About AA Degrees

An Associate of Arts (AA) degree is received after completion of a two-year full-time curriculum. The AA degree is often obtained as a precursor to a four-year Bachelor's degree when transferred to a college or university. The AA curriculum is usually basic and general, covering the social sciences or humanities. Community colleges and technical schools are best known for associate's degrees, although some four-year institutions also award the diploma.

Transfer

Many students attend a community college to earn AA degrees because of the savings. Tuition is typically half at community colleges as it is at most state universities. Most state colleges have arrangements with their local community colleges to make sure that transferring students receive all the necessary courses to make their transfer seamless. Some states, such as Florida, have an agreement with schools like Seminole Community College. All students who obtain an AA degree are guaranteed acceptance into one of 12 Florida state universities.

Specialties

While the AA degree curriculum covers the basic courses required for most four-year degrees, students who know which major they will pursue can begin taking electives in those first two years to prepare for junior and senior level coursework. Many students prepare for upper level courses with electives when pursuing degrees in social work and education, engineering, architecture and mass communications.

Entry-level Passage

Many students only want to attend college for two years before seeking employment. While some employment environments may be more competitive than others, entry-level jobs can be had with an AA degree that focuses on graphic design, photography, interior design or drafting. Online technical school such as ITT Technical Institute and Full Sail University offer AA degree programs geared toward building work skills.

Online Job Preparation

There are a number of online schools that offer Associate of Arts degrees for those students who want the degree to land a job. Kaplan University offers AA degrees in paralegal studies, criminal justice and business administration. The American InterContinental University has an Associate in Arts in healthcare administration that can open doors in the healthcare industry. Coupled with a certificate in special training such as a real estate appraiser certificate or a medical coding certificate, the AA degree can be an asset to job hunters.

Online Transfer Programs

While local community colleges offer students a social and educational environment that can compliment the general education experience, there is a plethora of online schools that offer basic AA degrees that are accredited for transfer to any major university. Websites such as Earn My Degree and WorldWideLearn provide links to accredited online schools such as Phoenix and Walden Universities and others that provide transferable AA degree programs.

Resources

• Earn My Degree
• WorldWideLearn