The Associate of Arts Degree program offers students a wide range of general education courses, predominantly focusing on humanities subjects. Associate of Arts Degree acts as a head start to students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a specific field. Apart from this, the degree program offers a solid foundation for students who wish to kick start their career in the job world. The adaptable and versatile Degree is sure to land you up in a job in a wide range of niches. In this article, we will see the answer to your question ‘What jobs can I get with associates of arts degree?’.
What jobs can I get with associates of arts degree?
The job opportunities an Associate of Arts degree offers are numerous. One can set their career on the right path by choosing the right Associate degree course. If you are anxious about the career options after pursuing the program, here are some solid options that you can build your career on with an associate degree.
Marketing assistant
As a marketing assistant, your job will be to assist and help the marketing manager. Primary responsibilities of this job include conducting market research, writing reports, preparing presentations, preparing budget spreadsheets, etc. On average, a Marketing Assistant earns nearly $38,226 per year.
Production assistant
The job of the production assistant is to assist the directors and producers by working on creative sets for television or theater. On average, a production assistant earns $28,906 per year.
Pastry chef
As the name suggests, a pastry chef is someone who bakes desserts and other confections. Pastry chefs generally run their establishments or work in restaurant kitchens. On average, a pastry chef earns $42,575 per year.
Human resource assistant
The job of a human resource assistant is to help the HR manager with HR-related work. Significant responsibilities of an HR assistant include working on performance reports, assisting the HR manager in recruitment, maintaining a proper record of terminations and compensation, etc. A human resource assistant earns about $39,480 per year.
Customer service representative
The role of a customer service representative is to act upon customer grievances, product queries, and complaints about a product or service. A customer service representative is responsible for delivering quick and practical solutions to every customer’s question and should develop new strategies to improve customer service. On average, a customer service representative earns about $39,145 per year.
Operations assistant
The only duty of an operations assistant is to oversee the production of goods and services of a particular organization. In addition, they ensure that the products and services are manufactured on par with the customer’s expectations. Annual, an operations assistant, earns about $41,090 per year.
Web designer
A web designer works on designing websites that are appealing to the users. A web designer should balance out both his technical skills and creativity while working on a website. In addition, they work with their clients to provide. Roughly, a web designer earns about $57,423 on an average every year.
Social media manager
With businesses realizing the importance of online presence, there is a significant rise in demand for social media managers. A social media manager operates an organization’s social media account to develop brand awareness and generate potential leads. On average, a social media manager earns $48,221 per year.
Bank teller
A bank teller is responsible for counting cash, maintaining paperwork and deposit slips, complying with the security procedures of banks, and so much more. On average, a bank teller earns around $34,103 per year.
Account executive
Account executives work with businesses and marketing executives. They will manage the relationship with clients and ensure that they are happy with the company they are working with. An account executive earns around $52,073 annually.
An Associate of Arts degree will give the candidates a boost in their employability and an edge over their competitors in the current job market.
How much can you earn with an associate of arts degree?
The opportunities mentioned above are a minute part of what an Associate of Arts degree has to offer. One is sure to land up a job after successful completion of the course. On average, a student who pursued an Associate of Arts degree in any field earns an average of $887 per week. This also eliminates the risk of unemployment amongst the educated lot.
Though Associate degree holders earn less than Bachelor’s degree holders, they are in a better position when compared to their peers who gave up on education after high school. Additionally, there is always scope of improvement for individuals to turn their associate degree into a bachelor’s Degree to gain higher earnings.
Why should you pursue an associates degree?
There are ample reasons that drive people to pursue associate degrees. But all of these reasons get narrowed down to two main things- faster education and cheaper fee structure. Unfortunately, everyone is not fortunate enough to avail of higher education. However, with an associate degree, every individual gets an opportunity to land up an excellent job without spending much on their education.
Associate Degree is a two-year course that is taught at community colleges. The program is primarily aimed at imparting specific skills required for a job. Pursuing this course successfully will land you up in a good job.
Another feature of the program that attracts students is its flexibility. The program timings are fixed so that it encourages even the non-traditional students to pursue this course. In addition to all of these, there is always a scope of development after pursuing an associate degree.
You always have an option to take admission into a bachelor’s Degree or stick with building your career around the associate Degree you pursued. With an associate degree, you might need an additional two years of schooling to complete your Bachelor’s degree program. However, this varies from institute to institute.
With associative degrees, there are lower levels of unemployment. The program also teaches you how to balance out both your education and personal commitments. By enrolling yourself in an associate degree program, you take baby steps towards a secure professional and academic future.
