Difference Between A.A. and B.A. Degrees
If you're looking into getting an undergraduate degree, you may not know that there are 2 kinds--AA and BA. An AA is an Associate's of Arts, and a BA is a Bachelor's of Arts. A BA often takes 4 years of full-time study, while an AA will take 2 years. The time spent is not the only difference between AA and BA degrees, though. The degrees also vary in the fields of study available, perks and purpose.
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Credit Hours
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One of the most noticeable differences between AA and BA degrees are the credit hours. AA degrees require a minimum of 60 credit hours. BA degrees require a minimum of 120 hours. Most classes are at least 3 credit hours each.
Function
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An AA degree may be used to help transition you into a BA program or start your career. A BA degree is wider in scope and is meant to be a terminal undergraduate degree, allowing you to enter a graduate program or get a job.
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Cost
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AA degrees often cost less because you can take classes at community colleges for less, partially because the tuition is less and partially because there are fewer classes to take. BA degrees, even at public universities, normally have higher tuition and require you to take twice as many classes.
Campus Life
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Universities that offer you the chance to get a BA degree will offer sororities, fraternities, sports, and housing--things that most colleges with AA degrees don't have to offer you.
Class Size
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Colleges that offer AA degrees may run a class as small as five students, but universities who offer BA degrees tend to use lecture halls with potentially hundreds of students. Your classes at a university may even be taught by a TA--a graduate student filling in for the professor.
Misconceptions
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AA degrees are not worth less than BA degrees, depending on the field you choose to study.
Admission
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Requirements for admission vary for BA programs, but AA programs are open. Community colleges, for instance, do not require anything but a GED or High School Diploma, and developmental classes are offered to help bring you up to speed.
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