I'm considering enrolling in a community college and pursuing an associate's degree before transferring to a four-year university. How many credit hours are typically required for a two-year degree? Are there specific general education requirements I should be aware of? Any advice from current students or graduates would be really helpful!
The exact number of credits needed for an associate's degree can vary depending on the specific program and college, but typically, it requires about 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits. This equates to approximately 20 college courses. For full-time students, this can generally be achieved in two years, hence why it's often referred to as a "two-year degree."
In most cases, these credits will be split between major-specific courses and general education courses. The latter are designed to give you a broad educational experience and usually include courses in humanities, sciences, social sciences, and mathematics.
This is a general guideline and things can differ from one institution to another. Therefore, specific requirements should always be checked with your intended community college. They will provide you with a detailed curriculum outline that specifies the necessary credits courses you will need to graduate.
One tip for your journey through community college: when choosing your courses, try to ensure they'll fit into the general education requirements at the four-year colleges you're considering for transfer. This will help to maximize the number of credits that will transfer with you.
I hope this information is helpful and best of luck in your educational pursuits!
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