Associate's versus Bachelor's Degree

Alright you guys, help me out here!

Exactly what is the difference between an Associate's and a Bachelor's degree? Does one weigh more than the other (especially in the eyes of the employer)?

I don't care about the time factor, finances or anything like that. I just want to know if they're accepted the same or one is more accepted than the other. The basic difference(s).

I was planning to go to a regionally accredited school but found out I would be getting "just" an Associate's and not a Bachelor's. Oh well... guess I'm going to UMUC then...

 

The simplistic view is that the AS is the first half of the BS.

The AS (associate of science) is mostly the lower division course (read frshman and sophmore level), often with a few cap courses. The BS (bachelor of science) is a four year degree covering lower and upper divison work. The BS effectively incorporates most of the work of the AS plus other advanced work.

Does one weigh more in the eyes of an employer? That depends on the position sought, but in general the BS is the higher degree and should weigh more.

 

In the US, an Associate's degree is what you earn after 2 years of regular study (60 semester-hours), and a Bachelor's degree is what you earn after 4 years (120 semester-hours).

Many people first get an Associate's degree, then study for another 2 years and get their Bachelor's. Of course, it's up to the institution conferring the Bachelor's degree how many credits from the Associate's degree to accept.

I've seen claims that a Bachelor's degree is "an order of magnitude" (that is, about 10 times) more useful than an Associate's degree. I don't know if that's true, though.

 

A-ha! I knew it!

Thank you for your comment.

 

This is not entirely accurate. There is a significant difference between an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree and an Associate in Science (A.S.). The A.A. degree is usually the degree of choice for those students who intend on transferring to a university to pursue a Bachelor's degree. The A.S. degree is, in many respects, a terminal degree whose primary purpose is to prepare students for an entry level specialized job. There are some schools that have articulation agreements with other four-year institutions to allow full transfer of their A.S. degrees (usually for specific fields), but in most cases transfer (as a third-year or upper division student) first requires completion of an A.A. degree.

 

This is not entirely accurate. In many instances, the significant difference is between an Associate's Degree and an Applied Associate's Degree. In some places (such as all of the Associate's granting institutions in Texas) an A.A. or an A.S. is an academic Associate's degree. It is primarily intended for academic transfer -- the first half of a Bachelor's degree.

An Applied Associate's degree is a techinical degree. It is not intended for academic transfer, but rather for entry into the workforce.

In most cases, the qualifications for faculty in a technical program are significantly different than those required for an academic program. (Accreditors tend to require instructors in technical programs to have at least a Bachelor's degree, plus significant industry experience. The requirements for an instructor in academic areas tend to be a Master's degree with at least 18 graduate hours in the subject taught.)

In many cases, an Applied Associate's Degree is a terminal degree (it's the highest degree offered in the subject, i.e. welding.) However, in many cases it is not a terminal degree. Some fields, higher degrees are offered in the subject (i.e. nursing, in which one could earn a Nurses' Aide certificate, a Licensed Vocational Nurse certificate, an Associate's [applied or academic], a Bachelor's, a Master's, or a Doctorate.)

One more thing to note is that at many universities, it is difficult to transfer in credits earned in a technical (i.e. Applied Associate's) program, even if it is RA.

 

Someone described it like this to me-


1. A high school education says that you can read and write.
2. An Associates says you have enough training to gain access to an entry level position not requiring a Bachelors level degree.
3. A Bachelors degree simply means that you can be trained.
4. A Masters degree means that you have specialized training in a particular field.
5. A Doctor of Philosophy, PHD, means you are an expert in that field.


Some may say that it is not completely accurate, and it is not,but it keeps the concept simple.

 

Er, shouldn't "can be trained" be a lower level than "have enough training to..."?

The mention of "an entry level position" implies that the goal is to work in industry, in which case the Ph.D. often makes you over-qualified.

 

I did not say it was perfect; I just liked how it was presented for simplicity.

 

Degrees of usefulness:

Bachelor's = Know

Master's = Do

Doctorate = Create


Not sure where I read it, but I like it....

 

Unaccredited Doctorate = Pretend

 

Well, I was trying to keep it simple and generalized, but I see that further explanation is necessary in order to shed some light on the different Associate degrees granted by U.S. institutions.

First, we must keep in mind that the schools (primarily community or junior colleges) that grant Associate degrees within each state have two primary functions: preparing students for direct entry into the workforce and preparing students for transfer into four-year institutions. Practically all the institutions and states agree that an Applied Associates degree, such as an AAS, is, in most cases, a terminal degree, and is not equivalent to the first two years of a program of study at a four-year institution. This does not mean it will not be accepted in transfer, just that, more than likely, the student will not be given credit for many of the courses on his or her transcript that are technical or vocational in nature and he or she will not be admitted as a third-year student on the basis of the degree alone.

