What is an Associate’s Degree?

An Associate’s Degree is considered an undergraduate degree. Some of the courses required are not directly related to Psychology, but are useful to success in Psychology courses and to gaining a higher degree later on. Those courses, such as English, often help students learn skills that are helpful within a job too. Most colleges require further English, Science and Math courses beyond high school levels, in addition to Psychology courses.

Some of the psychological theories and concepts may seem strange at first, but most students who stick with it find that the content becomes more clear. Many students also feel frustrated with these foundation courses because it's difficult to see how they will ever be able to apply the knowledge. Again, in time and with further study, most students find that the knowledge they've gained is applicable to whatever work they do with people.

An Associate's Degree is usually considered a paraprofessional degree. You might be able to work serving people as an aide or in another entry level position within a mental health, developmental disabilities or another human service organization with an AA or an AS. With an Associate's Degree, you would probably be supervised by someone with a higher degree or more experience.

AA in Psychology

An AA in Psychology is an Associate in Arts Degree with a major in Psychology. Students working towards an AA in Psychology must usually take the basic courses required for any Associate's Degree, such as one or more English courses and perhaps one or more Science, Math, History or Foreign Language courses. They are also required to complete certain Humanities and Psychology courses, some of which may be taken as electives.

 

How Long Does It Take to Complete An Associate’s Degree?

An Associate’s Degree usually requires four semesters or six quarters of full-time study; approximately two school years. Programs vary in how long they allow a part-time student to earn the degree. An Associate’s Degree in Psychology may be earned at a community college, four- year college or university, depending on the institution. Some colleges and universities offer Psychology Degree programs and some don't.

Accredited Online Associate’s Degree in Psychology

An Associate’s Degree in Psychology may also be earned through an accredited online education program, some of which are through colleges and universities.

The other questions to answer, follow:


• Is the program offered through a known community college, four-year college, university or well-recognized online education institution? (If it is, that's some assurance that the quality of the program will be good.)
• What are the faculty qualifications listed on the web site or in materials you order from the web site or by phone? (Look for at least Master's level educated instructors, where their degrees were earned and years of teaching experience. You might also want to see if any of the faculty specialize, or have experience in, a particular aspect of Psychology that interests you.)
• Does the curriculum look similar to other programs' curricula and make sense to you?
• Does the program require a high school degree or equivalency? (Credible Associate degree programs require a high school degree or equivalency, unless it's a special program designed for earning the high school equivalency or otherwise gaining the knowledge and skills of high school equivalency while completing the Associate program.)
• Is there a trial version of a course on the web site so that you can test the ease of online participation or are you already familiar with the program they use for online participation? (If you aren't familiar with it, then test the trial version. If there is no trial version, email or call them and ask for a trial version.)
• Is the cost of the program comparable to other programs you're considering, and if not, does the quality appear to be less or better than those of of other programs enough to justify the cost difference? (You might also want to think about how credible your degree will look on your resume if it's from one institution as compared to another.)
Some colleges and universities offer a combination, or choices, of on-campus and online courses that can be applied towards an Associate Degree in Psychology. There are pros and cons to taking both online and on-campus courses. These include the possible rewards and enhanced learning through development of strong relationships with faculty and other students when taking courses on campus, and the convenience of not having to appear on campus for classes when taking courses online.

Building From Your Associate's Degree

An Associate’s Degree in Science (AS) will transfer best to a Bachelor’s Degree in Science (BS). If you later prefer to earn a BA, rather than a BS, you will probably be required to take some additional courses.