Post-secondary education is also known as tertiary or higher education. Since often the choice is complex and the information might be too much, it is best to consult a brief guide before deciding.
Post-secondary education is the type of education that people can attend once completing primary and secondary education. While the first two education steps are mandatory until the age of eighteen, tertiary education is not.
Whether or not to proceed with tertiary education is everyone’s free choice. People usually choose to continue their studies for better career options such as higher positions or salaries. Higher education leads towards a degree and includes both graduate- as well as undergraduate degrees.
Whether or not you’re going to choose to go to a college, you should know that ACS – ASOMI College of Sciences is a higher education institution that promotes innovation in education throughout the world and has fully online as well as blended courses. Its innovative sides status in the fact that to attend ACS College means to continue your educational path in a niche area as well as to make an internship that will give you future opportunities in the labor market.
Continuing education
There are, however, post-secondary study programs where no certification with a degree is released: these programs are certificate programs or community colleges. The latter two are commonly known as continuing education. As the name suggests, access to post-secondary education is gained only with a secondary education certificate.
Besides, a diploma in secondary education indicates that the student graduated high school or its equivalent. It must be said that, after turning eighteen, a lot of students choose to quit or drop out of high school. However, it is often not the best choice, considering that it excludes several job opportunities. Additionally, if one would like to retake up studying, they would have to earn their secondary degree diploma.
Vocational schools
Higher education has, however, many options. The first ones to mention are vocational schools, also known as tech or trade schools. These schools are meant for learners who need to study the technical side or skills for a specific job. While some vocational schools might be specialized in particular industries, the majority base their teaching on apprenticeships and internships.
What is more, while vocational schools are more practical, universities and colleges are more theoretical, as the latter base their academic rather than hands-on knowledge. But it is still possible to combine the academic knowledge with the practical one by gaining a college degree and a vocational school diploma. This kind of post-secondary school is known worldwide, in Northern America and Europe, where they play an essential role in German-speaking countries (but not only).
Community colleges
Community colleges represent another option for post-secondary education. They are commonly found in Northern America, precisely in Canada and the United States, even if higher education institutions with similar functions can also be found elsewhere.
Typically, community colleges are called junior colleges or two-year colleges, and they release associate degrees. They last only for half of their university or college equivalents of classical undergraduate or Bachelor’s degrees because they teach their students general education requirements.
A graduate with an associate degree can choose whether to work or continue their studies at the university or college for another two years by earning a bachelor’s degree. Some community colleges offer non-degree certifications and vocational courses too.
When it comes to non-degree certifications, it has to be mentioned that these kinds of certificates are usually earned by those who want to enrich their CV and gain more professional and personal skills. For these programs, certification is released, but they do not provide their students with a degree.
Universities and colleges
Usually, universities and colleges are the most widespread choice among the students who choose to continue their studies after graduating high school. Moreover, universities and colleges typically follow the Bologna Process. The Bachelor’s, also known as the undergraduate degree, is the first step after the second degree and the first part of the Bologna Process.
The Master’s or the graduate degree is the second one. A master’s degree is usually a specialization of a bachelor degree. Of course, a master’s gives its graduates higher salaries and more opportunities in the job market than the Bachelor.
In some cases, the Master’s is the minimum requirement for accessing specific jobs. For example, if one wants to become a lawyer, they first have to get a bachelor’s, and then proceed with a specialization in their discipline and earn a master’s at a law school.
Finally, the third and the last step in Bologna Process foresees the Doctorate or PhD. The latter is about a research project with a tutor and is recommended if the student is very passionate about their subject and wants to work in the academy or industry research areas.
