Four-year bachelor’s degree was largely popular among students who wanted to start a career in a field. But, less and less students are being attracted to the bachelor’s degree every year. People have been changing jobs and careers more frequently than ever. Diploma courses are making people career-ready faster than ever. In such situations, is the four-year degree worth Four-year degree may be the first thing coming in your mind if you think of a vocation, but did you know that there are additional routes in designing a career for yourself?
What are you doing to do if you already have a career but want to change it? A four-year degree is always a choice, but there are also other degrees as well as certificates and Diplomas that can be valuable – and that can get you where you want to be quicker.
Degree, certificate, and diploma are the courses popularly chosen by students in Australia for their career. In recent times, students are being more attracted to certificate and diploma. The biggest difference among these courses is, of course, the time taken to complete them. A degree comes in many forms and takes the longest to complete. It can be an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or even a doctorate. A degree can take anywhere from two to four years or longer.
Certificate programs often take months instead of years, and some can even be obtained in conjunction with a degree program. Diploma programs offer a more in-depth curriculum than a certificate, but they are more like a certificate than a degree.
What Is a Degree?
A degree focuses on a theory-based approach to learning. You pick an area of study to be a major in your degree. However, in addition to classes that are specific to your major, you must also complete general classes, like English, history, math, and other topics. A degree makes you well-rounded and can prepare you for a range of careers instead of a single one.
Requirements for a Degree
Requirements for all degrees are not the same. The requirements largely depend on what major you are choosing. Generally, you can expect to complete about 180 credits for a bachelor’s degree, and you’ll need a time investment of about four years as a full-time student. A master’s degree is typically completed after earning a bachelor’s and can take up to two years to earn. A doctoral program usually starts after you earn a master’s and can extend for several years. The exact time period varies depending on the program and area of study.
You might not want to spend all the time that is required to earn a bachelor’s degree. There are many fields where you can benefit from an associate’s degree. You may be thinking how many credits an associate degree is worth. An associate’s degree is about half of what it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree, so around 90 credits. It will take you two years in order to complete an associate’s degree. There are flexible options, however, where classes can be completed online, on weekends, or during the evening.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Degree
One advantage of a degree is that many employers often require one, even if your major doesn’t necessarily apply to the job. Embarking on the journey for a degree and seeing it through to completion also can show commitment and dedication, which can be advantageous in the job market.
Other benefits to earning a degree include:
- Better potential for earning higher salaries. With an associate’s degree, you can earn almost $10,000 more per year than with just a high school Diploma.
- More marketable and desirable for jobs beyond entry level.
- Learning additional skills like critical thinking and analysis.
- Networking opportunities for future career options.
- Better job benefits like insurance, retirement, and possibly even travel.
A couple of disadvantages when looking at a degree program are the cost and the time it takes to complete. Degrees are the most expensive form of higher education although universities in Australia offer various financial aids. They also usually take the longest to complete and so require a significant time investment. So, the need for patience comes alongside your will for earning a bachelor’s degree.
What Is an Associate’s Degree and When Can It Be Helpful?
An associate’s degree is a degree you can earn in about two years. There are many reasons an associate’s degree can be beneficial in the job market, such as:
- You have completed some college and would like to finish up a degree as quickly as possible.
- Your desired job field requires an associate’s degree.
- You’d like to complete a degree program but are looking for a different option than just a bachelor’s.
- You already have a degree and are interested in adding another.
As with a bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree requires the completion of general education courses to help provide a well-rounded education.
What Types of Careers Can You Pursue With a Degree?
One of the advantages of degree is the liberty of career choice it provides. If you have a degree, the sky is the limit. You can be eligible to join a number of professions if you have a degree in your hand. If you’re interested in becoming a nurse, for example, you’ll want to choose a major like biology to get you the background you need.
An associate’s degree in nursing will get you the knowledge and experience to be an integral part of a vet’s office, without having to spend four years to get there.
Different Pathways (Source: Google)
What Is a Certificate?
Now, this is for the people who want to focus more on practice than theory. A certificate is achieved after you complete the required work in a specified area or skill. It doesn’t require the general courses as a degree does; instead, it requires just the classes and training relating directly to the specific area of study. A certificate doesn’t offer an overview of the area of study like a Diploma program does.
Requirements for a Certificate
Here also the requirements depend on the field. In many cases, you can expect to complete a certification program in under a year. Having a certificate is proof of your proficiency in a field and can easily help you in finding a job.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Certificate
Certificates are advantageous if you are looking to change careers and you already have a degree, or if you already have some work experience or schooling in your desired area of study. You can prepare yourself for a career different than the current one without having to go back to school to obtain a degree if you complete a certificate. So, a certificate is the best option for those who are planning to switch their careers.
You can also get a certificate if you are looking to build on your current career or are looking at entering a different part of your industry.
Talking about the certificate’s disadvantage, it is fair to mention that it can limit you. Your career option will be limited to the filed for which you have obtained the certificate. It will be difficult to move on from those options without other educational courses or certificates.
