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As I understand things, the "AS" degree is basically a one year program and not many of the credit hours will transfer to a higher learning education facility.

The "AA" degree is the less expensive route towards the "BA" or "BS" degree, where one gets the first two years of college done at about a third of what it would cost at a 4 year institution. Every credit hour in the "AA" program can be applied for the 4 year college.

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15y ago
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14y ago

It's not that one is better than the other, it's just that they are different in terms of focus, and purpose. Read the following for the differences in associate degrees.

What is the difference between Associates of Arts, Associates of Science, and Associates of Applied Science? Associate degrees fall into three main areas. * Associates of Arts (AA) * Associates of Science (AS) * Associates of Applied Science (AAS) Each of the above degrees is designed to be completed after two years of study as a full-time student and provided the student takes the degree as prescribed by the college. In addition, most every community college requires that every incoming student be placement tested before they register for their first semester (unless they fall into an exemption category). This test is not an admissions test and has no bearing on a student's acceptance to the college. In fact, most students have already been accepted to the school before they take the test. It is not a test that is passed or failed, but simply to determine whether an individual needs to take some refresher courses before entering college level coursework. This is to ensure the student has the appropriate basic skills to succeed at the college level. The test is broken down into four parts; two parts English and two parts mathematics. The English includes grammar (sentence sense), and reading comprehension. The math includes computation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, fractions, square roots, and percentages), and the equivalent of a high school algebra I. If the student scores low in any these areas, then they will be required to enroll in the indicated remedial course/s starting with their first semester. Thus, the two year degree plan may turn into a two and a half year, or possibly a three year plan depending on how much remedial work is needed.To limit this time, students have the option to enroll in summer session courses. Now let us look at the inherent differences between the degrees: Associates of Arts (AA) The Associates of arts is really designed as a fully transferable degree to a four year college or university for those pursing a Bachelors degree. It serves to complete most of the four year institutions general education cluster area, which amounts to the first two years of a four year program. It also serves to complete any perquisite courses needed for the four year institutions curriculum major and minor requirements. Students are admitted to Junior level status provided they have completed the matching associate's level degree. In other words, Business AA to Business BA, Engineering AS, to Engineering AS etc. Thus, within this degree students will be required to have a well rounded educational foundation to include, English literature, history, social science, laboratory science, humanities, math, communications, etc. These courses are in addition to the student's major field of study. Associates of Science (AS) Within the AS degrees a student will notice there are less general education requirements, and more career oriented course work. You will find this in curriculums to include, Nursing, Engineering, some Computer Science and Allied Heath fields. Still, these programs should be fully transferable to four year institutions provided the degree matches that of the four year college or university's program of study, as mentioned above under AA degrees. Associates in Applied Science (AAS) The AAS degrees are very career oriented and designed to give the student all the expertise needed for entry level positions upon completion of the degree. Therefore, the student will notice most of the AAS degree is made up of professional phase courses particular to a specific field, and a very limited number of general education courses. This has promoted the myth, that all AAS degrees are not transferable to four year colleges and universities. I will admit, as the degree was originally designed; transferability was not the original intent of this type of degree. Therefore many AAS degree fields of study did not transfer to four year institutions very well. In fact, in some categories it was almost like starting over. Today this is not so. Community Colleges today have what is known as Joint Admissions or Dual Admissions articulations with four year institutions, where if the student completes the agreed upon program of study successfully, the four year institution will take the degree full faith in credit and grant the student Junior level status. This includes AAS degrees. However, it is strongly recommended that a student who is seeking to transfer to a four year institution at a later date, make an appointment with a Transfer Counselor at the Community College for the pros and cons of AAS transfer as well as more detailed information.

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Q: Which degree is better to have an AA or AAS?
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What is the abbreviation for associate's degree on financial accounting?

There are a few possibilities, AA, AS, or AAS, depending in the type of program the student completed.There are a few possibilities, AA, AS, or AAS, depending in the type of program the student completed.There are a few possibilities, AA, AS, or AAS, depending in the type of program the student completed.There are a few possibilities, AA, AS, or AAS, depending in the type of program the student completed.There are a few possibilities, AA, AS, or AAS, depending in the type of program the student completed.There are a few possibilities, AA, AS, or AAS, depending in the type of program the student completed.


What courses are needed to obtain an AA degree?

