Online Associate Degrees

Associate degrees are generally 2-year degrees, like those conferred at community colleges. Once you earn an associate degree, you typically need another two years, or 60 credit hours, to earn a bachelor's degree. Depending on the field and your work experience, however, an associate degree can serve as an entry-point into the workforce or even boost you into management, if you already have a solid history with a particular employer. Many associate degrees are available online, allowing you to study whenever, and wherever, you choose. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, over half of all degrees earned online are associate degrees--so you're in good company!

An associate degree is a type of undergraduate degree requiring a minimum of 60 semester credit hours. Associate degree programs consist of three parts: general education requirements, major requirements and electives. You can complete an online associate degree at your own pace. Full-time study is equivalent to four semesters at 15 credits hours per semester-about five classes per semester. This takes about two years to complete with summers off. Accelerated online associate degree programs are also available. Online associate degrees require the same commitment as on-campus associate degrees, but they can be completed entirely on the Internet, from the comfort of your home.

Associate degrees are awarded by community, junior and technical colleges, indicating that you have completed a program of study that includes core general education courses and a concentration of courses in a specific area. Your degree may be in an occupational area, such as electrical engineering, or in the liberal arts, such as English or humanities.

At minimum, Associate of Applied Science degrees are now required by employers to enter mid-level technology positions. And online associate degrees in business or liberal arts are widely accepted when transferring into bachelor's degree programs at colleges and universities across the country.

Types of Associate Degree Programs:

Associate of Arts degree (A.A.): This degree is designed to transfer to a four-year college or university.
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.): Designed to prepare graduates for career entry or job advancement after two years of college study. Associate of applied science degrees may transfer in whole, or in part, to four-year colleges. Applied science degrees are sometimes designated by occupational specific titles, such as Associate in Engineering Technology, Associate in Business etc.
Associate of Science (A.S.)Designed to transfer to a four-year college or university.
Occupational degrees: Also referred to as applied degree programs, an occupational degree program at a two-year college is designed to prepare students to enter the workforce immediately following graduation, for example as a veterinary technician or medical assistant. The primary function is career preparation, however, some courses and/or programs may transfer to four-year colleges.

Online Associate Degrees Available

WorldWideLearn.com features universities and colleges offering online associate degree programs in the following disciplines:

Accounting
Arts & Humanities
Business & Management
Criminal Justice
Design
Early Childhood Development
Education
Engineering
Graphic Design

Fire Science
Health Sciences
Hospitality Management
Human Resources Management
Law & Paralegal
Marketing
Social Sciences
Telecommunications
Technology

Looking for an Online Associate Degree?

If you're aiming to earn your online associate degree, continue your research by browsing through the schools below and requesting additional information from any prospective online college.

Pursue your Online Associate Degree today…

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University of Phoenix

At University of Phoenix, we believe everyone deserves access to higher education.

Visit www.phoenix.edu

Campus Locations:

Online

Programs:

A.A. in Health Care Administration-Medical Records
A.A. in Hospitality, Travel, and Tourism

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division

Your creativity is a big part of who you are and where you’re going. To take it, and your future, as far as you want, you need an education that’s focused on developing your talents and putting you on the path toward the creative career that stirs your imagination. A collaborative education at The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta, is all about the work, the students who create it, and the instructors who guide them.

The first step is to explore these areas of study, and think about where you fit in an industry that runs on ideas.

Campus Locations:

Online

Programs:

Kitchen & Bath Design(AS)
Graphic Design (AS)

American InterContinental University Online

AIU’s real-world focus and in-depth specializations can help you stand out in the industry.

Visit www.aiuonline.edu

Campus Locations:

Online

Programs:

Associate's (AABA) - Visual Communication
Associate's (AABA) - Criminal Justice Administration

South University Online

Designed with the needs of working adult students in mind, South University, Online Programs is built on the same curriculum offered at South University's campus locations. As a student at South University, Online Programs you will receive the same degree, quality instruction, variety of learning options and level of service found at the campus locations.

Campus Locations: