Although almost all people in the world recognize the importance of learning, studying hard for getting a degree is a vague concept that opens numerous questions. Once enrolled in a college, there are different degrees that you can earn after a number of years.
An associate degree is granted to students who are enrolled in college and have completed two years of successfully education in undergraduate courses of studies. In the United States recently, in most colleges the number of international student enrollments has increased.
Associate degrees are commonly referred to as undergraduate degrees. Duration of studies is counted as units or semester credit hours. Each semester has 15 credit hours hence an Associate degree is earned once a student reaches the minimum 4 semesters, equivalent to 60 units or semester credit hours.
International population has contributed to significant changes in the general education structure, allowing studies to earn an Associate Degree and Certificate programs alike, and within the same time frame.
Associate degrees are also awarded by colleges and universities, junior colleges, community colleges and other academic institutions, but in all cases, courses last 2 years. On a side note, these degrees are only awarded in the United States and in a few Canadian colleges.
In other countries, a degree is only earned upon career competition, however in the United Kingdom there is a similar program of studies, known as Foundation Degree, a vocational foundation degree, introduced in 2001.
Taking a degree in-classroom, online or by distance learning makes no difference except for the cost, time and place. Other than these aspects, education and programs are common to all of them, although there is less emphasis on an industry-specific competency.
An Associate degree is more focused on learning the basic academic discipline, than in specialization. Associate degree programs include general education requirements, major requirements, and electives.
Foundations of an academic discipline are awarded with a certificate, rather than a diploma. In the United States, Associated degrees are operated either privately by Junior or technical colleges, or financed with public funds through programs operated by the government in community colleges.
All associated degrees are available through the Internet, but accelerated online programs make it easier to earn a certificate in less time. Otherwise Associate degrees, in some disciplines, such as degrees in liberal arts or business, are accepted for transfer into bachelor's degree programs.
Associated degrees available nationwide include disciplines such as accounting, arts and humanities, business and management, marketing, design, graphic design, early childhood development, education, engineering, fire science, health sciences, hospitality management, human resources management, law and paralegal, criminal justice, social sciences telecommunications and technology.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2001 a worker with an associate degree averaged an extra $128 a week in comparison with others who only earned a high school diploma. Unemployment rates during the same year were more than 30 percent lower for associate degree workers than for high school workers.
Earning an Associate degree also enables students to enter interesting professions, with minimal additional training in the field of electronics, health care and other faster growing occupations
