A bachelor's degree is an undergraduate academic degree. The name bachelor was given to the degree because of the English word bachelor, meaning “young apprentice.”

A bachelor's degree is the first degree a student can receive in his or her academic career, with the exception of the associate’s degree. The bachelor's degree is sometimes awarded after earning an associate’s degree, though it is often the first degree that is earned. Whether or not an associate’s degree can be earned first depends upon the area of study. A master’s is generally the degree that can be earned following a bachelor's degree, which can then be followed by a doctorate degree.

The bachelor's degree is also known as a baccalaureate degree in many countries. The word baccalaureate is a distorted version of the German word bakkalaureus. The bachelor's degree was first awarded in Germany, but was later abolished. The degree resurfaced in 1820, however, as part of a change in the higher education system.

Through the years, bachelor's degrees have been referred to by many names, particularly in Germany, where it was once called the magister degree, which was a five-year study course. It was then called the diplom, but the term bachelor's degree was reinstated officially in 1998.

Bachelor's degrees are also called by various names in different countries. In Japan, for instance, the bachelor's degree program is a six-year course of study referred to as gakushi. The Commonwealth of Independent States refers to the degree as the bakalavr. Regardless of the country, the bachelor's degree is usually awarded to a student after completing four or five years of schooling at a college or University.

There are several types of bachelor's degrees. To date, the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees are the most commonly awarded. Each of these programs of study generally requires completion of approximately 180 credits in areas of specialized study. The Bachelor of Science degree is geared specifically towards those who want to branch out into the world of science, while the Bachelor of Arts degree is given to those who complete coursework in the area of humanities and the arts. Some other popular bachelor's degrees include the Bachelor of Applied Science degree, the Bachelor of Economics degree, the Bachelor of Business degree, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and the Bachelor of Medicine degree.