Bachelor's Degrees

Bachelor's degrees are intended 4 year degrees consisting of a major, and a large number general education classes being required. The general education classes consist often of more than half of the required credit hours, with intention being to give the graduate a well rounded education. This degree is considered by many to be the minimum required for persons in professional positions.

Bachelor's degrees program at colleges may require, as an example, 121 credits hours to achieve a BS in a particular major. At 3 credits hours a class, the student would generally take about 5 classes a semester, for a total of 15 credit hours a semester, or 30 a year. This number times 4 years (with at least one class likely being a 4 credit hour class), would give the student the required 121 credit hours to graduate.

Are these degrees worth achieving? Many adults who did not go to college when they were younger, either wish they did when they are somewhat older, with many going on a night part time basis, hoping to better themselves and their careers. The Bachelor's degree is likely a good degree to achieve, normal matter what your career plans are. Do this when you are young, as the responsibilities of adulthood make this much more difficult to achieve when one gets older.

Issue for students: Achieving the Bachelor's degree has taken many students more than 4 years, due to the student changing majors, or the lack of availability of the classes they need. Quite a few students have found that the information that their academic advisor has given them about which classes count toward graduation requirements was wrong. And these students are then required to take an extra 2 to 3 (or more) classes during a fifth year. Is it surprising how much this happens, especially at larger colleges and university, with tenured professors being made advisors? Do yourself a favor and read the college's student manual about what is required for the general degree and particular major.