Bachelors Degree Programs Key Terms

Know key terms so you can avoid bogus bachelor's degree programs

By Michele Vrouvas

The bachelor’s degree is given by a college or university in the United States. Within the last two decades, bachelor’s degree programs have undergone major changes, the most obvious one being that some schools allow students to pursue their degrees online without attending in-class instruction. Growing demand has given rise to bogus schemes where counterfeit companies promise a bachelor’s degree to anyone that can produce a credit card. Know the ins and outs of bachelor’s degree programs to avoid these scams and find the program that’s right for you.

Online bachelor's degree programs

Online bachelor's degree programs have become popular among business professionals and working adults.
Try: Get a better understanding of online bachelor’s degree programs at Merit. Find out the required number of credits you must accumulate and the classes required for the two types of bachelor’s degrees, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts.

Bachelor degree standards

Before colleges will award this degree, students have the burden to prove that they've met the degree standards in their particular fields.
Try: Worldwidelearn.com explains the standards for receiving a bachelors degree.

Bogus online degree programs

Watch out for bogus online degree programs promising bachelor's degrees in a matter of weeks or months.
Try: The comprehensive discussion of bogus online degree programs at Street Directory explains how to spot one of these scams. Find out why it’s important to determine whether the bachelor’s degree program is from an accredited institution and how a school’s admission criteria can also be a red flag that the program is bogus.

Diploma mills

Diploma mills are counterfeit operations that promise you a bachelor's degree.
Try: At Counterfeit Degrees you’ll learn how prevalent diploma mills are, especially online. You’ll also find out how to tell if a school is a front for a diploma mill by simply checking out the address.

Specialized vocation school bachelor's degree programs

Some bachelor's degree programs are available at specialized vocation schools.
Try: Read what USA Study Guide has to say about these specialized degree programs. You can get a bachelor’s degree in design, fashion or even music by attending one of the schools identified on this site.

Business bachelor degrees

Once you've completed the liberal arts requirements for a bachelor's degree, you can pursue a specialized degree, such as a business bachelors degree.
Try: Go to Earn My Degree for a listing of the different kinds of business bachelors degrees most colleges and universities will provide. Click on one of the links to find out which schools offer bachelors degrees in fields like business accounting or business communications. Also learn what the general requirements are.