AS Vs AAS Degrees for transfer ?

I was looking through some schools and I noticed some offered A.S (major) and others would offer A.S.S in the same major. While others had an Associates in Science in Applied Science. So I googled to check the difference (which I've found out it's due to the amount of coursework in the major) and I was wondering if a A.S.S could be transferred to a 4 year program. Then I came across this website.

Difference Between AAS and AS | Difference Between | AAS vs AS

"4. A person with an AS degree can get a Bachelor’s degree in two years. On the other hand, a person with an AAS degree will take four years to obtain a Bachelor’s degree."

Anyone knows if this is true ? Had the impression 4 year colleges will look at the courses taken (and not the ASS. degree title) and tell you whats needed to finish your 4 year degree, but I never expect them to tell you to take 4 years worth of credits.

 

If you are looking at the two and plan on transferring, go with the AA or AS degree. You'll have more options.

I have an AAS in electrical technology, and had to go back and complete a number of general education classes for my degree. With an AA or AS, you complete all of those classes as a part of your degree requirements. My AAS degree was between 70-74 hours, and only 24 hours of of those were general education.

That's just my .02. I'm sure there are some AAS programs that will transfer better than mine.

 

Associate of Applied Science degrees are technical in nature, and don't always have the general education courses found in AA/AS degrees. They aren't the best when it comes to transfer because of their somewhat terminal nature, BUT this is starting to change in some cases. For example, the AAS I earned in my Air Force career transfers into some general and computer science bachelor's programs through the AU-ABC program. It still may be a better option to complete an A.A./A.S. if you are specifically interested in transferring, but this is slowly starting to change.

 

as a proud holder of both <cough> the reason I ended up getting an AA is because.....drum roll..... I had to start over.

AAS (also called AOS) degrees are degrees "in" a trade or career. Mine is in culinary arts, but you'll find them in all kinds of things like computers, business, radiology, etc. The roadblock is that the meat and potatoes of that degree are classes from the department that is offering the degree. In fairness, that's what attracts people to these degrees. Afterall, the idea of taking 25 culinary classes vs 7 is a no-brainer for most chefs-to-be. They are hands on, and do exactly what they are designed to do. Which is not attend a university.

While the credit is totally legit and the school is (presumably) regionally accredited, the fact remains that if you're in an AAS/AOS program, you've probably just completed about 68-80 credits (not just 60) in a specific subject that will not make up a university degree. Thus, only the general education courses that you took as part of your AAS/AOS (English + whatever else they designed in = about 15 credits) will transfer neatly.... you simply don't have any credit to bring over.

Let me add, I mentioned above about a culinary degree program containing 25 culinary courses vs 7, that's a real thing. There are many AA and AS culinary programs that are only 7 classes culinary and the rest gen ed. That's great for transfer, crappy if you actually want to learn how to become a chef. So, it's not bad vs good, it's all about the utility of what you need.

Edit: my suggestion is if you're going into an AAS/AOS program, you spend some time also taking gen eds when it's an option (sometimes this is an option- in the program I taught in, the student had the option of taking CUL210 Culinary Nutrition or BIO210 Nutrition - the bio nutrition will transfer while the culinary nutrition won't- so always pick transfer if possible) and use your electives from the liberal arts categories. In addition, it wouldn't hurt to rack up some CLEP exams in math, science, humanities, and social science for later.

Good luck!

 

I currently have 90 credits done (60 lower, 30 upper), completed all my lower level G. Ed and electives and going onto year 4. But I also thought about getting an AAS in a technical area like IT. I've seen some community colleges online, their credit hours are cheap. And I thought if I could go there, do some of their major course work to get an AAS while completing my 4 year BA. That would be cool. Anyone see any problems in this ? I know I'm sort of doing things backwards. But any foreseeable issues that might arise? I've already short listed a CC that I would like to take my classes from.

 

in that case, it wouldn't prevent you from pursuing higher ed, so it would come down to personal preference imo.

 

Yes, their credit hours are cheap. And those silly AAS degrees are, or can be, worth real money. Oh yes, a technical or trade AAS from your local cc may offer the best ROI in all of higher education. Even the sub-degree certificates can make the graduate very employable.

Nursing, for example. Or welding. Or respiratory therapy. Or computer programming. Or...

Frankly, the traditional four year college degree is vastly oversold (and often horribly overpriced!) Good luck convincing parents of that, however.

 

And what is an ASS degree?

 

Oh, c'mon, Ted. I'm sure you know at least a couple of people who hold those degrees. We all do! :smile:

Seriously - my best guess: Associate in Specialized Science? I've seen AST - Associate in Specialized Technology and ASB - Associate in Specialized Business -- so why not, I suppose? These "specialized" degrees are much like "applied" ones, I think - vocationally-oriented.

Johann

 

There are many traditional universities with A.A.S transfer programs in place, which generally transfer upwards of 45 credits (the number traditional required of formal apprenticeship programs) of applied science courses in addition to your general education requirements.

Unfortunately, as I'm currently discovering, many universities do look at the degree that went with your courses. With the credits only transferable, if associated with the proper degree.

 

This is true. It's VERY IMPORTANT to note which department the credits came from. Introduction to Nutrition can look like this:
BIO200
NUT200
ALH200
CUL200

and they'd be taught from biology (BIO), nutrition/dietetics (NUT), allied health (ALH), or culinary arts (CUL). The only one that would transfer as a general education course is biology. The courses could be EXACTLY the same, same text, same catalog course description, same instructor..... the prefix/department is the difference. It's cut and dry.