One of the first questions many students or prospective students ask when they learn about the two-year degree they can earn through practically all junior colleges and some traditional universities is, “How many credits are required for an associate degree?”
This question crosses the mind of many students during the course their college career. While you earn your degree, your life may change dramatically. New obligations, different goals and new opportunities present themselves and often you have to act fast to take advantage of them. An associate degree allows you to do so.
An associate degree is an undergraduate degree typically awarded after roughly two years of study by a full-time student. For most learning institutions, this typically represents roughly 60 credits. However, depending on your individual situation, receiving an associate degree can take more than two years or less.
Why You May Want an Associate Degree
An associate degree can help provide you with immediate access to the workforce in the field of your desired profession. In addition, the college-credit transfer process for your school may be more complicated than you initially thought or otherwise take longer than expected. An associate degree serves as a demarcation line in your college career before you obtain a bachelors degree. This way while you complete your college credit transfer requirements, if you need to work, having an associate degree verifies to potential employers that you have achieved a certain level of proficiency.
Credits for an Associates Degree
Figuring how many credits for an associate degree largely depends on the college career path you have selected. Every school’s undergraduate program has specific requirements that enable you to complete your degree. As a result, the total number of credits and courses needed to receive an associate degree varies by subject matter and school selection.
However, the accepted rule of thumb for most schools is that an associate degree is approximately 60 credits.
This is when your college credit hours follow the semester system. These 60 credit hours of undergraduate coursework equal roughly 20 college courses. For schools on the quarter system it is about 90 credits to qualify for an associate degree. You can use these figures as guidelines but the amount of credits you need for an associate degree may differ.