Hey y'all, I've been hearing about 'associate of arts' degrees and I'm curious about how they differ from other degrees like 'associate of science' or 'bachelor's degree'. Can anyone break down the differences for me?
Hey! Sure, I'd be happy to help explain the differences between these degrees.
An Associate of Arts (AA) degree is a two-year undergraduate degree typically earned at a community college, junior college, or technical college. It primarily focuses on courses in the Arts and Humanities, such as literature, languages, and social sciences. The AA degree is designed for students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.
An Associate of Science (AS) degree, like the AA, is also a two-year undergraduate degree mostly earned at community colleges or technical colleges. However, the AS degree focuses on courses in the Sciences, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, and sometimes in applied sciences like nursing. Students who complete an AS degree often transfer to a four-year college or university to earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree.
A Bachelor's degree is a four-year undergraduate degree that can be earned at a college or university. There are two common types of Bachelor's degrees: Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS). A BA degree often has a broader, more interdisciplinary curriculum that focuses on liberal arts subjects such as languages, humanities, and social sciences. A BS degree is more specialized and has a more technical and scientific course load. Both BA and BS degrees can lead to various career opportunities and graduate programs.
To sum up, an Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) are two-year degrees typically earned at community or technical colleges before transferring to a four-year program to complete a Bachelor's degree (either BA or BS). AA focuses on the Arts and Humanities, while AS focuses on STEM and applied sciences. Bachelor's degrees are four-year degrees that provide a more extensive and specialized education in a particular field.
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