study followed by two years of professional or technical study. In the end, students earn two bachelor’s degrees, usually a BA and a BS.

An example of this is Columbia University’s 3-2 Combined Plan program in which students can earn a BA and a BS in five years.

Some colleges also let you earn a teacher certification by combining bachelor's degree study with state certification requirements. State requirements vary, but these programs usually feature professional education courses, including student teaching.

Graduate Degree

Graduate degrees are advanced degrees that some students pursue after earning a bachelor’s degree. The two most common are master of arts (MA) and master of science (MS). Other examples include master of fine arts (MFA) and master of business administration (MBA). A graduate degree is like an extension of a bachelor’s degree whereby a student further enriches their knowledge of their field and narrows their f ocus of study .

Graduate degrees usually take around two years to attain, but this can vary based on the degree. Many institutions allow students to enroll in a graduate program in a field unrelated to their bachelor’s degree. This may require some extra credit hours, though.

Professional Degree

Students earn professional degrees to become licensed to work in professions like medicine or law. The M.D. degree is an example. Professional programs generally require a college degree before you start them and then at least three years of study to complete.

Doctoral Degree and Professional Degree

The doctorate and professional degrees are the highest levels of education one can attain. They signify mastery of a subject and often come with the coveted title “doctor.” Although the two are similar, there are some important differences.

A doctorate or doctoral degree is a research-oriented degree focused on scholarly development. The most common doctorate is the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Despite the name, a PhD covers many disciplines, not just philosophy.

A professional degree is an application-oriented degree, meaning it prepares students for a specific working position. There are many types of professional degrees. Some examples are: doctor of medicine (MD), doctor of pharmacy (PharmD), and doctor of medicine in dentistry (DMD) in the field of medicine, and juris doctor (JD) and doctor of juridical science (SJD) in the field of law.

A graduate degree does not need to precede a doctorate or professional degree. Often, students will go straight into a doctorate or professional program following their bachelor’s, however some programs will require a master’s degree to gain entry. Completion can take anywhere from four to eight years, depending on the field of study.

Many doctoral students work either full-time or part-time while they study in the program. This, along with the field they are studying, will significantly affect the time it takes to complete their degree.

Joint Degrees

Some students may choose to pursue a joint degree, also known as a dual degree, which means they simultaneously study for a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree. Joint degrees can be pursued in the same college or can be split between two different colleges. For example, Berklee College of Music and Harvard University offer a dual bachelor’s/master’s program in which a student receives a bachelor of arts (BA) at Harvard and a master of music (MM) or master of arts (MA) at Berklee.

Depending on the program, it may be possible to study at the same time for a master's degree and a doctorate. For example, the University of Southern California offers a program leading to doctor of pharmacy and master of public health degrees.

How do academic degrees go in order?

There are four types of degrees. In order of level of education, they rank as associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s or graduate degrees, and doctorate or professional degrees.

How many degrees are there in college?

Most community colleges offer only two-year associate degrees, while most four-year colleges offer bachelor’s, graduate, and doctorate or professional degrees. Some four-year colleges may also have associate degree programs.

How many years do you have to be in college to achieve certain degrees?

Though it will vary between academic disciplines, associate degrees usually take two years to achieve, bachelor’s degrees take four years, master’s degrees take two years, and doctorate or professional degrees can take anywhere from four to eight years.

What is an eight-year degree?

An “eight-year degree” typically refers to a doctorate degree or PhD. Although some doctorates can be completed in as little as three years, these degrees typically require more time studying highly specialized subjects. Students in these programs often must defend a dissertation while already working a professional job.

What are the four years of college called?

The first four years of college are the undergraduate years, and a student studying for a bachelor’s degree is called an undergraduate. The four years refer to the total accumulated credit hours; a student may take fewer or more than four years to attain their undergraduate degree.

What does a graduate degree mean?

A graduate degree or master’s degree is an advanced degree that some students pursue after earning a bachelor’s degree. Earning a graduate degree signifies mastery of a particular field of study and focuses more intensely on a subject than a bachelor’s degree does. Graduate degrees usually take two years to attain.

What do you call a master's student?

A master's student is called a graduate student or “grad student” for short. A student still studying for a bachelor’s degree is called an undergraduate student or “undergrad student.”

How many years is a master's degree?

Graduate degrees usually take around two years to attain, but this can vary based on the degree. Many institutions allow students to enroll in a graduate program in a field unrelated to their bachelor’s degree, although it may require some extra credit hours.

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The Difference Between Graduate and Undergraduate Degrees: 10 Things That Matter

Updated: October 13, 2023

Published: September 4, 2019

While both achieve the same goal, to prepare you for something new, and to push your academics further, graduate and undergraduate studies have some very important differences. Most notably, they both have very different possible outcomes, have varying levels of difficulty and commitment, and students’ reasoning for entering programs will vary quite a bit. Some of these are minor, but some matter quite a bit. Read on to learn all about degree levels and the difference between graduate and undergraduate studies.

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10 differences between graduate and undergraduate school that matter, 1. time commitment.

One of the first things you will realize as a grad student, is where did your life go? In undergraduate school, there is time to split between sports, social activities, volunteering, the list goes on. You’re always busy, but it might not always be school-related.

In graduate school, it can seem like you are always working on school-related tasks, but at least they will be interesting tasks! You’ve thought long and hard about going to graduate school, therefore it’s likely that you are studying something that you love, so the extra time commitment won’t seem so bad. Finally, graduate courses are much more research intense, so the work you do will inevitably take more time. But at least you are working towards something for you as well.

2. Professor-Student Relationship

The relationships between you and your professors are likely to be different than when you were an undergrad. As an undergraduate, you might find yourself in a class of over 300 students! Graduate courses are much more intimate, including online degrees.

Professors can also be more invested in their graduate students, especially if you are doing research together. Make that relationship work for you — learn all you can from your professors, and don’t forget to network towards the end of your studies. You never know who might be a great connection for a job.

3. Entrance Requirements

Requirements to get into graduate school are very different from that of undergraduate school. All undergraduate programs require a high school diploma or equivalent, and graduate programs require undergraduate degrees.

When it comes to standardized testing, requirements also change. To get into most undergraduate programs, especially four-year institutions, standardized tests are usually needed. For graduate school, the same might be true, but you will also find variance on which tests are required depending on the program. Some schools, such as University of the People , do not require entrance exams at all! See here what requirements you’d need in order to study at UoPeople.

Letters of recommendation will vary by school and program but are much more common for graduate school. Most public, four-year universities will not require recommendations for undergrad applications.

4. Post Grad Opportunities

Now here’s a difference between graduate and undergraduate that really matters: What you will do after. Both can lead to further education — undergrad degrees lead to graduate programs, and from there, you can complete post-graduate education such as a PhD.

School programs aside, the doors are much more open if you have completed a graduate degree. You are likely to get paid more with a graduate degree, and more management and upper level positions will be open to you, compared to applicants with undergraduate education.

5. Research

Graduate school is all about research. And while it is still possible to find research opportunities in undergrad, they are seen more as side projects or extracurriculars, instead of a culmination of your graduate education.

In your graduate studies, you will also have opportunities to research something that really matters to you, whereas in undergrad, you might have less of a say in research content.

6. Course Content

Course content as well as course structure is different in graduate school. Content and material is likely to be more challenging in graduate courses. You will also be expected to produce more materials such as papers, presentations, projects, and discussions during your graduate courses when compared to undergraduate courses that may rely on textbooks and passive lectures.

7. Evaluation

How you are graded will depend on programs and schools regardless of graduate or undergraduate status, but there are still some important differences between the two. First of all, when it comes to curving grades, or adjusting grades based on the class’ performance, undergraduate courses are much more likely to implement it. Here’s a little known fact — you can’t graduate with honors in graduate school!

8. Change of Majors

In your undergraduate studies, a change of majors requires little more than a trip and a form signature from an academic counselor. It might mean taking a few extra classes than anticipated, but it is still relatively easy to. In graduate school, however, changing majors or study tracks is extremely difficult because you are admitted into your program as part of the application process.

9. Older & Wiser?

Graduate students already know the ropes. They have learned their best study habits, the subjects they do well on, and the ones they may need extra help in, compared to undergraduate students, who may need some adjustment period to get used to higher education.

Graduate students might, however, also have spent considerable time away from school and may need extra help getting back in the mindset of studying, while undergrad students often come straight from high school and are ready to learn.

10. Interactive Classes

Undergrad classes might be all about reviewing materials, turning in assignments and taking exams. This isn’t always the case, but it is much more likely when compared to graduate school, where classes might have more discussions, require more participation and project-based assignments.

The Undergraduate vs Graduate Student

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Undergrads are usually younger and full of energy. They are likely using a degree to find out what they want to do, take the next step in life, and have a fun social atmosphere. Graduate students have a different outlook. Some will have more work experience, and all have more school experience. Grad students may already have established their lives, families, and social groups and are more looking to school for just academics.

How Hard is Graduate School Compared to Undergraduate?

It’s harder! We can’t lie to you — graduate school is another ball game when it comes to academics. There is much more of an expectation to use your mind to make inferences and intelligent contributions to your work, compared to recall and memory exercises in undergrad. Graduate school requires much more applied skills and knowledge, and be prepared for a larger time commitment for graduate courses.

Admissions requirements can be harder as well for graduate school. While you might not be required to take a standardized test, if you do, the GMAT and the GRE are much more challenging than undergrad entrance exams.

You may also be asked to submit a portfolio for graduate school admissions, which takes lots of time and effort. On the positive side, however, you will get to show your best work and explain in your own way what makes you a great candidate, instead of relying on test scores.

What is an Undergraduate Student?

Undergraduate studies include Associate’s degrees, such as University of the People’s Associate’s in Health Studies , Associate’s in Computer Science , and Associate’s in Business Administration . Associate’s degrees are shorter and can offer an introduction into a field.

Bachelor’s degrees are also undergraduate programs. There are several types of Bachelor’s degrees, including Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and Bachelor of Fine Arts. University of the People offers three Bachelor of Science degrees in Health Studies , Computer Science , and Business Administration .

What is a Graduate Student?

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Graduate studies include Master’s degrees such as Master of Art, Master of Education , Master of Science, Master in Business Administration , Master in Social Work, Master in Fine Arts, and Master in Law (LLM).

University of the People offers flexible online graduate degree programs in Education ( M.Ed ) and Business ( MBA ).

Doctorate students are also graduate students. The most common types of degrees you can earn post graduate are PhD, Doctor of Law, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and Doctor of Medicine.

All in all, while there are many very important differences between undergraduate and graduate school, both have amazing pluses and incredible, yet different, opportunities from each one.

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Graduate vs Undergraduate Degree: Which Is Best for You?

Deciding between a graduate vs undergraduate degree can be challenging. After completing your undergraduate degree program, should you enter the job market or apply to graduate schools? Understanding key differences between these types of degrees can help you make the best choice for your career goals.

In this article, we’ll discuss the difference between graduate vs undergraduate degrees. We’ll also look at how a graduate or undergraduate degree can allow you to achieve your professional goals and enhance your future earnings potential. 

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What is a graduate degree.

A graduate degree is an advanced degree in a particular field of study that you pursue after earning an undergraduate degree. A graduate student is someone who is studying for a more advanced degree than the undergraduate degree that they already have. 

Types of Graduate Degrees

• Master’s degrees, such as a Master of Science (MS) or Master of Arts (MA)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees
• Professional doctoral degrees

What Is an Undergraduate Degree?

An undergraduate degree is a degree that you earn by completing an undergraduate program at a college or university. Undergraduate students work to achieve this degree after completing their high school education. It involves all post-secondary programs up to the bachelor’s degree level. This degree is also sometimes called a first degree or college degree.

Types of Undergraduate Degrees

• Associate degrees
• Bachelor’s degrees, such as a Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Arts (BA), or Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) 

Is a Graduate Degree Faster Than an Undergraduate Degree?