The requirements would depend on the specific associate degree type (AA, AS, AAS) and the specific major. Each will have requirements particular to itself.


Is there a bacherlors degree in applied science?

Yes, there is. They're not as common as "Associate in Applied Science" (AAS) degrees, but "Bachelor of Applied Science" (BAS) degrees do exist.And BAS degrees suffer from much the same problem as AAS degrees: Not enough "lower-division general education" (LDGE) during the first two (freshman and sophomore) years.In fact, many BAS programs are really just degree-completion programs for AAS degree holders so that said AAS degree holders, whose AAS degrees suffer from not enough LDGE, may nevertheless get a bachelors degree of some kind in only two years of study after the AAS degree.The reason such is necessary is because AAS degrees usually contain much less -- sometimes as little as half -- the amount of LDGE as "Associate of Arts" (AA), or "Associate of Science" (AS) degrees......both of which, because they (AA/AS degrees) contain the same amount of LDGE as BA/BS degrees, typically count as the entire first and second (freshman and sophomore) years of said BA/BS degree. And so the AA/AS degree holder who transfers said AA/AS degree into the BA/BS degree may begin said BA/BS degree as a full junior, and then complete just the junior and senior years, and earn a BA or BS degree.However, an AAS degree holder, who only has maybe half of the LDGE of an AA/AS degree holder, will find it very difficult to transfer his/her AAS degree into a BA or BS program... because, again, the AAS will be too deficient in LDGE to qualify as the first two (freshman and sophomore) years of the BA/BS. And so the AAS student finds himself/herself having to take sometimes as much as almost a year of full-time LDGE coursework in order to get "caught-up" with the BA/BS's LDGE requirements before s/he may be considered a full junior in the BA/BS program. The AAS transfer student, then, can end-up having to take almost three years to get the BA/BS, whereas the AA/AS student can do it on only two.Many -- not all, but many -- BAS degrees were created so that AAS degree holders could get their bachelors in two years, just like that AA/AS degree holders. But the BAS is still deficient in LGDE compared with a BA/BS; and so the BAS may or may not be acceptable as requisite for entry into to a higher-level masters degree program (unless, of coures, it's a "master of applied science" degree... which I'm not even sure exists... I'd have to research it).While there are BAS degrees which may be entered into at the freshman level, and then pursued for four years until completion, most BAS degrees are simply to help AAS degree holders get their both AAS and BAS in the same four years as AA/AS degree holders can get their both AA/AS and BA/BS degrees.So the problem, then, begins at the AAS level. My advice is to never get an AAS unless you're absollutely, positively certain that that's the only degree you'll ever get. Ever!If you think that there's even the slightest possibility that you'll one day pursue a bachelors, then stay the heck away from AAS degrees! Instead, get an AA or AS so that you can one day transfer it into a BA or BS. Otherwise, if you get the AAS, you'll be limited to either a BAS, or to having to take longer to get a BA/BS.


What is acronym for associate's degree in business?

It depends on the specific degree type it was taken under. There are three as follows.Associates of Arts (AA)Associates of Science (AS)Associates of Applied Science (AAS)


An AS degree stands for?

Associate degrees fall into three main areas.Associates of Arts (AA)Associates of Science (AS)Associates of Applied Science (AAS)


What is the general name of the degree that a community college awards?

Typically, there are three as follows.Associate of Arts (AA)Associate in Science (AS)Associate in Applied Science (AAS)


What is the abbreviation for associate's degree on finacial accounting?

It depends on where you took the degree, and the type. Most associates degree are not very specific. They are either an associate of arts (AA), associate in science (AS), or an associate in applied science (AAS).


What does AAS stand for in college?

Associate of Arts Degree (community college graduate). Alcoholics Anonymous.


What are the initials for a person graduating with an associate's degree in criminal justice?

It depends on the type of degree. the three most common are as follows. * Associate of Arts (AA) * Associate in Science (AS) * Associate of Applied Science (AAS)


What does AA mean?

American Airlines


What is the Assoc degree educaction abbreviation?

Below are the associate degrees most common within the United States. * Associates of arts (AA) * Associates in Science (AS) * Associates in Applied Science (AAS) Typically, the associates in education is an associates of arts an AA.


What classes do you need to take to get your AAA?

The classes that are required depends on the specific degree type (AA, AS, AAS), and the specific program of study (Major). Each will have requirements particular to themselves.