An AA degree, or Associate of Arts degree, is a two-year undergraduate degree typically requiring the completion of about 60 credit hours. It is designed primarily for students who plan to transfer to a four-year university to complete a bachelor's degree, often entering as juniors after transfer
. The AA degree focuses on liberal arts, humanities, and social sciences, providing a broad foundation in general education subjects such as writing, communications, history, mathematics, and social sciences
. It develops key skills like communication, critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and technological literacy, which are valuable for many career paths
. AA degree programs usually consist of general education courses in the first year and more specialized courses related to a student's intended major or interests in the second year. The degree can prepare students for entry-level jobs across various fields or serve as a stepping stone toward a bachelor's degree
. In summary:
- Duration: About 2 years, 60 credit hours
- Focus: Liberal arts, humanities, social sciences
- Purpose: Transfer to 4-year university or enter workforce with foundational skills
- Skills developed: Communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, quantitative reasoning
- Common fields: Business, social services, arts, humanities, general education
This degree is distinct from an Associate of Science (AS) degree, which focuses more on math and sciences, and from applied associate degrees which are more career-specific and not always designed for transfer
