A bachelor's degree differs from an applied bachelor's degree. What is an applied and academic bachelor's degree?

According to current legislation, there are several levels higher education:

graduate school;
master's degree;
Academic and applied bachelor's degree.

What's the difference?

In accordance with the federal state standards of higher education, which came into force in September 2014, a bachelor now has the opportunity to obtain the qualification of an academic or applied bachelor. Thus, in addition to the until recently traditional academic qualification, the so-called applied bachelor’s degree has also appeared, and therefore many people to this day do not know what this qualification is and what the main differences between them are.

Features of the academic form of education

Until recently, many doubted that by enrolling in the “bachelor’s” form of study, one could, in principle, obtain the higher education diploma of interest. Today, many are already asking another question: “What to choose - an academic bachelor’s degree or an applied bachelor’s degree?” But first of all, it’s worth considering why it exists at all. this form training.

Story

A bachelor's degree is a form of higher education that has traditionally existed in Europe, as well as the United States and other developed countries. In the advanced countries of Asia, it was adopted only at the end of the last century, while Russia decided to join the Bologna Convention, as well as undertake obligations for a complete transition to this education system in 2003. It is for this reason that since 2011, the more traditional “specialty” type of education for our country has practically been replaced by a new one, and the list of professions where it remains is constantly shrinking.

Concept

The question itself of what an applied bachelor's degree means began to appear relatively recently, when in 2009 a decree was issued to begin an experiment aimed at creating a similar form of training in various educational institutions.

This form of training has a base in the form of various educational programs of higher education, which are focused primarily on obtaining extremely serious theoretical training in combination with secondary education programs special education, aimed at providing students with practical skills directly in production. However, since 2014, with the introduction of a new form of education, many have wondered what applied and academic bachelor's degree.

Who is a Bachelor?

A bachelor is a graduate of a university with a wide profile, that is, he is provided with a complete base of all the skills and knowledge that a person with a higher education should have, including both fundamental training and various humanities disciplines.

However, some highly specialized subjects taught to specialists exclusively in the fifth year will not be studied by the bachelor at all, because he can already acquire all these skills and knowledge directly at the enterprise, that is, by working in a specific position. It is no secret that the specific training that is offered in senior courses at modern universities often does not meet the demands put forward by employers, as a result of which in the vast majority of cases it is necessary to conduct repeated training on new equipment or technological lines. From this point of view, there is a difference between applied and academic bachelor's degrees, because in the first case much more practical knowledge is provided to each student.

Having said that, in keeping with the basic meaning of the academic form, sometimes it is better to get general training and thoroughly master the basics before starting to work.

How does this help in the future?

Bachelors who have good fundamental training behind them can successfully work in almost any engineering or economic field, as a result of which they already receive a narrower specialized education in accordance with the needs of a particular enterprise or organization.

The new level training system present in modern universities allows each person to choose the most optimal personal educational trajectory for him in accordance with his own life situation, as well as intellectual and financial capabilities or certain professional interests. Do not forget that after a person receives a diploma of higher education and also acquires a bachelor’s qualification, he has the opportunity to continue his studies in a master’s program.

How does it work?

In accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Science and Education, more than 50% of the total labor intensity educational program in this case, they consist exclusively of practical classes, which is significantly more compared to how the academic bachelor’s program is conducted. In connection with this fact, it is definitely impossible to say which is better - an applied or academic bachelor's degree, since they have their pros and cons.

The focus on practice in this case is further expressed in the fact that bachelors are prepared for certain enterprises in certain industries, as a result of which the wishes of specific employers will also be taken into account in the process of drawing up and further implementation of the educational program. The program, used in applied bachelor's degrees, has a standard completion period of four years, during which students are provided with professional training, practice-oriented and typical for various educational institutions of secondary specialized education. At the same time, professional theoretical training is also provided, for which the academic bachelor's degree is famous. Thus, when considering which is better - an applied or academic bachelor's degree, it is first of all worth starting from the student's goals, as well as the field of activity that interests him.

Why is this necessary?

