The undergraduate bachelor's degree typically takes four years to complete . At most institutions those years are known as the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years of undergraduate study. Many students compete their first two years at a junior or community college, earning an associate degree, and then transfer to a four year college or university to complete two more years for a bachelor's degree. During the first two years, students have the opportunity to explore various fields of study such as social sciences, humanities, and natural or physical sciences. By the end of the second year, students at many institutions are asked to choose a specific field of study, known as the major, on which they will focus for the remainder of the undergraduate program.
Students then spend the next two years taking more courses directly related to their major.
Students who major in certain fields such as business, engineering, or science find that the curriculum is more tightly structured than it is in the humanities or social sciences. Master's degrees are the most frequently awarded graduate degrees. It is possible to earn a master's degree in one year, but more often it will take two to three years. A doctorate usually requires five to seven years of study following receipt of the bachelor's degree. It may take less time to obtain a doctorate if you enter the doctoral program with a competed master's degree.