Graduate Vs. Undergraduate Programs

When it comes to higher education, there are several common degree options. The major distinction is between graduate as compared to undergraduate programs. Undergraduate programs are for students who have not yet graduated from a college or university, while graduate programs are advanced degrees for those who have. However, many schools have accelerated combination programs for students who know they want to pursue advanced degrees.

The Difference

Undergraduate programs are the most common type of college program. Students with high school diplomas are eligible to apply for undergraduate programs, that can focus on a wide variety of subjects, but generally take about four years to finish.
Graduate programs are usually only open to students who have already completed an undergraduate program. They may take anywhere from one year to more than five years to finish, and are almost always tightly focused on a particular career or area of study.

Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate programs are generally easier to get into than graduate programs. They require less experience and are often less competitive. An undergraduate college degree involves an overview of many different subjects as well as some focus in a major area, and is very useful for many different types of entry-level jobs. Also, there is usually more financial aid available to undergraduate students.

Graduate Programs

Graduate programs can be useful for several reasons. Some careers, such as medicine or teaching at the college level, require specialized advanced training. In other cases, college graduates may work for several years and then decide to get a graduate degree to be eligible for promotion in their line of work. Shorter graduate programs are sometimes designed to help students who already have a general college degree get qualified to work in a different field.
Graduate programs require a lot of hard work and initiative. While undergraduate students must write papers, graduate students generally write a very long thesis, which often requires a year or more of independent research. Other graduate programs involve supervised work experience in the field.

Types of Graduate Programs

There are two major types of graduate programs, called master's programs and doctoral programs. Master's degrees generally take from one to three years to complete, while doctoral programs can take even longer. Also, most doctoral programs require entering students to have a relevant master's degree already.
In some cases students can register for a program that results in a master's and a doctoral degree (M.A. and Ph.D). Similarly, some colleges offer accelerated five year programs in certain subjects that lead to both an undergraduate degree and a master's degree. These programs are an excellent and relatively affordable option for students who know they want to pursue advanced studies, as long as they are prepared to accept a heavy workload.

Considerations

If you want to go to college for the first time, an undergraduate degree is definitely for you. If you're sure you'll want to continue with a graduate program, look into accelerated combination programs now.
On the other hand, if you have an undergraduate degree and you're not sure whether to get a graduate degree or not, the two most important considerations are the requirements in your line of work (or the type of work you would like to do) and whether you can afford graduate school, which is often even more expensive than college.