Some professions have become much more complex over the past few years, and if previously it was customary to require only technical skills from mid-level specialists, in our time it is also necessary to have a significant theoretical base. In the vast majority of cases, all kinds of colleges or technical schools do not provide the opportunity to provide training for specialists at this level, while university graduates who have received a good academic base for several years have little experience in real production conditions. That is why, when thinking about what is better - a bachelor's degree or an applied bachelor's degree, many choose the second option, since it was introduced as a new qualitative level of current higher education.

It was created with the aim of combining the efforts of secondary vocational and higher schools, adopting only the most important forms of theoretical and practical training. We continue to consider applied bachelor's and bachelor's degrees. Their differences lie in the fact that in the applied form, along with a diploma of higher education, the student receives the maximum skills and knowledge that are required to start working in their specialty without the need for any additional internships.

How does this happen?

In the same way as in the case of the standard form of education, after the training, the graduate is provided with a diploma and qualification “bachelor”. In what other ways are applied bachelor's and bachelor's degrees different? Their differences lie in the fact that in the applied form the student is provided with a certain qualification category in any specific or several different professions.

Thus, an applied bachelor is a specialized educational qualification granted to those students who have fully completed a higher education program at undergraduate level. At the same time, understanding what is better - a bachelor's degree or an applied bachelor's degree, one cannot help but note that in the applied form, after graduation, the student has the competence to solve all kinds of technological problems in different socio-economic spheres, and can begin professional activity immediately after that when he finishes his studies. The only difference in this case is the much larger volume practical training, in connection with which the student is given the qualifications of a worker or a certain position of an employee in his chosen profile.

What are the advantages?

To this day, many people do not understand what a bachelor’s degree and an applied bachelor’s degree are. The difference between them was described above, and then the advantages of the applied form should be considered.

Of course, the main advantage is that it provides training for highly qualified specialists, focused primarily on practice. It is expected that those students who can complete the four-year program of study in this form will ultimately be good practitioners with good theoretical training, corresponding to higher education, and that is why many people think about what to choose - an academic bachelor's degree or an applied bachelor's degree.

It is these specialists that all employers today are interested in and actively participate in the development process. curricula. This also distinguishes between bachelor's and applied bachelor's degrees. The difference between these forms can also be expressed in the fact that in the latter case the specialist is trained for a specific workplace on in-demand technologies and is almost guaranteed to find employment immediately after graduation.

Thus, for a particular employer, the presence of such a form of training is extremely important if he is ready to take part in the training of specialists, knows which employees he needs at the moment, and which ones he may need in the long term.

What about science?

First of all, researchers often think about how an applied bachelor’s degree differs from a bachelor’s degree. In this case, the possibility of further education is also provided, that is, if desired, the graduate can subsequently enroll in a master's program. However, the main difference from this point of view is that an applied worker must first of all go to the production for which he was prepared, and not to science.

Other differences

It is also worth noting several other facts about how an applied bachelor’s degree differs from a bachelor’s degree. The applied form of education completely eliminates the social gap that has formed between working professions, as well as the increased level of education inherent in graduates of higher educational institutions. social status. Approximately by 2018, more than 30% of university students will be enrolled in applied bachelor’s degree programs, and at the same time, about 50% of secondary specialized education programs existing today can be transformed into them.

What does an applied bachelor's degree mean for a modern student? This is an excellent prospect for students who intend to work in applied fields in the future.

Bachelor's degree: history and concept

Bachelor's degrees have existed for a very long time in more developed countries than Russia. In fact, this is a classic type of education that has long been entrenched in higher education institutions in the United States and Europe. A little later, developed Asian countries took it as a basis, and only then the Russian Federation adopted valuable experience. The country, in fact, had no choice, since it had previously used, to put it mildly, the imperfect education system of the Soviet state. It is focused on obtaining benefits for a group of people, and not a person who had personal choice and motivation.

In 2003, Russia completely switched to the Bologna system. The question “What does a bachelor’s degree mean?” became popular a little later in 2009, when the process of education reform was finally launched as an experiment. It was aimed at applying Western experience to Russian reality. As practice has shown, this was a very successful reform for educational institutions who breathed fresh air. Students also loved the system. Now they have more options for what to do before starting their working career.

