AS vs AAS

[sanantone]

I didn't realize how old this thread was. LOL.

I wouldn't put the different types of associates degrees on levels. They all serve different purposes. You can get a job with an AA or AS; it depends on the subject. Can you get a job with an AA in paralegal studies? Yes. Can you get a job with an AS in computer science or networking? Sure.

[29palms]

I don't think my AA ever paid off! Seems all jobs I got were via military experience or trade school. I can't think of an instance of getting a job with my AA degree. Maybe females with AA's could land secreterial type work. Heck, even without AA's if they got the looks, they could get jobs as secretaries anywhere. I obtained my AAS only a few years ago, after only combining my AA with my Aviation Mx Tech training and license and in the buisness for a while. I was all ready in place when I got my AAS. Ok, if anything, it helped me gain my AAS degree. I never said an AA was a complete waste of my time, but if you sit on an AA, you're better off with an AAS degree in me opinion.

[dcan]

It depends on your point of view. An AAS is the "lowest" form of degree from a purist academic point of view. From that stance, an AAS or AOS is inferior because it cuts off your chances of pursuing higher academic degrees. Of course, not everyone subscribes to the purist academic view, and colleges have woken up to the fact that the business world can certainly use people with specialized skills, so they started offering more AAS and then BAST degrees. It doesn't mean your degree is "less worthy" just that from the traditional academic viewpoint it is a dead end and therefore a waste of time. But it's only a waste of time if your goal is to pursue a bachelor's or higher. And even then, with BAST degrees that is less of an issue now.

Don't worry. To many academics MBAs are equally useless. Unless you are pursuing a DBA or PhD in business, of course. So it all depends on your point of view.

BTW in the Air Force, completion of a CCAF AAS degree is required for promotion to the top two enlisted ranks. And when your record is reviewed by the board your CCAF AAS degree is listed ahead of all other degrees, even a PhD, because it is a degree specific to your career field.

[Prloko]

You're getting your feathers all ruffled because someone without malevolence two years ago stated an AAS is useless if you're pursuing a Bachelors, but then you go and insult secretaries everywhere by inferring that the only qualifications is good looks. There are some receptionist jobs, where looks and good speaking skills are requisite, but secretarial work requires organization, patience, hard-work, good grammar, computer skills, project management, communication skills, tact and leadership. Some secretaries I knew were smarter than their bosses and some (executive assistants) are pulling six figures in the corporate world. Many of them even have Bachelor's degrees. Working in an office in the Air Force for the past few years has shown me that the secretaries usually do more work and have more responsibility than many of their higher rated GS counterparts.

Just for disclosure, I come from a maintenance background and am now in contracting.

I don't think my AA ever paid off! Seems all jobs I got were via military experience or trade school. I can't think of an instance of getting a job with my AA degree. Maybe females with AA's could land secreterial type work. Heck, even without AA's if they got the looks, they could get jobs as secretaries anywhere. I obtained my AAS only a few years ago, after only combining my AA with my Aviation Mx Tech training and license and in the buisness for a while. I was all ready in place when I got my AAS. Ok, if anything, it helped me gain my AAS degree. I never said an AA was a complete waste of my time, but if you sit on an AA, you're better off with an AAS degree in me opinion.

[cookderosa]

All that may be true, but my point is that I don't consider my AAS a lower degree than an AA.

Ok, let's keep to the facts. There are not lower or higher quality standards for AAS/AOS degrees vs AS/AA degrees. The difference is that AAS/AOS degrees are taught from the issuing department, while the AS/AA are taught through liberal arts departments. The AAS/AOS will "transfer" into a four year program, but where the credits go is the issue. An AAS/AOS degree may have 60ish credits. If 54 of them are issues from a specific department (trade) and you took that degree to TESC for a BA in Liberal Arts, after you fill the 18 free elective slots, you've used up the slots. There simply isn't anywhere to put the credit. In other words, you've "lost" all but 2 classes in the transfer.

This is not a flaw, it's just a fact.

An AAS/AOS is an associate degree. It's not better than, less than, or equal to any other associate degree. It is simply an option among other options.

If you read my first comments in this thread "If you have the option, and all things are equal, you should get the AS" is true. It is also true that most colleges do not offer the option. Most colleges have a single program and a single award for that program, so if a person DOES have the choice, the AS/AA is going to edge out the AOS/AAS in a few categories.

If you'll notice in my siggy line, I have both an AOS and an AA. Those are independent degrees. I completed 83 AOS culinary credits, and then, completed 62 AA credits. There was no transfer.

[Stitching Belle]

This is all very interesting to me. I must admit, I never considered getting an Associate's degree of any type, in any field, until I found this board. Based on the information I found here I decided to pick up an AAS in Environmental, Safety and Security Technologies along with my BALS.

Why? Simple. It took no additional money (unless you want to consider the additional graduation fee) and no additional classes, and it gave me a degree that has some amount of specialization to it. At this point in my life I really don't expect that my work life will change because I have EITHER degree, but then, who knows what the future holds? At least I'll have a degree that sounds as if I'm qualified to do something besides make cocktail party conversation on a wide variety of topics! (Hey, I'm not knocking a Liberal Studies degree--I'm getting one myself! This is a long-standing joke with some friends of mine and I who are all relatively accomplished and all have--or are about to complete--Liberal Arts or Liberal Studies degrees.)

