What is an Associates Degree?

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There are various degrees in the world of higher education, and more than likely you've heard a few graduates spouting out their various diploma styles. So what exactly is an associate's degree? An associates degree is an undergraduate degree that usually accounts for about two years' worth of college. Most associate's degrees are issued through community colleges, though regular Universities can offer them as well. Typically in order to receive an associate's degree, one must complete about 60 credit hours. Just like a four-year degree, the associates have basic categories of requirements: general education requirement classes, major requirement classes, and electives. This is to ensure that the student is well-rounded. Typically an associate's degree can be completed with in two years of schooling.

There are several classifications of an associate's degree. The most basic examples are: the Associate of Arts Degree, Associate of Applied Science Degree, Associate of Science Degree, and Occupational Degree. All of these are designed to allow graduates to transfer their credits over to a 4-year degree if they so desire, however certain types of degrees only allow one to transfer some or part of their credits over. This would mean the student may have to repeat some classes they have already taken in order to receive their associate's degree. With this in mind, anyone pursuing an associate's should look into these options beforehand just to be sure. The Occupational Associate's Degree is especially designed to focus on training in order to assist students with finding employment in a certain field.

Generally, the majors for associate's degrees are slightly more limited than typical four-year degrees. Most common degrees of this type are in the fields of medical assistant, paralegal, computer-related fields, data processing, and various forms of public service. They are perfect for people who would like to get certification quicker than those seeking out a four-year degree. Keep in mind that the requirements for this type of degree various by University, so research carefully before making a final decision. Most Associate's Degrees today can be obtained via online courses, making scheduling and time constraint issues much easier for the busy student of today.

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SOURCE: http://www.worldwidelearn.com/online-associate/index.html

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