A baccalaureate degree is an academic degree given by traditional universities and colleges following completion of a program of study lasting about three to seven months. In United States, the first baccalaureate degree was offered in 1911 at the College of Saint Benilde in Morocco. The baccalaureate degree has its roots in Italy and is a deviation from the standard Bachelor of Arts degree program which emphasizes research.
At present, the baccalaureate degree is earning increasing popularity as an alternative to the conventional Bachelor of Science degree. For most of the post-secondary institutions, a baccalaureate degree is offered alongside other diploma programs. In most cases, baccalaureate degree programs are designed to cover subjects such as communication, social science, psychology, and sociology. In some cases, these programs have strong links to specific disciplines such as business administration, teaching, and criminal justice.
Most of the time, a baccalaureate degree takes one year to complete. Upon graduation, students must pass a series of examinations to qualify for graduation. Some universities also require an internship in their campus. If the students fulfill the prerequisites, they can enroll without a degree. However, most baccalaureate degrees require an associate’s degree from an accredited university or college. This ensures that the graduates have a strong foundation in scientific discipline learned during the course of their studies.
Most people who enroll for baccalaureate degrees are those who plan on majoring in psychology, human services, or any other related academic fields. Those who are interested in this type of study to choose the appropriate major and pursue the degree. Baccalaureate programs have helped many enterprising individuals achieve success in different fields.
The University of Michigan has a baccalaureate degree program for psychology. It enables students to specialize in either human services or counseling. Students also have the option to major in another discipline if they wish. This baccalaureate degree proves to be useful not only in the field of psychology but in other areas as well.
There are also a number of institutions that offer baccalaureate degrees in teaching. These programs prove to be helpful for professionals who want to specialize in elementary or secondary education. The programs also enable students to become teachers in kindergarten, K-12, and higher education institutions. A baccalaureate degree in teaching enables the students to apply theory and instructional practices to real-life situations. As part of the program, students acquire teaching skills, develop classroom management skills, and learn how to lead a team.
The University of Florida offers a baccalaureate degree in International Business. It offers both the Bachelor of Arts in International Business and the Master of Science in International Business. Both these baccalaureate degree programs provide a strong foundation in accounting, economics, finance, statistics, risk management, international business leadership, global leadership, marketing, international marketing, and strategic management. In addition, students can opt to take other programs such as the Masters in Global Business Administration, Master of Education in Global Business and several certificate programs such as the Certificate in Global Leadership and Certificate in Global Management.
Some universities also offer baccalaureate programs in nursing. Students can choose from two to four years of a baccalaureate program in nursing. These programs help students to prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam and to become RNs. They include a study of general nursing knowledge, nursing concepts and principles, nutrition, biology, patient safety, pharmacology, anatomy, medical ethics, and human relations.
At the University of California – Los Angeles, there is a baccalaureate in Computational Biology. This baccalaureate degree provides preparation for the computer science portion of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACE). Students will be given opportunities to participate in NACE courses and to carry out research projects, as well as internships. After graduation, students must pass the NCLEX-RN test to be eligible for licensing as a nurse.
There are also baccalaureate degrees at San Francisco State University that focus on environmental studies. Students will learn about the management of resources in environmentally sensitive environments. They will also gain experience in ecological systems, planning, decision making, and sustainable environmental management. Students can choose to take a two-year baccalaureate program or a four-year program. In the two-year program, students learn mathematics and business skills; however, in the four-year program, they learn scientific and engineering principles and apply them to various real world settings.
Other schools also offer baccalaureate degree programs, but it is best to check with each school to see if they offer such courses. The requirements to complete a baccalaureate degree vary greatly from one school to the next. It is best to contact the schools you are considering to find out if your program needs any additional requirements.