This type of training is focused on obtaining the most detailed theoretical education together with practical training. Everything is complemented by a comprehensive secondary education program, which is designed to expand the student’s sphere of general knowledge. Naturally, the primary task of the university is to teach a direct specialty, as well as provide the student with the opportunity to practice both in the university building and outside it at various specialized enterprises.

Will a bachelor's degree be useful in the future?

A bachelor is a graduate of an institute (university, academy) with full knowledge and skills to be a specialist highly qualified. Universities provide fundamental training for such specialists. It does not matter what professions they are - humanitarian or technical. At the same time, you need to understand that highly specialized areas require longer training than a four-year bachelor's degree. For example, if it’s medicine, then you won’t even be limited to five years. Note that after completing a bachelor's degree, some students can go on an internship at a company, and then decide whether to stay to work there or try to enroll in a master's program.

It's no secret that sometimes the training that universities provide to students does not fully meet the requirements put forward by progressive enterprises. Firms that value newly arrived personnel often offer retraining courses or teach specialists how to use modern equipment, in particular if the young person did not have access to the latter during his studies. To some extent, there is a clear distinction between undergraduate degrees in this regard. For technical specialties, such as engineering, a graduate of an applied bachelor's degree is more suitable, because he has received more practical skills than an academician. At the same time, according to the essence of the academician, it is universal preparation before starting a career at work that will be more valuable in the enterprise.

In accordance with current legislation, there are several levels of higher education:

graduate school;
master's degree;
Academic and applied bachelor's degree.

What's the difference?

Features of the academic form of education

Until recently, many doubted that by enrolling in the “bachelor’s” form of study, one could, in principle, obtain the higher education diploma of interest. Today, many are already asking another question: “What to choose - an academic bachelor’s degree or an applied bachelor’s degree?” But first of all, it is worth considering why this form of training exists at all.

Story

Concept

This form of training has a base in the form of various educational programs of higher education, which are focused primarily on obtaining extremely serious theoretical training in combination with secondary specialized education programs aimed at providing students with practical skills directly in the workplace. However, since 2014, with the introduction of a new form of education, many have wondered what an applied and academic bachelor's degree means.

Who is a Bachelor?

Having said that, in keeping with the basic meaning of the academic form, sometimes it is better to get general training and thoroughly master the basics before starting to work.

How does this help in the future?

How does it work?

In accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Science and Education, more than 50% of the total labor intensity of the educational program in this case consists exclusively of practical classes, which is significantly more compared to how the academic bachelor’s program is conducted. In connection with this fact, it is definitely impossible to say which is better - an applied or academic bachelor's degree, since they have their pros and cons.

Why is this necessary?

How does this happen?

Thus, an applied bachelor is a specialized educational qualification granted to those students who have fully completed a higher education program at undergraduate level. At the same time, understanding what is better - a bachelor's degree or an applied bachelor's degree, one cannot help but note that in the applied form, after graduation, the student has the competence to solve all kinds of technological problems in different socio-economic spheres, and can begin professional activity immediately after that when he finishes his studies. The only difference in this case is a much larger volume of practical training, and therefore the student is given the qualifications of a worker or a certain position of an employee in his chosen profile.

What are the advantages?

Of course, the main advantage is that it provides training for highly qualified specialists, focused primarily on practice. It is expected that those students who can complete a four-year program of study in this form will ultimately be good practitioners with good theoretical training corresponding to higher education, and this is why many people think about whether to choose an academic bachelor's degree or an applied bachelor's degree.

It is precisely such specialists that all employers today are interested in and actively participate in the process of developing curricula. This also distinguishes between bachelor's and applied bachelor's degrees. The difference between these forms can also be expressed in the fact that in the latter case, a specialist is trained for a specific job using in-demand technologies and is practically guaranteed to find employment immediately after graduation.

What about science?

Other differences

It is also worth noting several other facts about how an applied bachelor’s degree differs from a bachelor’s degree. The applied form of education completely eliminates the social gap that has formed between working professions, as well as the increased social status inherent in graduates of higher educational institutions. Approximately by 2018, more than 30% of university students will be enrolled in applied bachelor’s degree programs, and at the same time, about 50% of secondary specialized education programs existing today can be transformed into them.

What does an applied bachelor's degree mean for a modern student? This is an excellent prospect for students who intend to work in applied fields in the future.

