Park Service Naturalism

Every Texas ninth-grade student is required to choose one of five endorsements as a focus of study–a broad area of interest that guides course selection throughout high school.  You’ll find the endorsement requirement in schools and school districts across Texas, but the specifications might vary slightly. Learn more about the implementation of endorsements in the Dallas Independent School District on the DISD website.

An associate degree is usually awarded following completion of approximately 20 post-secondary college-level courses. Depending on your goals, you may choose a terminal associate degree or a transferable degree. The terminal degree prepares you for a career following graduation, and the transferable associate degree serves as valuable preparation for your transition into a bachelor’s degree program.

A bachelor’s degree is most commonly awarded following four years of post-secondary, college-level study.  Offered by four-year colleges and universities, the bachelor’s is the standard for entry into many careers. It is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge to succeed in a particular field, as well as a well-rounded education.  Academically, a bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for a master’s degree – that can offer even more career advancement opportunities. 

A master's degree refers to post-graduate study pursued following completion of a bachelor’s degree. Though most programs are designed to be completed in two years of full-time study, they may take on a variety of structures and durations ? depending on the university, college and/or your level of ambition.  In many circumstances, the Master of Science (M.S.) leads to further doctoral study in research or professional fields.  A Master of Art (M.A.) is more frequently associated with a liberal arts course of study. 

The doctorate is the highest level academic degree conferred by a four-year college or university following completion of master’s degree-level requirements. Awarded across a spectrum of subjects and fields of research, some of the most common are the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), the Doctor of Chemistry (D.Chem.), and the Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng.), as well as professional doctorates. Examples include Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), and Doctor of Optometry (O.D.).