Yes, a graduate degree is often faster than an undergraduate degree. You can complete graduate programs within a shorter timeframe. Typically, a full-time student will take six month to two years to earn a graduate degree like a Master of Education or Master of Business Administration. Undergraduate study requires an average of 120 credit hours and at least three years of coursework.

Is a Graduate Degree Easier Than an Undergraduate Degree?

No, a graduate degree is not easier than an undergraduate degree. Education USA reveals that graduate courses are more advanced and require more in-depth training than undergraduate courses. During a graduate program, professors ask students to apply concepts, skills, and knowledge that they have acquired from their undergraduate programs.

Is a Graduate Degree Better Than an Undergraduate Degree?

Yes, a graduate degree is better than an undergraduate degree. Workers with a higher level of education have higher earning potential and better career opportunities than those with lower qualifications. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020, bachelor’s degree holders had an unemployment rate of 5.5 percent compared to 4.1 percent for those with a graduate degree.

5 Key Differences Between a Graduate Degree and an Undergraduate Degree

1. entry requirements.

A student must have completed a bachelor’s degree program to apply for graduate programs. In comparison, a high school diploma or GED is the only prerequisite when applying to an undergraduate program.

2. Classification of Degrees

Undergraduate programs award associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees. An associate degree is a college program that takes two to three years, compared to a bachelor’s degree, which usually takes four years. In comparison, graduate degrees include master’s degrees, doctoral programs, and professional programs.

3. Level of Focus

Undergraduate studies are broader than graduate studies and require that students take classes in a wide variety of fields. An undergrad takes more courses per semester than a grad student. 

For a full-time undergraduate student, this is generally between 15 and 18 credits per semester or four to six courses. Grad students take fewer classes per semester, but graduate-level courses are more intensive with a specialized focus on a student’s fields of study.

4. Classroom Settings

Most institutions accept more undergraduate students than graduate students. This results in smaller class sizes in graduate classes, allowing for better class discussions and more opportunities for mentoring. By contrast, an undergraduate should expect a larger class size, especially in the first few years of their program.

5. Potential Job Earnings

Graduate degree holders tend to earn more than undergraduate degree holders due to their advanced knowledge and professional experience. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that workers with a graduate degree have weekly earnings of $1,497 , which is higher than the average salary of $1,248 earned by bachelor’s degree holders.

Jobs That Require a Graduate Degree

• Engineering Manager. This job involves overseeing engineering activities and implementing new initiatives. It requires a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management and offers an average annual salary of $149,530 .
• Human Resources Manager. This job is concerned with the administrative, recruitment, and welfare operations of a company. Becoming a human resources manager requires a Master’s Degree in Human Resources or a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and offers an average salary of $121,220 .
• Chief Information Security Officer. This role involves overseeing a company’s data and cyber security operations . To qualify as a chief information security officer, you need to have a Master’s Degree in Cyber Security. The average pay for this job is $159,877 .

Jobs That Require an Undergraduate Degree

• Information Systems Manager. This job requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Programming or Computer Science. Professionals on this career path specialize in maintaining an organization’s infrastructure systems and databases. They oversee debugging, building, and updating plans.
• Petroleum Engineer. This job involves the drilling, extraction, exploration, and production of crude oil. Petroleum managers tackle problems that arise in oil operations. The requirement for this career is a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering.
• Accountant: An accountant manages the finances of a business or organization. Accountants specialize in auditing the organization’s accounts and assessing risks. They are relevant in every organization that engages in business transactions.

Should You Get a Graduate Degree or an Undergraduate Degree?

You should consider getting at least an undergraduate degree. Undergraduate classes offer foundational knowledge and typically prepare you for an entry-level position . A four-year degree is also typically the main prerequisite for admission into an advanced-level graduate program. A graduate degree will allow you to access better career opportunities.

Graduate Degree vs Undergraduate Degree FAQ

Yes, you can work toward an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree at the same time thanks to accelerated degree programs . In these programs, students take undergraduate degree courses in their first three years and begin their graduate study in the fourth year. This way, students graduate with two degrees in four or five years. 

Yes, distance learning is possible for undergraduate and graduate degrees. There is a wide variety of distance learning programs offered by universities worldwide. This is especially useful for students who must work a job during their studies.

The admission requirements for an undergraduate program will differ based on the institution you’re applying to. They will generally include the completion of a high school diploma and good grades on your high school transcript. 

No, you can’t enroll in a traditional graduate program without an undergraduate degree. You must have a bachelor’s degree in your field of study. At some schools, you may be accepted as a graduate student if you have an associate degree and many years of in-field experience. 

About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication .

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Key Differences Between Undergraduate and Graduate School

Going to a graduate school is a different experience than getting your undergraduate degree. But, how different?

As you consider your options for earning a master’s degree , it will help you to know what is expected of you and how you can prepare for success. It’s important to know those expectations going in, because preparing yourself is a key step toward success in a master’s program.

Below is a list of the most palpable differences that make graduate school feel different than undergraduate.

You’ll Be Surrounded by Like-minded People

The average age for a graduate student is 33. Most students work at least part-time.

According to Kody Kuehnl, Dean of the College of Arts, Sciences & Technology at Franklin University , “You’ll be attending graduate-level courses alongside of professionals who are in your chosen field of study. Because you’re with many educated, experienced, like-minded people, just interacting with other students can be a way to build your network and gain important career connections.”

In traditional undergraduate courses, students are typically younger and don't have professional work experience or connections. At graduate school, you’ll have more experienced peers. Be ready to plug into that built-in network of professionals at the student level.

Rather than the common undergraduate tactic of grade competition—or grading on a curve, which pits student against student—graduate work is considered on its own merit. You’ll find that your fellow students are often ready with insights, ideas, and support to help you do even better.

Classes Are Much More Interactive

As mentioned above, your student peers in graduate school are actually an important part of the process. Faculty members at a graduate level will regularly encourage active participation and discussion. Undergraduate professors typically provide information and direction, whereas graduate faculty might focus more on facilitating debates and discussions.

At a graduate level, classroom time is shared. Professors will engage you, and you’ll be expected to contribute to a conversational, collaborative class experience. The student should always come to class fully prepared, having read materials and sources prior to the class. As an undergraduate, class discussion may be less focused and more spontaneous; however in graduate school, discussions are often laser focused and require preparation. The ideas you bring with you will enhance not only your learning and understanding, but also your peers’.

When it comes to paying for school, grants are among your best options. But do you know how to find them? Remove the guesswork by downloading this free guide

You’ll have to think on a different level.

In undergraduate work, the focus is on learning information; it’s about memorization and understanding concepts. Graduate school is different.

“You move from theory to real-world applications. Whereas undergraduate is about gaining a broad understanding of a topic, graduate school is a much deeper dive into the intricacies of the field. The thinking is different with more of a focus on how you construct your arguments, what your sources of information are, and how you apply it all as you tackle a real problem.” —Kody Kuehnl

When you reach a graduate level of courses, the focus switches from learning information to applying it. More of your time will be dedicated to seeing one topic from many different angles and then finding your own point of view about it.

More Time Spent Researching and Writing

A 4-year undergraduate degree may take longer than an 18-month-long master’s degree, but the master’s is more likely to feel like a marathon.

You’ll be reading and researching a great deal. Your study habits will need to be tighter and smarter. You’ll have to be ready to write a lot more. According to Kuehnl, “The time you spend studying is much more active in the graduate world. Rather than memorizing, you’re actually training your mind to use information in a new way.”

Be ready for the additional effort.

There’s No Fluff

At a graduate level, the content is laser-focused on specific career-building outcomes and skill sets. Unlike undergraduate studies, there is not a broad range of content to create a well-rounded person. Your master’s degree is designed to do just that: build mastery in one area of content.

Most of what you’ll do is based on what you want to do. When you’re done, you’ll have a depth of understanding that can immediately be put to use in the working world.

There’s Less Structure and More Freedom

In a bachelor’s program, professors and lecturers typically give you detailed reading lists, organized notes, timelines, project check-ins, and plenty of detailed directions so you’ll know what’s expected of you. In a master’s program, you’ll have far more freedom—and you’ll need to learn how to manage it!

Remember that freedom equals responsibility. Without someone constantly prompting and reminding, you will need to manage your own deadlines, both large and small. Be sure to stay on top of your reading and research because it can be hard to recover if you get behind.

Professors Treat You More Like Peers Than Students

As mentioned above, master’s degree students are expected to contribute during class time; this is a major component of how professors feel about you, talk with you, and treat you. Leave behind any idea that the professor teaches while you listen. Your professors hope for and plan for you to be a positive contributor who is both learning and sharing at the same time.

Some universities elevate the importance of this concept. For example, Franklin University calls it “360-degree learning,” where you are a part of a network of professionals at both the faculty and peer level.

It Will Be Hard(er)

Graduate work is no walk in the park.

According to Kuehnl, “Some people considering graduate school will actually wonder if they’re ‘smart enough.’ But getting a master’s degree is not about being smart. A major factor in graduate degree success is what I call ‘grit.’ It’s about being determined, knowing what you want, having focus, being organized, and making the time and effort to do the work.”

You’ll Likely Earn More Money in Your Lifetime

According to the Social Security Administration, a graduate degree can be a financially rewarding asset. Their records suggest that a person with a graduate degrees typically earns $650,000 to $845,000 more in median lifetime earnings than a person with bachelor’s degree. Generally speaking, a graduate degree will open doors to opportunities (such as promotions and raises) that might not be available without it.

Vive La Difference

Undergraduate classwork is generally broad and designed to create well-rounded individuals who are ready to enter the working world. In traditional four-year schools, the student body is mostly comprised of young adults in a highly social environment with most students living on or near campus. The graduate coursework, environment, and mindset—even though they occur on some of the very same campuses—typically stand in contrast in order to meet the different educational goals.

So, yeah, grad school is different! And maybe you’ve never attempted any coursework that’s this intense. But with the right preparation, you can navigate those differences and powerfully position yourself for that next big step in your career and life.

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What Is a Doctorate Degree?

A doctorate is usually the most advanced degree someone can get in an academic discipline, higher education experts say.

What Is a Doctorate?

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It's unwise to apply to a doctoral program if you don't have a clear idea of how you might use a doctorate in your career.

In many academic disciplines, the most advanced degree one can earn is a doctorate. Doctorate degree-holders are typically regarded as authorities in their fields, and many note that a major reason for pursuing a doctorate is to increase professional credibility.

"If someone wants to be respected as an expert in their chosen field, and also wants to have a wider array of options in research, writing, publishing, teaching, administration, management, and/or private practice, a doctorate is most definitely worth considering," Don Martin, who has a Ph.D. in higher education administration , wrote in an email.

A doctoral degree is a graduate-level credential typically granted after multiple years of graduate school, with the time-to-degree varying depending on the type of doctoral program, experts say.

Earning a doctorate usually requires at least four years of effort and may entail eight years, depending on the complexity of a program's graduation requirements. It also typically requires a dissertation, a lengthy academic paper based on original research that must be vetted and approved by a panel of professors and later successfully defended before them for the doctorate to be granted.

Some jobs require a doctorate, such as certain college professor positions, says Eric Endlich, founder of Top College Consultants, an admissions consulting firm that helps neurodivergent students navigate undergraduate and graduate school admissions.

Endlich earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree, commonly known as a Ph.D., from Boston University in Massachusetts. He focused on psychology and notes that a doctoral degree is generally required to be a licensed psychologist.

"Since a Ph.D. is a research-focused degree, it can be advantageous to those seeking high-level research positions in scientific fields such as astrophysics or biotechnology," he says.

How Long it Takes to Get a Doctorate Degree

Martin, founder and CEO of Grad School Road Map, an organization that helps grad school applicants navigate the admissions process, says obtaining a doctorate is often a lengthy endeavor.

"Typically it can take between four and six years to complete any doctoral program," he says. "If comprehensive examinations and a dissertation are part of the graduation requirements, it may take a year or two longer. There is no standard amount of time – some students take seven to 10 years to finish."

Endlich says doctoral degree hopefuls should be aware that completing a dissertation may take a long time, especially if unexpected hurdles arise.