Higher education or higher professional education is not compulsory throughout the world, but it is precisely the level at which a person has fully mastered all the intricacies of his professional field.

A person can further develop in a scientific environment, receiving a scientific degree, but, most importantly, he comprehensively developed. This is the most important point. You can often hear phrases among people that people with higher education are very different from people without it in their outlook on life, in their ability to express their thoughts, in their behavior, and even in their way of thinking. We can agree with this. Since it is the higher school that teaches life, in all respects.

What is an academic bachelor's degree?

Not so long ago (2014) in Russia, a division of bachelor’s degrees into academic and applied ones appeared. The division was introduced intentionally to reflect the specific focus of the program that the student listened to.

Bachelor is a degree or qualification awarded to students who have studied and received a diploma first stage of higher education. Bachelor's degree, in turn, refers to the learning process itself. higher school, upon completion of which students receive a bachelor's degree and relevant qualifications. At the end of the training, a writing is required to confirm the success of the study. thesis and her public defense before the commission.

The main difference between a bachelor's degree and a master's degree or specialty is its goals and practical orientation. During the bachelor's degree, the student acquires all the basic knowledge and necessary skills that will be useful in professional activity at work in their specialty.

The master's program is based on the study of more difficult moments, connections, tasks in the main core subjects. This complication is due to the fact that after completing a master's degree, you can continue your studies in graduate school. Then doctoral studies, that is, continue scientific activity and receive advanced degrees. Thus, both master's and bachelor's degrees receive a fundamental knowledge base, only in the master's degree it lends itself to more in-depth consideration. It is impossible to say which of these two stages is worse or better. Here the choice is entirely up to the applicant and depends on his views on life and his future. But if you still care about your level of literacy and education, go to study at universities.

Mastering the academic bachelor's degree program is focused on obtaining the entire fundamental base theoretical knowledge in the chosen specialty. After training, the student is more focused on continuing research activities and enrolling in a master's program. The academic bachelor's degree continues the past traditions of the content of higher education; it can be called classical. Most often, in the first two years, specialized subjects are studied in parallel with general education subjects, only at a higher level, outside the school base and based on it.

This level of education follows general secondary or vocational education and involves mastering theoretical basis chosen direction and mastery of all practical skills.

The higher education system has two levels. The first is obtaining a bachelor's level, and the second is studying in a master's program to achieve a master's level. At some universities you can also find a specialist level. This is something intermediate between a bachelor's and a master's degree. Now, according to the requirements for participants in the Bologna process, the qualification “specialist” is equivalent to “master”.

Ideally, these two steps are inseparable and follow one after the other. But it doesn't always happen like this. After receiving a bachelor's degree, most often this period of study lasts at least four years, you can complete your studies at a university. Just a few years ago in post-Soviet countries, a bachelor's degree was considered an incomplete higher education, but today it represents a full-fledged completed higher education, as in the rest of the world. Based on this, it becomes completely logical that a bachelor’s degree should provide the student with all the necessary basic and special knowledge in the profile.

What is an applied bachelor's degree?

A new introduction is the applied bachelor's degree. It is based on the training program practical professional activities. Thus, professional workers and specialists are trained high level who will be able to understand the operation of complex machines, electronic systems and devices. After studying, people can immediately go to work in production without additional training.

Such a basis makes it possible to solve problems of both a theoretical and practical nature in one’s own profile, which is necessary for further work and career growth.

During their studies, great emphasis is placed on practical training, which makes students more in demand among employers.

Common features of academic and applied bachelor's degrees

Common to academic and applied bachelor's degrees is the duration of study. Bachelor's degrees, regardless of type, last four years. At the end of the program, a diploma of completed higher education is issued indicating the type of bachelor's degree. In addition, there is the same acquisition of all necessary specialized knowledge, as it was before, in order to correspond to the level of completed higher education.

Main differences

The main differences between applied and academic bachelor's degrees are as follows:

The academic bachelor's degree is a theoretical basis, the applied bachelor's degree is practical skills.
An academic bachelor's degree involves continuing studies in a master's program; applied bachelor's degree - most often involves completing studies and getting a job.
Graduates of an academic bachelor's degree are selected on a competitive basis for admission to the master's program; Graduates of an applied bachelor's degree get a job, complete a certain period of work in their specialty, and only after that they can continue their studies in a master's program.

