<p>I’m a high school student considering going to college in Canada. I noticed that some schools, like McGill, offer Master’s and PhDs, while other schools, like O’Sullivan College of Montreal offers DECs and AECs.</p>
<p>How do DECs/AECS and a Masters differ in the eyes of American employers?</p>
<p>You need to understand the Quebec educational system. High school students graduate after grade 11. If they want to attend a university, they must enroll in a CEGEP, which is an entirely separate level of education. It is sort of like a community college but everyone attends. The CEGEP awards a DEC (diplome d’etudes collegiales), it is only a diploma. This is not a university degree and would be unknown in the US. After receiving a DEC, Quebec students apply to a university for a bachelor’s degree.</p>