A Guide to Associate of Science Degrees

The Associate in Science (A.S.) degree is a perfect opportunity for full-time working adults who, despite having a full-time job, want to pursue their education. It is a short-term educational program tailored to scientific or technical subjects.

With this degree, you have the option to complete your course in 2 years, or you can choose to transfer your credit to a four-year bachelor's degree as long as the general education prerequisites are met.

As many individuals taking associate classes work full-time, many community colleges and institutions provide night classes, weekend classes, and online courses to make their educational journey smooth.

An Associate of Science (AS) is a career launcher degree that offers several perks tailored to your goals. With this program, one can qualify for entry-level jobs in the science and technology field as

• Technicians
• Research Assistants
• Specialists in Healthcare
• Engineering
• Information Technology, and more. 

Furthermore, when you are ready to take your education to the next level, you can also use this degree as a stepping stone. One can also seamlessly transfer to a bachelor's degree program and complete the four-year deal in a short span of time, which is pocket friendly and saves your time as well.

For a full-time student, an associate degree typically takes two years. It means participating in both fall and spring semesters over two academic years.

However, certain factors might influence the time factor, which are as follows:

• Part-Time Study

If you are committed to full-time jobs and cannot make enough time, you can take fewer classes per semester and extend the total time to finish this program.

• Accelerated Programs

If you are up for a heavier class load or can attend classes year-round, some colleges and institutions offer accelerated Associate's degree programs that can be completed in 12 to 18 months. 

• Transfer Credits

If you already have earned college credits from previous coursework or exams, you might qualify to apply them towards the Associate's degree, which reduces the graduation time.

The subject option for this program is vast. You can keep it simple by keeping your studies general with math, chemistry, engineering, physics, or biology. However, if you already have a specific profession in mind, you can choose your subject accordingly.

Associate Science Degrees Subjects Include:

• Paralegal studies
• Nursing
• Dental hygiene
• Air traffic control
• Policing 
• Digital media technology
• Criminal justice
• Cybersecurity
• Live entertainment design and production

As a student, you have to be mindful because these subjects are general and might vary depending on the college or university you wish to enroll in.

Some Associate Science Degrees benefits are:

1. Upskilling for Career Changers: This degree will be a major career changer as it equips you with the foundational knowledge and skills to pursue your dream job and enter various science and technology fields. 
2. Fulfills General Education Requirements: By choosing this program, one can fulfill the prerequisite courses needed for a four-year degree without compromising on their busy schedule.
3. Time and Cost-Effective: This course can be done in 2 years in comparison to the University. This saves time and money, especially if and when you are unsure about going to university because you want to enter the workforce faster.
4. Flexible Learning: You can take fewer hours and also use their flexible scheduling options, such as night, weekend, and online courses, allowing you to fit your studies around work or other commitments.
5. Increased Earning Potential: Studies show that individuals with only a high school diploma earn less than people with an AS degree. This means with this degree, you can have a significant increase in earnings over your lifetime.
6. Develop Valuable Skills: Not just theoretical, you can also gain practical skills in laboratory procedures, data analysis, scientific communication, and critical thinking that can translate into valuable assets in many fields.

Despite being an undergraduate degree, an associate degree can help kick-start your career by opening a gate to unlimited possibilities. As an associate in science is a versatile course, you can expect to benefit from a wide range of employment depending on the subjects you choose in college. 

Some of the examples are:

A. Healthcare and Medical Services

Medical and healthcare sectors are demanding, hence, they seek new people very often. If you are wondering what positions of job you might look forward to, some of the specific job positions are:

• Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Dental Hygienist
• Veterinary Technician

B. Technology & Sciences

You can find jobs in almost every sector that manages It systems or provides technical support. Some examples are:

• Web Developer
• Medical Laboratory Technician
• Geological and Petroleum Technician
• Radiologic Technologist
• Environmental Science Technician
• Computer Network Technician
• Soil Scientist
• Chemical Technician
• Biological Technician

C. Social Services

Social Services connects community members with resources to improve the quality of their lives. Therefore, if you are into social work or psychology and wish to have a career in this arena, Social services will become your source. 

Some example jobs in this field include:

• Patient Advocate
• Case Manager
• Social Services Assistant

D. Administration

An associate degree is highly valued by many positions in the Administration department because it requires knowledge and familiarity with databases and specialized terminology.

So, this course can prepare you for roles such as:

• Medical Coder
• Administrative Assistant
• Paralegal

Content Sources:

Indeed

Florida State College at Jacksonville

Mount Wachusett Community College

Southern New Hampshire University