Associate Degrees and Their Benefits

Author: Tammy Greene
An associate degree can be defined as the academic degree offered by community, business and junior colleges upon completion of a course, which is normally of two years duration. The acquisition of associate degrees has made the task of pursuing higher education a lot easier. Individuals can increase their chances of attaining a good job rather quickly by simply earning an associate degree.

A good thing about associate degrees is that you get plenty of choices in terms of subjects. To earn an associate degree, you will need a minimum of 60 credit hours. Training in general education requirements and major requirements are given in associate degree programs. Some of the most popular associate degree subjects are mentioned below:

1. Associates degree in Computer Programming
2. Associates degree in Web Design
3. Associates degree in Business
4. Associates degree in Marketing
5. Associates degree in Criminal Justice
6. Associates degree in Arts & Humanities
7. Associates degree in Social Sciences

Types of Associate Degrees

Associate degrees are of two types, namely, transfer degrees and career degrees. Examples of transfer degrees are Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Fine Arts and Associate of Arts in Teaching. On the other hand, examples of career degrees are Associate in Applied Science, Associate in Industrial Technology, Associate in Business Administration and Associate in Occupational Studies. You can categorize associate degrees on the basis of liberal arts requirements.

Online Associate Degree Programs

With the rise of online education, numerous students prefer acquiring online degrees (http://www.onlineedublog.com/) instead of going for traditional programs. Same is the case with associate degrees, where most of the students have turned to online education to acquire their degrees. Online associate degrees are the same as traditional degrees, the difference being that you can complete the course at your own pace in an online associate degree program.

You do not need to attend the lectures and as a matter of fact, you can study by simply downloading all the audio and video lectures and study materials. Online associate degree programs give you the freedom to work while earning a degree. But this will only happen when you manage to find the right online university which provides accredited online associates degrees.

Benefits of Online Associate Degrees

There are several benefits of acquiring online associate degrees. Some of them are:

1. Affordable: Online associate degree programs are cheaper as compared to traditional degree programs. Attending college for a period of four year is quite a costly affair. Students get into a debt of $50,000 or more when earning a college degree. This is not the case when you earn an online associate degree program from one of the numerous online colleges & universities, as you can earn the degree while working somewhere on a part-time or even on full-time basis.

2. More attractive to employers: You may not believe at first but, it is 100% correct that employers give preference to students who have earned associate degrees. When students earn an associate degree even if it is an online associate degree, it increases their knowledge base, and we all know that employers love hiring individuals that are highly qualified and knowledgeable.

3. Less committing: The best part about an online associate degree is that it does not bind you to a particular subject or line of work. By opting for associate degree program, students get the chance to earn a degree that can come in real handy in terms of earning advanced degrees in various other subjects in the future. By enrolling in associate degree program, you can shape your career on the basis of your interest.

With all of these benefits, the acquisition of an online associate degree is even more desirable for individuals who wish to give their careers a head start and even those who simply wish to acquire more knowledge and attain a degree.