a prior degree

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a prior degree" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a degree that was obtained before another degree or qualification. Example: "To apply for this advanced program, you must have a prior degree in a related field."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

A prior degree was not a requirement for admission, yet student outcomes have been equivalent to or have exceeded those of the traditional students.

Teaching and Learning in Nursing

The TOEFL is required even if you have a prior degree from a US university, or are currently studying in the US.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

22 % of the students had a prior degree in nursing.

BMC Medical Education

All students held a prior degree, including degrees in Pharmacy, Engineering, Law, Science, Dentistry and Business.

BMC Medical Education

Possession of a prior degree was recorded as a surrogate for maturity.

British Journal of Cancer

In another study, having a prior degree also increased the co-cooperativeness, goal orientation and achieving motive.

Advances in Health Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Dispersion was estimated across samples using the estimateGLMTagwiseDisp function in R (following estimateGLMTrendedDisp) such that estimates were squeezed toward the trended dispersion values with a prior degrees of freedom value of 20 (McCarthy et al. 2012).

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

The limited status program allows an undergraduate who has received a recognized undergraduate degree with a record of good scholarship (an overall grade-point average of at least 3.3) to pursue course work in a field unrelated to any prior degrees, for a specific and clearly defined purpose.

University of California, Berkeley

Our candidate appears on average within the envelope so defined, except precisely for degree 4. Our interpretation is that this comes from too strong an imprint of the prior (degree 4 is probably too damped).

Earth, Planets and Space

The Master of Urban Design degree program is a one-year, advanced, interdisciplinary program of study for students with a prior professional degree in architecture, landscape architecture, or city and regional planning.

University of California, Berkeley

516 students graduated with an MS or MPH and did not have a prior graduate degree.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When stating degree requirements, use "a prior degree" to clearly indicate that applicants must already possess the qualification before applying.

Common error

Avoid assuming everyone knows what field your "prior degree" is in; always specify the relevant field (e.g., "a prior degree in engineering") to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a prior degree" functions as a noun phrase, where "prior" acts as an adjective modifying "degree". According to Ludwig, it correctly specifies that the degree was obtained before another pursuit. It is commonly used to indicate a prerequisite qualification.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Academia

50%

Science

45%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

News & Media

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a prior degree" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase, predominantly found in academic and scientific writing. According to Ludwig, it functions as a noun phrase and correctly denotes a previously earned degree. It's crucial to specify the field of study when using this phrase to ensure clarity. While alternatives like "previous degree" exist, "a prior degree" remains a clear and effective way to indicate a prerequisite qualification.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous degree

Replaces "prior" with "previous", a direct synonym indicating an earlier degree.

earlier degree

Substitutes "prior" with "earlier", emphasizing the temporal aspect of the degree.

existing degree

Uses "existing" to highlight that the degree is already held.

already obtained degree

Specifies that the degree has been successfully completed and received.

preceding degree

Employs "preceding" to indicate the degree that comes before the current pursuit.

initial degree

Replaces "prior" with "initial" highlighting that this was the starting degree.

undergraduate degree

Specifies that the "prior degree" is specifically at the undergraduate level, implying the pursuit of a graduate degree.

basic degree

Replacing "prior" with "basic" implying this degree is fundamental to other studies.

foundational degree

Replacing "prior" with "foundational" implying this degree formed the base for future studies.

first degree

Highlights that the degree was the individual's initial academic qualification.

FAQs

How do you use "a prior degree" in a sentence?

You can use "a prior degree" to indicate a prerequisite qualification, such as "Applicants must possess "a prior degree" in biology or a related field".

What's the difference between "a prior degree" and "a previous degree"?

"A prior degree" and "a previous degree" are generally interchangeable, both referring to a degree obtained before a current one. The choice often depends on stylistic preference.

What are some alternatives to saying "a prior degree"?

Alternatives include "an earlier degree", "a preceding degree", or "an existing degree", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to specify the field of study when mentioning "a prior degree"?

It's best practice to specify the field of study (e.g., ""a prior degree" in computer science") to provide context and ensure clarity, especially when the degree is a prerequisite for a specific program or position.