Similarly, most institutions and states are also in agreement that an Associate in Arts (AA) degree does not specifically train an individual for any career field, and instead prepares students for transfer to an upper division college or university to obtain a Bachelors degree. In fact, in many states, an AA degree ensures that the student has completed the general education requirements and ensures him or her third-year status when transferring to most public four-year institution in the same state. The fact that community colleges are designed to prepare students for transfer to public institutions located in the same state cannot be overemphasized.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the Associate in Science (AS) degree, we no longer see agreement between institutions in different states as to the purpose, and therefore the design, of the degree. This accounts for much of the confusion concerning Associate degrees. In some states (such as Florida and California), the AS degree has fewer core courses and is not designed to complete the general educational requirements of a Baccalaureate degree. As such, it is more akin to the AAS degree than to an AA degree in that its primary purpose is to prepare students for immediate employment in a specialized area. For certain fields, the degree may form the basis for further study at a four-year institution (typically as a result of an articulation agreement).

In other states (such as Texas), however, the AS degree is something completely different, and both the AS and the AA are designed to prepare students to enter as juniors at an upper level college or university. The basic philosophy in this instance is that the AA degree prepares a student for further study in the liberal arts or the social sciences, while the AS degree is designed to provide a foundation for a program of study in math, science and engineering. In some of these states, both degrees have the same core course requirements, with the AA consisting of more courses in the humanities and less science and math while with the AS it is the reverse. In some cases, the AS degree has fewer core requirements to accommodate a greater number of required math and science courses.

This brings up the importance of articulation agreements. In many states, there is a blanket articulation agreement between the community colleges and the public state-run universities that states that an AA degree fulfills the general education requirements and the first two years of a liberal arts Baccalaureate degree. Moreover, although it is by no means assured, there is a good chance that many institutions will also accept an AA degree granted by an out of state school in a similar manner.

The problem with using an AS degree (even those designed to transfer to a four-year institution) to successfully transfer in as a third-year or upper division student lies in the fact that even within the same state, each department and institution may have different requirements for a degree in the natural and physical sciences. Extreme care must be taken to ensure that each course will transfer and fulfill the course requirements (particularly prerequisites) because most science, math and engineering degrees require you to concentrate on the fundamentals in the first two years. In these cases, an AA may actually be counterproductive, as it will not allow enough time to fulfill these requirements, leaving the student further behind. Those with an AS degree, however, depending on their major, may still have to fulfill more general education courses at their transfer institution.

It is important, therefore, that a student familiarize himself or herself with any existing articulation agreements between the junior or community college and the specific department at a four-year institution to which he or she wishes to transfer. These agreements delineate the exact courses that must be taken so that the AS degree will transfer in full and fulfill the requirements. Without an articulation agreement, the transfer of credits (already problematic for practically all degrees) becomes even more complex, and the likelihood that an individual will transfer having fulfilled all of the requirements to be admitted as a third-year or upper division diminishes. Needless to say, the problem also exists with AA degrees, however, in comparison to AA degrees, AS degrees, because of their specificity, require that they be tailored to a much greater extent to a specific program and institution if they are to successfully fulfill the first half of a Baccalaureate degree.

I guess we can leave the discussion of some of the more specialized Associate degrees such as an Associate in Fine Arts (AFA), Associate Degree in Nursing (AND) or even the Associate in College/University Transfer degree (an individually-negotiated degree for students who plan to transfer to a private or out-of-state college or university offered by at least one school in Texas) for another day.

 

I don't know how other states work, but all the credit from my A.S. degree was accepted towards my B.A.

From what I've seen, here in MA the A.A. and A.S. are both treated as academic degrees, while the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) is the vocational degree.

 

Here in California, I believe that all are accepted in the California State University system. I transferred into the University of California system and 9 or 12 units didn't transfer. If I'd pushed them I might have gotten more (if not all) accepted but that was all that I really needed for them to accept so I didn't bother.

 

As we know, Bill, all degrees are assessed on an individual basis. If your transcript included courses that had equivalents or met the transferring institution’s requirements, they would, of course, have been accepted. Moreover, there are many California schools whose general education requirements are the same for both the AA and the AS. However, as a general rule or as a matter of policy, the following statements are typical of junior or community colleges in California.

• 6. What is the difference between an AA and AS degree?
  AA degrees are more focused on areas of liberal studies ad are generally awarded to students who are transferring to a four year institution. AS degrees are more focused on occupational areas and provide students with job skills that will help them prepare for entry-level jobs.
  —Napa Valley College
  
  Which one is better---an A.A. or A. S. Degree?
  One degree is not necessarily better than another. An A.S. Degree may be better if you plan to get a job and you do not plan to go any further in education. An A.A. Degree may be better if you plan to transfer to a 4-year college and you plan to get a 4-year degree. Keep in mind that you can transfer to a 4-year college with an AS or an AA.
  However, note that you can transfer to a 4-year college with or without an AS or an AA degree. You do not need an AS or an AA to transfer.
  —West Valley College

The bottom line is that whatever degree you pursue (AA or AS) it is important to evaluate each course to determine whether it will meet the requirements for admission, transfer credit, general education, or major prerequisites of the school to which you wish to transfer. Your school's counselor can provide invaluable assistance in this regard. For public institutions in California, The Regents of the University of California maintain a Web site at www.assist.org that lists the articulation agreements between schools.

