
An
associate degree is a college degree awarded after the completion of
about 20 courses. It either prepares students for a career following
graduation or allows them to transfer into a bachelor's degree program.
Associate degrees are available from public community colleges, private
2-year colleges, for-profit technical institutes, and many 4-year
colleges and universities. An associate degree program can prepare you for
many exciting careers in science, technology, engineering, and
healthcare. Compared with those whose highest level of educational
attainment was a high school diploma, those with an associate degree
earn much more -- especially over the course of a career.
Associate
Degree Statistics
According to recent U.S. Department of
Education data, over half a million associate degrees were awarded in
the U.S. during the 1999-2000 academic year; this was approximately one-fifth (19.1
percent) of the 3,010,714 degrees conferred. A total of 573,620
associate degrees were conferred by degree-granting
postsecondary institutions in the 50 states, the District of Columbia,
and outlying areas that year; men earned 228,958 and women earned
344,662.
Public
vs. Private
Most
associate degrees are conferred by public institutions. Of the 573,620 noted
above, 452,933 were earned at public institutions, 48,463 were earned at
private not-for-profit institutions, and 72,224 were earned at private
for-profit institutions. There are more than 1,600 schools that
primarily offer associate degrees. Things to consider when selecting a
program are the schools' accreditation status, job placement rate, transfer
rate, and course offerings.
Accreditation
Several
government-approved organizations evaluate and
accredit schools. The
approval of these organizations signals that a school meets basic
academic and financial standards. There are seven accrediting
organizations approved by the U.S. Department of Education, one for each
of seven regions.
Beyond broad school
accreditation, specific programs are also accredited.
Professional and industry associations or organizations -- such as ABET
for engineering, and the American
College of Veterinary Medicine for veterinary technicians -- also accredit
programs that train professionals for specific occupations.
Click here for more information about
program accreditation.
Associate
degree careers
To be career-ready in 2 years, students need to choose an
occupational major early in their school career. And there are
plenty of options. An associate degree is the most significant
source of training for several occupations in science, technology, and
engineering. Earning an associate degree will affect the amount of
responsibility workers have in an occupation. For example, science
technicians with associate degrees often help to set up experiments
and interpret results -- a greater level of responsibility than the
routine tasks assigned to those whose highest level of educational
attainment is a high school diploma. Following are some of the career
areas available to workers with an associate degree.
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Engineering
Technology.
Programs in engineering technology are usually either at the
associate or bachelor degree level. For example, electrical engineering
technology students design and test radio frequency
equipment, fiber optics, computers, or laboratory
equipment, depending on the degree program. Chemical
engineering technology students prepare to work in laboratories or
chemical plants. Find out more about
engineering technology.
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Healthcare.
This is one of the largest -- and most lucrative -- career fields
for those with an associate degree. Associate degrees are a
significant source of training for several healthcare occupations. For
example, more than half of all registered nurses and
dental
hygienists have this degree. Physical
therapy assistants and occupational therapy
assistants usually need an associate degree to be certified.
Radiation therapists; respiratory therapists; diagnostic workers,
such as radiologic technicians, diagnostic medical sonographers, and
EKG technicians; and many technicians, including orthotists and
clinical laboratory technicians, also often earn associate degrees.
Many schools have additional requirements for admission to
healthcare programs, including a minimum grade point average and
completion of high school science classes.
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Sciences.
An associate degree in the natural sciences, such as
biology, chemistry, or physics, prepares students for work as
science technicians. Many graduates find work in laboratories,
helping scientists conduct research by setting up experiments,
taking measurements, and writing reports. Others work in chemical,
medical, or electronics production plants, performing work such as
checking products for quality and troubleshooting plant machinery.
Forensic science technicians also can train with an associate
degree, although bachelor's degree holders predominate in many
States. Although a degree is not always required for science
technicians, it gives students more opportunities and the chance to
do more challenging entry-level work.
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Veterinary
technicians.
Veterinary technicians nurse animals, assist during surgery, prepare
medicines, and perform laboratory tests. Many technicians have an
associate degree; in fact, most States now require veterinary
technicians to have one, and technicians need a degree before the
American College of Veterinary Medicine can certify them. Veterinary
technician
students study anatomy, biology, medicines and chemistry,
and medical procedures. Find out more about
veterinary technology.
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