| Associate degree programs are a great short-term | | | | straddles both worlds: it is generally intended as a |
| training option for people who want to move quickly | | | | career degree, but could be used to transfer to a |
| from the classroom to the job market. They’re | | | | business degree program at the bachelor level at |
| available at many community and local colleges, and | | | | some four-year schools. |
| often have course schedules that accommodate | | | | Claiming Non-Traditional Credit |
| working adults. Depending on your field, you can | | | | If you find you need to make up general education |
| qualify to pursue many entry-level jobs with an | | | | courses before you can start your bachelor degree |
| associate degree to your name. | | | | completion program, don’t be discouraged. |
| But sometimes, an associate degree is not enough. If | | | | It’s possible to earn college credit based on |
| you’re an associate degree holder who’s | | | | material you’ve learned in your working life or |
| been working for a while, and you’ve decided | | | | during military deployment. You’ll have to prove |
| it’s time for more training, you might be | | | | you understand the material at a college-degree level |
| wondering if you can count your associate towards a | | | | by taking a standardized test. Tests include: |
| bachelor degree. There are now bachelor degree | | | | College-Level Examination Program (CLEP): These |
| completion programs that can help you build on your | | | | exams are accepted by 2,900 colleges and |
| associate degree. These degree completion courses | | | | universities in the United States. Depending on the |
| may be available online as well as on-campus. | | | | transfer institution (and on your score) CLEP exams |
| Here is some general information about what you | | | | can earn up to three credits per exam. Fees apply, |
| need to know before you enroll in a bachelor degree | | | | unless you are an eligible enlisted military |
| completion program. | | | | servicemember, military veteran, or military family |
| All Schools Accept Credit Differently | | | | member. CLEP is owned by the College Board, the |
| First, you need to make sure that the college | | | | company that also administers the SAT to high |
| you’re planning to apply to will accept your | | | | school students. |
| associate degree. Individual colleges and universities | | | | DSST Exams (Formerly Dantes Subject Standardized |
| have the right to accept or reject your previous | | | | Tests): Prometric designed the DSSTs to offer credit |
| credits for any reason, so it’s important to | | | | for experiential learning. About 2,000 colleges accept |
| discuss your situation with a counselor at the | | | | this alternative credit option. Fees apply, unless you |
| institution you want to attend. | | | | are an eligible enlisted military servicemember, military |
| If you earned your associate degree at a community | | | | veteran, or military family member. |
| college, try calling a counselor there to find if they | | | | Before you decide to take any test, make sure the |
| have articulation agreements with any colleges or | | | | school you want to attend will accept the credits if |
| universities. Articulation agreements are a defined set | | | | you pass. And find out what the school’s limit is |
| of terms that create a partnership between | | | | for accepting non-traditional credits—most schools |
| community colleges and four-year schools. These | | | | will only let you pass out of a few classes in certain |
| agreements explicitly lay out terms for transferring | | | | subjects this way. |
| credits from the two-year school to the four-year | | | | Online Bachelor Degree Completion Programs |
| school to complete a bachelor’s degree, often | | | | It’s possible to pursue certain bachelor degree |
| by telling you exactly which courses the four-year | | | | completion programs online. This adds an extra |
| school will accept credits from. | | | | element of convenience and flexibility to your study. |
| Depending on the courses you took, you may need | | | | You can access your online classes from anywhere |
| to make up credits before you can start earning your | | | | at any time, enabling you to attend school while you |
| bachelor’s degree. This is especially true if your | | | | work full-time or care for family members. Online |
| associate degree was a career degree rather than a | | | | education offers additional benefits, such as the |
| transfer degree. | | | | ability to play back lectures more than once, and the |
| Transfer Degrees Vs. Career Degrees | | | | opportunity to meet students from all over the |
| Typically, an associate degree program requires | | | | world, as online programs often have a broad |
| about 20 courses, or 60 credits, to graduate, and | | | | geographical reach. |
| involves a mix of general education and | | | | Whether you decide to study online or on-campus, |
| career-specific classes. “Transfer degrees” | | | | most bachelor degree completion programs should |
| are associate degree programs designed to prepare a | | | | last about two years, provided you’ve met all |
| student for a bachelor degree down the road. To | | | | the requirements before hand. Choose a program |
| that end, transfer degrees have more general | | | | hosted by a regionally accredited |
| education requirements built into the curriculum. In | | | | institution—accreditation is a voluntary process |
| general, if you earned an Associate of Arts, | | | | that ensures schools maintain a certain level of quality |
| Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Arts in | | | | in their degree programs. |
| Teaching, or Associate of Science, you’ve | | | | This article is presented by Colorado Technical |
| earned a transfer degree. | | | | University. CTU offers career-focused degrees at the |
| A “career degree” drops most of these | | | | associate, bachelor, master’s, and doctorate, |
| general education courses to focus entirely on training | | | | including many industry-current bachelor degree |
| graduates to compete for a specific job. This degree | | | | completion options for those with qualifying associate |
| may be called an Associate of Applied Science, | | | | degree credits. |
| Associate in Occupational Studies, or Associate in | | | | Colorado Technical University is accredited by The |
| Industrial Technology. You won’t usually | | | | Higher Learning Commission and a member of the |
| undertake enough general education courses to count | | | | North Central Association. Additional information is |
| many of the credits earned with one of these | | | | available at 312-263-0456 or |
| degrees towards a bachelor degree program. | | | | CTU does not guarantee employment or salary. |
| The Associate of Business Administration degree | | | | |