AS vs AAS

[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.