Degree Type Definition Apprenticeship A combination of on the job training with formal related instruction which leads to recognized journeyman status. A minimum of 144 related hours per year is normally considered necessary. Certificate of Completion Certificates of completion are awarded for short-course preparation of one to two years where no associates degree is awarded. No distinction is made between certificates and diplomas. Certificate programs usually consist of a group of specialized courses. Certificate of Proficiency A certificate program, less than one year, that prepares students for employment, often in high demand jobs. Terminal Associates Degrees Associates of Applied Science (AAS) degrees are two-year degrees in a specific subject that prepare students for employment. Transfer Associates Degrees Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degrees are designed for students who plan to complete their first two years of college work at a community college, then transfer as juniors to a four-year institution to pursue a bachelor's degree. These degrees are often called "transfer" degrees. They lay the foundation for further study in a baccalaureate degree program. General education is an integral part of associate degree programs. Students who earn an AA or AS at a USHE institution degree have fulfilled the lower division general education requirements at all Utah public colleges and universities. Transfer associates degree programs also allow students to explore a range of subjects in preparation for a particular major. With planning, students should be able to complete, within the transfer associates degree program, general education and other graduation requirements as well as required prerequisites for upper level course work in their intended major. NOTE: Major prerequisites for a bachelor's degree are determined by the bachelor degree-granting institution, not the two-year institution. Check with an advisor or transfer specialist at the four-year institution for specific transfer and articulation information. Baccalaureate Includes Bachelors of Arts (BA), Bachelors of Science (BS), and Bachelors of Interdisciplinary or Integrated Studies (BIS). Baccalaureate degrees are four-year degrees. Students may start their studies at a community college and transfer to a four-year institution or start at a four-year institution. Like the transfer associates degrees, a bachelors degree includes a required set of general education courses and a sequence of academic or technology-related courses. Degree programs require a longer time commitment to complete than do certificate programs but often provide greater lifelong employment opportunities. Masters Includes Masters of Arts (MA) and Masters of Science (MS) and discipline-specific degrees such as Masters of Education (MEd). A masters degree is a post-baccalaureate degree. Doctorate Includes Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and discipline-specific degrees such as Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Education (EdD). Officer Commission Includes officer commission programs for Army, Air Force, and Naval ROTC programs.