Degrees and Programs
Ultimately, you’re going to school to earn a degree or certificate, so it’s important to think about which one makes sense for your future plans. Explore your options by clicking on any of these degrees to find out what they offer and how to earn them.
Technical Certificate and AAS Degree
This degree is focused on giving career-specific training and hands-on learning experiences.
These are typically offered at community colleges and Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technologies (TCATs), such as TCAT-Nashville and Nashville State Community College.
EXPLORE SCHOOL OPTIONS
The Facts:
Good fit for students who:
Are certain about their career
Aren’t interested in pursuing a bachelor's degree or graduate school
Are unsure about a career path
Time to complete:
Dependent on program selected
Examples of degrees:
Culinary arts
Cosmetology
Collision repair
Welding technology
Associate Degree (A.A. and A.S.)
This degree is centered on general education, offering classes in a variety of subjects such as math, writing, science and humanities. Classes are typically lecture-style and discussion-based.
Associate degrees can be found at most community colleges, but are also offered at some four-year colleges. Nashville State Community College, Volunteer State Community College and Tennessee State University are local examples of where you can earn this degree.
EXPLORE SCHOOL OPTIONS
Since the curriculum for this degree is generally the same as that offered during the first two years of a bachelor’s degree, your class credit can often be used to transfer into another school or program.
The Facts:
Good fit for students who:
Are interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree or graduate school
Are considering a career that does not require a technical certificate
Are unsure about a career path
Time to complete:
Two years if enrolled full time
Examples of degrees:
Business administration
Exercise science
History
Pre-health professions
Sociology
Bachelor’s Degree (B.A. and B.S.)
Similar to an associate degree, bachelor’s degrees are based in general education, and classes can be lecture-style or discussion-based. While an associate degree takes two years, a bachelor’s degree allows students to dig deeper into a certain area of expertise, and further develop their area of focus, known as a major.
Bachelor’s degrees are offered at both public and private colleges and universities, such as Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University, Fisk University, Belmont University, Vanderbilt University and Trevecca Nazarene University.
EXPLORE SCHOOL OPTIONS
The Facts:
Good fit for students who:
Are not interested in pursuing a technical certification
May want to pursue a graduate degree
Are interested in on-campus residential housing
Are unsure about a career path
Time to complete:
Four years
Examples of degrees:
Africana studies
Communication
Forensic science
Physics
Pre-engineering