Degree and Certificate Finder
With a library of information on over 400 colleges and universities nationwide, we provide you with a direct connection to degree and certificate offerings that match your academic and career goals. Explore the offerings of each higher education system and discover your path.
California + WICHE + HBCU
Degree and Certificate Descriptions
From certificates that can be completed in months to doctoral degrees that are designed to engage students in research for years, you can rest assured that there is something to fit your higher education and career goals.
Undergraduate
Undergraduate Certificates
Many colleges and universities offer undergraduate certificates. Certificates usually do not include any general education and focus entirely on the academic area of study. Often, students use an undergraduate certificate to boost their employability and gain more specialized skills in a particular area. Not all institutions offer undergraduate certificates.
Associate Degree
The associate degree is a 2-year degree, meaning it can be completed by taking 30 semester units each year for 2 years. This is a popular option for students who want to complete a degree and then enter the workforce. The associate degree is typically offered by community colleges like CCC, as well as by some CA Private Universities, HBCUs, and WUE institutions. There are various versions of this degree; among the most popular are the Associate of Arts/Science (AA/AS) and the Associate of Nursing (ADN).
Bachelor's Degree
The bachelor's degree is a 4-year degree, meaning it can be completed by taking 30 semester units each year for 4 years for a total of 120 semester units (some bachelor’s degrees require more units). This is the most popular undergraduate degree offered by colleges and universities in the United States. There are different versions of this degree; some of the most popular options include: Bachelor of Arts/Science (BA/BS), Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW).
Graduate
Post-Graduate Certificate
A post-graduate certificate often requires a bachelor’s degree for admission. The certificate is designed to provide entry-level graduate studies in various areas, and many can be completed in 1 year. Certificates usually do not include any general education and focus entirely on the academic area. This is a popular option for students who want to further their education in a specific area but do not want to commit to multiple years of graduate study, such as a master’s degree.
Master's Degree
The master's degree is usually a 1 to 3-year degree program. The degree allows students to further their education in a specific academic discipline. Master's degrees are becoming more popular as the job market grows increasingly competitive. The master's degree is a popular option for students who want to further their education in a specific area and are ready to commit to a higher academic rigor in their chosen field. There are different versions of this degree; some of the most popular options include: Master of Arts/Science (MA/MS), Master of Education (MEd), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
Doctorate Degree
The doctoral degree is usually a 3+ year degree. The degree allows students to advance their studies, explore research, and conduct new research in a specific academic discipline. Some doctoral degrees are more research-focused than others. Doctoral degrees are often called “Terminal Degrees” because it is considered the highest level of education someone can pursue. There are different versions of this degree; some of the most popular options include: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Medicine (MD), Juris Doctor (JD), and Doctor of Education (EdD).
Additional Academic Options
Academic Concentration
Not all institutions offer academic concentrations, but those that do may offer undergraduate concentrations for their bachelor's degrees and graduate concentrations (also called “options”) for their master’s degrees. Academic concentrations expand knowledge in a specific area of study. For example, an undergraduate student who wants to work in law enforcement can pursue a bachelor’s degree in sociology and choose an academic concentration in Law and Policy.
Academic Minor
An academic minor dives a little deeper than an academic concentration, typically requiring more coursework but providing greater depth of knowledge in a related area of study. Students can choose to minor in an area of study related to their major; for example, a student who wants to be a caseworker at a mental health clinic can pursue a bachelor’s degree in social work and minor in psychology. Students can also choose to minor in a field unrelated to their major; for example, a student who wants to own their own music studio may pursue a bachelor’s degree in business management with a minor in music.
Bachelor’s to Master’s (4+1 ) Programs
Not all institutions will offer a combined bachelor’s to master’s path, but those that do provide a clear path for undergraduate students to further their studies to the graduate level, often without having to complete a separate graduate application for their master's. These programs are often called “4+1” programs, referring to the 4 years required to complete the bachelor's degree plus 1 year to complete the master’s (not all master's can be completed in 1 academic year). This is a popular option for students who know their career requires graduate studies for employment.
Integrated Doctoral Program
Many Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs award a master's degree as students progress through their doctoral curriculum. For programs that offer this option, the degree is typically awarded to students who have completed a set number of semester units (typically 30 or more) and satisfy other requirements set by the institution. Some doctoral programs allow students to stop their doctoral studies upon earning their master's, and others explicitly state that their program is not designed for students who only want their master's, and will often deny admissions if students express interest exclusively in the master’s degree with no intentions of staying enrolled after their master's is awarded.
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