Four common U.S. degree levels are associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral. Associate and bachelor's degrees belong to undergraduate study. Master's and doctoral degrees belong to graduate study. Their professional meaning varies by school and field.
The list shows a broad order, but no one must earn all four. Many jobs do not need a higher degree at all.
Associate degree
An associate degree is a sub-baccalaureate undergraduate award. NCES says it usually requires at least two years of full-time study. Part-time study may cover an equivalent amount of work. Common names include AA, AS, and AAS.
Community colleges often award these degrees, but other schools may do so. Some programs lead toward a bachelor's degree, while others teach career skills. Transfer is not automatic; the receiving school decides which past credits will count.
Natural résumé wording:
Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology
Use the full award name when that detail matters to the reader.
Bachelor’s degree
A bachelor's degree is an undergraduate baccalaureate award. NCES says it usually requires at least four years of full-time study. Actual completion time may vary.
Common names include Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS). Schools also use field-specific titles, but a title does not show each course or skill.
“I have a bachelor's degree in economics.”
In U.S. talk, finished college often means earning a bachelor's degree. People with an associate degree have also completed a college-level credential. Name the degree when the details matter.
Master’s degree
A master's degree usually follows a bachelor's degree or an accepted equivalent. NCES says many programs take one or two years of full-time study, though some take longer.
Examples include MA, MS, MBA, MEd, MEng, MFA, and MSW. The work may focus on research, professional practice, coursework, or a mix.
“I earned a master's in data science.”
Write master's degree with the apostrophe, while a full title such as Master of Science has none.
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Start a session →Doctoral degree
A doctoral degree or doctor's degree is the highest broad NCES award category. It includes research doctorates, professional-practice doctorates, and other doctoral awards.
A PhD is one type of doctorate, not the name for all of them. Requirements may include coursework, exams, supervised practice, research, a dissertation, or another major project. Each program sets its own rules.
Not every doctorate requires a master's degree first. Each school sets its admission path. Licenses follow separate rules by field and place. A degree alone may not authorize professional practice.
Degree, major, certificate, and diploma
A degree is the award. A major is often the main field within an undergraduate degree. See major, minor, and degree for that difference.
A certificate is not automatically a degree, and its level, purpose, and length can vary. A diploma may be the paper that proves completion. In another country, that word may name a different award.
Do not choose a U.S. label just because it sounds close. Use the official English name. Get a credential evaluation when a school, employer, or licensing body asks for one.
What might you hear at work?
“A bachelor's degree or equivalent experience is preferred.”
The posting accepts the degree or an experience path the employer sees as equivalent. Ask how the employer applies that rule.
“The tuition benefit covers a first master's degree.”
The plan may not pay for a later graduate degree. It may have other rules, so read it before you sign up.
“She has an associate degree and ten years of field experience.”
These are two qualifications, and the sentence does not rank her path against someone else's.
“Doctorate preferred, not required.”
The degree may strengthen the application, but the job does not require it. Recruiters should apply the stated criteria consistently.
What can you say naturally?
For a résumé or interview:
“I earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and later completed an MBA.”
For an international credential:
“My degree was awarded in Brazil. I can provide the official record and an evaluation if required.”
For benefits:
“Does the policy cover associate and certificate programs, or only bachelor's and graduate degrees?”
For clarification:
“Does ‘graduate degree’ include both master's and doctoral programs here?”
Status and hiring sensitivity
Degree rules can affect people based on class, race, disability, immigration, caregiving, and access. A degree does not prove intelligence, discipline, or cultural fit. People also learn through work, apprenticeships, military training, certificates, and other paths.
In hiring, separate a firm rule from a preference. In a work chat, “What brought you into this field?” may be more open than asking where someone earned a degree.
For the broader level labels, see K–12, undergraduate, and graduate school. For institution vocabulary, see college versus university versus graduate school.
The practical takeaway
Associate and bachelor's degrees are undergraduate awards. Master's and doctoral degrees belong to graduate study. Paths vary by school and field. Use the name on the record, and tie job rules to the work.