What Is the Difference Between a Bachelor's and a Degree?

Many of us hear the terms "bachelor's" and "degree" used often, sometimes interchangeably. It can be confusing, but the difference is important.

First, know that a bachelor's is a specific type of degree. A degree is a general term that refers to the recognition you receive from a college or university after completing a course of study. Degrees come in different levels and types. Examples include associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees.

A bachelor's degree is an undergraduate program that usually takes about four years to complete. You can earn a bachelor's degree in many fields, such as arts, science, business, and engineering. Bachelor's degrees are designed to provide a broad understanding of a specific subject along with a well-rounded education in various disciplines.

Why does it matter?

Each type of degree serves different purposes and opens different doors for your career and further education.

Associate Degrees: These are typically two-year programs. Often, they focus on basic knowledge and skills needed for specific careers or as a stepping stone toward a bachelor's degree.
Bachelor's Degrees: These offer more in-depth study and take around four years. They prepare students for a wide range of professional careers or advanced study.
Master's Degrees: These are graduate degrees that usually require one to two additional years after a bachelor's degree. They provide advanced knowledge in a specialized area.
Doctorate Degrees: These are the highest academic degrees, often requiring several years of study and research after a master's degree.

What can you expect from a bachelor's degree program?

Here is what you typically get when you enroll in a bachelor's degree:

General Education: Courses in areas like humanities, social sciences, math, and natural sciences.
Major Coursework: Focused on the specific field you choose to study.
Electives: Additional courses that allow you to explore other interests.

Which degrees are better?

"Better" depends on your goals. If you seek to enter the workforce quickly and have a specific career in mind, an associate degree might be the best. If you aim for more career opportunities, higher earnings, or further education, a bachelor's degree is ideal.

Create your AI Agent

Automate customer interactions in just minutes with your own AI Agent.

Get started for free Chat with AI for fun

Featured posts

Apple Research: LLMs Rely on Complex Pattern Matching

Artificial intelligence has captivated audiences with its ability to generate text, answer questions, and mimic human conversation. Yet, a groundbreaking study from Apple reveals that the capabilities of AI, particularly large language models (LLMs), are not as advanced as many believe. The findings suggest that these models fundamentally lack the ability to reason, raising critical questions about their reliability and future applications.

Understanding Neural Networks: The Brain Behind Chatbots

Neural networks, the cornerstone of modern artificial intelligence, work as the brain for chatbots, enabling them to think, make decisions, and communicate with humans in natural language. But how exactly does a neural network operate, and what makes it so adept at handling complex tasks like human conversation?

What is DSPy and How to Get Started Using It

DSPy is emerging as a game-changer for optimizing language model (LM) prompts and weights in the rapidly evolving field of AI. It stands for Declarative Self-improving Language Programs, pythonically. DSPy simplifies the complex process of integrating and fine-tuning LMs in a pipeline, making it easier to achieve high-quality results with less manual intervention.

Why Downloadable Large Language Models Can Be the Next Big Thing in AI

The arrival of downloadable large language models (LLMs) that run directly on personal devices or local servers is changing how AI can be used. Unlike cloud-based AI services, these local LLMs operate without needing constant internet access, giving users and businesses new levels of control, privacy, and flexibility. This shift opens up fresh opportunities for developers and companies to build smarter, faster, and more customized AI-powered solutions.

Who Is Buying the Most Powerful AI Chips?

AI is on everyone’s mind these days, from tech enthusiasts to major corporations. But who exactly is snapping up the powerful chips that make AI magic happen? These chips, designed to handle complex AI computations, have become one of the hottest commodities in tech. Let’s explore who’s leading the charge and why they’re so keen on getting their hands on these high-performance processors.

Three Methods by Which Machine Learning Analyzes Data

Machine learning is a transformative branch of artificial intelligence that has profoundly impacted various sectors, from healthcare to finance. In essence, it involves training algorithms to recognize patterns, make decisions, and predict outcomes based on input data. The approach used for analysis can significantly affect the performance and suitability of a machine learning model for a particular task. In this article, we will explore three predominant methods by which machine learning algorithms analyze data: supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning.

Why Developers Drive AI Forward

Large language models and the broader AI field don’t grow on their own—they need developers and their communities to push them ahead. These folks aren’t just coding; they’re the heartbeat of progress, turning raw tech into tools we can actually use. Here’s why their involvement matters so much and why we need them to keep dreaming up fresh ideas.

Why You Should Use Native iOS and Google Play SDKs for In-App Payments?

When developing a mobile app that sells digital goods—such as in-game items, virtual currency, eBooks, or premium features—one of the most important decisions you’ll make is how to handle payments. While there are multiple third-party payment solutions available, Apple and Google strongly encourage developers to use their native in-app purchase (IAP) SDKs for digital content. Despite the initial learning curve, using the native iOS (StoreKit) and Google Play Billing SDKs offers major advantages that save time and prevent headaches down the road.

Achieve more with AI

Enhance your customer experience with an AI Agent today. Easy to set up, it seamlessly integrates into your everyday processes, delivering immediate results.

Try for free Get a demo

Latest posts

AskHandle Blog

Ideas, tips, guides, interviews, industry best practices, and news.

Dustin Collins

• May 13, 2025

WebSockets vs REST API for Chat Widgets

ABuilding a chat widget? You’ll need to decide how messages get sent and received—WebSockets or REST API. One is real-time and always connected. The other is request-based and easier to manage.

WebSocketsREST APIAI

Dustin Collins

• May 5, 2025

How Can AI Help Local Tourism?

Tourism is a vital part of many local economies. It brings visitors, creates jobs, and supports small businesses. Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a tool that can help boost local tourism in many ways. This article will explain how AI can make a difference for tourist destinations and improve visitors’ experiences.

TourismChatbotAI

Nicole Davids

• June 19, 2024

What is Personalized AI? Making AI Work for You

Personalized AI is AI that can be customized for specific use for each business. You can let the AI work for your specific use case and learn from your knowledge. Unlike generic AI systems that provide the same response to everyone, personalized AI learns from your interactions, adapts to your behavior, and delivers customized experiences. This makes technology more intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable to use.

Personalized AICustomer ServiceRetailAI

View all posts