Difference Between AAS and AS
AAS vs AS
AAS, or Associates in Applied Science, and AS, or Associates in Science, are degrees awarded in various capacities.
When talking about the curriculum, the AS degree mainly focuses on liberal arts, and the topics include English, science, math, social science and history. One thing is that a few classes are dedicated to the major subject, and the majority of the classes will be related to other subjects, like English, social science and history.
In contrary to the Associates in Science degree curriculum, the Associates in Applied Science degree curriculum focuses mainly on the major subjects. When compared to the AS degree, there will be only a few classes in English, science, math, social science and history.
The Associates in Applied Science is known as vocational degree, and stands alone. It does not stand as a foundation of a Bachelor’s degree. While an AS degree could be transferred to a university, an AAS degree cannot. This means that a person with an AS degree can get a Bachelor’s degree in two years. On the other hand, a person with an AAS degree will take four years to obtain a Bachelor’s degree.
The Associates in Science degree has an academic/research approach. On the other hand, Associates in Applied Science has a technical approach. The Associates in Applied Science equips a person to enter the workforce directly, whereas the Associates in Science degree gives the person an opportunity to pursue his Bachelor’s degree.
A person with an Associates in Applied Science degree gets a far better salary than one who has an Associates in Science degree.
Summary:
1. The Associates in Science degree mainly focuses on liberal arts, and the topics include English, science, math, social science and history. The Associates in Applied Science degree curriculum focuses mainly on the major subjects.
2. The Associates in Applied Science equips a person to enter the workforce directly, whereas the Associates in Science degree gives the person an opportunity to pursue his Bachelor’s degree.
3. While an AS degree could be transferred to a university, an AAS degree cannot be transferred.
4. A person with an AS degree can get a Bachelor’s degree in two years. On the other hand, a person with an AAS degree will take four years to obtain a Bachelor’s degree.
5. The Associates in Science degree has an academic/research approach. On the other hand, Associates in Applied Science has a technical approach.
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While this is generally a good description of the difference between an AS and an AAS degree, the statement that a person who obtains an AAS degree will need four years to complete a Bachelor’s degree is not accurate.
Courses completed in pursuit of an AAS degree are just as transferrable to a Bachelor’s program as are those completed in pursuit of an AS degree. The candidate who holds an AAS degree will likely have to take more courses in the liberal arts to complete a Bachelor’s program, but would have to take correspondingly fewer courses in his or her major.
It may take slightly longer to complete a Bacheolor’s degree with an AAS as a foundation, but certainly not a full two additional years.
What would happen if you were taking classes for an A.S degree then switched degrees after satisfying the requirements for the AAS degree, thereby leaving just the liberal arts classes? Aren’t the classes the same, just applied towards different degrees? It seems like a rip-off for no apparent reason other than a change of heart or wanting to finish earlier to be penalized like that and for some much money.
Thank you for the clarification.
I know this is an old article, but it needs to be updated or deleted.
Transferability of credits has nothing to do with the type of degree awarded. The college accepting credits will determine whether they will accept credits or not. Traditionally, regionally accredited credits are accepted everywhere and nationally accredited varies with a lower acceptance rate.
associate’s degree or an associate degree, never associates degree as written in the article