The Difference in Degrees

Associate’s Degrees –

• Completion of a two-year program equates to an Associate of Arts (AA) or an Associate of Science (AS)

• A degree awarded after completion at a two-year college

• Often at a community college, technical college or junior college

• Two types of associate majors are offered: technical/vocational and non-vocational or university paralleled

• The technical and vocational specialties are generally for entrance into an occupational field, falling under one of six categories*:

1. business and commerce technologies

2. data processing technologies

3. health services / paramedical technologies

4. mechanical/engineering technologies

5. natural science technologies

6. public service-related technologies

• The university paralleled degrees are often referred to as transfer degrees, since they mirror the first two academic years of a four-year college curriculum, given in “Arts and Sciences” or “General Studies”

(*according to The Higher Education General Information Survey or HEGIS)

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