College Terminology Guide - The Ins & Outs of Academia

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Different Possible Degrees - Associates, Bachelors, ETC.

What Is The Difference Between Colleges, Community Colleges, and Universities?

What Does College Transfer Even Mean?

Different Possible Degrees - Associates, Bachelors, ETC.

There are a lot of different degree options and lengths of time that a person can spend in higher education. Different fields of work require different degrees, different times in college, etc. Let’s break it down.

Associates Degree: Sometimes referred to as: AA, DTA (Direct Transfer Associates). This encompasses the first two years of your college education. Say you got two years into a bachelor’s degree (covered later), and you stopped at two years. Technically, you’d still have a college degree! Some careers only require an associate’s degree. Typically, this degree takes two years if you are in school part or full time. This coursework is very surface level as it is typically prep work for a four year degree. When it is NOT prep for a four year degree and is being obtained as a stand alone degree, classes can be added on that go in depth in whatever topic the student wishes.

If one intends to get a bachelor’s degree after an associate’s degree and plan to transfer from a community college to a college with a four year program or university, they will likely pursue a direct transfer associate (DTA) which is specifically tailored to precede a bachelor’s degree and includes courses that easily transfer. 

For instance: say you want to be a physical therapy assistant. You spend two years at a college or community college obtaining an associate’s degree or a physical therapy assistant degree. You then take a licensure test and work in the field as a physical therapy assistant. Unless you wished to pursue further education, your education stops here, with a two year OR associate’s degree. 

Bachelor’s Degree: Sometimes referred to as: BA, BS, four year degree. This degree takes four years. If an associate’s degree is obtained, those first two years count towards this degree, encompassing precursor coursework. In the last two years, individuals select a MAJOR. Selecting a MINOR is optional.

• Major: This describes the topic that the student wishes to focus on for focused study during the last two years of their four year degree. ‘Majoring’ comes AFTER an associate’s degree/precursor coursework is finished. Students can major in anything - psychology, math, etc. It is important to speak to an advisor about what careers you are interested in so you can tailor your major in college to your future career requirements. Oftentimes, you APPLY to a major in your second year, towards the end of your associate’s degree. Depending on the institution or major, some may accept all applicants or only a select few. Some majors require you to be at a certain GPA. You can do one major OR, if you are willing to do additional coursework, you can do TWO majors. However, if you don’t want to add significantly to your course load but still find yourself interested in another subject area you can do a minor. 

• Minor: This describes a smaller focus that a student can take. Say they are primarily interested in psychology but wish to also take some courses in sociology. If they take more than one sociology class, they may be eligible to add a MINOR to their degree designation. Minoring in a subject is not required to get a bachelor’s degree - some people do this because they are interested in a subject but are more interested in majoring in something else, do not wish to take on a second major, etc. 

There are different TYPES of bachelor’s degrees that depend on your focus. 

• Bachelor’s of Arts (BA): Coursework for the BA degree tends to focus on critical thinking, communication skills and holistic learning. (Devry University) 

• Bachelor’s of Science (BS): BS degree coursework often focuses on logic, reasoning and quantitative skills, with more courses in subjects related to math, science and technology. (Devry University) 

• Bachelor’s of Fine Arts (BFA): To earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree, students learn about the history, skills, methodology and industries associated with the artistic field of their choice. BFA degree majors include visual and performing arts, film and writing. (Devry University) 

Master’s Degree: This is a specialized degree that occurs AFTER a bachelor’s degree. It is typically even more focused on a particular area OR where a particular trade or practice is learned (example: social work, therapy, etc). On average, this degree takes two years. The application process to master’s degree programs varies - if you wish to start the degree right after your bachelor’s, you apply in fall/winter of your last year of undergraduate education. If you wish to take gap years, you apply later. The list of possible master’s degrees is EXTENSIVE - read about options on Bay Atlantic University’s Masters Resource Page. 

Doctorate: You do not necessarily need to complete a master’s degree before completing a doctorate. A doctorate is an even more advanced, focused course of study in a particular topic. Oftentimes, a doctorate is required to perform specific tasks such as run a research laboratory, administer psychotherapy, etc. This doctorate is typically specialized in the specific field of interest such as chemistry or music. Most times, after a doctorate, individuals conduct research, teach at universities or colleges, or perform very specific tasks in their field. For some careers, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to obtain a doctorate - the job duties are the same for those who have a master’s or a doctorate but possibly, could yield higher wages. For some careers, a doctorate degree is required. 

