Definition · Plain-language
Types of degrees
The four main types of academic degree, from lowest to highest, are the associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate.
The step most authors miss
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The degree ladder, in order
Academic degrees are usually arranged as a progression. The associate degree is the entry-level higher qualification, typically two years and about 60 credit hours, often earned at a community college. The bachelor’s degree, the standard first university degree, takes three to four years. The master’s degree is a postgraduate qualification of one to two years built on the bachelor’s. The doctorate, such as the PhD, is the highest level, awarded for advanced mastery and, in research doctorates, an original contribution to knowledge. Each level normally requires the one below it.
Undergraduate versus postgraduate
The ladder divides into two tiers. Undergraduate degrees — the associate and bachelor’s — are taken after secondary school and provide foundational and then specialised study. Postgraduate degrees — the master’s and doctorate, called “graduate” degrees in the United States — build on a completed bachelor’s with advanced or research-intensive work. This division matters for admissions: a bachelor’s is the usual gateway to postgraduate study, and a master’s commonly (though not always) precedes a doctorate.
Academic, professional and other categories
Within each level, degrees may be academic or professional. Academic degrees (BA, BS, MA, PhD) emphasise broad or research-based study, while professional degrees prepare for a specific occupation — the MBA, JD (law) and MD (medicine) are examples, some of which carry doctoral status in the United States. Vocational sub-types, such as the Associate of Applied Science, focus on direct employment. Beyond degrees, certificates and diplomas mark shorter programmes that sit outside this main ladder.
Key facts
At a glance
- Level 1: Associate degree — ~2 years, undergraduate.
- Level 2: Bachelor’s degree — 3–4 years, undergraduate.
- Level 3: Master’s degree — 1–2 years, postgraduate.
- Level 4: Doctorate (e.g. PhD) — highest, research or advanced practice.
- Tiers: Associate & bachelor’s = undergraduate; master’s & doctorate = postgraduate.
- Note: Each level normally requires the level below it.
Common misconceptions
What people often get wrong
Often heard: A master’s degree is the highest degree you can earn.
Actually: The doctorate, such as a PhD, sits above the master’s and is the highest academic degree. A master’s is usually a step toward, not the top of, the ladder.
Often heard: All degrees are academic and research-based.
Actually: Many are professional or vocational — the MBA, JD, MD and Associate of Applied Science prepare students for specific occupations rather than research.
Often heard: You can skip the bachelor’s and go straight to a master’s.
Actually: A completed bachelor’s is the standard prerequisite for postgraduate study, so the master’s normally follows it rather than replacing it.
