Choosing a college degree can be a very difficult decision to make. There are many things to consider but it is important to decide on the right college degree for the type of occupation that you want to pursue. You may find that you do not actually need a degree but that a certificate or diploma will be sufficient, or your chosen profession may require further study after a college such as medicine or law.
Certificates or diplomas require a shorter period of study than a traditional degree and are usually taken by students wanting to pursue a career in an occupational field. Quite often a certificate or diploma can be taken before embarking on a college course.
An associate degree is awarded after completing a two-year degree course. Some community colleges and other universities offer an associate degree program which allows you to transfer to a four-year college degree course after you have been awarded the appropriate associate degree. There are a number of occupations where a two-year degree is recommended or required including:
Administrative Assistant
Automotive Mechanic
Cardiovascular Technician
Commercial Artist
Computer Technician
Dental Hygienist
Drafter
Engineering Technician
Funeral Director
Graphic Designer
Heating, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technician
Hotel or Restaurant Manager
Medical Laboratory Technician
Medical Record Technician
Insurance Agent
Registered Nurse
Surgical Technologist
Surveyor
Visual Artist
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
A traditional four-year college degree is the most frequently required qualification for a number of occupations. Some examples of professions requiring a four-year college degree in an appropriate discipline are:
Accountant
Computer Systems Analyst
Dietitian
Editor
Engineer
FBI Agent
Investment Banker
Journalist
Medical Illustrator
Pharmacist
Public Relations Specialist
Recreational Therapist
Research Assistant
Social Worker
Teacher
Writer
There are also a number of occupations that require a student to obtain a degree that is longer than the conventional four-year college degree programs. These extended professional degree programs include:
Architect
Biologist
Chiropractor
Dentist
Diplomat
Doctor
Economist
Geologist
Lawyer
Librarian
Management Consultant
Palaeontologist
Priest
Psychologist
Public Policy Analyst
It is important to choose a college course that is suitable for the career path you want to follow. If you are unsure of which field of occupation you want to enter then it is advisable to take a certificate or diploma course first. This will enable you to change disciplines without having spent four years on a degree course that ends up not being something that you want to pursue.