"My dissertation, for example, involved recruiting college students to complete questionnaires, and it took much longer than I anticipated to recruit enough subjects for my study," he says.

The standards for a dissertation, which include the proposal and research, are rigorous and usually involve a review and approval by a faculty committee, says Hala Madanat, vice president for research and innovation at San Diego State University in California.

"As part of dissertation requirements, some programs will require publication of the research in high-impact peer-reviewed journals," Madanat wrote in an email.

Types of Doctoral Degree Programs

According to professors and administrators of doctoral programs, there are two types of doctorates.

Doctor of Philosophy

A doctor of philosophy degree is designed to prepare people for research careers at a university or in industry, and teach students how to discover new knowledge within their academic discipline. Ph.D. degrees are offered in a wide range of academic subjects, including highly technical fields like biology , physics, math and engineering; social sciences like sociology and economics; and humanities disciplines like philosophy.

A Ph.D. is the most common degree type among tenure-track college and university faculty, who are typically expected to have a doctorate. But academia is not the only path for someone who pursues a Ph.D. It's common for individuals with biology doctorates to work as researchers in the pharmaceutical industry, and many government expert positions also require a Ph.D.

Professional or clinical doctorates

These are designed to give people the practical skills necessary to be influential leaders within a specific industry or employment setting, such as business, psychology , education or nursing . Examples of professional doctoral degrees include a Doctor of Business Administration degree, typically known as a DBA; a Doctor of Education degree, or Ed.D.; and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, or DNP.

A law degree, known as a juris doctor or J.D., as well as a Doctor of Medicine degree, or M.D., are also considered professional doctorates.

How to Get a Doctorate

Getting a doctorate is challenging. It ordinarily requires a series of rigorous classes in a field of study and then passage of a qualification exam in order to begin work on a dissertation, which is the final project.

Dissertations are difficult to write, says David Harpool, vice president of graduate and online programs at Newberry College in South Carolina. Some research indicates that only about half of doctoral students go on to finish their degree, and a main reason is that many never finish and successfully defend their dissertation

"Many of them are in programs that permit them to earn a master’s on the way to a doctorate," Harpool, who earned a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University in Missouri and a J.D. from the University of Missouri , wrote in an email. "The transition from mastering a discipline to creating new knowledge (or at least applying new knowledge in a different way), is difficult, even for outstanding students."

Learn about how M.D.-Ph.D. programs

There is a often a "huge shift in culture" at doctoral programs compared to undergraduate or master's level programs, says Angela Warfield, who earned a Ph.D. in English from the University of Iowa.

Doctoral professors and students have more of a collaborative relationship where they function as colleagues, she says. And there's pressure on each student to produce "significant and original research."

Many full-time doctoral students work for the school as researchers or teaching assistants throughout their program, so time management is crucial to avoid burnout. However, the dissertation "is by far the biggest battle," she says. The goal is to avoid an "ABD," she says, meaning "all but dissertation."

"In my writing group, we had two motivational slogans: 'ABD is not a degree,' and 'a good dissertation is a done dissertation,'" Warfield, now the principal consultant and founder of admissions consulting firm Compass Academics, wrote in an email.

How Are Doctorate Admissions Decisions Made?

Admissions standards for doctoral programs vary depending on the type of doctorate, experts say.

The quality of a candidate's research is a distinguishing factor in admissions decisions, Madanat says. Meanwhile, leaders of clinical and professional doctorate programs say that the quality of a prospective student's work experience matters most.

Doctoral programs typically expect students to have a strong undergraduate transcript , excellent letters of recommendation and, in some cases, high scores on the Graduate Record Examination , or GRE, Endlich says.

"The size of the programs may be relatively small, and universities need to be sure that applicants will be able to handle the demands of their programs," he says.

Because professional doctorates often require students to come up with effective solutions to systemic problems, eligibility for these doctorates is often restricted to applicants with extensive first-hand work experience with these problems, according to recipients of professional doctorates.

In contrast, it's common for Ph.D. students to begin their programs immediately after receiving an undergraduate degree. The admissions criteria at Ph.D. programs emphasize undergraduate grades, standardized test scores and research projects , and these programs don't necessarily require work experience.

Admissions decisions may also depend on available funding, says Madanat, who works with doctoral students to provide funding, workshops and faculty support to help their research.

Who Is a Good Fit for a Doctoral Program?

Doctoral degree hopefuls "should be interested in making a deep impact on their field, open-minded, eager to learn, curious, adaptable and self-motivated," Madanat says. "Doctoral programs are best suited for those whose goals are to transform and change the fields they are studying and want to make a difference in the way the world is."

Someone who loves to study a subject in great depth, can work alone or in teams, is highly motivated and wants to develop research skills may be a good candidate for a doctoral program, Endlich says.

Because of the tremendous effort and time investment involved in earning a doctorate, experts say it's foolish to apply to a doctoral program if it's unclear how you might use a doctorate in your career.

"The students are being trained with depth of knowledge in the discipline to prepare them for critical thinking beyond the current state of the field," Madanat says. "Students should consider the reasons that they are pursuing a doctoral degree and whether or not it aligns with their future professional goals, their family circumstances and finances."

Rachel D. Miller, a licensed marriage and family therapist who completed a Ph.D. degree in couples and family therapy at Adler University in Illinois in 2023, says pursuing a doctorate required her to make significant personal sacrifices because she had to take on large student loans and she needed to devote a lot of time and energy to her program. Miller says balancing work, home life and health issues with the demands of a Ph.D. program was difficult.

For some students, the financial component may be hard to overlook, Warfield notes.

"Student debt is no joke, and students pursuing graduate work are likely only compounding undergraduate debt," she says. "They need to really consider the payoff potential of the time and money sacrifice."

To offset costs, some programs are fully funded, waiving tuition and fees and providing an annual stipend. Some offer health insurance and other benefits. Students can also earn money by teaching at the university or through fellowships, but those adding more to their plate should possess strong time management skills, experts say.

"Graduate school, and higher education in general, can be brutal on your physical and mental health," Miller wrote in an email.

But Miller says the time and effort invested in her doctoral program paid off by allowing her to conduct meaningful research into the best way to provide therapy to children affected by high-conflict divorce and domestic violence. She now owns a therapy practice in Chicago.

Miller urges prospective doctoral students to reflect on whether getting a doctorate is necessary for them to achieve their dream job. "Really know yourself. Know your purpose for pursuing it, because that's what's going to help carry you through."

Searching for a grad school? Access our complete rankings of Best Graduate Schools.

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Undergraduate vs. Graduate Degree Programs [2024 Guide]

What is an undergraduate vs. graduate degree? What is the difference between college vs. graduate school? How many years is an undergraduate degree compared to a graduate degree?

Compare the duration, cost, degrees, and earning potential for undergraduate and graduate programs.

Some of the terminology surrounding college life can be confusing. The easiest way to remember the difference between these two terms is whether you’ve graduated yet and have received a conferred degree .

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If you haven’t graduated yet, you’re in an undergraduate program. If you have graduated from college, you’re ready for a graduate degree. Graduate and undergraduate degrees vary in the length of time that is required to complete each program.

Undergraduate vs. Graduate Degree

Before enrolling in a degree program, you should be able to answer what’s an undergraduate degree and what’s a graduate degree .

Undergraduate programs are typically completed in two years to four years depending on the degree level. An associates degree typically takes two years to complete. A bachelors degree usually takes four years.  To move on to graduate school, you must first complete your bachelor degree.

A graduate student is a student who already has their four year bachelor’s degree and is pursuing a graduate degree. A graduate degree can be a master’s, professional, or doctoral degree.

Most people attend undergraduate school between the ages of 18 and 21 years. The student body tends to be mostly be composed of young adults, and many live on campus the first year or two.

A graduate studies student body tends to be older, and the coursework focuses on your individual field. Many graduate students live off-campus and attend school between jobs or other life obligations. The average graduate student is 33 years old.

Admission Requirements

A major difference between graduate and undergraduate programs is the admission process. You will need a high school diploma or GED to attend undergraduate school. You will also likely need to submit your SAT, ACT, and TOEFL scores.

Many colleges ask for letters of recommendation from teachers or other school officials.

Undergraduate school admission usually requires a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Ivy league schools usually require a GPA of 3.75 or more, and occupation or vocational schools usually require a GPA of 2.0 or higher for admission.

Colleges and universities of all sizes and degree pursuits will require you to complete an application. This will usually involve writing an essay on a subject relevant to the university or your academic pursuit.

The submission of your application will likely require an application fee of between $35 and $60. You will need to have more schooling under your belt to apply for a graduate program. The school to which you’re applying will likely require you to have a 4-year bachelor’s degree.

They may also ask you to submit your GRE test scores, transcripts, financial aid documents (if applicable), and letters of recommendation. Many graduate programs will also require you to have a GPA of 3.0-3.3 or higher to attend graduate school.

The coursework required for a graduate degree is much different than that required for an undergraduate degree. Undergraduate programs tend to be more general and include a wide variety of class subjects.

Classes typically include far more students and include little one-on-one time with the professor. Undergraduate programs involve classwork and examinations, similar to high school but at a more challenging level.

This is where graduate vs. undergraduate studies vary greatly. Graduate degrees are much more specialized, and you’ll often work closely with your professor.

Graduate school professors will likely treat you more like a peer than a student. You’ll likely work side-by-side at times.

Graduate programs primarily focus on reading, writing, and research preparation. They usually involve less classwork and exams than undergraduate programs. Class time is usually designed to be a more inclusive and collaborative experience.

Showing up to your graduate school classes means you should be fully prepared to contribute to the class. You will be a part of conversations, ideas, and learn from your professors as well as your peers.

Simply put, graduate school cuts out all of the fluff. You’re expected to be focused and driven to advance your skillset in your specific field. Graduate schooling is designed to provide the knowledge you need to pursue work in your field immediately upon graduating.

Difficulty of Undergraduate vs. Graduate Programs

If you choose to enter a graduate program, you should be ready for a more demanding curriculum than you experienced in undergraduate school.

You should experience more freedom in terms of fewer due dates and daily check-ins. You’ll be expected to know how to manage your time on your own. As a graduate student, you should always be on top of your reading, writing, and research.

Length of Program

Undergraduate programs are often longer than graduate programs. What that means is you’ll likely be cramming a lot more learning into a shorter amount of time when pursuing your graduate degree.

You can think of an undergraduate program as an extended amount of training leading up to a 10K. While graduate school is the equivalent of running a marathon.

Undergraduate school typically requires taking five or six courses per semester or trimester for a total of 15 to 18 credits. An associate’s degree usually takes 2 years to complete. While a bachelor’s degree is typically completed over 4 years.

Graduate school generally involves taking four courses or 12 credits per semester or trimester.

Graduate programs vary significantly in length depending on what you’re studying. A typical master’s degree takes 2 years to complete. A doctoral degree usually takes four or more. In general, graduate programs may take between 1 and 6 years to complete.

Tuition fees vary greatly from school to school. The following are some general ideas of the cost of associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. It’s important to note that these numbers can be higher, depending on the university you choose to attend.

Tuition is also generally much more expensive if you attend a school in a different state than the one in which you’re registered.

Associate’s Degree – According to a recent College Board  survey, an associate’s degree typically costs around $3,770 for a 2-year degree.

Bachelor’s Degree – A bachelor’s degree usually costs around $10,560 for in-state schooling and $27,020 for out-of-state tuition. This number can be higher depending on the college or university you choose.

Graduate Degree – Graduate degrees at public colleges typically cost around $8,950. The same degree at a private university may be $29,670.

It’s important to remember that you’ll need to complete your bachelor’s degree before beginning a graduate program. This means you’ll need to pay for both programs.

Earning Potential

A graduate degree will likely be more financially rewarding than an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , workers with a bachelor’s degree earned a median salary of $77,920 per year.

Those with a graduate degree earned a median salary of $78,210 per year. Typically, a person earns more with a master’s degree than a peer with an undergraduate degree in a comparable position. Pursue a doctoral or professional degree, and you might earn $110,200 or around $30,000 more annually.

