Post Secondary Education

In most countries a certain amount of schooling is mandatory to provide citizens with at least some form of broad-based education. This education covers a diverse range of subjects which include languages, maths, science, history and literature. The aim is to provide basic survival knowledge and to prepare students for the working world.

In the US, schooling is compulsory and required by law until the age of 16 or until a certificate of completion is obtained. 

Post-secondary or tertiary education, also referred to as third-stage, third level education, or higher education, is the education level which is not compulsory for the citizens to adopt. It comprises of the educational degree programs offered after the completion of the secondary education level. It is also referred to as tertiary education, which normally includes undergraduate and postgraduate education, as well as vocational education and training. 

Although post-secondary education is optional, it has become a pre-requisite for most forms of employment. It is taken up by those who want to obtain a degree, learn a specific trade, to study their desired subject further or simply to gain scholarly knowledge about a particular subject. 

The concept of higher education involves different things like teaching, research and social services activities of universities, and within the realm of teaching, it includes both the undergraduate level and the graduate (or postgraduate) level. In the United Kingdom post-secondary education below the level of higher education is referred to as further education. Higher education in that country generally involves work towards a degree-level or foundation degree qualification. 

United Kingdom has a different higher education structure like higher general education and higher vocational education. If we look at the higher education in the United States, then it specifically refers to post-secondary institutions that offer associate degrees, baccalaureate degrees, master's degrees or Ph.D. degrees or equivalents. Such institutions may offer non-degree certificates which indicate completion of a set of courses comprising some body of knowledge, but the granting of such certificates is not the primary purpose of the institution. 

It is a global phenomenon that higher education and training generally takes place at a university or college. The education is based on theories and it has a wider difference than the vocational education in theory and practice. Higher education has quite a different structure from the post-secondary education such as that offered by institutions of vocational education. Higher vocational education might be considered as the research in the scientific field, which might concentrate on theory and abstract conceptual knowledge. A Vocational university is an institution of higher education and sometime research, which grants Professional degrees like Professional Bachelor's degree, Professional Master's degree and Professional doctorates in a variety of subjects. 

In a traditional manner it is important for a candidate to have a doctorate degree in the academic field. Universities have a fair amount of employees and new vacancies are continuously forming in the sector. In an ideal situation for any research university it is highly pleasing to see all the teaching staff being actively involved in the research, reporting and the formulation of new theories and discoveries

How Long Does It Take to Complete Post Secondary Education?

Many schools in the United States are offering post secondary education such as Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral degrees, along with Post Secondary Diplomas and Certificates. The standard undergraduate programs can be completed within 4 years, the post graduate Masters degrees can be completed within 2 years, and the doctoral programs can be completed in 4-5 years. Certificate programs and Diploma courses can take anywhere between 6 to 12 months to complete.

What Are the Requirements to Complete Post Secondary Education?

Students are required to complete around 120-132 credits in order to obtain an undergraduate degree. These degrees could include a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A), or Bachelor of Design (B.Des.). Those who are enrolled in a post graduate degree, such as Master of Science (M.Sc.), Master of Arts (M.A), or a Master of Business Administration (MBA), have to complete around 36-48 credits.

How Much Can I Make after Completing Post Secondary Education?

Higher education is one of the most important investments that individuals make. It has been reported that those who have completed post secondary education have better career prospects, higher earning potential, higher job stability, and a better quality of life. However, how much an individual earns after graduating depends upon several factors, such as their aptitude, field of study, and choice of college.

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Source: bls.gov