College Degree vs Major: What's the Difference?

What Is a Major in College?

A college major is the main field of study, or academic discipline, that a student focuses on while pursuing their undergraduate degree. The term can also be used to describe a student pursuing a particular field of study. Note, however, that when it comes to typical usage, “major” is not usually applied in the graduate school context. For instance, it is more typical to describe someone pursuing a master’s degree in education as an MEd student rather than an education major.

While there are theoretically hundreds of potential majors to choose from, no institution offers every available major under the sun. As a result, your preferred or intended major could impact which colleges or universities you apply to, particularly if a school you are interested in does not offer the major you want to pursue. The more niche your intended major, the less likely it is to be widely available. To get a better idea of all the different types of majors out there, exploring lists of majors being offered at various institutions could be a helpful exercise.

While some colleges and universities may allow undergraduate students to enter as “undeclared” or “undecided” majors—i.e., students who have not yet selected a specific field of study—even those students eventually must make a decision, often by the end of their first or second year, depending on the institution.

What Is a College Degree?

In contrast to a college major, a college degree is an academic credential that a post-secondary institution confers on a student who has successfully completed all the

requirements to complete their program of study. There are four general types of degrees: associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate/doctoral degree. Associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees are considered undergraduate degrees, while master’s degrees and doctoral degrees are considered graduate degrees.

College degrees are considered more advanced than other types of credentials, such as professional certificates and certifications. While professional certificate and certification programs do provide value—e.g., they may offer a path to developing a specific/targeted skillset in less time and at a lower cost compared to degree programs—they are not as comprehensive as degree programs because they involve taking fewer courses, and employers may still prefer or require that candidates hold a degree. With that said, a degree holder may potentially enhance their résumé by obtaining a certificate or certification.

Types of Degrees

The following list of degree types runs from least advanced (associate) to most advanced (doctorate).

1. Associate Degree

As noted, an associate degree is the least advanced of all the post-secondary degrees. There are four main types of degrees that exist at the associate level:

• Associate of Arts (AA)
• Associate of Science (AS)
• Associate of Applied Arts (AAA)
• Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Associate degree programs are typically designed to be completed in two years of full-time study. They may be offered at community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, and technical colleges.

2. Bachelor’s Degree

Next up is the bachelor’s degree, which is the highest level of undergraduate degree. While the Bachelor of Science (BS) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) are two of the more well-known types of bachelor’s degree, there are various others, e.g., Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). Generally, it takes roughly four years of full-time study for bachelor’s degree completion.

Traditionally, holding a bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for pursuing graduate-level education in the United States.

3. Master’s Degree

The next degree in our hierarchy is the master’s degree, which can be thought of as the first level of graduate degree in most academic fields. Generally speaking, it takes about two years of full-time study for master’s degree completion.

As with the bachelor’s degree, there are multiple types of master’s degrees: Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Education (MEd) and so on. Depending on the academic discipline, some master’s degree programs (e.g., master’s degree programs in information technology (IT) or computer science) may require that students hold a degree in the same or a related field, while others offer more flexibility (e.g., MBA degree programs do not necessarily require students to hold a business degree).

4. Doctoral Degree/Doctorate

The doctoral degree represents the pinnacle of higher education. Once you have earned a doctoral degree in a field of study, there is no more advanced degree to pursue. The two types of doctoral degree are the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and the applied doctorate (or professional doctorate). PhD degree programs tend to be focused on the development of original research in one’s field, whereas applied doctoral degree programs tend to be focused on the practical application of skills and knowledge in one’s field. For example, a learner who wishes to contribute to filling knowledge gaps in the field of psychology may opt to pursue a PhD in Psychology, but a learner who wants to pursue private practice may opt to pursue a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD).

Recap: Degree vs. Major

Degree vs. Major example: “Robert’s main undergraduate field of study (major) is computer science, making Robert a computer science major. Once Robert graduates, he will hold a degree in computer science.”

What Is a Degree Concentration or Specialization?

As you research different college degree programs, you may encounter terms like “degree concentration” or “degree specialization” for the first time and not know what they mean.

Unlike a college minor—a secondary field of study that may or may not be related to a student’s major, and which requires only a fraction of the credit hours required for a major—a concentration or specialization is always related to a student’s degree program.

When a student chooses a concentration or specialization as part of their degree program, they are essentially taking a set of predetermined elective courses related to a particular area of interest rather than self-selecting their elective courses.

While the difference between a major and a degree is fairly obvious, the difference between a concentration and specialization is more subtle.

• Concentration: Concentrations provide students exposure to subject matter through a series of focused courses within a given area of study.
• Specialization: Specializations provide students with in-depth knowledge in a given area of expertise leading to potential career opportunities within the specified field of study.

Some institutions only offer one or the other, if they offer any at all, but American InterContinental University offers both specializations and concentrations. Many of AIU’s online bachelor’s degree programs offer learners the ability to choose a specialization, while many of our online master’s degree programs offer them the ability to choose a concentration.

Degree concentration examples at AIU include:

• Information Technology (BSIT): Concentration in Cybersecurity
• Information Technology (MSIT): Concentration in Cybersecurity
• Information Technology (MSIT): Concentration in Data Analytics
• Information Technology (MSIT): Concentration in IT Management
• Master of Education (MEd): Concentration in Adult Education and E-Learning
• Master of Education (MEd): Concentration in Education Administration
• Master of Education (MEd): Concentration in Leadership of PreK-12 Educational Organizations

AIU also offers a number of specializations at the bachelor’s degree level. Check out our complete list of online degree program offerings for more information.

Credit Requirements for Graduation

The credit requirements for a particular program may vary by school or degree program, or both. With that said, bachelor’s degree programs typically require completion of 120 semester credits to graduate, or 180 quarter credits if they use the quarter credit system. Master’s degree programs typically require completion at least 30 semester credits or 45 quarter credits to graduate, but this can vary significantly depending on the field of study pursued.

College credit requirements at the undergraduate level typically include a mix of general education courses, major (or core) courses and elective courses. Their curricula are designed this way to promote the development of well-rounded graduates with broadly applicable skills. As a consequence, major credits may comprise only about one-third to one-half of the total number of required credit hours for a bachelor’s degree program.

In contrast, master’s degree and doctoral degree programs tend to have relatively lower credit requirements, with all courses being more directly related to the student’s chosen field of study. In the case of doctoral degree programs, however, fewer required courses does not translate into less time needed for degree completion. Because of doctoral dissertation/doctoral project requirements, it can take a learner many years to finish their degree program.

Pursue a Flexible Online Degree Program at AIU

AIU offers over 30 online degree programs—from the associate through the master’s degree level—that are designed with working adults in mind. If you are ready to take the next step in your academic journey, reach out to request more information, or apply now.

AIU cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. REQ2183027 12/2025