As a result of the information obtained, it can be noted that these types of bachelor’s degrees are practically different, although they have the same duration of study.

In June 1999, a declaration on the convergence of existing higher education systems was signed in the city of Bologna, the purpose of which was to unite the European educational space. Gradually, the countries of the former Soviet Union began to join the Bologna system:

2003 - Russia;
2005 - Ukraine;
2010 - Kazakhstan;
2015 - Republic of Belarus.

Joining the Bologna system involves reforming higher education and bringing it to European standards - a two-stage education system. First stage - four-year undergraduate studies, second stage - two-year master's degree.

IN Russian Federation We switched to such a training system a year after joining the Bologna process - in 2004.

After graduating from general education high school The applicant has the right to choose this direction. Graduates of colleges, technical schools and vocational schools have the same right. The only difference will be in the duration of study: 4 years after school and 3 years for the rest.

Russian graduates can enroll in undergraduate studies not only domestic universities, but also other countries participating in the Bologna process. The duration of training there ranges from four to seven years, depending on the qualifications obtained. But not everything is so simple, since in many European countries It is necessary to confirm a certificate of secondary education and present a certificate of language proficiency for studying on a budget.

This is a stage of higher education, after which a bachelor's degree and a diploma of higher education are issued. In the future, you have the opportunity to continue your studies in master’s and postgraduate studies or go to work in your chosen specialty. This choice depends on the type of education completed - applied or academic.

What is the difference between applied and academic directions?

Since 2014, the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation has changed state standards, according to which a bachelor can now obtain the qualification of an applied or academic bachelor. And the students faced certain difficulties when choosing a bachelor's degree, since for many it remains unclear how applied differs from academic.

Upon completion of training, both “academic” and “applied” students are issued exactly the same diplomas of completed higher education. But in addition to the bachelor’s diploma, the “applied specialist” also receives a secondary diploma vocational education. The main difference lies in the program in which future bachelors study.

An academic bachelor's degree is, in essence, a classical higher education, as it was before joining the Bologna system. The emphasis is on obtaining theoretical knowledge in certain areas provided for by the program. Graduates are more focused on research activities . Academic Bachelor has the right to further training in a master's program, subject to passing a certain minimum immediately after graduation.

The applied bachelor's program involves focusing on more hours for practical skills. At the same time, theoretical knowledge is being acquired in parallel. This is the main difference between bachelor's degrees - the practical orientation of the applied and the complete absence of academic practice. Besides this, after completing an applied bachelor's degree It is necessary to work for a certain time in the specialty before continuing education at the second stage.

Applied Bachelor's Program

The program is based on practical development of the acquired knowledge. An applied bachelor's degree is a professional worker or specialist who understands the operation of complex equipment or electronic systems. After completing their studies, graduates can take up positions that require higher education. Opportunities for rapid career growth open up before them. They are more valued by employers because of the practical skills acquired during training - and this is their great advantage over academic bachelors.

Employers are actively involved in the development of curricula and programs and provide their sites for training industrial practice. Specialists are trained in specific technologies and receive necessary knowledge in a certain area. And after graduation, “applied specialists” are expected in production, for which he was prepared.

Strategy 2020

In 2010, the government began developing the state program “Strategy 2020”, according to which an experiment on the introduction of applied bachelor’s degrees is being conducted at more than 50 higher educational institutions and technical schools. It is planned that in the long term it may replace secondary specialized educational institutions. During this process, some possible problems emerged:

Duration of training in the applied direction - 3 or 4 years;
for which specialties is the applied bachelor's degree most in demand;
when exactly should a student make a choice about choosing a bachelor’s degree - immediately upon admission or in the 2-3rd year.

By 2020, it is planned that 30% of bachelors will graduate from an applied bachelor's degree. In addition, the passing score for an academic bachelor's degree will be higher than for an applied bachelor's degree, and it will become more difficult to enter there.

Thus , the only similarity between academic and applied bachelor's degrees- duration of training. In all other respects, these are completely different areas of higher education. And time will tell how different they will be from each other.