Of course, these salaries can vary significantly based on the subject you studied, the occupation you have, and any experience.

Advanced degrees, such as master’s, professional, or doctoral degrees, will generally provide more earnings throughout your lifetimes. Of course, these earnings can vary greatly depending on the program and occupation you choose.

Is a Bachelor’s Degree a Graduate Degree?

No, a bachelor’s degree is not a graduate degree. Studying for a bachelor’s degree will classify you as an undergraduate student.

Studying for a master’s, professional, or doctoral degree will classify you as a graduate student pursuing a graduate degree.

Do You Have to Take an Undergraduate Program Before a Graduate Program?

Yes, you’ll need to complete your undergraduate studies before applying for a graduate program.

The graduate school will probably expect you to have at least a 3.0 or 3.3 minimum GPA in your undergraduate studies before applying.

Am I an Undergraduate or a Graduate?

You’re an undergraduate student if you’re currently studying for your associate’s or bachelor’s degree. You are a graduate student if you’re studying for a master’s, professional, or doctoral degree.

Graduate students already have a bachelor’s degree in their field and are typically more than 21 years old. The average age of a graduate student is 33, so it’s not uncommon to already be working in your field while pursuing this degree.

It’s common for these terms to be confused, especially among international students. That’s because the terminology used in the United States is different from nearly every other country. International students will often refer to undergraduate studies in the United States as graduate studies.

An international student in a graduate program in the United States would be in a post-graduate program in most other parts of the world.

While it can be confusing, it’s important to note that within the United States, students are either in undergraduate or graduate programs. The former being in pursuit of an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, and the latter in pursuit of a master’s, doctoral, or professional degree.

What Is the Difference Between Undergraduate and Graduate Education?

What’s the difference between undergraduate and graduate? The difference between graduate and undergraduate education is what level of degree you are earning. Undergraduate degrees include associate and bachelor degrees. Graduate degrees include master, professional, and doctorate degrees.

The programs are drastically different in terms of length, cost, difficulty, and coursework.

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What are the differences between Undergraduate and Graduate programs?

Find Master/Doctorate degree programs Find Bachelor Degree programs

As an international student, you want to find the top undergraduate program or the best graduate program that fits your needs. As you search for U.S. schools, you should know there are many important differences between "undergraduate" and "graduate" programs.

I know that undergraduate programs lead to associate's and bachelor's degrees and that graduate programs lead to master's and doctoral degrees. What are some of the other differences?

Answer: There are, of course, many differences. Some of the most important ones are:

• Undergraduate programs are more general in nature. They include general education courses in a wide variety of subjects that are not part of graduate education. Graduate programs are highly specialized and much more advanced than undergraduate programs.
• Undergraduate classes are usually much larger and less individualized. In graduate programs, students work closely with professors, often on a one-to-one basis.
• While some undergraduate programs require a senior project or a similar activity, graduate studies are much more research oriented. Master's and doctoral programs include some class work, but research preparation and defense is a primary focus in most programs. Undergraduate programs usually restrict examinations to those related to individual classes; graduate programs also include comprehensive examinations that are very important.
• It is comparatively easy to change undergraduate major subjects and to move to a different school during a program. It is much more difficult to do so in graduate programs, as they are narrowly specialized. Graduate programs in psychology, for example, may be very different from one university to another.   

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Undergraduate vs. Graduate: Educate Yourself On The Difference

• Undergraduate Meaning
• Undergraduate Student And Degree
• Graduate Meaning
• Graduate Degree And Student
• Graduate Origin
• Postgraduate Meaning

⚡ Quick summary

The main difference between undergraduate and graduate is that undergraduate is always used in the context of the first level of college or university education (the level where you can earn a bachelor’s degree ). In terms like graduate student and graduate degree , graduate refers to a level of advanced education beyond the undergraduate level, especially a master’s degree or doctorate . The noun graduate is more general, simply referring to a person who has completed a level of education (someone who has graduated ).

The difference between undergraduate and graduate is a difference of degrees (*throws graduation cap in the air to celebrate the pun*).

The level of education that each word involves varies depending on how the word is being used, and there are situations in which both words can be used in the same situation. For example, you can become a graduate student after graduating with an undergraduate degree.

The word graduate can mean very different things depending on whether it’s used as a noun (as in recent   high school graduates ), an adjective (as in graduate student and graduate degree ), or a verb (as in I plan to graduate next May ). The same goes for its shortened form, grad , which can be used as a noun (as in Congrats, grads! ) or an adjective (as in grad program ).

Undergraduate can also be used both as a noun (as in I’m an undergraduate at Stanford University ) or an adjective (as in I’m working toward my undergraduate degree ). It can be shortened to undergrad in both cases.

By the end of this article, you’ll have an advanced degree in all the different ways graduate, grad , undergraduate , and undergrad are used, and what they mean in each case.

What does undergraduate mean?

An undergraduate is “a student in a university or college who has not received a first, especially a bachelor’s, degree.” For example, a college student might say I’m an undergraduate at the University of Texas if they were pursuing a bachelor’s degree there.

Undergraduate is also commonly used as an adjective in this same context, in terms like undergraduate student , undergraduate degree , and undergraduate studies.

Undergraduate is often shortened to undergrad as both a noun and an adjective.

In undergraduate, the prefix under- is used to indicate a lower rank or status. The educational status of an undergraduate student is below that of a graduate student.

What’s the difference between wisdom and knowledge ? Here’s a lesson on the two terms.

What is an undergraduate student ? And what is an undergraduate degree ?

An undergraduate student is a student who is pursuing a degree at the first level of higher education (meaning the level after high school) at a college or university. Undergraduate students are typically those working to earn a bachelor’s degree (or, less commonly, an associate’s degree ). These degrees are often referred to with the general term undergraduate degree.

Outside of the US, an undergraduate degree is sometimes called a first degree. There are also other types of undergraduate degrees outside of the US, such as a foundation degree (which, like an associate’s degree, is typically a two-year degree).

What does graduate mean?

As a noun, the word graduate  [  graj -oo-it ] refers to “a person who has received a degree or diploma on completing a course of study.” In other words, a graduate is someone who has completed a particular level of schooling or an educational program—a child who just finished kindergarten and a doctor who just completed medical school are both graduates. It can even be used figuratively , as in She’s a graduate of the school of hard knocks.

As a verb, graduate [  graj -oo-eyt ] means “to receive a degree or diploma on completing a course of study.” The process of graduating—and the ceremony itself—is called graduation .

As an adjective, graduate [  graj -oo-it ] means something more specific. It’s used to indicate that a student, degree, or educational program is an advanced one, beyond the level of a bachelor’s degree. This sense of graduate is most commonly used in terms like graduate degree, graduate school , graduate program, and graduate student.

What is a graduate degree ? And what is a graduate student ?

Graduate degree typically refers to a degree beyond a bachelor’s, most commonly a master’s.

A graduate student is a student who’s pursuing an advanced degree after having earned their undergraduate degree (such as a bachelor’s degree) by graduating from an undergraduate program. Calling someone a graduate student most often means they are pursuing their master’s degree, but it may be another advanced degree, such as a PhD (You’d most commonly call such students PhD students. Or you might say they are working toward their doctorate or their doctoral degree.)

To earn a graduate degree, graduate students go to a division of a university known as graduate school , and such a program is often called a graduate program. In all of these terms, graduate is often shortened to grad : grad school , grad student , grad program . (A student doesn’t become a graduate student until they take graduate-level courses. For example, if a student graduates with a bachelor’s degree and then later pursues a different bachelor’s degree, they are still an undergraduate student .)

Some graduate studies are referred to in more specific ways: medical students go to medical school to earn their medical degree ; law students go to law school to earn their law degree.

Do you know the difference between these highly-esteemed graduate degrees and titles: PhD, MD, and Dr ?

Where does the word graduate come from?

Graduate comes from the Medieval Latin graduārī, meaning “to take a degree.” It ultimately derives from the Latin gradus, meaning “a step.” Each time you graduate, you take a step to the next level of education.

What does postgraduate mean?

The adjective postgraduate is sometimes used in the same way as the adjective sense of the word graduate, especially in the UK, as in postgraduate student or postgraduate studies.

Postgraduate should not be confused with postdoctoral , which refers to studies, research, or professional work above the level of a doctorate.

How to use undergraduate vs. graduate

The best way to sort out the different meanings of undergraduate and graduate is to determine whether each word is being used as a noun, an adjective, or a verb. Here’s an easy breakdown of the differences.

• undergraduate (noun): A college student pursuing a non-advanced degree, most commonly a bachelor’s degree. Can be shortened to undergrad.
• undergraduate (adjective): Used in the context of colleges and university programs ( undergraduate programs ) where students are pursuing a degree (generally referred to as an undergraduate degree ) that is not an advanced degree. Also sometimes shortened to undergrad.
• graduate (noun): A person who has completed a particular level of schooling or educational program. Can be shortened to grad.
• graduate (verb): To complete a level of schooling (and, typically, to receive a degree or diploma). You can graduate from kindergarten, high school, college, graduate school, medical school, etc.
• graduate (adjective): Used in the context of advanced schooling—a level beyond a bachelor’s degree, most commonly a master’s program. Used in terms like graduate student , graduate school , graduate degree , graduate program , graduate courses , etc. Often shortened to grad.

Examples of undergraduate, undergrad, graduate, and grad used in a sentence

Let’s look at some examples of these words in actual, real-life use to get the meanings straight.

• As an undergraduate, she had studied engineering; as a graduate student, she switched to architecture.
• I completed my undergraduate degree after five years and a lot of hard work.
• As a graduate student, you will be expected to complete a thesis.
• You should start thinking about graduate school applications before you graduate.
• Most of the applicants for this position are recent college graduates.
• I’m still an undergrad, but I’m hoping to start grad school next fall.
• I’m a UGA grad, but I almost went to Georgia Tech.

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Graduate vs. Undergraduate

In the United States, an undergraduate or an "undergrad" is a student pursuing a bachelor's degree (usually 4 years) at a college or university or a 2-year associate's degree program at a college, community college or vocational/technical school. A graduate or a "grad student" is a student who, having obtained a bachelor's degree, is now pursuing a master's or "graduate degree" in a 1-6 year graduate school program that is typically completed in 2-3 years.

These concepts are often confused, because the terminology in much of the rest of the world is different. What's known as undergraduate studies in the US is referred to as graduate studies in most other countries. And the equivalent for graduates (graduate students, graduate studies) in the US are known as post-graduates (or post-graduate students, post-graduate studies) in most of the rest of the world.

Comparison chart

Video explaining the differences.

Higher Education Programs

In the U.S., graduate students go to accredited colleges and universities for 1-6 years (typically 2-3) after earning a bachelor's degree in order to specialize in a field and increase their earning power by receiving a master's or doctoral degree. General master's degrees are Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MS or MSc); globally, other more common and specialized degrees include

• Master of Education (MEd)
• Master of Engineering (MEng)
• Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
• Master of Music (MMus)
• Master of Public Administration (MPA)
• Master of Research (MRes)
• Master of Theology (Mth)

Undergraduate degrees in the U.S., acquired after completing a 4-year college or university program are Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS or BSc). There are dozens of bachelor's degree specializations that are called tagged degrees in everything from architecture to information systems, biology to English literature, and management to performance (theatrical).

Two-year Associate in Arts (AA or A.A.) also offers dozens of specialties. These degrees are fundamentally geared towards support positions in a variety of fields including automotive maintenance, early childhood special education, culinary arts, medical assisting , legal office administration, graphic arts, etc.

Outside the U.S.

While many countries consider U.S. undergraduate degrees to be graduate degrees in their nation, and U.S. graduate degrees to be post-grad citations, degrees earned in the U.S. are widely accepted worldwide as indications of a degreed individuals knowledge, capability and performance value. In fact, almost one million of the 4.5 million international students seeking degrees do so in the U.S. because of their value in the world job market.

