Degrees

Florida Community College offers three different associate degree programs. See degree and certificate programs for a complete list.

A.A. Degree

The associate in arts (A.A.) degree is designed for students who plan to transfer to a university and work towards a bachelor’s degree. It involves a broad range of general education requirements including 36 credits of communications, mathematics, humanities, natural science, and social science requirements. Because the A.A. is intended for transfer, it does not prepare you with specific job readiness skills the way an Associate in Science degree does (described below).

The advantage of the A.A. degree is that it is the most direct route to a higher degree (bachelor’s, master’s, etc.) at the university. In most (but not all) cases, the more education you achieve, the greater opportunities you will have in the world of work.

There are literally hundreds of majors to choose from with an A.A. degree, everything from art to zoology. More information about majors may be obtained after you get settled in school, by calling the counseling and advising office and making an appointment to meet with a counselor or adviser.

If you desire additional information, link to A.A. degree facts.

A.S. and A.A.S. Degrees

The associate in science (A.S.) degree is designed to prepare students for an entry-level job in a particular area of specialization. The A.S. requires fewer general education courses (only 15 credits instead of 36) than the A.A. degree. Most of the courses you take in an A.S. degree program will be directly related to the kind of work you are preparing for.

At this time, only the general education courses in the other A.S. degrees are guaranteed to be transferable. For more information about transfers, visit the transfer services Web pages.

The primary difference between the A.S. degree requirements and the associate in applied science (A.A.S.) degree requirements is in the mathematics course(s) required. A.S. degrees require a course at the level of College Algebra (MAC 1105) or higher; many A.A.S. degree only require Intermediate Algebra (MAT 1033).

Note: If you want career preparation with a minimum of educational requirements and don’t necessarily desire a degree, a technical certificate may be an alternative.

A complete list of A.S, A.A.S., and certificate programs may also be found in the catalog at A.S./A.A.S./technical certificate.

If you want specific information about any of the A.S., A.A.S., or college credit technical certificate programs, you may also contact the program advisors.

If you decide on one of the A.S., A.A.S. or certificate programs, you should contact the program advisor for further information (names and telephone numbers are available from the counseling office).

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