Associates Degree North Dakota

An Associate degree is a degree that can be earned in two years to four years of study. In some instances, under intense study, an Associate degree can be earned in less than two years, depending upon the university in North Dakota offering the program. On occasion, an institution will allow students credit for life experience or special qualifications: such qualifications are usually assessed by specific testing. The test; known as CLEP or the College Level Examination Program, permits incoming students to prove their skills and earn credits toward an Associate Degree.

The Associate Degree has a number of sub-categories that define it. There is an Associate Degree in Arts, an Associate Degree in Science, an Associate Degree of Applied Science, an Associate Degree of Occupational Studies, an Associate Degree in Business Administration, an Associate Degree of Arts and Teaching, and an Associate Degree in Individual Studies, also known as an Associate Degree in General Studies. Each degree is further defined by the course requirements that must be filled in order for the degree to be obtained by the student. Typically, unless otherwise defined by the educating institution, a student must complete 60 credit hours in order to obtain an Associate Degree.

The credits earned for an Associate Degree are often transferable toward a Bachelor’s Degree. If the institution where the Associate Degree was obtained does not offer a Bachelor’s program the student can then transfer credits earned to a different, accepting institution. Many students that pursue an Associate Degree continue on for a Bachelor’s degree, and, in some instances, a Masters Degree and a PhD. Essentially, an Associate Degree is the first of several degrees a student can earn in college.

The student looking to obtain an Associate Degree will need to have a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Some programs allow for students to obtain their diploma from the college before entering directly into an Associate Degree program. Students that attend high school would benefit from taking the SAT. The SAT is a test that measures the student’s ability to reason and analyze and a good score on the exam can equate to special funding and scholarships for the student seeking an Associate Degree.

If the student plans to attend a traditional campus, other requirements will need to be met. The student may be required to take an entrance exam. The college entrance exam is created to determine if the student has any educational weaknesses. If a weakness is identified, the student will be instructed to take several required classes. Such classes may or may not apply toward the student’s Associate Degree, depending upon the institution in North Dakota. However, the courses will be a prerequisite to other courses that are part of the degree program. This is done to ensure that every student is given a fair chance at passing the courses needed to complete the degree.

Students entering college will have to have a complete physical and they will also have to provide the school with a birth certificate, a social security number, and they will need to have a record of their immunizations. A certificate from the county in which the student resides is also required—this is to determine a county’s taxation for education and also as proof of residency. Most students will meet with an advisor to discuss what is needed for enrollment completion.

When a student is unsure about a major upon entering college, they can opt to work toward a degree in Individual Studies. Individual Studies offers the student the opportunity to get a well rounded education while they explore and decide what it is they will eventually major in. At any time during their course of study the student should discover what really peaks their interest, they can begin shaping their studies around that interest.

The two main divisions of Associate Degrees are an Associate Degree of Arts and an Associate Degree of Science. The Associate Degree of Arts is a degree that is earned by those individuals that focus on individual studies, social sciences, or the humanities. Meanwhile, the Associate Degree of Science is given to students who earn course credits that focus on math, science or technology.

There are other Associate degree divisions that students pursue. For instance, a student can get an Associate of Fine Arts which is a degree that centralizes in the Arts and theater. While there are many different divisions in North Dakota, the Associate Degree usually prepares the student for a four year college where they can complete the needed credits for a Bachelor’s. There are many jobs that require that the student have four years of college under their belt and the Associate Degree can be a stepping stone to obtaining that goal.

Some students find that it is less expensive if they study for two years at a community college and then transfer to a four year college to complete their Bachelor’s degree. This is a perfectly reasonable step if people are looking to save money on their college education. Other students opt to bypass the Associate Degree entirely, and to go straight into a four year program. Essentially, it is up to the student and what works best for him or her.

DeVry University

(303) 280-7570
1870 W. 122nd Ave.
Westminster , CO