Admission Requirements

Undergrads pursuing a bachelor's degree are usually required to take the Scholastic Aptitude/Assessment Test (SAT), or the American College Testing (ACT) test . International students may also have to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Test scores from all of these exams influence the applicant's choice of schools and chance of being admitted to them. Some colleges and universities may require a resume or personal profile and letter(s) of recommendation.

Undergraduates pursuing a two-year community college or vocational/occupational school are required in almost all cases to have a GPA of 2.0, a high school diploma. They may also be asked to take a school's entrance exam and pass language and communication capability screening.

For graduate school admissions, applicants also have to have a bachelor's degree, and, in most cases, a high grade point average (GPA) in academic achievement. Applicants are almost always required to have taken the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) standardized test and submit test scores withthe application. Also required are the applicant's undergraduate transcript and, typically, letter(s) of commendation.

Colleges and universities for all degree pursuits expect the applicant to complete a full application (school-specific in most cases), and often include an essay on a topic relevant to the applicant's academic pursuit as well as a personal profile. These applications are submitted with an application fee from $35-$60 on average, although some colleges do not require a fee and others have a higher one. Most schools also require the applicant to apply for financial aid as part of the process; the U.S. Department of Education provides the most comprehensive system online for application: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) .

• Graduate school admission: 3.0-3.3 GPA minimum
• Undergraduate school admission: 3.0 GPA average for large selection of school choices, and 3.75 minimum for Ivy League and Top 10 schools
• Vocational/Occupational 2-year degrees: 2.0 GPA minimum
• Earnings and Unemployment Rates by Educational Attainment - Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Is College Worth It? - The Economist
• Current Trends in the Teaching Profession - National Center for Education Statistics

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Graduate Vs. Undergraduate: What’s The Difference?

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If you’ve gone to college, you’ve no doubt thought about the idea of getting a graduate degree. But getting a degree is a lot of work (and expensive), making the process a big investment – in more ways than one.

However, you may be wondering what the exact difference is. And why are they divided up in that way? Surely going to college is a similar experience each time?

The main difference between the two is in the name. Undergraduate school is when you’re getting your bachelor’s degree – and you are an undergraduate during that process – while graduate school is continuing your education past a four-year degree.

They’re divided up because there is a difference not only in the age and path of the students but in the material taught. Graduate school is usually much more focused and rigorous than undergraduate.

Key Takeaways:

What Is an Undergraduate?

An undergraduate is someone who is getting a four-year degree, or bachelor’s degree, at a university. It can also be used to describe the school, program, or degree that you’re getting.

Most universities and colleges have an undergraduate program and a graduate program. Some will even separate them into different schools or sections, but that’s more commonly done by the subject.

Most undergraduate programs require the same sort of application in order to get in. High school transcripts, recommendations from teachers, an essay, and ACT, SAT, or SAT II scores (though those are falling out of favor due to being suspended during the pandemic. Some are debating their necessity altogether.) are the requirements.

Undergraduate student has a fair amount of flexibility in their choices. Many undergrads end up shifting their major once they get to school. About one in three will change majors within the first three years of their degree, according to the National Center of Education Statistics, and approximately one in ten will even change their focus more than once.

This is possible because (with American colleges, at least) every degree requires the same baseline courses. Sometimes it’ll vary if you’re shifting from a bachelor of arts to a bachelor of science or vice versa, but the majority of schools require their undergrads to take a certain number of classes on various subjects outside their chosen major.

This is why someone getting a math degree can end up in a philosophy class, or a psychology major can take a class on Shakespeare. The classes aren’t fixed, but the higher education system is based on the idea of a well-rounded education.

Due to the nature of undergraduate school and the number of courses required for it, most undergrads go to school full-time. This means that they take five or so classes a semester and don’t work. While a few students will go part-time while working, mainly for an associate’s degree, it’s not the norm.

What Is a Graduate?

A graduate is either someone who has a bachelor’s degree (sometimes also called an alumnus (masculine), alumna (feminine), or alumni (plural, but taking on the same non-gendered singular as “they”) or someone who’s continuing their education beyond their bachelor’s. Seeing as this article is focused on students and programs, the latter is what we’re concerned with.

A graduate student has chosen to continue their education beyond just four years. This means that they’ve chosen to drill down into a specific subject. It may mean that they have a tremendous interest in it or wish to continue on to get a doctorate, or it may mean they’ve selected something to further their career.

Applying to a graduate program is usually more involved than applying to an undergrad. It requires undergraduate transcripts, recommendations from professors or bosses, and something akin to a motivation letter.

Of course, this varies from school to school and program to program, but most schools want you to spell out why you want to continue your education. It’s also necessary to specify the subject you want to get your degree in.

Unlike undergraduate school, graduate school is geared toward full-fledged adults. It’s not expected for you to take five courses per semester – more like two – and the classes tend to be much more focused on a particular subject. Because of that, and the fact that you’ve likely already settled into your career, you aren’t expected to change your major.

Graduate school is all about increasing your credentials and marketability in the job market. There are exceptions, of course, but many graduate degrees focus on skills used in a particular field and are undertaken in order to increase your value and desirability and, therefore, your salary.

Not nearly as many people get graduate degrees as getting undergraduate degrees, so the classes tend to be small and very focused. Many graduate students will be taken under the wing of a professor and help them with various tasks. This is especially so for doctoral students but not unheard of for those getting their master’s, either.

Undergraduate vs Graduate FAQ

Do you have to do an undergraduate degree before a graduate degree?

Yes, you’re required to have an undergraduate degree before pursuing a graduate degree. This means that you need to have a four-year bachelor’s or equivalent degree before a school will accept you into its graduate program.

It isn’t necessary to continue in the same subject as you got your undergraduate in, such as getting a degree in math and continuing in math, though that isn’t uncommon. A basis of understanding is strongly recommended, but due to the wide base that each undergraduate degree requires, most of that knowledge is covered.

Do universities offer both graduate and undergraduate courses?

The majority of colleges and universities have both an undergraduate and a graduate program. A few small schools are only going to offer undergraduate degrees as that’s where they get the majority of their students, but the majority have both.

Is graduate school easier than undergraduate school?

Whether or not graduate school is easier than undergrad is going to depend on how well suited you are to the different circumstances. However, most are of the opinion that undergraduate school is easier, as it’s both less rigorous and it’s your sole focus, rather than having to balance your job and other aspects of your adult life.

That being said, graduate school is more focused. If you struggled with classes outside your major due to a lack of interest, then that isn’t an issue in graduate school.

Also, you’ll be more established and take fewer classes per semester. Many people go to graduate school at a more settled point in their lives, which takes away the uncertainty of trying to plan out your entire life.

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Di has been a writer for more than half her life. Most of her writing so far has been fiction, and she’s gotten short stories published in online magazines Kzine and Silver Blade, as well as a flash fiction piece in the Bookends review. Di graduated from Mary Baldwin College (now University) with a degree in Psychology and Sociology.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, what's the difference between undergraduate and graduate applications.

Hi! I've been researching college applications lately and I've noticed there are undergraduate and graduate applications. How do they differ and what should I expect when applying for a graduate program in the future? Appreciate any help!

Hello! The main difference between undergraduate and graduate applications lies in the focus, requirements, and purpose of each level of education. Here's a breakdown of what to expect:

1. Focus: Undergraduate applications are centered on general and foundational knowledge across various fields, while graduate applications target specialized, advanced knowledge in a specific field of study. Undergraduate applications typically cater to high school students or those seeking a bachelor's degree, whereas graduate applications are for individuals who have completed a bachelor's degree and wish to pursue a master's, doctorate or other advanced degrees.

2. Application Components: Both undergraduate and graduate applications require the submission of transcripts, test scores (if applicable), and letters of recommendation. However, graduate applications place a greater emphasis on prior academic performance and relevant experience in the field. The graduate application often requires a Statement of Purpose (SOP), which outlines your research interests, career goals, and reasons for pursuing a specific program. Some graduate programs also require the submission of a writing sample or research proposal to assess your potential to contribute to and excel in the field.

3. Admission Requirements: Undergraduate applications emphasize a more holistic approach, assessing not only your academic performance but also your extracurricular activities, community service, and school involvement. Graduate applications, however, are more focused on your ability to excel academically and professionally within a specific field, often requiring a higher level of academic achievement and a proven interest in the subject matter.

4. Standardized Tests: Undergraduate applications might require standardized test scores (e.g., SAT or ACT), although a growing number of schools have become test-optional or test-blind due to recent trends. Graduate applications, on the other hand, typically require the submission of scores from graduate-level exams, such as GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT, depending on the program you're applying to.

5. Professional Experience: Some graduate programs, particularly in fields like Business, Public Policy, or Social Work, value applicants with relevant professional experience. This experience can help demonstrate how well you understand the practical aspects of the field and showcase your commitment to the subject.

Keep in mind that each institution and program may have its own unique set of application requirements and deadlines. If you're considering applying for a graduate program in the future, it's a good idea to research the specific programs that interest you and review the application process for each. Gaining a solid understanding of these differences should help you navigate both undergraduate and graduate applications with greater confidence. Good luck!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

• Scholarships

Difference Between Undergraduate, Graduate and Postgraduate

Jennifer Finetti Aug 12, 2022

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As a high school student , you’ve probably started thinking about college. Maybe you even started to do research and narrow down your options. You may have come across the following terms: undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate degrees.

So, what is the difference between undergraduate and graduate and postgraduate?

Read on to learn more! 

What is an undergraduate degree?

After students finish high school, they get an undergraduate degree. An undergraduate degree refers to either a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree. When people talk about going to college or university , they are talking about getting an undergraduate degree.

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How many years is an undergraduate degree?

There are two levels of undergraduate degrees: associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees. An associate degree requires 2 years to complete, and typically is earned at a community college . A bachelor’s degree requires completion of four years of study.

Students interested in earning a bachelor’s degree can either complete their entire degree at a four-year college or university OR they can attend a community college for their first two years, and then transfer to a university for their final two years.

What is a graduate degree?

After a student gets their undergraduate degree, they have two options. They may either get a job or continue with their studies. If they choose to continue with their studies, they pursue a graduate degree.

A graduate degree is any degree that is above a bachelor’s degree. This includes a master’s degree or doctoral degree . Master’s degrees take around 2-3 years to complete. Doctoral degrees take around 5-6 years.

Graduate degrees are typically more narrowly-focused than an undergraduate degree. This enables students to dive more deeply into their specific career interest, gaining the knowledge and expertise needed in their chosen field. Oftentimes, a student must have a graduate degree to get a job. Somebody seeking a career as a clinical social worker, must have their Master’s of Social Work.

You don’t have to get a graduate degree right after you finish your undergraduate degree. Many students take a break after their undergraduate degree and decide to work or travel instead. It’s common to see mature students in their late 20s and 30s (and even older) who decide to go back to school to get a graduate degree later in life.

To get accepted into graduate school, you must have a bachelor’s degree. This means that you must graduate from a 4-year undergraduate college or university. A student can only pursue a graduate degree if they already have a bachelor’s degree.

What is a postgraduate degree?

Students get confused with the term “postgraduate degree.” There actually isn’t a real difference between the two. Postgraduate is used interchangeably with graduate. Like a graduate degree, postgraduate refers to the range of higher degrees past the undergraduate degree. This includes both master’s degrees and Phds .

Difference between undergraduate and graduate and postgraduate

Undergraduate degree programs and graduate degree programs are very different from one another. Undergraduate programs help students gain basic knowledge in a major , or even in a few majors. Students must take a variety of courses, and not only courses relating to their major. They usually spend the first few years fulfilling general course requirements.  

Graduate programs are very different. You go to graduate school to learn something very specific. So, all the courses you take relate to your field of study.

Another big difference between the two is switching majors. In undergraduate programs, students aren’t always sure what they want to major in . Even if they choose a specific major, they may end up changing it. Undergraduate programs allow students to switch majors. It is also fairly easy to transfer to another school for any given reason.

Because graduate programs are so specific, it’s not easy to switch your field of study. You would have to fulfill new requirements and go through the application process all over again.

