The degree is an Associate in Applied Science in Administrative/Management Studies. It would be awarded by Excelsior and they list it as an AAS and an AAB depending on where you look on there site. It is only for people with a military background in certain jobs and I appear to meet the requirements. I am only 9 credits away from it and it is pretty cheap. I do not currently have a degree. I am working towards a BA, but I could use a better job in the mean time (I work security). I was thinking this degree might help get me a job in an office or something. Can anyone tell me if this degree would be worth it? Any advice is appreciated, thank you.
If you've been to their website you already know that they are a RA school. But since you only need 9 credits and have no degree at all, what could it hurt to pursue this.
An A.A.S. degree is usually considered vocational rather than academic, so there may be some problems transferring credits to a RA school (except the same school, IMO). Is an A.A.S. degree worth it? IMO, yes. At the very least, it documents that you're capable of doing college-level work and it gets your foot in the door. Just be aware that some RA schools will accept all the credit from an A.A.S. degree in transfer, and many won't.
Does it fit within the BA you are working towards? If so, or almost so, you never know what the future holds. or when an opportunity will present itself. Having the degree will set you apart from the many who do not. OTOH, the BA is an order of magnitude more valuable.
This may be true; however, very few schools (there are a couple I have found) that won't transfer credits in because they see the word "A.A.S." and think vocational. In most cases, they evaluate the degree course by course and see which courses apply to the degree you are transfering into. If you find a degree program that has a fairly liberal elective slot in their program, there is a better chance you can transfer most of the AAS degree. Best Regards, Bill
Thank you for your input. There are two reasons I am considering this degree: 1) I do not currently have one and it would increase my value as a potential employee until I received a BA. 2) I am planning to complete my BA through TESC and I will not have a GPA. I would probably be able to get the AAS with a 4.00 GPA. This would show that although my BA does not have a GPA, I probably did not "scrape by." I think my GI Bill will reimburse me the money for the AAS. I am just afraid that a potential employer may look at the AAS as a waste of time. The "potential employer" I am referring to would be something 9-5ish in an office or similar. I do not want to be a Data Input Clerk, but I do not expect to be an Office Manager either. Just something paying more than my security job now where I am working nights. I do not see much of the wife with my current job and when she is not happy, I am Do you think this AAS would help me achieve those goals or not? I would only be duplicating 6 credits (Excelsior's English requirement). I do not know anyone with an AAS, so that has me wondering why…
cmt, If it's technical - and you've indicated it is - it does add value in the marketplace. But no resume enhancement does any good if your resume or interview skills are poor. Of course, your mileage may vary.
My interview skills are very good (I've been offered a job with every employer I have interviewed with (15-20 interviews)). Based on the amount of interviews I have had in relation to the number of resumes I have sent, I suspect my resume skills are only average. Of course my percentage may increase with the right degree on the resume...?
I believe that this degree would be useful for one applying for an administrative assistant, office manager, or entry level human resources position. When we hire for these types of positions we have discovered that persons who have these degrees are successful. As a minimum, it will open doors for you that are previously closed. Coupled with your military experience, it should be very helpful.
