Certificate: Awarded for completion of an assigned course of study for a specific skill area that focuses on an occupation that requires fewer credit hours than a diploma program.

Diploma: Awarded for completion of a program that leads to specific employment skills and usually takes one to two years but requires fewer credit hours than an associate degree.

Associate degree: Awarded for completion of a program of instruction that usually requires at least two but less than four years of full-time college level work. These programs may include general education requirments such as English and mathematics and are intended as transfer and for job entry.

[ Top of Page ] Bachelors degree: Awarded for completion of a program of instruction that usually requires at least four years full-time academic work at a four-year college or university and includes general educational requirements.

Masters degree: Awarded for completion of a program of instruction beyond the bachelors degree that usually requires a minimum of one year of academic work.

Doctorate degree: Awarded for completion of a program of instruction beyond the masters degree that usually requires at least three years of full-time academic work and completion of a special research study. The degree is the highest academic degree awarded in a given discipline or profession.

Transfer: A program which requires a transfer to another educational institution before a degree can be earned. Usually programs in community colleges are coordinated with programs in four-year schools so that the colleges and universities will accept the credits from the community college. Each four-year college or university determines which programs will transfer to that institution.

[ Top of Page ] Financial aid: For those students and families who cannot afford to pay the entire cost of a education after high school, money is available in three forms:

1. Scholarships or grants: awards that you do not have to repay
2. Loans: borrowed money that must be repaid with interest, usually after your education is completed
3. Work-study programs: jobs either on or off a college campus

On-the-Job training: Training provided by the employer-- or learning by helping and observing more experienced workers while on the job.

[ Top of Page ] Apprenticeship: A combination of on-the-job training with classroom instruction in programs sponsored by employers, government programs, and labor unions.

School-to-Work: A program in which high school students make a gradual transition from school to work. Students move along a school- and work-based path which is tailored to meet their individual needs, interests, academic abilities, and skill levels. Nebraska School-to-Work begins with career information and provides opportunities to help you gain the knowledge needed to make career choices by joining with business partners offering job shadowing, mentoring, internships, paid and unpaid work experience.

Entry-level job: Training is often provided by the employer for this beginning-level position. Entry-level salaries are usually based on previous training and experience.

Internship: Often required before students enter the workforce, an internship provides supervised job training in the workplace. This work experience can be both paid and unpaid.

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