What is an Associate Degree?
An Associate Degree is the first step in your Education
Sure, we've all wondered it at one point or another: what is an associate degree? Is it worth the time and money it takes to get one? Can I find a job with an associate degree?
An associate degree is a type of undergrad degree; think of it like the first stepping-stone after high school graduation. First you get your associate degree. Then you get your Bachelor's degree. Then you get your Master's, and so on. An associate degree is your first step down a long road of hefty degrees.
Or, you don't have to keep going. Many people go to school and get their associate degree, and then are able to find a job immediately. It all depends on what field you get into.
Associate degrees are usually 60 credit hours worth of classes. The learning experience is divided into three major parts: your major classes, your electives, and your general education classes.
Your major classes are those classes that specifically relate to what degree you're going for. So, if you're going for graphic design, let's say, your major classes will be Graphic Design 101, Digital Design, 3-D Design, Color Theory, Photoshop, and other core classes like these. These are the classes you absolutely have to pass to get this degree.
Now, your electives are going to be classes you take to get to your 60 hours, but you've got some wiggle room here. You can take Art History, or Web Design. Your electives are generally going to be focused on your major, but you have the freedom to pick what you want to learn about.
Your general education classes are going to be the classes that everyone at the school has to take, no matter what major they're going for. Classes like Psychology, Algebra, U.S. History, English and Literature, and Philosophy are usually included in general education. This is what helps your education become so "well rounded".
So, what areas can you get your associate degree in? Well, there are more than a few to choose from. Here are a few to give you an idea of what your options are: Accounting, Web Design, Nursing, Electronics, E-Commerce, Computer Animation, Early Childhood Education, Marketing, Criminal Justice, Paralegal Studies, Management, Computer Science, and Psychology.
And trust us, this is only the tip of the iceburg!
The nice thing about associate degrees is that you can choose to go to a brick and mortar school, or you can get your degree online. There are hundreds of online universities that offer online associate degrees, and many students come away from their experience satisfied. Now that more and more online universities are seeking third party accreditation (to ensure they keep the same high-standards as their brick and mortar locations), you can rest easy knowing that even though you're going to get your associate degree online, you're still getting a top-notch education.
