Getting an online associates degree can be a great way to further your career. An associate’s degree can be obtained from a variety of accredited universities that offer classes online. In todays job market it is incredibly useful to have some type of degree. Associates degrees do not usually take a long time to complete and they will make you more desirable in the work force.
Usually there are two different types of online degree universities. The first is the school that is strictly online and does not have a traditional campus at all. The second school has online programs that are connected to a university or campus. This campus does not always have to be a large university. Some community colleges offer very good tuition rates and they have great online classes. If you choose a school with an actual campus then it is probably best to make sure that the campus is close enough that you could travel to it fairly easily.
Before finally choosing a school for your online associate’s degree, be sure that you choose one that is an accredited university. Making sure that your school is accredited is one of the most important steps in choosing a school for your online associate’s degree. Non-accredited schools do not offer degrees that will help you in a competitive work force. Another factor for choosing a school is whether that school has happy graduates. Do some research on the schools and look up testimonials from past students. This can help you get opinions from students who have already gone through the experience that you are considering. If you receive mostly negative feedback then you know that that school is probably not a good choice to make.
Before looking for a school, you should choose the degree programs that you wish to pursue. This sounds like an easy task, but many people do not know that there are four main types of associates programs. The Associates of Arts program (AA) is comprised of approximately sixty semester hours. Most of these credits should easily transfer to other universities and programs should you decide to continue your education beyond associates. An Associate of Science (AS) degree is also approximately sixty semester hours. These are also usually easily transferred to another university. The difference between the AA and the AS is that the AS is usually geared towards careers or subjects that are heavily focused in science and math. The other type of associate’s degree is called an Associate in Applied Science (AAS). This degree is designed for students who are not going to continue their education past an associate’s degree. Therefore, AAS credits are not usually transferable. The fourth type of associate’s degree is an Associate in Occupational Studies (AOS). This degree is very similar to AAS degrees. They also do not usually transfer into other programs of study.
After choosing your school and your program of study then you can begin your online associate’s degree program. This is a great way to add another element to your resume that will help make you more competitive in today’s competitive job market.