Another big difference is class size. Undergraduate classes tend to be much larger than graduate classes. In graduate programs, class sizes are much smaller.

Because of the difference in class size, teacher-student interaction also differs. In undergraduate programs, there isn’t much room to interact with your professors. There are also fewer opportunities to participate in class.

Graduate programs are more intimate and thus, more dynamic. Students have more opportunities to participate in class discussions. They also have more opportunities to work with their professors.

To get accepted into an undergraduate program, students must take the SAT or ACT . Other requirements include a minimum GPA , letters of recommendation  and personal statements . Colleges and universities all have their own requirements.

Many graduate programs require students to take an entrance exam such as the GRE, or specialized entrance exams for law school or medical school. Not all graduate programs require an entrance exam, so be sure to check the requirements for the program you are applying for.

Graduate programs also typically require that certain undergraduate classes be completed prior to applying, so you’ll want to check to be sure that you have completed any required courses. Sometimes graduate programs will allow you to complete missing prerequisites while enrolled in your graduate degree program.  

Final thoughts

Whether you have already started your bachelor’s degree or you’re still in high school, it’s nice to get an idea of what your options are. This can help you plan the classes you want to take in college or university and make the most of your degree.

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Jennifer Finetti

As a parent who recently helped her own kids embark on their college journeys, Jennifer approaches the transition from high school to college from a unique perspective. She truly enjoys engaging with students – helping them to build the confidence, knowledge, and insight needed to pursue their educational and career goals, while also empowering them with the strategies and skills needed to access scholarships and financial aid that can help limit college costs. She understands the importance of ensuring access to the edtech tools and resources that can make this process easier and more equitable - this drive to support underserved populations is what drew her to ScholarshipOwl. Jennifer has coached students from around the world, as well as in-person with local students in her own community. Her areas of focus include career exploration, major selection, college search and selection, college application assistance, financial aid and scholarship consultation, essay review and feedback, and more. She works with students who are at the top of their class, as well as those who are struggling. She firmly believes that all students, regardless of their circumstances, can succeed if they stay focused and work hard in school. Jennifer earned her MA in Counseling Psychology from National University, and her BA in Psychology from University of California, Santa Cruz.

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• Masters vs PhD – Differences Explained
• Types of Doctorates

The decision of whether or not to pursue a Masters or PhD (or both) after you complete your undergraduate studies is not necessarily a straightforward one. Both are postgraduate degrees but are different in terms of the academic experience and the career paths taken afterwards.

In short, a Masters degree involves a year of study, primarily through taught lectures and a final dissertation research project, whilst a PhD (also referred to as a doctorate degree) is a three-year commitment of independent research on a specific subject.

There’s more to it than that, however – read on for more information.

What Is a Masters Degree?

A Masters degree is the next level of education after the completion of an undergraduate degree, commonly known as a Bachelors.

These degree levels are often referred to in terms of cycles so that a Bachelor’s is a first-cycle degree, a Masters is a second-cycle and finally, a PhD is the third-cycle of higher education (and the highest).

Masters degrees demand an intense period of study, usually centred around a core series of lectures and taught modules, coupled with coursework assignments and exams, followed by the completion of a contained research project usually taking students 3-4 months to complete.

These types of degrees are attractive to recent graduates who want to delve deeper into their specific field of study, gaining some research experience and more specialised knowledge beyond what an undergraduate degree can offer.

Equally, some pursue a Masters degree program in a subject that is only tangentially related to their Bachelors degree, helping them gain a broader depth of knowledge.

These degrees also serve as a significant stepping stone for those already in employment who want to progress their current career development and earn a higher salary. They can also be an excellent method for helping in changing careers completely by learning new skills and subject knowledge.

What Is a PhD Degree?

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the highest academic degree that can be awarded and is the third and final cycle in the progression of higher education.

A doctoral degree is earned on the basis of producing a significant, independent and novel body of work (a Thesis) that contributes new knowledge to a particular research topic.

These are research degrees that are a significant investment of a candidate’s time, resources and energy and are all but a pre-requisite for anyone considering a career in academia, such as eventually becoming a professor.

There are some exceptions to this, such as those with a medical background who may earn an MD (Doctor of Medicine), which is the equivalent of a PhD.

Doctoral degrees can also have a significant positive impact on career development outside of academia, especially in fields such as engineering, business and finance that have a high demand for highly qualified and capable people.

A graduate student engaged in PhD study is commonly known as a PhD student, PhD candidate or doctoral student.

What are the Benefits of a Masters Degree?

There are several reasons one might consider doing a Masters degree rather than a PhD in their graduate education. These include:

• It takes approximately a third of the time to do compared to a doctorate degree and costs less too.
• It’s a good way to differentiate yourself from those that hold only an undergraduate degree without having to commit to a substantial research degree.
• The end goal is more career-focused as opposed to research-focused. For example, it is practically an ‘easier’ route to changing or progressing your career if that aligns with your professional goals.

What are the Benefits of Doing a PhD?

You may continue on into a doctoral program after a Masters or you may even dive straight in after completing your undergraduate studies. So, what are the advantages of completing this third-cycle?

• You’ll have developed a wealth of transferable skills at graduate school, such as effective communication of complex concepts, multi-tasking time-management and the ability to adapt to and solve unexpected problems.
• A doctorate helps to establish you as an expert within your chosen subject area; your work will hopefully have furthered the knowledge in this.
• It will open up career paths and teaching positions within academia that may otherwise be very difficult to get a hold in (although these career paths will still be very competitive).
• You can add the title ‘Dr’ in front of your name!

Which Degree Is More Impactful: A Masters or a PhD?

On paper, the answer should be clear: A doctorate degree is the highest degree you can earn, so has more impact than a Masters, which in turn has more impact than a Bachelors.

The reality is that the size of the impact (if any) really depends on the subject area and the career path you choose (if the measure of impact is how it positively improves your career prospects, that is).

For someone with aspirations of becoming a professor, a PhD will be of greater value than a Masters alone.

Equally, it’s also possible that someone with a PhD entering a different field or one that doesn’t require a PhD may find that their degree has no bearing on their career or in some cases may even be seen as a ‘negative’ with a concern of the person being ‘over-qualified’ for a position. There are many scenarios in which professional experience would be more valuable to an employer than a doctorate degree.

Check out the links below to our interviews with Prof. Debby Cotton and Dr Nikolay Nikolov to read their experiences of when a going through a PhD program has had a clear benefit (Prof. Cotton) and when it hasn’t been helpful (Dr Nikolov).

Do You Need to Have a Masters to do a PhD?

This really depends on the university, department and sometimes even the project and supervisor.

From a purely application process perspective, some institutions may formally require you to hold a Masters degree relevant to the subject of the PhD project before you can enter their doctoral program.

In another scenario, most universities are unlikely to accept candidates that were awarded below a 2:1 (in the UK) in their undergraduate degree but may consider someone who has ‘made up’ for this with a high-grade Masters.

Lastly, some universities now offer PhD programmes that incorporate an additional year of study in which you would complete a Masters degree before carrying directly on into a PhD project. As you’d expect, even if a university doesn’t formally require you to hold one, a Masters degree can help separate you from other applicants in being accepted on the project.

Check out our detailed guide to doing a PhD without a Master’s .

Why Do a Masters before Your PhD?

Even if you don’t need to have one, it could still be beneficial to begin your postgraduate study by doing a Masters first before you embark on your doctorate journey.

As mentioned previously it’ll help you stand out from applicants that don’t have one, but beyond that, it’ll give you a taster of what research life could be like, especially if you stay at the same university and department for your PhD.

The one-year commitment (in the UK at least) of carrying out a Masters first, and in particular your research project, will help you better understand if this is truly something you want to commit the next three or more years to.

You’ll learn some of the skills of independent research, from performing detailed literature searches to more complex, analytical writing.

At the end of it, you should be in a stronger position to consider your options and decide about whether to continue into a PhD at graduate school.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Masters Degree?

In the UK, a full-time Masters degrees take students one calendar year to complete: The programme of study usually starts in September, the final research project the following April and final project viva around August. Part-time degrees are usually double the time.

How Long Does It Take to Get a PhD?

In the UK, most PhD projects take 3-4 years to complete , as reflected by the majority of funded projects offering stipends to cover living expenses of about 3.5 years.

For many reasons, projects may end up taking longer to complete, however. This might be because of difficulties in collecting enough data, or if the project is being done part-time.

Which One is More Expensive to Do?

As you’d expect, as a PhD takes three times as long to complete as a Masters degree, it will cost you more to do as far as university fees are concerned.

Another thing to consider is that many PhD projects come with some level of funding equivalent to a low salary, which may cover the cost of tuition fees and living expenses, whilst it is usually more difficult to obtain funding for Masters study.

Conversely, a Masters graduate may progress into a higher (versus PhD funding) salary sooner whilst a PhD student will endure three years of a comparatively low income.

A Masters vs a PhD: Conclusion

If you’re considering continue further graduate study after your undergraduate degree, the question of doing a Masters vs a PhD is likely to come up. They are both considered an advanced degree, each with their own advantages.

There are benefits to doing either of these graduate programs or even both of them; your decision here can be easier if you have an idea of the career you want to follow or if you know you have a love for research!

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Student receives NASA graduate fellowship

Washington State University graduate student Ian Wells has won a NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities fellowship.

The highly competitive fellowship provides students with up to five years of support for early-stage space technology research as well as summer internships at one of NASA’s space centers. He is the fourth graduate student from WSU’s School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering to receive the fellowship.

“Ever since I visited the NASA Ames Research Center in high school, I’ve wanted to work for NASA,” said Wells. “That is now fully realized in developing optical analysis of liquid hydrogen rocket fuel.”

Originally from Boise, Idaho, Wells came to WSU as an undergraduate. Working in the Hydrogen Properties for Energy Research lab , he led a student team that built and demonstrated a prototype to clean lunar dust from spacesuits. With their idea to use a liquid nitrogen spray to clean off the dust, the group won the prestigious Artemis Award at NASA’s Breakthrough, Innovative and Game-changing (BIG) Idea Challenge.

As part of the project, Wells, who has had a lifelong interest in photography, created images of tiny nitrogen and dust droplets, liquid nitrogen pools, and the movement of the droplets over surfaces. The images were shared widely in the media, including on the BBC and in Smithsonian Magazine.

While Wells’ undergraduate project used boiling liquid nitrogen to clean spacesuits, he wants to better understand the science behind how the nitrogen boils in order to full optimize the moondust-busting technology.

As part of his NASA fellowship, he will use optics to better understand the physics and mechanisms of boiling hydrogen to develop better rocket fuels.

Wells hopes to work at NASA after he completes his studies and continue studying optics, cryogenics, and extraterrestrial systems development.

Classified staff receiving 3% general salary increase effective July 1

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• Capella University Blog

Which psychology field is right for me?

May 15, 2024

Reading time: 4 minutes

Are you interested in using theory, analysis and evidence-based approaches to understand how people think, learn, develop and behave and to help them thrive? If you want to explore new ways to make a difference, the options for discovering your professional path in psychology may seem endless – and you may have found that you need advanced knowledge and skills to take the next step.

What skills can I develop with a psychology degree?

The specific skills that can be useful in the field of psychology will vary depending on the area of study you pursue and your degree level. Some of the broad skills that are important to develop include:

• Communication: Strong communication skills are an asset for helping individuals, groups or organizations, conveying research findings or working with colleagues.
• Ethical awareness: You may be required to handle sensitive information, which means respecting confidentiality.
• Analysis and critical thinking: When you conduct research or work with your stakeholders, you should be able to interpret data and understand how to apply what you know to different situations.
• Patience: Making progress toward specific goals takes time, whether it’s discussing solutions with a patient or conducting research on a study.
• Empathy and active listening: Understanding and recognizing the feelings of others starts with giving your full attention and knowing how to recognize verbal and nonverbal cues.
• Inclusivity: Recognizing the diverse perspectives of people and their communities and examining your own biases can help you adapt your approach to different needs.