For instance, if one wishes to get a doctorate degree in computer sciences, much of the job positions available for individuals with this degree can be done with a master’s degree. On the flip side, if one wishes to conduct their own research and teach at a university level in chemistry, a doctorate (specifically, a PhD or similar degree) is required. 

You can read about the possible options for a specialized doctorate HERE. 

What Is The Difference Between Colleges, Community Colleges, and Universities?

Community College: A community college typically only has two year degrees or associate's degrees. Associates degrees cover the basics of education including English, Math, etc. Oftentimes, if a student is anticipating getting a four year degree, or bachelor’s degree, these first two years will also include introductory courses. More extensive, focused study comes during the next two years, if a person wishes to do a bachelor’s degree.

College: Colleges typically offer associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees. These include liberal arts colleges, etc. 

University: Universities offer associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees AND graduate degrees such as masters and doctorates. These institutions often have more extensive research opportunities available due to the nature of many doctoral programs relying on student research. 

It doesn't matter which institution you attend. If you wish to get a four year degree/bachelor’s degree, you MUST at least attend a college or university that possesses the program you are interested in. If you attend a community college and wish to get a four year degree, you will have to transfer to an institution that has the degree you are interested in. Academic advisors at your community college can help you plan appropriately for this transfer. Typically, you would spend two years at a community college and finish up your associate’s and THEN do your remaining two years at a college or university. 

What Does College Transfer Even Mean?

A college transfer is exactly what it sounds like - it means moving from one institution to another. Often, this is required if you are a student at a community college or at a college that does not have four year programs. If you wish to complete a bachelor's degree or four year degree in general, you must transfer to an institution that offers the program of your choosing. 

For instance, if you are in a community college and want to major in biology, you have to transfer to either…

• A college that has a BS or BA biology degree program

• A university that has a BS or BA in biology program

Oftentimes, there is a specific path of coursework that you can follow at your community college or college that prepares students adequately for college transfer. This is called a direct transfer associate’s degree OR a DTA. In Washington in particular, universities across the state have committed a certain number of spots for community college transfer students within Washington State This is called Washington’s Direct Transfer Agreement and requires the student to be pursuing or have finished a direct transfer associate’s in order to be eligible for this consideration. 

When you transfer, you can follow these rough steps…

1. Identify what bachelor’s degree program you wish to pursue. 

2. Investigate colleges or universities that have these programs - which schools are reported to have the strongest programs in that subject? What schools have the things you are looking for (access to extracurricular experience, mentorship, location, etc)? If you decide to apply out of state, keep in mind that there is NOT a direct transfer agreement out of state, which makes admissions more difficult. Additionally, tuition for out of state students is more costly than if you attend college or university in your state of residence. 

3. Applications typically open up in September of the year prior to the year you would attend college or university there. For instance, if you wish to start classes in 2025, you would apply in September 2024. 

   1. Investigate what application process each school uses. Some schools have their own portals where you submit materials and some schools use a platform called the Common App. This is a platform where you upload your materials and the platform itself sends the content to each individual school you select to apply to. There are sometimes application fees associated with this, which can be waived if an applicant displays financial need. 

   2. Different schools require different materials sometimes but consistently, applications require a personal statement (detailing your values, how they align with the school, what you wish to study.), and official transcripts (you pay to have these sent from your current school to the institution you wish to attend). 

   
   

It is recommended to start writing your personal statement during the summer and fall before applications open. This gives you plenty of time to go through a few drafts and tweak the essay to your desires. If you need someone to read through your personal statement or help you brainstorm, reach out to hearo.infoapp@gmail.com - we are happy to assist.

Advice From Transfer Students

Name: Tien Van

Institution Transferred From: Edmonds Community College

Institution Transferred To: University of Washington

What are some valuable lessons you learned during your transfer journey?: "Remember to check prerequisites for the major you want to transfer into, like the required classes for your intended major, and don’t for get to get in touch with the advisor for your intended major."

Email Address (for questions!): tien98vn@gmail.com