Types of Associates Degrees

An associate degree is an academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, four-year universities, business colleges and some bachelor's degree-granting colleges/universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years.

In the United States and, more rarely, Canada, an associate degree is equivalent to the first two years of a four-year college or university degree. It is the lowest in the hierarchy of postsecondary academic degrees offered in these countries.

Common abbreviations are:

• AA (Associate of Arts)
• AS (Associate of Science)
• ABS (Associate of Baccalaureate Studies)
• APS (Associate of Political science)
• AFA (Associate of Fine Arts)
• APS (Associate of Public Service)
• AAB (Associate of Applied Business)
• AAA (Associate of Applied Arts)
• AAS (Associate of Applied Science; or in some cases, Associate of Arts and Sciences)
• AIT (Associate of Industrial Technology)
• AOS (Associate of Occupational Studies)
• ABA (Associate of Business Administration)
• AAT (Associate of Arts in Teaching)
• AF (Associate of Forestry)
• AT (Associate of Technology)
• AE (Associate of Engineering; or, in some cases, Associate in Electronics Engineering Technology)
• AES (Associate of Engineering Science)
• AET (Associate in Engineering Technology)
• AN (Associate of Nursing)
• ASPT-APT (Associate in Physical Therapy)
• AGS (Associate of General Studies)
• ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing)