Associate and Bachelor Degree:

Differences Between Associate and Bachelor Degree:

Associate degree programs are 2-year programs that may prepare students for a career or to transfer into a bachelor's degree program. Bachelor degree programs are usually 4-year courses of study available at colleges and universities that provide more advanced study in a particular major.

Degree Level	Associate's Degree	Bachelor's Degree
Duration	2 years	4 years
Hours / Classes	20 classes	120 hours
Degrees Conferred	Associate of Applied Science Associate of Arts Associate of Science Associate of Fine Arts	Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Business Administration Bachelor of Architecture Bachelor of Fine Arts

Associate Degree:

In this degree students can take courses in preparation for a specific career. Credits earned for an associate's degree can be counted toward completion of a bachelors degree. A student can earn an associate degree at a community college or state university by taking about 20 classes.

 Types of Degree:

Associate degree programs are available as vocational degrees which train students in a specific skill. The coursework completed in either type of program can be transferred to universities all over the country, and many junior colleges are directly linked to local 4-year schools. Vocational degree programs usually award graduates an Associate of Applied Science while transfer degree programs may award an Associate of Art an Associate of Science or an Associate of Fine Arts.

Courses of Study:

Associate degree programs may include studies in fields such as art and design, business, communication, digital animation, dental hygiene, culinary arts, automotive repair, electronics, social work and health information technology. Although many students earn an associate degree as a stepping stone to a 4-year degree, several jobs only require applicants to have an associate's degree, especially those in the healthcare technician and medical assisting fields.

Bachelor Degree:

This degree programs require approximately 120 credits of coursework to complete. A bachelor degree is considered the minimum level of education needed to work in many fields.

Types of Degree:

Bachelor degree include the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Fine Arts. Business, science, education and humanities are popular fields of study offered by most colleges and universities at the baccalaureate level.

Coursework:

Often Bachelor degree program require students to complete general education coursesrequired for all students at the college or university. These classes are referred to as the core curriculum, and may include philosophy, languages, math, science, fine arts, history and English. Students may also tailor their elective courses to complete a minor, which is a set of classes taken together that amount to a recognized specialty that complements the major. For example a major in business administration may be paired with a minor in accounting.