[29palms]

How many male secretaries do you know of? Please bro. I have an AA, I think its a joke to be honest with you. It's just taking general courses. If you want to compare AA with common sense smarts, that's a different story. Frankly, if you want to be a banker, why must one take trig and calculus. Don't you think it makes more sense to stick with percentages and I=PRT type formulas? Aside someone whom is connected in a family business, do you know of anyone ever landing a job based on an AA degree? Besides secretaries? I want to hear this. Maybe I missed out on jobs alot.

You're getting your feathers all ruffled because someone without malevolence two years ago stated an AAS is useless if you're pursuing a Bachelors, but then you go and insult secretaries everywhere by inferring that the only qualifications is good looks. There are some receptionist jobs, where looks and good speaking skills are requisite, but secretarial work requires organization, patience, hard-work, good grammar, computer skills, project management, communication skills, tact and leadership. Some secretaries I knew were smarter than their bosses and some (executive assistants) are pulling six figures in the corporate world. Many of them even have Bachelor's degrees. Working in an office in the Air Force for the past few years has shown me that the secretaries usually do more work and have more responsibility than many of their higher rated GS counterparts.

Just for disclosure, I come from a maintenance background and am now in contracting.

[29palms]

And to me, that was a very smart move on your part. When I tell people even with bachelors degrees that I have an AAS in Aviation Mx Technology, their eyes open up. Especially when I tell them I've been in the business for 20 years and fly free. An AAS shows you specialized in something. You found a cheap way to do something to get gainfully employed. Like you, my AAS didn't hardly cost me more being I had a previous AA and Aviation maintenance with FAA license. A degree in this looks far greater than an AA in my line of work. You can always build on your AAS as your doing now. And hopefully, I will too.

This is all very interesting to me. I must admit, I never considered getting an Associate's degree of any type, in any field, until I found this board. Based on the information I found here I decided to pick up an AAS in Environmental, Safety and Security Technologies along with my BALS.

Why? Simple. It took no additional money (unless you want to consider the additional graduation fee) and no additional classes, and it gave me a degree that has some amount of specialization to it. At this point in my life I really don't expect that my work life will change because I have EITHER degree, but then, who knows what the future holds? At least I'll have a degree that sounds as if I'm qualified to do something besides make cocktail party conversation on a wide variety of topics! (Hey, I'm not knocking a Liberal Studies degree--I'm getting one myself! This is a long-standing joke with some friends of mine and I who are all relatively accomplished and all have--or are about to complete--Liberal Arts or Liberal Studies degrees.)

[sanantone]

And to me, that was a very smart move on your part. When I tell people even with bachelors degrees that I have an AAS in Aviation Mx Technology, their eyes open up. Especially when I tell them I've been in the business for 20 years and fly free. An AAS shows you specialized in something. You found a cheap way to do something to get gainfully employed. Like you, my AAS didn't hardly cost me more being I had a previous AA and Aviation maintenance with FAA license. A degree in this looks far greater than an AA in my line of work. You can always build on your AAS as your doing now. And hopefully, I will too.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the AAS in Environmental, Safety & Security Technologies is useless. It has everything to do with the subject and nothing to do with the type of degree. I have had the degree for 8 months and it has not gotten me one interview. It's rarely applicable to any job opening because most safety and emergency management jobs require a BS. Now I wish I hadn't taken the freebie because I want associates in computer studies and biology, but TESC has a two associates degree limit.

I've seen plenty of lab tech jobs that just require an associates and the type does not matter because employers only care about the number of science credits you have. An associates in anything is often required at large police departments.

[29palms]

Did you get this AAS in ESS in the hopes of getting a job or did you have previous experience in the field, or currently working in the field? It took me 2.5 years to actually break into the aviation field. Everyone was laying off when I got my license. Some airlines were going out of buisness like PANAM for one. I can't speak to why you haven't got a job in that field in 8 months but that isn't saying much. Alot of people are unemployed, degree or no degree in this economy. You think a BA in that field would put you in a job interview in any greater light? You know, I heard the same thing when I was going to aircraft mx school. "You won't get a job, its a waste of money, they won't hire you, aviation is slow and volatile". In the end its all up to you to get the job. Going to school is the EASY PART!!! (Can I ask you something, and I'm not trying to sound nor be sarcastic. How hard did you really work for this degree? What did they take in FEMA credits? Like half or more?) I know darned well it took me longer to get 3 credits in Industrial Relations out of LSU than it took me 17 credits of Fema. Consider FEMA a subsidized government freebie to us students. (Hope I don't step on too many toes here heheheh.....)

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the AAS in Environmental, Safety & Security Technologies is useless. It has everything to do with the subject and nothing to do with the type of degree. I have had the degree for 8 months and it has not gotten me one interview. It's rarely applicable to any job opening because most safety and emergency management jobs require a BS. Now I wish I hadn't taken the freebie because I want associates in computer studies and biology, but TESC has a two associates degree limit.

I've seen plenty of lab tech jobs that just require an associates and the type does not matter because employers only care about the number of science credits you have. An associates in anything is often required at large police departments.