Bachelor's degree: Difference between revisions

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A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin baccalaureus) or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin baccalaureatus) is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years (depending on institution and academic discipline). The two most common bachelor's degrees are the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Science (BS or BSc). In some institutions and educational systems, certain bachelor's degrees can only be taken as graduate or postgraduate educations after a first degree has been completed, although more commonly the successful completion of a bachelor's degree is a prerequisite for further courses such as a master's or a doctorate.

In countries with qualifications frameworks, bachelor's degrees are normally one of the major levels in the framework (sometimes two levels where non-honours and honours bachelor's degrees are considered separately). However, some qualifications titled bachelor's degree may be at other levels (e.g., MBBS) and some qualifications with non-bachelor's titles may be classified as bachelor's degrees (e.g. the Scottish MA and Canadian MD).

The term bachelor in the 12th century referred to a knight bachelor, who was too young or poor to gather vassals under his own banner. By the end of the 13th century, it was also used by junior members of guilds or universities. By folk etymology or wordplay, the word baccalaureus came to be associated with bacca lauri ("laurel berry") in reference to laurels being awarded for academic success or honours.^[1]

Under the British system, and those influenced by it, undergraduate academic degrees are differentiated between honours degrees (sometimes denoted by the addition of "(Hons)" after the degree abbreviation) and non-honours degrees (known variously as pass degrees, ordinary degrees or general degrees).^[2] An honours degree generally requires a higher academic standard than a pass degree, and in some systems an additional year of study beyond the non-honours bachelor's. Some countries, such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, have a postgraduate "bachelor with honours" degree. This may be taken as a consecutive academic degree, continuing on from the completion of a bachelor's degree program in the same field, or as part of an integrated honours program. Programs like these typically require completion of a full-year long research thesis project.

References

↑ Baccalaureate from the Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com). Retrieved 21 December 2011.
↑ "Beyond the honours degree classification, The Burgess Group final report" (PDF). Universities UK. October 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2010.

[1] Baccalaureate from the Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com). Retrieved 21 December 2011.

[2] "Beyond the honours degree classification, The Burgess Group final report" (PDF). Universities UK. October 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2010.

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-{{no sources|date=April 2021}}
+ {{short description|Undergraduate academic degree}}
-A '''bachelor's degree''' is the [[certificate]] given to a [[university]] student after he or she has succeeded in an end of course examination. In [[England]] and [[Wales]] the degree requires three years of study; in [[North America]] and some other countries four years are required.
+A '''bachelor's degree''' (from [[Middle Latin]] ''baccalaureus'') or '''baccalaureate''' (from [[New Latin|Modern Latin]] ''baccalaureatus'') is an [[Undergraduate degree|undergraduate]] [[academic degree]] awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years (depending on institution and [[academic discipline]]). The two most common bachelor's degrees are the [[Bachelor of Arts]] (BA) and the [[Bachelor of Science]] (BS or BSc). In some institutions and educational systems, certain bachelor's degrees can only be taken as [[Graduate school|graduate]] or [[postgraduate education]]s after a first degree has been completed, although more commonly the successful completion of a bachelor's degree is a prerequisite for further courses such as a [[Master's degree|master's]] or a [[doctorate]].
-In many countries there are other qualifications after school attendance is ended. Most of these are below degree level, and based on practical skills, but details vary according to the country.
+In countries with qualifications frameworks, bachelor's degrees are normally one of the major levels in the framework (sometimes two levels where non-honours and honours bachelor's degrees are considered separately). However, some qualifications titled bachelor's degree may be at other levels (e.g., [[MBBS]]) and some qualifications with non-bachelor's titles may be classified as bachelor's degrees (e.g. the [[Scottish MA]] and Canadian [[Doctor of Medicine|MD]]).
-In the British tradition there is a distinction between general degrees, and honour degrees or special degrees. In [[Scotland]], for example, a general degree takes three years, while an honours degree takes four years.
+The term ''[[bachelor]]'' in the 12th century referred to a [[knight bachelor]], who was too young or poor to gather [[vassal]]s [[Knight banneret|under his own banner]]. By the end of the 13th century, it was also used by junior members of [[guild]]s or universities. By [[folk etymology]] or wordplay, the word ''baccalaureus'' came to be associated with ''bacca lauri'' ("laurel berry") in reference to [[laurels]] being awarded for academic success or honours.<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=baccalaureate&allowed_in_frame=0 Baccalaureate] from the Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com). Retrieved 21 December 2011.</ref>
-The content of a bachelor's degree varies according to the Faculty, the part of the University which does the teaching. In a Faculty of Arts or Humanities a student studies for the [[Bachelor of Arts]]. Other traditional Faculties are those of Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and so on. Honours degrees are always labelled by their content, so BSc is a [[Bachelor of Science]], BA a Bachelor of Arts, and so on. [[Medical degree]]s are labelled variously. [[London University]] awards MB, ChB (bachelor of medicine and surgery) as the basic degree; [[Edinburgh University]] awards the [[MD]] as the basic qualification.
+Under the [[Universities in the United Kingdom|British system]], and those influenced by it, undergraduate academic degrees are differentiated between ''[[honours degree]]s'' (sometimes denoted by the addition of "(Hons)" after the degree abbreviation) and non-honours degrees (known variously as ''pass degrees'', ''ordinary degrees'' or ''general degrees'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/Publications/Documents/Burgess_final.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716233510/http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/Publications/Documents/Burgess_final.pdf|archive-date=16 July 2011|title=Beyond the honours degree classification, The Burgess Group final report|date= October 2007|publisher=[[Universities UK]]|access-date=4 December 2010}}</ref> An honours degree generally requires a higher academic standard than a pass degree, and in some systems an additional year of study beyond the non-honours bachelor's. Some countries, such as [[Tertiary education in Australia|Australia]], New Zealand and Canada, have a [[postgraduate education|postgraduate]] "bachelor with honours" degree. This may be taken as a consecutive academic degree, continuing on from the completion of a bachelor's degree program in the same field, or as part of an integrated honours program. Programs like these typically require completion of a full-year long research thesis project.
-Higher degrees than the bachelor are possible. Again, regulations vary, but often the next two steps are usually the [[Master's degree]] and the [[PhD]] degree.
+== References ==
-[[Category:Academic degrees]]