ll those degrees can be quite confusing. Here is a breakdown of the different degrees and what they mean.

The following degrees are obtained from colleges and universities: An award conferred by a college, university, or some other educational institution as official recognition for the successful completion of an academic or vocational program. The standard degree awarded by two-year colleges and institutes that normally requires at least two but less than four years of full-time equivalent college work. The associate?s degree prepares graduates for the workforce or for progression toward a bachelor?s degree. The traditional degree given by American colleges and universities. It normally requires at least four years but not more than five years of full-time equivalent college-level work. The bachelor?s degree prepares graduates for entrance into the workforce or for progression toward a higher degree or certification. A post-bachelor?s degree programme that requires completion of a programme of study of at least the full-time equivalent of one academic year but not more than two academic years of work. The best known degrees are Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MS), but there is a huge variety of others (in most industry fields). Some master?s degrees are designed to lead to an eventual doctoral degree. Many other master?s candidates are in professional programs, preparing for a special kind of work, such as the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Social Work (MSW), or the Master of Architecture (MArch). The highest degree you can earn for graduate study. The doctoral degree classification includes such degrees as Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Public Health, Doctor of Nursing Science (D. NSc.), Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in any field (agronomy, arts, business, food technology, education, engineering, humanities, public administration, ophthalmology, radiology, sciences, etc.). A focused and professionally oriented programme of study that requires completion of additional credit hours beyond the bachelor?s degree. These programs are designed for persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of master?s degree programmes. Examples include refresher courses or additional units of study in a speciality or subspecialty. A focused programme of study that requires completion of additional credit hours beyond the master?s degree but does not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level. Examples include refresher courses or additional units of study in a speciality or subspecialty. An earned degree in one of the following fields: chiropractic (DC, DCM), dentistry (DDS, DMD), medicine (MD), optometry (OD), osteopathic medicine (DO), pharmacy (Pharm.D), podiatry (PodD, DP, DPM); divinity/ministry (BD, MDiv), law (LLB, JD), rabbinical and Talmudic studies (MHL, Rav); or veterinary medicine (DVM).

Meanwhile, there are certifications you can obtain from other programmes: A document that certifies that you have met a certain standard in educational degree, continuing education, experience, and testing. Certifications vary by type and industry. Many professions (such as account and teaching) require ongoing certification while many technical-vocational fields require certifications based on a set of core courses (and often not requiring a college degree).

ere is a list of degrees and their abbreviations: - Associate of Arts - Associate in Allied Health - Associate of Arts in Nursing - Associate in Applied Science - Associate of Applied Technology - Associate in Business - Associate Degree - Associate Degree in Nursing - Associate in Medical Science - Associate of Science - Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene - Associate of Science in Nursing - or A.B. - Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Applied Science - Bachelor of Health Science - Bachelor of Medical Science - Bachelor of Science - Bachelor of Science in Engineering - Bachelor of Science in Education - Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health - Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences - Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Bachelor of Social Work - Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetist - Doctor of Chiropractic - Doctor of Dental Surgery - Doctor of Dental Medicine - Doctor of Nursing Science - Doctor of Osteopathy - Doctor of Podiatric Medicine - Doctor of Physical Therapy - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine - Doctor of Education - Education Specialist - Master of Business Administration/Master of Health Administration - Master of Business Administration/Master of Public Health - Doctor of Medicine - Doctor of Medicine/Master of Public Health - Doctor of Medicine/Doctor of Philosophy - Master of Education - Master of Health Administration - Master of Health Education - Master of Health Science - Master of Health Services Administration - Master of Medical Science - Master of Nursing - Master of Nursing/Master of Public Health

- Master of Nursing/Master of Business Administration - Master of Pharmacy Administration - Master of Public Administration - Master of Public Health - Master of Physical Therapy - Master of Rehabilitative Counselling - Master of Science - Master of Science in Engineering - Master of Science in Environmental Health - Master of Science in Health Administration - Master of Science in Health Systems - Master of Science in Library Science - Master of Science in Nursing - Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration

- Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Public Health - Master of Social Work - Doctor of Philosophy - Doctor of Pharmacy - Doctor of Pharmacy/Master of Business Administration - Doctor of Pharmacy/Doctor of Philosophy

- Doctor of Philosophy