:: Associate Degrees
An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded, primarily in the United States, after a course of post-secondary study lasting two or three years. It is a level of qualification between a high school diploma or GED and a bachelor's degree.
The first associate degrees were awarded in the UK (where they are[when?] no longer awarded) in 1873 before spreading to the US in 1898. In the United States, the associate degree may allow transfer into the third year of a bachelor's degree.[1] Associate degrees have since been introduced in a small number of other countries.
In the United States, associate degrees are usually earned in two years or more and can be attained at community colleges, technical colleges, vocational schools, and some colleges, as well as at some universities. A student who completes a two-year program can earn an Associate of Arts/Associate in Arts (AA)[25] or an Associate of Science/Associate in Science (AS) degree.[25] AA degrees are usually earned in the Liberal Arts and Sciences such as humanities and social science fields; AS degrees are awarded to those studying in applied scientific and technical fields and professional fields of study. Generally, one year of study is focused on college level general education and the second year is focused on the area of discipline.
Students who complete a two-year technical or vocational program can often earn an Associate of Applied Science/Associate in Applied Science (AAS), although sometimes the degree name will include the subject (a "tagged" degree).[26]
Transfer admissions in the United States sometimes allows courses taken and credits earned on an AA, AS, or AAS course to be counted toward a bachelor's degree via articulation agreements or recognition of prior learning, depending on the courses taken, applicable state laws/regulations, and the transfer requirements of the university.[27]
Common associate degree titles include:[26]
- Associate of Applied Business (AAB)
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
- Associate of Applied Technology (AAT)
- Associate of Arts (AA)
- Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT)
- Associate of Business Administration (ABA)
- Associate of Electrical Engineering Technology (AEET)
- Associate of Electronics (AE)
- Associate of Engineering (AE/AEng)
- Associate of Engineering Technology (AET/AEngT)
- Associate of Forestry (AF)
- Associate of General Studies (AGS)
- Associate of Industrial Technology (AIT)
- Associate of Nursing (AN)/Associate Degree Nurse/Nursing (ADN)
- Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS)
- Associate of Science (AS)
- Associate of Science in Computer Assisted Design (AS-CAD)
- Associate of Technology (AT)
- "Associate Degrees". British Columbia Commission on Admissions and Transfer. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
- "Q & A on Sub-degree Programmes". Information Portal for Accredited Post-secondary Programmes. Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
- "USNEI". Education USA. US Department of Education.
"Cal State University". California State University Transfer Requirements. Select from the following list of current Associates Degrees:
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