Online Associate's Degree or Online Bachelor's Degree?
- There are important differences between the Associate's degree and the Bachelor's degree
- It may be better to earn each degree at more than one school
- Some careers do not require a Bachelor's degree
Which Is Right for Me?
It's not easy to go back to school. First you have to navigate a bewildering array of schools all clamoring for your attention, making sure to pick right one that meets your unique needs at a price you can afford.
Then you have to decide which course of study is the right one for you.
After all that, however, there's one more choice to make, and it's no less important than the others: should you pursue an Associate's degree or a Bachelor's degree?
Is There a Difference?
The first thing is to understand what the difference is between each degree. The simple answer is that an Associate's degree is designed to be earned with two years of full time study, and a Bachelor's degree is designed to be earned with four years of full time study. But it's a little more complex than that.
Some kinds of jobs become available with an Associate's degree. others not until you have a Bachelor's degree or beyond. Some Bachelor's degree programs will take most or all of the credit from an Associate's degree program, and others might not.
Let's take a closer look.
The Associate's Degree
The Associate's degree is also called a two year degree because it normally takes two years of full time study to complete.
The Requirements of an Associate's Degree
They require general education credits, which means a few courses in a number of different subjects, but not as many as Bachelor's degree programs. Also, unlike Bachelor's degree programs, you don't necessarily have to decide what your major will be; you can earn your whole Associate's degree in general education if you wish.
The good news is that there are a number of professions where an Associate's degree is enough to get started. These are primarily medical professions, including:
- Nursing,
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography,
- X-Ray Technician,
- Medical Assisting,
- Medical Laboratory Technician,
- Occupational Therapy Assistant,
- and Physical Therapy Assistant.
The bad news is that most of these professions have a hands-on clinical component that doesn't work well with distance learning. However, there are a few online Associate's degree programs in Medical Assisting, such as that from Keiser University.
The main advantages of the Associate's degree are that it takes less time to earn, and you'll spend less money to earn it.
The Cost of an Associate's Degree
The tuition half as much (it may be even less), because schools that concentrate on Associate's degrees often cost less than those that also offer Bachelor's degrees. For example, many community colleges now offer courses online, and those that do often charge the lowest tuition rates around.
The Bachelor's Degree
The Bachelor's degree is also called a four year degree, or in some countries a "first" degree. It's meant to be completed in four years of full time study. Unlike an Associate's degree, you will have to decide on a major course of study.
Many professions prefer or even require job applicants to hold a Bachelor's degree. Most positions in Management and other Business Administration fields such as Accounting and Finance look for a Bachelor's degree. Counseling requires a Bachelor's degree (or often even higher). Many office jobs require a Bachelor's degree as a way of weeding out candidates.
The main advantages of the Bachelor's degree are that they open many more doors when it comes to employment and higher study. However, they're more expensive to earn than Associate's degrees, and they take longer to complete.
Associate's Degree as the First Half of a Bachelor's Degree
If you're planning for the long term, you may want to consider an Associate's degree first, but as part of an overall effort to earn a Bachelor's degree. There are a number of professions where a Bachelor's degree is preferred, but an Associate's degree can help you get an entry-level position.
- Criminal Justice,
- Legal Assistant,
- and Graphic Design
are often accessible to someone with an Associate's degree. There are often entry-level positions in Information Technology open to Associate's degree holders, provided that you know what you are doing and have some technical certifications to show your level of experience and expertise.
Studying at More than One School
One way to do this is to earn your Associate's degree at one school and your Bachelor's degree from another school. It's possible to save a lot of money doing this, but if you go this route, you'll want to take special note of credit transfer issues.
In particular, there can be differences among Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science programs in how well their credits will transfer.
Where do you want to study for your Bachelor's degree? Contact your "Bachelor's degree" school. Find out if they have any credit transfer policies, and what those policies are. Those policies will help you determine what courses to take at your "Associate's degree" school.
If the two schools have an articulation agreement, that's even better, because that means the schools have already made it clear which credit will transfer.
Another advantage of studying at more than one school? You can get all of your general education requirements out of the way at the Associate's degree level, and concentrate entirely on your field of interest at the Bachelor's degree level.
In addition, while salaries are statistically higher for Bachelor's degree holders than Associate's degree holders, having an Associate's degree can mean more pay than having no credentials at all.
Which Is Best for You?
Having trouble deciding which degree is right for you? Consider the following:
An associate's degree might be best for you if:
- You want to minimize the amount of time and effort you spend in school right now.
- You're interested in a field like Nursing or Allied Health, where an Associate's degree is enough to get your foot in the door.
- You want to earn a credential as quickly as possible even though your long term goal is a Bachelor's degree.
A bachelor's degree might be best for you if:
- You're ready to make a larger investment of time and money in your education
- You're interested in a field like Management or Information Technology, where employers usually prefer a Bachelor's degree.
- You already have transfer credit and are interested in a degree completion program.
Still can't decide? Come visit the eLearners.com Community and ask for advice from our friendly, knowledgeable community!
Steve Foerster is an educational technologist and consultant based in Alexandria, Virginia. He serves on the Community Council of WikiEducator, a project that develops free educational materials for use in the developing world.
Comments for Online Associate's Degree or Online Bachelor's Degree?:
0 comment(s)