Benefits of having an associate of arts degree
Associate degree courses have made it possible for students to pursue their higher education while still working. With an associate degree in your hand, the chances of you facing unemployment risks are relatively low. You can have a flexible career path and achieve personal growth in your current occupation. Additionally, earning an associate degree is like taking a giant leap towards making your Bachelor’s Degree.
In short, an associate of arts degree comes with better job security, a higher pay scale, numerous career options, and a safe and secured future.
Differences between associates degree and bachelor’s degree
Associates degrees are first-level post-secondary studies that can be pursued by high school graduates at institutes of higher learning. The examination usually lasts from two to three years, unlike Bachelor, which might take two to six years. With flexible programs available online, you can finish the degree in as little as 18 months.
Some of the courses in the associate program might be similar to the introductory courses in a corresponding bachelor’s program. Here’s what differentiates the two undergraduate programs:
- Applying for a Master’s Degree can only be possible if you have a Bachelor’s Degree.
- Associate degrees cost about 2,400-20000 EUR per year, making them less expensive than Bachelor’s degrees which might cost around 40,000EUR per year. It might even cost more than 50,000 per year in the United States.
- Associate degrees are easy to apply for as they need less demanding admission requirements.
- An associate degree needs 60 credits or credit hours to graduate, whereas a Bachelor’s Degree might need 120 credits. Suppose you want to pursue a Bachelor’s after an associate degree. In that case, you can reduce up to 60 credits on your Bachelor’s program. Of course, it is dependent on the associate Degree that you have taken.
Different categories in associates degree
The field of Associates’ Degree can be divided into four categories.
- Associate of Arts
- Associate of Science
- Associate of Applied Sciences
- Associate of Applied Business
What differentiates applied courses from the other two programs is that they train students for one particular career, imparting their practical knowledge and vocational skills. In addition, these courses prepare students to enter job markets immediately after their graduation.
Associate of Arts and Science courses are preferred if the student wishes to pursue higher education. Students holding any of these degrees are most likely to transfer to universities to pursue a four-year bachelor’s program.
Difference between associate of arts and associate of science
Despite the courses sharing several similarities, they are unique. As the name suggests, Associate of Arts covers subjects about humanities and liberal arts. On the other hand, Associate of Science covers issues about math and science.
Both the courses aim at training the students for their following educational choices. Both the systems share similar credit hours and can be transferable to a four-year university to pursue a bachelor’s degree. In simple terms, both the courses are transfer degrees, with no emphasis on specific technical training. Let’s explore the differences between these courses in detail.
- The associate of arts degree predominantly focuses on humanities. In contrast, the associate of science degree focuses on the field of math and science.
- The associate of arts degree will lead to many jobs in several career fields. On the other hand, the associate of science degree offers specific assignments related to the course, well within the area.
Both the courses provide general education to students. However, students must pursue higher education to get a deeper understanding of the subject.
Associate degree programs that are in demand
The Associate Degree program offers a wide range of subjects in both the applied courses and associate degrees. Choosing one particular system from a plethora of options might seem like an arduous task. However, the job gets simple if you have clearly defined goals.
If you want to settle in a job immediately after graduation, your priority should be to choose from applied courses. On the other hand, if you’re pursuing higher education, you should select either associate of arts or associate science courses. To further narrow down your choices, start looking up associate degree courses that are in demand. Here’s a list of associate degree programs that are in order.
- Associate of Science in aeronautics
- Associate of Science in software development
- Associate of Applied Science in radiation therapy
- Associate of Applied Science in nuclear technology
- Associate of Applied Science in radiologic technology
- Associate of Science in dentistry
- Associate of Science in nursing
- Associate of Science in web programming
- Associate of Science in Network Systems Administration
- Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies
How to turn your associate degree into a bachelor’s degree?
While having an associate degree will secure a position in the job market, you need a bachelor’s Degree to sustain yourself in the growing competition. In addition, having a bachelor’s degree will improve your overall earning potential and open a wide range of opportunities.
A bachelor’s Degree will require double the amount of time you have spent to complete your associate degree. However, this investment is considered worthwhile. Here’s a guide that will help you in turning your associate degree into a bachelor’s Degree.
- Study the choice you have with your associate degree
- Know more about your current university’s articulation agreement
- Understand how your credits will get transferred
- Avoid re-learning the stuff.
- Stay in constant touch with your academic advisor.
