Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is a degree?
2.
What is the difference between a degree and a diploma?
3. What is dual degree?
4. What are credits?
5. How many credit
hours make up a degree?
6. What
happens to my credits when I change majors?
7. What is a major and
what is a minor?
8. What is a dual major?
9. How should I choose my
major?
10. What are the various courses that I can choose to major in?
11. What are the most
popular majors?
12. Is an MBA degree worth it?
13. What majors come under
Fine Art?
14. What is a Liberal Art
Program?
15. Are some
majors more expensive than others ?
1. What is a degree? The term ‘Degree'
refers to the level of education that you have completed or wish to pursue
in your academic career. One can pursue a Bachelor's or an Associate or a
Master's or a Ph.D. degree. <up>
2. What
is the difference between a degree and a diploma? A degree is a
recognized qualification. A diploma on the other hand is not recognized
and is generally awarded to students who major in a technical or
vocational field. Most students find the need to return back to college
and secure a degree as the diploma is often an inadequate qualification
for some of the best jobs. In the United States an associate degree is
equivalent to a diploma. <up>
3. What is dual degree? Generally, a
student must apply and complete one degree at a time. Some Universities do
have provisions for students to complete two degrees at the same time. For
example the Engineering Management program allows the student to complete
both the Bachelor's and Master's degree in a 5-year program at the same
University rather than in the actual six years that it would otherwise
take. However very few colleges offer this possibility.
<up>
4. What are credits? The credit system,
until recently has been unique to the US education system. It is devised
to give 'points' for lectures attended. For instance, if a student takes
one paper in Economics that is worth three credits, it means that she will
attend lectures in Economics three hours a week for the whole semester.
The three hours maybe divided into three lectures, two lectures, or one
three-hour seminar session. Credits eventually are added and must meet the
minimum of 30 credit hours per academic year. Hence in a bachelor's degree
a student has to achieve 120 credits. If each subject/paper is equal to 3
credits then the student would have to do 40 papers in 4 years! Different
courses have different credit hours ranging from one, two or three
credits. <up>
5. How many credit
hours make up a degree? Full time students usually complete 30 credit
hours per academic year. A bachelor's degree is equivalent to minimum 120
credit hours while a Master's program is equivalent to minimum 36 credit
hours. <up>
6. What
happens to my credits when I change majors? If you change majors after
admissions your transferable course credit should remain fairly intact.
However, because you may need extra or different preparation for a new
major, some of the courses you have taken may now be useful only as an
elective. <up>
7. What is a major and
what is a minor? As a student you are required to complete 30 credit
hours in an academic year. You could choose to major in the field of
Computer Science. This is the subject in which you take core courses.
Apart from your core courses you are allowed to take electives in any
other subject of your choice, which may or may not be related to your
major – for example creative writing or philosophy or business studies.
These electives form your minor subject. <up>
8. What is a dual major? The term
dual refers to ‘two'. Hence a dual major means pursuing two majors at a
time. Students have the option of pursuing a dual major. In India students
may decide to do a Sociology – Economic double major or a Biochemistry –
Life Sciences double major. Similarly in the United States you can pursue
a double major. A dual major is when you pursue a degree, which requires
you to take classes from 2 different departments. <up>
9. How should I choose my major?
Choosing a program of study in which you wish to major in after high
school is a difficult choice. The simplest method is to choose the subject
that interests you the most and co-relate it with the job prospects after
graduation. Once you are enrolled in college, you will learn about fields
that you have never studied about in high school as well as discover ones
that you have already been exposed to. If you are unsure about what field
you would like to study and ultimately pursue as a career or about the
type of program you would like to take it is wise to enroll at a college
that has a variety of courses. On the other hand if you are sure of your
major or basic area of study that you plan to pursue at college it is
important that you select an institution that provides a strong foundation
in that program. <up>
10. What are the various courses that I can choose to major in? There
are wide ranges of courses that you can choose from. You could pursue a
major in Music or Film or a degree in Physics or Engineering.
<up>
11. What are the most
popular majors? In today's fiercely competitive and global environment
students with a business or computer science major are the most sought
after professionals. Besides, these jobs have the highest level of
mobility and the knowledge gained can be applied to any organization
across the world. <up>
12. Is an MBA degree worth it?
An MBA degree is your key to some of the highest positions in the
corporate world. It is an investment that will keep paying you rich
dividends at all times in your career. Above all the MBA degree will give
you global access to some of the most challenging jobs in the industry.
Almost every student recovers the cost of their MBA degree within a couple
of years after graduation. Hence, yes though expensive the MBA degree is
definitely worth your while. <up>
13. What majors come under
Fine Art? Ceramics, Painting, Drawing or Sketching, Photography,
Sculpture and Printmaking are some of the popular majors that come under
the field of Fine Arts. <up>
14. What is a Liberal Art
Program? A Liberal Art program includes majors such as psychology,
philosophy, life sciences and foreign languages. Generally the business
and computer science program also fall under the category of liberal arts.
<up>
15. Are some
majors more expensive than others? Yes. Some majors are more expensive
than others. The costs of the materials that you use are related to your
course costs. For example an Engineering course may be more expensive than
an English major. Fashion Designing, Photography, Interior Design and Film
Studies are some of the most expensive majors. <up>