Which area of psychology is right for me?

As you explore areas of psychology, these questions may help you figure out your interests:

• Who do you want to help?
• Are you more interested in clinical or applied areas of psychology?
• What issues do you want to focus on?

Your answers to these questions can help you find paths to explore, including degree options that could help you pursue your professional goals. You will need to conduct your own research to understand what opportunities may be available to you. Note that some professional paths may require you to have previous experience, licensure,* certifications or other designations along with a degree.

While Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific career outcome – such as a job title, promotion, salary increase or other career outcome – we encourage you to research requirements for your job target and career goals.

*It is important to understand all educational and individual requirements for licensing. Capella University cannot guarantee licensure, certification or endorsement. State regulations vary regarding professional licensure. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with requirements for your state.

What can you do with a psychology degree?

Based on where your interests lie, explore some fields of psychology and degree options offered by Capella.

Clinical psychology:  Study human behavior and help people build wellness and emotional resilience.

• BS in Psychology Pre-Counseling & Therapy
• MS in Clinical Psychology
• PsyD in Clinical Psychology

Behavioral health:  Treat populations in distress to improve emotional, social and mental health.

• BS in Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis
• MS in Applied Behavioral Analysis
• PhD in Behavior Analysis

Developmental psychology:  Promote positive development, social growth and emotional changes throughout all stages of life.

• MS in Psychology, Child & Adolescent Development
• PhD in Psychology, Developmental Psychology

Educational psychology: Study how people learn and retain knowledge.

• MS in Psychology, Educational Psychology
• PhD in Psychology, Educational Psychology

School psychology:  Apply principles of educational and developmental psychology to meet behavior and educational needs in a learning environment.

• MS in School Psychology
• EdS in School Psychology
• PsyD in School Psychology

Industrial/organizational psychology:  Support leaders and organizations through an understanding of human behavior to help create efficiencies and advance team performance.

• MS in Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• PhD in Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology  

Learn more about Capella’s  bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral psychology programs and graduate certificates.

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UChicago instructors, graduate and undergraduate students honored for exemplary teaching

May 16, 2024

The University of Chicago has honored 11 instructors, graduate and undergraduate students for their exceptional work as teachers. Nominated by undergraduates in the College, these winners demonstrated the ability to push students to think beyond the classroom, and to share their disciplines in exciting ways.

Hannah Lant, Thomas Newbold, Alan Parma and Keith Jonathan Ruskin have been awarded the Glenn and Claire Swogger Award for Exemplary Classroom Teaching, which recognizes outstanding teachers with College appointments who introduce students to habits of scholarly thinking, inquiry and engagement in the Core Curriculum—the College’s general education program.

Quan Duong, Casey Ferrara, Taylor Hains and Andrea Reed-Leal have been named the winners of the Wayne C. Booth Prize for Excellence in Teaching, awarded annually to University of Chicago graduate students for outstanding instruction of undergraduates.

And for the first time, three undergraduate teaching assistants have been awarded the College Undergraduate Student Prize in Undergraduate Teaching: Vincent Hou, Liam Pak and Laura Zielinski. 

Prize recipients were selected on the basis of nominations from students in the College. The prize itself was established in 1991 in honor of Booth, PhD’50, the late UChicago faculty member who was one of the 20th century’s most influential literary critics.

In addition to the Swogger Award, Booth Prize and Undergraduate Student Prize, five faculty members were recently awarded the Llewellyn John and Harriet Manchester Quantrell Awards .

Learn more about this year’s Swogger Award and Booth Prize recipients below:

Glenn and Claire Swogger Awards

Hannah lant, assistant instructional professor, chemistry.

Each year, Assistant Instructional Professor Hannah Lant teaches nearly 500 students, and cherishes getting to know each one. An instructor for several courses, including General Chemistry, a capstone lab for majors called “Experimental Physical Chemistry,” and a Core class designed for non-STEM students, Lant said she treats her students as colleagues, and collaborates with them to expand their knowledge and interests. 

“UChicago students are creative, curious, and resilient, and it is thus a pleasure to work with them,” she said.

The University of Chicago campus is another reason she deeply enjoys her work. Any General Chemistry textbook, Lant explained, will refer to at least several ground-breaking developments in chemistry that took place right here at the university. She appreciates that she can teach in the same setting where these experiments, which helped lead to the modern-day conception of the atom, occurred.

“It’s a wonderful thing to teach students, for example, about the world’s first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, and then be able to say, ‘it happened down the street,’” she said.

Whether she is teaching her non-STEM or her Experimental Physical Chemistry students, Lant guides them towards reaching the ever-rewarding ‘Eureka!’ realization. In these moments, she feels her students can most appreciate the challenges of lab work. 

At the end of the course, though, it’s the progress that matters most to Lant. She witnesses firsthand her students’ trajectory from tackling the basics of the subject to wading through much more complex ideas of chemistry. 

“As a professor, I can show them the road, but they ultimately are the ones to walk the path,” she said. “I like to encourage them on the last day to turn around and see how far they have come.”

Thomas Newbold, Teaching Fellow, Social Sciences Collegiate Division

Though history has always fascinated Thomas Newbold, it wasn't until he was a high school student at an international school in India that he first became interested in what he would now call "the kind of disorienting shock colonial conquest must have been." 

Newbold is now a historian of modern South Asia and the British empire, and oversees a variety of courses covering the history of India and Bangladesh in the colonial period. Currently, he also teaches the Core sequence titled Self, Culture and Society.

He said he finds the University of Chicago to be the perfect place to ask hard questions about temporality and colonialism due to its specific culture of scholarship. 

It's no surprise then that many of his courses, from those on colonialism in 19th century India to those in the Core, are centered around interpretations and engagement with primary source readings and archival materials. 

Through this process, Newbold hopes his students realize that historical arguments stem from the reconstitutive and interpretative efforts of those who advance them– a task that he hopes they undergo for themselves as students in his class.

One moment that best embodies both Newbold's teaching philosophy and the culture of open inquiry he loves about UChicago occurred in his Self, Culture and Society sequence, when students used propositions from social and political theorists  outside  of the prescribed curriculum to support their arguments in what he found to be a thoughtful and resourceful way.

"In both the humanities and the social sciences, there is a strong tradition of disciplinary self-reflexivity here," Newbold said, "which is to say, a sense of being part of a tradition of inquiry that first and foremost interrogates itself." 

Alan Parma, Assistant Instructional Professor, Romance Languages and Literatures

Language instructor Alan Parma brings a wealth of international experiences to his teaching. Originally from Brazil, Parma taught English before coming to the United States on a Fulbright Scholarship to teach Portuguese, which he now teaches in the College, along with Spanish.

His exposure to second language acquisition research inspired him to pursue a Ph.D. focused on how students best learn new languages. He said he feels very honored to have the opportunity to teach his language and represent his country and culture to the UChicago community. 

What sets UChicago apart for Parma is the students’ evident enthusiasm, which helps support a welcoming classroom setting.

“I love the dedication the students demonstrate to the subject matter, this makes classes more engaging and motivates me to do my best for the students,” he said. “I love getting to know my students on a more personable level, and teaching beginning language classes allows me to do so. At the same time, I can share some aspects of my life with my students, which creates a very friendly and open environment.”

One of Parma’s favorite recent moments was when a former student who had studied abroad in Spain visited his office, conversing entirely in Spanish.

 “He wanted to show me that one of my students had successfully used Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country. That was a big validation of the work I have been doing,” he said.

Parma said he aims to help his students see the value in their language studies beyond his classroom. 

“On the last day of class, I hope my students are able to perceive how much they have grown in their language studies and how much understanding the culture of another country can enhance their lives,” he said.

Keith Jonathan Ruskin, MD, Professor of Anesthesia and Critical Care

Keith Ruskin is a jack of all trades. When he’s not working professionally as an anesthesiologist or teaching medical students and undergraduates in the College, he’s probably doing research for the Federal Aviation Administration on air traffic control alarms. 

He says the operating room and the aviation environment are not so different – both are high-pressure, life-or-death work environments.

Ruskin, a professor of anesthesia and critical care, says his nontraditional path to medicine informed his varied interests, which in turn inform his teaching approach.

“I went to an engineering school and because of that I tend to approach problems with a different mindset,” Ruskin said. “That applies to my practice of medicine and also to my teaching. Rather than asking students to memorize facts that they’ll forget as soon as the exam is over, I try to get them to learn concepts through classroom discussion. I then ask them to apply those concepts to solve clinical problems.”

In addition to teaching medical students and residents, Ruskin teaches undergraduates in a class called “Conquest of Pain.” The course covers pain physiology and anesthetic mechanisms.

He said he treats his undergraduates just like he does his medical students and residents, as colleagues who are at an earlier stage in their careers. In his course, there are no tests, only reflective essays based on students’ interests, which allows undergraduates to pursue complicated medical issues of interest.

Ruskin said something that makes UChicago different from other universities is that its undergraduate campus and medical center are connected, meaning he is able to teach students at all levels. This also makes site visits possible, allowing undergraduates to see the concepts they are learning about put into practice, which Ruskin says is one of his favorite parts of the course.

“I bring the students into the operating room with me to see me in my ‘day job,’” Ruskin said. “They always enjoy meeting the patients and seeing how surgery, anesthesia, and pain management are actually done.”

Wayne C. Booth Prizes

Quan duong, chemistry.

As a TA for Organic Chemistry, one of the ways Quan Duong has taught his students is through a simple analogy: Legos. The comparison, he explains, helps them to “play” with the molecules and keeps the subject from getting dry. 

“By encouraging them to manipulate and combine these molecular Legos, they find joy in learning and thus remember reactions more effectively,” he said. “It transforms the classroom into a dynamic space filled with enthusiasm and discovery.”

Aside from his work teaching students, Duong also works in chemical biology. Incited by his fascination with DNA, he has researched gene editing, hoping to help discover solutions to molecular diseases. He specializes in mitochondrial DNA editing—a field that may hold the answer to revolutionizing human health in the future. 

Duong’s time as a TA has given him many memorable experiences. He recalled a panicked evacuation due to the spilled liquid of a broken thermometer—it was mistaken as mercury, but fortunately it was just alcohol. 

He said he has enjoyed conversations with students, during which they often share their most brilliant insights and strongest concerns. He attributes much of his approach to teaching to advice he received from a senior teaching assistant.

“Remember your own days as a student,” he said. “The challenges were real, and so was the pressure. Empathize with your students rather than placing unrealistic expectations on them.”

Duong said that if he could give his students a lasting message, it would be to continue their curiosity and courage that they have demonstrated throughout the lab. 

“Continue to piece together the puzzles of the world,” he said, “just like we did with our molecular Legos.”

Casey Ferrara, Psychology

Casey Ferrara has a background in human cognition and language. She started with an undergraduate degree in psychology and linguistics, with a focus on psycholinguistics and pragmatics and continued with a four-year research assistant position studying post-stroke aphasia. 

Her fascination with how humans think and communicate culminated in an eventual Ph.D. in psychology, focusing on cognition and multimodal communication through spoken language, sign language and gesture.

Her time as an instructor at UChicago has similarly spanned across many topics and disciplines, from teaching “Mind” in the social science Core to designing and overseeing a course called “'Human Communications” that explores the various ways humans create meaning through communication systems. 

Ferrara's teaching philosophy is rooted in an experience she had as an undergraduate student, when one of her linguistics professors referred to her class as “linguists.”

"This seemingly innocuous choice instilled in me a sense of legitimacy and confidence in my ability to contribute something of value to the academic community," she said.

Now, as an instructor herself, she invites students to take themselves seriously as scholars and scientists, and hopes to instill confidence in them by doing so. 

"In the classroom, I want students to see their questions as valuable and worth asking," she said. “All students bring with them a wealth of lived experience and are themselves members of communities and speakers of a language, and in my classes, students learn that the intuitions and ideas that arise from this are of value and can be examined and interrogated to reveal insights about how humans think and communicate.”

