Online Associate Degree Programs

Earn an associate degree online from distance learning colleges

Earning your online associate degree puts you on the fast track to success and allows you to get started in a new career after just two years of study, without having to attend a traditional college or university.

As with a more traditional classroom, earning an accredited associate degree online requires a minimum of 60 credit hours in the U.S. or Canada. However, with an online degree program, you can do the work at your own pace. You can even get your associate degree online through an accelerated program.

An accredited online associate degree program will prepare you to enter a career of your choice or move on a bachelor degree program to further your education.

According to research conducted by the Babson Survey Research Group for the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, almost 3.5 million students were enrolled in at least one online course during the fall, 2006 semester.

In addition, the highest growth rates for attendance exist in two-year online associate degree programs, which account for half of all online enrollments over the last five years. Clearly, a growing number of students are discovering the flexibility and accessibility of earning an associate degree online.

Where Can You Study For an Associate Degree Online?

You can earn your associate degree online through a community, junior, or technical college, or through an online university. It is important to choose an accredited online associate degree program as well as ensure the education you pay for can be transferred to other colleges and will be recognized by potential employers. You can earn an associate degree online in a variety of areas, including business, liberal arts and numerous specialized careers. Best of all, you can do the work at your own pace, which will enable you to successfully balance your academic commitments with your other responsibilities.

Which Associate Degree Online Program is Right for You?

Most colleges offer one of four basic types of online associates degree programs:

• An Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree is the credential you earn after completing two years of study. The presumption for an A.A. is that you plan to continue your education at a 4-year college. Thus, the coursework completed toward your A.A. can be transferred to a 4-year degree.
• An Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree prepares you to immediately enter the career field or pursue a four-year degree at a college or university.
• An Associate of Science (A.S.) degree is specifically designed to prepare you to transfer into a four-year college or university with a concentration in mathematics, natural sciences or technology.
• An Occupational Degree (O.D.), which is also called an applied degree program, is designed to prepare you for work toward a specific degree. Some credits may also be transferred to a four-year degree program at a college or university.

Majors Within an Online Associate Degree

Some examples of the exciting areas of study you can pursue with an online associate degree include accounting, business management, education, criminal justice, technology, marketing, law and paralegal, health sciences, arts and humanities, and graphic design.

Earning an associate degree online from an accredited online college allows you to enjoy tremendous flexibility while you master the skills you need to enter the job market or pursue the advanced degree of your choice.

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