What is Associate Degree and What it Entails

If you wish to pursue higher education, then it is not just a bachelor’s or master’s degree that you can apply for. Have you heard of associate degrees? What is an associate degree you ask? These degrees may enable entry into your coveted bachelor’s programs while sometimes helping you gain entry into specific industries. Here’s learning more about this degree and why you should consider it. 

What is Associate Degree

These degrees are tertiary qualifications (usually for two years) that will help prepare students for professional careers or further education in their chosen disciplines. Those completing these courses may gain entry into bachelor’s courses and receive academic credits accordingly. 

These courses are offered at the undergraduate level and aim to empower students with basic academic and technical knowledge along with skills that can be transferred into their preferred educational or employment avenues.

These degrees are mostly available in the US along with a few other countries like the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong, among others. They may also be offered as foundation degrees in countries like the UK. 

Difference Between Bachelor Degree and Associate Degree

Here is a closer look at the inherent differences between these two undergraduate-level courses. 

Types of Associate Degrees

Here are the kinds of associate degrees that you should know more about: 

• AA or Associate of Arts
• AAA or Associate of Applied Arts
• AS or Associate of Science
• AAS or Associate of Applied Science 

Courses in the applied category may emphasize specific careers or professions more, with students learning more vocational and hands-on skills. AS and AA courses may help students who wish to enter into bachelor’s degrees with greater emphasis on academic preparation. 

Reasons to Pursue Associate Degree

There are several reasons why you should pursue an associate degree. Some of them include the following: 

• Faster entry into a specific career and the workplace by building particular technical and vocational skills. 
• Preparing for the high academic standards of bachelor’s degrees with transferable credits. Sometimes aspirants may not have suitable grades for entry into bachelor’s programs or desire to wait for some years to accumulate the costs. 
• Flexible application timelines and online course options. 
• Comparatively lower costs in comparison to bachelor’s degrees. 

Top Universities Abroad Offering Associate Degrees

Here are some of the universities where aspirants can find associate degree programs. 

• Franklin University, USA
• Liberty University, USA
• Bismarck State College, USA
• Houston Community College, USA
• Ivy Tech Community College, USA
• Durham Technical Community College, USA
• Carolina University, USA
• Fashion Institute of Technology, USA
• Purdue University Global, USA
• New York University, USA
• Southern New Hampshire University, USA
• Charles Darwin University, Australia
• University of Chicago, USA
• University of Pennsylvania, USA
• California Institute of Technology, USA
• Alexander College, Canada
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA 
• University Canada West, Canada
• Northern Lights College, Canada

Scope After Associate Degree

There is immense scope for aspirants after completing their associate degrees. There are several career options, based on the degree type and the chosen subject. Available jobs may include everything from web developers and dental hygienists to nuclear technicians and radiation therapists. Sometimes associate degrees may be sufficient to enter specific career fields. There is also the scope of transferring to a bachelor’s course in the chosen field with acceptable university credits. Sometimes it can be done halfway through the program, i.e. the 2+2 system. 

Top 10 Career Options After Associate Degree 

Here are some of the best-paying career options after pursuing an associate degree. 

*As per Indeed.com

As you can see, an associate degree can sometimes be your gateway towards pursuing your preferred bachelor’s degree. It may also help you get job-ready and enter the workforce faster in some scenarios.