Frequently Asked Questions

Course of Study vs. Degree: What’s the Difference on College Applications?

On college applications, "course of study" usually means your main academic area or track (like STEM, humanities, or pre-med), while "degree" is the formal credential you earn by completing a program (like B. A.

in History or B. S.

in Computer Science). Your course of study can change, but your degree is the official program that appears on your diploma and transcript.

Definitions: What Each Term Actually Means

Colleges and scholarship forms often ask about your "course of study" or your "degree," but they do not always define these clearly.

Here is how to understand the difference in most U. S.

college contexts.

Course of study: Your main academic focus or field, sometimes including a track or concentration.
Degree: The specific type of academic credential you will receive at graduation.
Major: The primary subject area in which you specialize, which usually appears as part of your degree.

Put simply, the course of study is what you are studying, and the degree is what you earn for completing that program.

Examples to Make the Difference Concrete

To see how this plays out, compare these common combinations.

Course of study: Engineering — Degree: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Mechanical Engineering
Course of study: Business — Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Finance
Course of study: Pre-med (science track) — Degree: B.S. in Biology
Course of study: Humanities — Degree: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English
Course of study: Computer Science — Degree: B.S. in Computer Science

Notice that several students could all be pursuing the same type of degree (for example, a B. S.

) while following different courses of study.

The bottom line:

When you see these terms on forms, you are usually being asked either about your general academic area (course of study) or the official program name and degree level (degree).

How Colleges Use "Course of Study" on Applications

On applications, "course of study" can appear in different places, especially on the Common App and individual school supplements.

Typically, it is trying to capture one of these ideas.

What you focused on in high school (for example, an IB Diploma track or STEM-focused schedule)
What you plan to study in college (intended major or academic interest area)
Your current program, if you are already in college or transferring

But there is a catch:

Colleges know that many students change their minds. They rarely treat a stated course of study as a binding commitment unless you are applying to a highly structured or selective program, such as nursing, architecture, or a conservatory.

When "Course of Study" Refers to High School

On the education section of college applications, you might see something like the following.

Course of study: College-preparatory
Course of study: Honors
Course of study: International Baccalaureate (IB)
Course of study: Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Here, they are asking how your high school curriculum was structured, not what your future college major will be.

In that case, you might answer with terms your high school uses, such as "college preparatory," "STEM magnet program," or "IB Diploma candidate," based on your transcript and school profile.

When "Course of Study" Refers to Your Intended Major

On some college or scholarship forms, you will see prompts like these.

Intended course of study: __________________
Proposed course of study: __________________
College course of study: __________________

In these cases, they want to know your planned field or major area, often in a simple phrase.

Biology (pre-med)
Computer Science
Business Administration
English Literature
Chemical Engineering

Here is the key point:

You do not have to list the full formal degree name; just a clear academic area is usually enough.

How "Degree" Is Used and Why It Matters

"Degree" refers to the official credential you already hold or expect to earn from a specific program.

Most commonly in U. S.

undergraduate admissions, that means options like the following.

Associate’s degrees: A.A., A.S., or A.A.S. (often two-year community college programs)
Bachelor’s degrees: B.A., B.S., B.B.A., B.F.A., B.Eng., and similar options (often four-year programs)

Graduate-level degrees include master’s degrees (M. A.

, M. S.

, MBA, M. Ed.

) and doctorates (Ph. D.

, M. D.

, J. D.

, and others), but those are usually not relevant unless you are filling out advanced or professional applications.

How to List Your Degree Correctly

On forms that ask for your degree or "type of degree," admissions offices expect short, standard labels.

High school students (before graduation): "High School Diploma (expected June 2026)" or the month and year that fit your situation.
Community college transfers: "Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Psychology" or the appropriate title.
International students: The closest U.S.-equivalent label, such as "Equivalent to U.S. High School Diploma."
College graduates: "Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Mechanical Engineering" or the exact wording your institution uses.

When you know the exact degree title your program uses, match that wording to avoid confusion later with transcript evaluation or transfer credit.

What does this mean for you?

Any time a form mentions "degree," assume the question is about a formal, completed or in-progress credential, not just a general interest area.

Common Scenarios: How to Answer Accurately

Different application forms phrase these questions in slightly different ways. Here is how to handle some typical situations.

If You Are a Current High School Student

You might see several different prompts on applications or scholarships.

Course of study (high school): Describe your curriculum track, such as "college-preparatory," "IB Diploma Programme," "AP/honors curriculum," or "STEM magnet program."
Intended course of study (college): List a planned major area like "Computer Science" or "Biology (pre-med)." This is not binding at most schools.
Degree sought: Write something like "Bachelor’s degree" or more specifically "Bachelor of Science" or "Bachelor of Arts" if the application allows detail.

