Online Associate Degrees: The Pros and Cons
Online Associate Degree At A Glance:
- Typically consists of 60 credits (2 years of full-time attendance) - Available in a variety of fields such as business, social sciences, liberal arts, technology, and more - Highest degree that can be earned at a community college
About Online Associate Degrees
Most online colleges offer an online associate degree program. Online associate degrees can typically be earned at junior colleges, community colleges, and four-year colleges. A number of people opt for an online associates degree when considering online study because it requires less time to complete than an online bachelor degree. It is also considerably more affordable.
Online associate degrees can be earned in a number of fields and most career fields have an online associate degree program. The most popular online associate degrees are the Associate of Arts degree and the Associate of Science degree. There are also online associate degree programs for Political Science, Fine Arts, Public Service, Nursing, Business Administration, Physical Therapy, and Graphic Design, to name a few. In most cases, if there's a career field of interest, there is an online associate degree program to go with it.
Advantages of an Online Associate Degree Program
There are many advantages of an online associate degree. While it is the degree that can be completed in the shortest period of time and is the least expensive to complete, it is great for seeking an entry-level position into the particular field of choice. After some time in that field and the degree holder finds that this career track isn't for them, they can pursue an alternate degree without having to worry about spending four years worth of time and money on a degree they won't use.
Disadvantages of an Online Associate Degree Program
There are also some disadvantages to earning an associate's degree. While education and a degree are very important, an associate's degree is in fact the lowest degree on the education hierarchy, and thus some associate degree holders may lose out on a job opportunity to someone with a higher degree.
In Summary
Overall, despite the pros and cons, an online associate degree is a great way to get your foot in the door in a field of interest, and students can become degree holders in no time.
Joy Harrison is an author and writer for a number of educational websites focused on distance learning. Her sites about Online School Reviews and Online College Reviews have helped many students accomplish their goals by furthering their education.
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