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bachelor's degree

bachelor's degree

34 2.7
A degree you get after finishing three to four years of study at a university or college
  • noun
  • /ˈbætʃələrz dɪˈɡri/
translation icon : título de grado
  • After four years of hard work, he finally received his bachelor's degree in business administration.
  • earn a bachelor's degree
  • complete a bachelor's degree
  • bachelor's degree or higher

Examples

  • The other teacher is female with a bachelor's degree and was in her first year of teaching.

    Academic text (2013)
  • In fact, his career in folklore began even before he completed his bachelor's degree.

    Academic text (2013)
  • And then when I was 18, I got my bachelor's degree.

  • I got my bachelor's degree.

  • I have a bachelor's degree in mathematics and physical science.

  • Seems he just graduated with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.

  • Six percent of HAs have a bachelor's degree compared to 7% of AAs.

    Academic text (2008)
  • All of the teachers had bachelor's degrees and master's degrees in education.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Mr. Hurt earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 1947.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Dr. Reddy received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at Osmania University in Hyderabad, India, in 1968.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

degree
vsbachelor's degree
565 2.3

A qualification given by a college or university after you finish study

is the particular type of academic qualification awarded at undergraduate level
BA
vsbachelor's degree
24 3.5

A first university degree in subjects like history or languages

is the full named undergraduate qualification rather than its abbreviation
BS
vsbachelor's degree
  • US
9 3.6

A first university degree in science or similar subjects usually lasting three to four years

is the general undergraduate qualification term, not the field-specific short form
AB
vsbachelor's degree
  • Specialized
4 4.6

A university degree for studying arts subjects like history or languages

is the long form naming the undergraduate qualification rather than an abbreviation
Bachelor of Science
vsbachelor's degree
4 3.4

A first university degree in science subjects that usually takes three to five years

is the wider undergraduate qualification category across many disciplines
baccalaureate
vsbachelor's degree
3 8.4

A first degree given by a college or university after finishing studies

is the same undergraduate qualification described in general terms
Bachelor of Arts
vsbachelor's degree
2 3.8

A first university degree in subjects like languages, history, and social sciences

is the general undergraduate qualification across all subject areas
academic degree
vsbachelor's degree
1 3.2

A certificate from a college or university that shows someone finished a course of study

is specifically the undergraduate level of that kind of academic qualification
BLS
vsbachelor's degree
  • Specialized
1 6.1

A university degree taken after high school in subjects like library science or liberal studies

is the full named undergraduate qualification rather than its shortened label
Bachelor of Music
vsbachelor's degree
1 3.7

A degree in music from a university after three or four years

is the overall undergraduate qualification concept not limited to music
baccalauréat
vsbachelor's degree
  • Archaic
9.9

A medieval university degree like a modern bachelor's degree

is the current, modern form of that undergraduate qualification
Bachelor of Arts in Nursing
vsbachelor's degree
4.1

A university degree in nursing that combines arts and science subjects

is the general undergraduate qualification category beyond any single profession
4.1

A university degree for students who study engineering

is the general undergraduate qualification not limited to technical fields
4.2

A first university degree about designing and planning buildings

is the broad undergraduate qualification concept beyond one discipline
Bachelor of Laws
vsbachelor's degree
  • UK
5.3

A first degree in law earned at university

is the general undergraduate qualification, not restricted to legal study
Bachelor of Literature
vsbachelor's degree
5.2

A first university degree in the study of literature

is the overall undergraduate qualification category across subjects
Bachelor of Divinity
vsbachelor's degree
  • UK
6.5

A first university degree in religious study for people training as Christian ministers

is the general undergraduate qualification not limited to theology
Bachelor of Medicine
vsbachelor's degree
  • UK
4.8

A first university degree in medicine that lets someone become a doctor

is the common undergraduate qualification term, not the profession-specific title
Bachelor of Theology
vsbachelor's degree
6.2

A first university degree in the study of religion

is the broader undergraduate qualification term beyond religious fields
honours degree
vsbachelor's degree
  • UK
4.0

A university qualification that universities give for better results and extra study

is the standard undergraduate qualification without the extra achievement distinction

How Advanced

doctorate
  • Specialized
58 7.0
bachelor's degree
34 2.7
associate degree
  • US
3 3.2
diploma
149 2.8
certificate
307 2.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

bachelor's + degree

The meaning is compositionally derived: 'bachelor's' marks the level/type (bachelor level) and 'degree' names an academic qualification, so together they indicate an academic qualification at the bachelor level. The possessive construction and this lexical combination are common cross-linguistically, making the sense predictable to a learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

Bachelor's degree comes from old universities long ago. Back then a bachelor was a young or junior student who had finished the first 'step' of study, and a degree meant a 'step' or level of learning. So today a bachelor's degree still means the first full university degree someone earns.