If you are truly undecided, you can usually write "Undecided" or select "Exploratory" when the form provides that option.

If You Are a Community College or Transfer Applicant

Your forms will often ask for both the credential you are completing now and the one you are seeking next.

Current degree: Example: "Associate of Science (A.S.) in Computer Science (in progress)." Adjust the major as needed.
Course of study (current): Your primary field, such as Computer Science or Business.
Intended degree at new school: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), plus major where requested.

If you will not complete the associate’s degree before transferring, you can list "No degree — coursework toward A. A.

in Psychology" or similar wording that matches the application’s guidance.

If You Already Hold a Degree

For graduate, post-baccalaureate, or certificate programs, you will usually list details like these.

Highest degree earned: For example, "B.A. in Political Science, May 2023."
Previous course of study: Political Science, Economics, or your main undergraduate area.
Intended course of study: The new field you are applying to, such as "Public Policy" or "Data Science."

The important thing is to stay consistent across your application, transcript submissions, and resume so that your academic history is clear.

How to Answer When You Are Unsure

Many students feel stressed when they see questions about course of study or degree because they have not finalized a major or career plan.

You do not need a perfect long-term path to fill out these boxes correctly.

Instead, use these steps.

Decide if the question is about high school curriculum, planned college major, or formal credential (degree).
For a course of study question, choose the closest honest description of what you are studying now or hope to study next.
For a degree question, use standard phrases like "High School Diploma," "Bachelor of Arts," or "Associate of Science" plus expected or completed dates.
If in doubt, check the help text on the application or ask your counselor how your school typically answers.

Here is why this matters:

Clear, consistent answers help colleges interpret your transcript correctly and understand where you are heading, without locking you into a path you cannot change later.

International and Specialized Program Considerations

If you are studying outside the U. S.

or in a specialized program, the language on forms may not match what your school uses.

In that case, treat "course of study" as your main subject stream and "degree" as the credential your system grants.

United Kingdom: A-level stream (course of study) vs. B.A./B.Sc. (degree).
India: Science/Commerce/Arts stream (course of study) vs. B.Tech., B.Com., B.A., and similar degrees.
International Baccalaureate: IB Diploma Programme (course of study) vs. high school diploma or IB Diploma (credential).

When applications do not recognize your exact qualification name, choose the closest category and then explain briefly in an additional information section if necessary.

Special or Selective Programs

For programs like nursing, architecture, or performing arts, your course of study and degree can be tightly linked from the start.

Nursing: Course of study — Nursing; Degree — Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Architecture: Course of study — Architecture; Degree — Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.).
Music conservatory: Course of study — Performance (Violin); Degree — Bachelor of Music (B.M.).

In these cases, listing the correct field from the beginning can matter more for admission and for completing prerequisite sequences on time.

Does Your Stated Course of Study Affect Admission Chances?

Students often ask if choosing a certain course of study or degree makes them more or less likely to get in.

The honest answer is that it depends on the college and the program.

At many colleges with flexible curricula, your intended course of study has limited impact on your admission chances.
At some large public universities, certain majors such as Engineering, Computer Science, or Nursing may be more selective than others.
Scholarship programs might target specific fields, like STEM, education, or public service.

However, exaggerating interest in a field you do not actually like is risky, because your transcript, activities, and essays need to align with your stated interests.

What should you do with this information?

Choose a course of study that genuinely fits your strengths and curiosities, while staying aware that selectivity can vary by major at some schools.

Summary: How to Think About Course of Study vs. Degree

By now, you can see that these terms are related but not interchangeable.

"Course of study" describes what you are studying or plan to study, at the level of subject area or curriculum track.
"Degree" describes the official credential (like B.A., B.S., A.A., or M.S.) you earn by completing a structured program.
Applications may ask about either or both, for high school, college, and beyond.
Your answers should be clear, honest, and consistent with your transcript and goals.

Here is the takeaway for your applications:

When you see "course of study," think in terms of fields like "Biology," "Business," "IB Diploma Programme," or "STEM magnet" — while "degree" calls for labels like "High School Diploma," "Bachelor of Arts," or "Associate of Science. "

If you are still unsure how to label your path or which course of study to choose for your goals, having an expert talk it through with you can save time and stress.

Empowerly advisors help families interpret application language, map out realistic degree pathways, and align courses of study with long-term options like medical school, engineering, or graduate study. To get personalized guidance on your own course of study and degree plans, consider booking an Empowerly consultation.