Subbaccalaureate awards less than 1 year - a program of study that is completed in more than 350 but less than 900 contact hours.

Subbaccalaureate awards at least 1 but less than 2 years - a program of study that is completed in at least 900 but less than 1,800 contact hours (or at least 30 credits but less than 60 credit hours).

Subbaccalaureate awards at least 2 but less than 4 years - a program of study that is completed in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact hours (or at least 60 credits but less than 120 credit hours).

Associate's Degree - an award that normally requires at least 2 but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college-level work.

Bachelor's Degree - An award (baccalaureate) that normally requires at least 4 but not more than 5 years of full-time equivalent college-level work. Also includes bachelor's degrees in which the normal 4 years of work are completed in 3 years.

Post-baccalaureate Certificate - an award that requires completion of an organized program of study requiring 18 credit hours beyond the bachelor's; designed for persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree, but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of master.

Master's Degree - an award that requires the successful completion of a program of study of at least the full-time equivalent of 1 but not more than 2 academic years of work beyond the bachelor's degree.

Post-Master's Certificate - an award that requires completion of an organized program of study of 24 credit hours beyond the master's degree, but does not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctor's level.

Doctorate Degree - the highest award a student can earn for graduate study. The doctor's degree classification includes such degrees as Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Juridical Science (J.D.), Doctor of Public Health (D.P.H.), and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).

First Professional - an award that requires completion of a program that is necessary to practice in the profession; at least 2 years of college work prior to entering the program; and a total of at least 6 academic years of college work to complete the program. First professional degrees may be awarded in the following 10 fields:

• Chiropractic
• Dentistry
• Law
• Medicine
• Optometry
• Osteopathic Medicine
• Pharmacy
• Podiatry
• Theology
• Veterinary Medicine