What an associate degree is
An associate degree is a short undergraduate qualification, normally built from around 60 credit hours, often equal to the first half of a bachelor’s degree. It can prepare students for entry-level roles or serve as a stepping stone to a full bachelor’s. Online versions let students work through the modules at their own pace.
Details given in the archive
The archived Branton University page described an Associate of Arts with ten courses totalling sixty credit hours, a stated completion time of under a year depending on pace, and entry for holders of a high school diploma, GED, A-levels or an equivalent. It also said all study material would be supplied online and that previously earned credits would be accepted. These are the institution’s statements from 2015. They have not been checked, and no offer of study is made here.
Subject areas listed
The archive grouped available fields as follows:
- Business: management, human resources, marketing, accounting, finance, advertising, project management, entrepreneurship, quality management, retail management
- Education: early, middle-level, adult and special education, assessment and evaluation, teaching assistant roles
- Technology: computer science, information technology, networking, software engineering, web development, multimedia and animation, telecommunications
- Justice and safety: criminal justice, policing, corrections, private security, crime scene investigation, juvenile justice, occupational safety and fire sciences
- Health and human services: nursing, nutrition and health sciences, human services, psychology tracks
- Other: engineering disciplines, economics, English, history, sociology, journalism, visual communication, interior design, architecture, biology, chemistry, music
A list this long should raise a practical question: can one small provider really staff so many specialisms? Ask who teaches each subject.
Questions before choosing an associate programme
- Is the award accepted by the university where you may later transfer?
- Does the course content match the licensing rules in your profession?
- Is the total cost clear, including fees on top of tuition? See comparing costs.
- Has the accreditor been confirmed through official channels? See accreditation.
For the wider picture, return to programme types.