Pros and cons of associate degree
Perfect things never exist. Like every coin has two sides, there are pros and cons of pursuing an associate degree compared to a four-year full-time bachelor’s Degree.
Pros
- One of the primary reasons why people prefer an associate degree is poor financial conditions. Associate degree courses are offered at community colleges. This eliminates the need to borrow money to pay for the fees. The average cost of pursuing a bachelor’s Degree is ten times higher when compared to a two-year associate degree.
- Associate degree courses train students in vocational skills. The system makes them jog-ready and prepares them for a career in serving the public.
- There is a better opportunity for you in a two-year degree course to improve your grades. If you are someone who couldn’t prioritize studies due to involvement in extracurricular activities back in high school, pursuing an associate degree will allow you to bounce back. This is because community colleges prioritize having good grades.
- With a community college at the end of every street, you have the option to pursue higher education without necessarily moving out from your neighborhood. This will save you from all the accommodation and travel expenses.
- You can continue playing your favorite sports while studying for an associate degree from a community college. All thanks to the national-level sports programs.
- The flexible curriculum at the community college will allow you to experiment with different subjects and career choices. You will get a chance to test the waters without putting yourself at risk. This means you have an opportunity to try on different classes and choose the one that feels like the right fit for you.
- Not everyone is fortunate enough to be financially secured. Most students drop out after high school and take up a regular job to sustain themselves and their families. But due to the flexible timetable followed at the community college, students now have a greater scope to work while managing their studies.
- Community colleges come with smaller classrooms. This limits the number of students per class, which helps the teachers to pay attention and offer individual help to students who need it. There will be a greater level of interaction between teachers and students from community colleges. This, however, is not feasible at a four-year university because of the larger class size.
- Community colleges offer the same quality of education as that of four-year universities. The flexibility provided by the associate degree program attracts excellent teachers to work under this program. Community colleges enjoy the diversity in teaching staff, just like that of four-year universities.
- Every year, the federal government sanctions some money as part of student loans. There is an equal opportunity for you to receive financial aid while studying at a two-year community college. To obtain the financial assistance that you have earned, you need to complete the program successfully.
- Apart from associate degrees, community colleges offer various short-term certification courses that add up to the Degree.
These are courses that directly cater to the needs of specific industries. Often, these courses will be enough to set you up for a high-paying job.
- At community college, you can find numerous virtual learning options for your associate degree. Virtual learning will offer you better study sources that can be accessed at your comfort. With the availability of online mode, pursuing an online associate degree gets even more accessible.
Cons
- With an associate degree, you can get into some apprenticeship or career programs. Still, it does not help you as much as a bachelor’s degree due to lack of prestige. Suppose you are doing an undergraduate degree to pursue a graduate or doctorate program. In that case, you need to choose a bachelor’s Degree. Or you can enroll in a university or college to do a bachelor’s and transfer your associate degree transcripts.
- There are times when the credits are not transferred because of grade requirements or your GPA before you enroll in the new college. In the end, you might take up courses whose credits have not been transferred.
- As an associate degree in just two to three years, you need to choose your primary subject at the start, locking your career path right at the beginning. On the other hand, a bachelor’s degree allows you to analyze your strengths and weaknesses. This will enable you to get more time and information on making the right decision about your major.
- With an associate degree, you might not get field-specific courses to choose from. The four-year Bachelor’s Degree has a ton of such classes in comparison.
- Cheering up your athletic friends or being an athlete yourself amounts to a great deal of enjoyment during your academic career. A 2-year associate degree might allow you to play a good amount of sports, but this might be nothing compared to the variety of sports that you can play or are available at four-year universities.
- In associate degree, the people who enroll in the courses are mostly the ones who are working, with some of them even indulging in full-time work. This makes them attend community college only when they need to, thereby not contributing to a good atmosphere that you might want to experience. Even though the colleges try to uplift the atmosphere, that doesn’t add to a university experience.
- Community colleges also have career placement centers to ease the students’ search to land a job after graduation. But, in some careers, networking plays a critical role in their future success. Community colleges do provide these options but only at a local level. Suppose you want to go national or international with your career options. In that case, a university is a suitable place for you to build some robust relations.
- You can have a guarantee for achieving a higher level of expertise at a university pursuing a bachelor’s degree rather than a community college’s associate degree. Many employers see two-year community college as a last resort. This bias restricts the available opportunities to you, which is not good news.
Conclusion
Pursuing an associate degree will open a sea of opportunities for you. All you need to do is understand your interests and choose the course accordingly.