What Are Some Career Options After I Get a Certificate?
Your career options depend upon the field of certification you choose. Certificate on cosmetology is popular in Australia. It’s more than just applying makeup and cutting people’s hair. As a cosmetologist, you’ll also be providing people with information to care for their hair, skin, and nails. A certification program provides you with the knowledge and experience you need to ensure you’re giving your clients the most accurate information and best quality services.
At least a certification is a must for practicing in Australia. You may be subject to serious penalties if you start working for yourself or for other companies without a certification on your profession.
Massage therapy is another fast-growing career, and to enter, a certificate can be beneficial. You might look at obtaining a four-year degree in something like Athletic Training if you choose to become a massage therapist; however, a certificate will get you working with people quickly and with a less out-of-pocket cost for you.
What Is a Diploma?
A Diploma is more in-depth than a certificate and can take a little longer to earn, but still usually less than a year. Diploma programs are also often more technical than theoretical. The classes taken in conjunction with earning a Diploma allow you to gain a thorough understanding of your field of study, though you won’t earn a degree upon completion of the program.
Requirements for a Diploma
Diploma programs offer field-specific classes designed to provide you with the knowledge you need to succeed in the job market. Diploma programs also provide hands-on experience, so you can learn and practice the skills you will be using on a daily basis than just reading about them.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Diploma
A diploma can be good for you if you want to start or change a career in a short period of time. Since Diplomas are often more technical or trade based, they are helpful when wanting to pursue a career such as an electrician or a dental assistant.
Some other advantages to a Diploma include:
- They can be completed in a relatively short amount of time
- They are cost-effective; they cost less than a full-fledged degree
- You don’t have to worry about prerequisites or other complicated enrollment procedures you may find with a degree program
- Class schedules are often flexible as most attendees are working professionals
- Classes are focused on the exact skills you will need in the field
- Diploma programs usually offer some kind of internships or externships, so you can gain practical experience and also network for future job opportunities.
The disadvantage of a diploma is that once you complete the required training and classes, you’ll only have a diploma. One of the differences between a Diploma and an associate’s degree is the general education courses; you’ll be required to take those to receive an associate’s degree, but not when you work toward a diploma.
What Are Some Career Options for a Diploma?
Health care industry is rapidly growing in Australia. You can enroll in a Diploma program like Practical/Vocational Nursing in much less time than it takes to earn a degree. You can play a key role in a medical setting: providing care and medicine for patients and working alongside doctors and other medical personnel.
The career path to becoming a personal fitness trainer is also adequately paved with a Diploma program. Rather than getting a four-year degree in sports medicine or a related major – which may limit where you’d be able to get a job – classes for a Diploma will teach you valuable skills for helping people with their nutrition and exercise regimes in significantly less time and cost for you.
Some other options for Diploma programs include:
- Electrical Technician
- IT Administrator
- Dental Assistant
How Do I Know if an Associate’s, Diploma, or Certificate Is Right for Me?
You can have confusion on which one to choose among associate’s degree, diploma, and certificate for yourself. It is important for you to brainstorm on this topic since your choice of course and career can have a large impact on your life.
- How much time do you have to complete classes? What are your goals as far as program completion? If you’re looking to change to a new career as quickly as possible, a Diploma or certificate may be the best option. If you’re working full time, you’ll also want to be sure you pick a program where classes are offered in the evenings, on the weekends, or online.
- Which field do you like to enter? If you’re looking to enter the field of economics, you may need to complete a degree to get the education you’ll need. However, if you’re interested in being a personal trainer, then a diploma will likely be sufficient.
- Financial Aid Money is not everything, but an important thing. Money may be an important factor for you in determining whether a diploma, or a certificate, or a degree is fit for you. Diploma and certificate take less cost to attain. They can be the more cost-effective option when you’re looking to embark on a new career. Even an associate’s degree may be more cost-efficient and work just as well as a four-year degree, depending on your goals.
- Evaluate your skills and interests It is not good to go for a diploma just because it will save a little more amount in your bank balance. Your interests and skills matter while choosing a career, and so is for the course which prepares you for that career. As with any career, whether you’re looking to enter the job market for the first time or you have an established career and are looking to make a change, your skills play an important part in choosing an education program. Look at whether you are good with administrative duties, are skilled at building things, are good at problem-solving, or if you are interested in working in a specific field like health care. Evaluating your skills and interests can help you pick a program that will work best for you and will lead you to a job you’ll be excited about.
The Conclusion
Four-year degrees are becoming conventional and less sought for in the increasing professional competition globally. However, the choice of your course depends entirely on your goals. The college experience and having the educational foundation a four-year degree provides is certainly a valuable commodity to possess.
For those who are working while attending school, are looking to change career fields, or are wanting to run down their career path as quickly as they can, the traditional four-year degree is certainly not the only option. Thoroughly evaluating all your goals and taking a look at where you plan to be in the future will be critical in determining which option will equip you best for your career.