College major - Definition and Overview

An academic major is a general scholarly pursuit in a specific area of study which often yields, at the end of a tenure usually of four years, a bachelor's degree. It typically implies an emphasis on a particular field within a broader liberal education. Following this receipt, a student then either enters the job market or continues his/her academic pursuit of a master's degree. The master's degree often signifies a proficiency in a given field and follows over into the working world. Research may or may not be the primary pursuit of the holder of a master's degree, but usually is the status quo of "practical application". A doctorate is usually pursued by those who desire a permanent placing in either academia or other scholarly pursuit such as research. However, practical experience is often gained from the "real world", with a breaking period between any of the three degrees. This follows with the recently more common understanding of learning as a lifelong endeavour.

See also

• British bachelor's degree classification

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