 

It is not at all surprising, Bruce, that your AS in Criminal Justice was fully accepted in transfer for a Bachelor’s in the same major at an institution in the same state, especially in light of the fact that your alma mater, Quincy College, calls its Criminal Justice program a Criminal Justice Transfer program (see here).

A cursory search reveals that, in addition to Massachusetts, AS degrees issued by most junior or community colleges in Texas, Minnesota, South Carolina, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Louisiana, Wyoming, and Tennessee are also designed for transfer to a four-year institution. However, the Web sites for many of these schools stress that the AS degree is designed for transfer in a specific scientific or technical fields such mathematics, engineering, computer science, the sciences or professional programs that require strong math and science backgrounds. As such, the advice to avail oneself of the school counselor’s expertise, examine any applicable articulation agreements, and pay close attention to the requirements for admission, transfer credit, general education, or major prerequisites of the school to which you wish to transfer is sound.

 

Thanks so much for this link, Gus. What a fantastic site.

I do have a question for you: In your experience, are counselors at community colleges generally knowledgeable about articulation? I have heard many students complain that this is not the case.

 

Like any other field, there are good counselors and others that leave a lot to be desired. Counselors are usually good at helping students plan their schedules and choose the courses necessary to fulfill the requirements for their degree. Most are familiar with blanket (state-wide) articulation agreements such as exists in Florida between the community colleges and the public universities (the situation in Florida is simplified greatly by all the schools using the same course numbering system). I am not so certain that most are familiar with individual articulation agreements, but many have access to that information or can advise a student where to find it. Ultimately, however, a student should not rely on the advice or opinion of a single individual; he or she must take personal responsibility to ensure that a particular degree (and the courses taken) meets his or her needs.

Compounding the problem (and this has not been discussed much) is the cockamamie way some individuals charged with evaluating transcripts accept or deny individual courses for transfer. For example, many years ago, a large state-run institution (which shall remain nameless) accepted my English II course in transfer but not English I (which, of course was a prerequisite for English II), simply because the course description did not match their own. No amount of logic or persuasion could convince the evaluator to change her mind, and appeals to the English department were unsuccessful. The school insisted that I retake English I even though they gave me credit for English II. Unfortunately, this was not the only course to which they applied the same criteria and denied transfer. Needless to say, I took my money elsewhere. This kind of situation underscores the dangers in tailoring a degree to an articulation agreement or for acceptance to a single department or institution. If circumstances dictate that the student attend a different institution, more than likely, the acceptance will not be the same.

 

That's one of the concentrations available, but I actually did the Law Enforcement concentration. Both end with the A.S. degree.

I agree that a student who plans on continuing on to a 4-year school should plan ahead and make sure any credits/degrees will be accepted before they enroll.

 

Another question/comment.

I realize this topic is a bit old, but I came across it in an search on this very subject.

I am in NY State. I earned an A.A.S in Criminal Justice/Police Science from a SUNY Community College.

At the time, my intention was to become a police officer, and I had absolutely no intention of going on to a 4 year.

However, a previously unknown and unforeseen illness hit me, and made being a police officer impossible.

Now, I want to attend a SUNY 4 year and earn a B.S. from there in Criminal Justice. The SUNY Community college I got my AAS from did not offer an AS option in Criminal Justice. The only options were AA and AAS.

Because I took and graduated(3.153 GPA) AAS, I have way more CJ credits than the AA option offered. AND, Every single one of my CJ credits has a transfer equiv at the State 4 year offering the BS. HOWEVER, fewer of my CJ credits will transfer into the BS degree than those of the AA degree from the same community college. It makes absolutely no sense to me. Why would ALL of my AAS CJ degree credits have an equiv at the 4 year, but fewer of them are accepted as CJ BS degree credit, when there are but 4 CJ cores reqs at the 4 year, 4 supporting CJ reqs(select my choice) and 3 CJ Elecs reqs. Of the combined total of 11 CJ courses required for the BS CJ degree, I have only NOT taken the equivalent of 3, and those are Cores.

Listen, I understand the Gen Ed difference between the AS, AAS, and the AA. So, having to take the Gen Eds are not a problem and I fully expected that. But for this school to tell me, when they say they have a transfer agreement with my Community College, that even though each and every CJ course at Community I took has a transfer equiv at State, they will not transfer into my BS degree???? What is that about??? So, essentially I will have to take at State, the EXACT same classes I took at Community, even though State has transfer equivs for each of those classes, simply because there is an extra A in my degree.

BS is right..... Will someone PLEASE explain this to me??? I just don't get it. And frankly I'm ticked.