Taylor Hains, Ecology and Evolution

Taylor Hains teaches “Ecology in the Anthropocene” in the Ecology and Evolution department. His passion for nature and genomics shines through, fueling an innovative teaching approach that leaves a lasting impact on students: infusing levity and theater into the classroom experience.

“I’ve always loved nature and wanted to make sure my scientific work helped society and preserve nature,” he said. “I think being able to connect the material to jokes allows for the students to remember the material a lot easier because they remember laughing.” 

Hains is committed to creating an engaging and exciting learning environment, in which he consciously cultivates an atmosphere of curiosity. 

He is also a proponent of making the extra effort to connect with his students on a personal level. 

“The thing I learned from my own academic experiences is that if you’re going to be stuck in the classroom you might as well have fun,” he said. “I always tell my students that I am always here for you, do please don’t hesitate to email me if you need me. And, if you pass me on campus and don’t say hi, I will be very sad.”

Andrea Reed-Leal, Romance Languages & Literatures

To Andrea Reed-Leal, college classes are as much about creativity and enjoyment as they are about learning, and she brings that philosophy into her work teaching Spanish and Hispanic history and culture in the College.

“One of the meanings of the Greek word skholè, the root of the Latin schola, means ‘leisure,’” Reed-Leal said. “The school is thus associated with enjoyment, joy and free time. The classroom should be a space of joyful learning, where everyone feels their voices are heard and included.”

Her approach to her instruction has been formed by the many years she spent teaching abroad, which exposed her to new ideas and cultures. Ultimately, she came to specialize in her particular field by working as a research assistant to anthropologist Lisa Overholtzer at McGill University, in Canada, who specializes in the everyday practices of ordinary people in Postclassic and Colonial Central Mexico.

Since Reed-Leal is a Ph.D. student, her teaching work is just as much about learning as it is about teaching others, an experience she says she has been privileged to experience at UChicago. 

Along with the commitment and dedication of the UChicago students she teaches, Reed-Leal said she is proud of the communities that can form in the classroom, where she and her students can mutually support each other. 

“I will always remember that the first time a professor came to observe one of my classes as part of my pedagogy training, I was very nervous – and I guess everyone could tell – I noticed my students were particularly patient and engaged, supporting me in moving through the class as we always did,” Reed-Leal said. “I read this as a gesture of ‘we have your back, Andrea!’ This made me realize that during the time we spend together in the classroom we not only exchange knowledge but create a sense of community.”

College Undergraduate Student Prize

Vincent hou, biology.

A sequence of classes Vincent Hou took in his first year—“Molecular Biology of the Cell,” “Biological Systems” and “Biological Dynamics”—inspired him to pursue research in the life sciences. These courses, which are all part of the Advanced Biology sequence, are some of the most rigorous courses he has taken at the university. Now, he’s a lab TA for the very same sequence. 

Hou often tells his students about the historical context of experimental technologies and the rationale for experimental design. By discussing his own research as well, he equips them to not only ask questions of  what , but of  why . 

“Simply performing the labs according to the protocol without considering why these steps are performed is not very helpful for learning,” he said. “I hope this will make them better at designing studies of their own when they go into research themselves.”

A favorite memory of his from winter quarter is representative of the good times Hou seeks to bring to the lab. Hou recalled that he hadn’t had a haircut for months, so his students styled it into an “apple.”

“I directed the whole 4-hour fruit fly lab with it. This truly epitomizes the joy in my lab session,” he said. “You can see my smile through the mask!”

Hou is a biochemistry major and conducts research in a protein structure lab. Outside of his studies, he’s appreciative of the conversations he’s had with his peers, whom he always finds open-minded and unconstrained by practicality—he fondly remembers discussing Thomas Kuhn with an astrophysics major and an economics major. 

As a TA since his second year, though, he’s not only well-versed in the life sciences, but in thinking like a scientist, too. This has lasted with him throughout his education. 

“The main driving principle is to think before you act, especially in science,” he said.

Liam Pak, Economics

When Liam Pak began his collegiate experience, he was stuck abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with an eight-hour time difference separating him from the students and professors in Chicago he shared Zoom classes with. 

He said that the understanding and accommodation his professors offered him during this time is integral to his current approach as a teaching assistant, in which he tries to be as helpful and understanding as possible to his students.

Pak currently supports a course called  “Managing in Organizations” which he has enjoyed both as a student and as a TA a year later. 

"I was first interested in this class as I wanted to learn about how the likes of intuitions and unstructured experiences can deeply influence the effectiveness of managing a culture and individuals," he said. 

Assisting Prof. Alexander Todorov as he taught the course again this past Winter Quarter allowed Pak to revisit some of the examples he had already found to be incredibly interesting the first time over, ranging from psychological experiments to space expeditions.

The theories Pak encountered as a student, and now helps teach as a TA, form the foundation for his favorite feature of the UChciago experience – the friendships formed during group work on projects and problem sets late at night. 

“I remember a time when our group was working on homework which we began in the afternoon, thinking that we had all the time in the world. We ended up submitting one minute before the deadline! That is the sort of intense, shared working experience that really pulls a team together in a memorable way,” he said.

This and other activities like the 'Primal Scream,' another of Pak's fondest memories, emphasize the strong collaboration between students at UChicago that he finds to be particularly rewarding.

Laura Zielinski, Computer Science

Laura Zielinski took Honors Calculus on a whim as a first-year student, and found her academic passion by noticing the number of math tie-ins to computer science. Now as a TA for courses like “Formal Languages” and “Theory of Algorithms,” she has guided students through the theoretical underpinnings that tie the two disciplines together. 

“I really liked being a TA for this “Algorithms” since I felt I could help computer science students with the math and proof-writing aspect, and maybe make them actually enjoy it,” she said. 

Zielinski said that in the course of her education, she has learned that at least half of writing code or math proofs is making them readable and understandable. Writing skills correlate strongly with coding and proof-writing ability, so, surprising as it may be, writing clarity, organization, and argumentation are things she focuses on when teaching math and computer science students.

“The most important skill in every academic discipline is good, clear writing,” she said.

Next year, she is starting a Ph.D. in programming languages, a field of computer science that closely relates to math. 

Even though algorithms (in this context, designing computer programs to solve hard problems) aren’t directly part of the field of programming languages, she said it is an extremely important branch of computer science theory that she is also interested in. 

Some of Zielinski’s most cherished memories as a student include helping her friends move into their apartments at the beginning of every school year, jumping into Lake Michigan this January, and finishing second in the intramural Euchre tournament, she said. 

Electrical Engineering PhD

The Electrical Engineering PhD program studies systems that sense, analyze, and interact with the world. You will learn how this practice is based on fundamental science and mathematics, creating opportunities for both theoretical and experimental research. Electrical engineers invent devices for sensing and actuation, designing physical substrates for computation, creating algorithms for analysis and control, and expanding the theory of information processing. You will get to choose from a wide range of research areas such as circuits and VLSI, computer engineering and architecture, robotics and control, and signal processing.

Electrical engineers at SEAS are pursuing work on integrated circuits for cellular biotechnology, millimeter-scale robots, and the optimization of smart power groups. Examples of projects current and past students have worked on include developing methods to trace methane emissions and improving models for hurricane predictions.

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PhD in Electrical Engineering Degree

Harvard School of Engineering offers a  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)  degree in Engineering Sciences: Electrical Engineering , conferred through the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS). Prospective students apply through the Harvard Griffin GSAS. In the online application, select  “Engineering and Applied Sciences” as your program choice and select " PhD Engineering Sciences: Electrical Engineering ​."

The Electrical Engineering program does not offer an independent Masters Degree.

Electrical Engineering PhD Career Paths

Graduates of the program have gone on to a range of careers in industry in companies such as Tesla, Microsoft HoloLens, and IBM. Others have positions in academia at the University of Maryland, University of Michigan, and University of Colorado.

Admissions & Academic Requirements

Prospective students apply through the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS). In the online application, select  “Engineering and Applied Sciences” as your program choice and select "PhD Engineering Sciences: Electrical Engineering​." Please review the  admissions requirements and other information  before applying. Our website also provides  admissions guidance ,   program-specific requirements , and a  PhD program academic timeline .

Academic Background

Applicants typically have bachelor’s degrees in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, or engineering. In the application for admission, select “Engineering and Applied Sciences” as your degree program choice and your degree and area of interest from the “Area of Study“ drop-down. PhD applicants must complete the Supplemental SEAS Application Form as part of the online application process.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Not Accepted

Electrical Engineering Faculty & Research Areas

View a list of our electrical engineering  faculty  and electrical engineering  affiliated research areas , Please note that faculty members listed as “Affiliates" or "Lecturers" cannot serve as the primary research advisor.  

Electrical Engineering Centers & Initiatives

View a list of the research  centers & initiatives  at SEAS and the  electrical engineering faculty engagement with these entities .

Graduate Student Clubs

Graduate student clubs and organizations bring students together to share topics of mutual interest. These clubs often serve as an important adjunct to course work by sponsoring social events and lectures. Graduate student clubs are supported by the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin School of Arts and Sciences. Explore the list of active clubs and organizations .

Funding and Scholarship

Learn more about financial support for PhD students.

• How to Apply

Learn more about how to apply  or review frequently asked questions for prospective graduate students.

In Electrical Engineering

• Undergraduate Engineering at Harvard
• Concentration Requirements
• How to Declare
• Who are my Advisors?
• Sophomore Forum
• ABET Information
• Senior Thesis
• Research for Course Credit (ES 91R)
• AB/SM Information
• Peer Concentration Advisors (PCA) Program
• Student Organizations
• PhD Timeline
• PhD Model Program (Course Guidelines)
• Qualifying Exam
• Committee Meetings
• Committee on Higher Degrees
• Research Interest Comparison
• Collaborations
• Cross-Harvard Engagement
• Seminar Series
• Clubs & Organizations
• Centers & Initiatives
• Alumni Stories

Advice to spring 2024 grads: 'Spend your time creating new things'

Nearly 20,700 asu students honored in graduate, undergraduate ceremonies.

W. P. Carey School of Business executive MBA Chinese graduates toss their caps following ASU’s Graduate Commencement on Monday, May 6, at the Desert Financial Arena. Nearly 20,700 undergraduate and graduate students are earning their degrees this May — the largest graduating class in ASU history. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

The largest graduating class in the history of Arizona State University celebrated their new degrees with “Pomp and Circumstance” during spring 2024 commencement ceremonies on Monday.

Of the nearly 20,700 ASU students graduating this semester, about 13,800 are undergraduates and 6,900 are graduate students.

Video by EJ Hernandez/ASU News

ASU President Michael Crow addressed the crowd during Undergraduate Commencement Monday night at Mountain America Stadium. He said that ASU’s charter sets it apart from other universities.

A spotlight on outstanding May grads

We take a look some of the remarkable achievements of this spring's cohort 

“We don’t decide what you can learn. You decide, and we offer as many pathways to that as possible,” he said.

“We’re not an abstract institution that lives in an ivory tower barely connected to reality. We take responsibility.”

Crow told the graduates that as an eighth grader, he was forever impacted by the words of the Greek philosopher Cicero.

“He said two things that stuck with me. The first impacted me forever: ‘To live is to think.’

“The second, ‘I criticize by what I create.’

“Spend your time creating new things and spend less time criticizing.”

Walter F. Parkes received an honorary degree at the undergraduate ceremony. Parkes is a screenwriter, producer and former studio head. Parkes saw the value of storytelling in education and co-founded Dreamscape Learn, an education technology company that has partnered with ASU for extended-reality biology labs.

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Department of Chemistry

Alessandra bertacche wins the excellence in undergraduate teaching by a graduate student.

This award is particularly special, as they are chosen solely based on student nominations and feedback. Students spoke highly of Alessandra’s inclusiveness, dynamism, and enthusiasm for the material. Last year she received an honorable mention for this award, so you can see that her impact on the students continues! One of the students in particular stated ” “She explained things with an energy that just made everything she said engaging, even the hardest reactions felt like something understandable- more importantly – something I WANTED to understand, and even master.” Congratulations on winning this well-deserved award.