Going to college can provide new skills, job opportunities, and salary increases, but what is the best path for you?

Whether you want to earn your first degree, gain new skills to change careers or earn a promotion by building upon your existing education, it’s important to explore how different awards can help you reach your goals.

Associate in Arts (A.A) Degree

An associate of arts degree is awarded upon completion of a 60-credit academic program in the liberal arts and sciences without a named field of study. It is designed for transfer to baccalaureate degree-granting institutions. An associate of arts degree requires completion of at least a 40-credit general education curriculum that fulfills the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum goal areas. An associate of arts degree may have one or more emphases of at least nine credits each in liberal arts and science fields, provided there is an articulation agreement with a baccalaureate major offered by at least one system university. At least 20 credits in the associate of arts degree shall be taught by the faculty recommending the award. This requirement may be decreased upon recommendation of the faculty and approval by the president of the college or university.

Associate in Science (A.S.) Degree

An associate of science degree is awarded upon completion of a 60-credit academic program in scientific, technological, or other professional fields designed to transfer in its entirety to a related baccalaureate program by way of an articulation agreement. The associate of science degree is designed to transfer in its entirety to a related baccalaureate program by way of an articulation agreement. The associate of science degree requires a minimum of 30 general education credits selected from at least six of the ten goal areas of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum and shall not have emphases. At least 20 credits in an associate of science degree shall be taught by the faculty recommending the award. This requirement may be decreased upon recommendation of the faculty and approval by the president of the college or university. A waiver may be granted to exceed a length of 60 credits.

Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree

An associate of applied science degree is awarded upon completion of a 60-credit academic program in a named field of study in scientific, technological, or other professional fields. An associate of applied science degree prepares students for employment in an occupation or range of occupations. An associate of applied science degree may also be accepted in transfer to a related baccalaureate program. An associate of applied science degree requires a minimum of 15 general education credits selected from at least three of the ten goal areas of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. At least 30 credits shall be in the academic program’s occupational or technical field of preparation. An associate of applied science degree may have one or more emphases of at least nine credits each when there are at least 30 credits in the major that are common to the emphases. At least 20 credits in an associate of applied science shall be taught by the faculty recommending the award. This requirement may be decreased upon recommendation of the faculty and approval by the president of the college or university. A waiver may be granted to exceed a length of 60 credits.

Diploma

A diploma is awarded upon completion of a 31 to 72-credit undergraduate academic program that prepares students for employment. A minimum of 24 credits shall be in occupational or technical courses. A diploma may have one or more emphases of at least nine credits when there are at least 30 credits in the major that are common to the emphases. At least one-third of the credits in the diploma shall be taught by the faculty recommending the award. This requirement may be decreased upon recommendation by the faculty and approval by the college president. A diploma of more than 72 credits in length may be approved when the academic program prepares an individual for employment.

Certificate

An undergraduate certificate is awarded upon completion of a 9 to 30-credit academic program. An undergraduate certificate may have an occupational outcome or address a focused study area and shall not have emphases. At least one-third of the credits in the undergraduate certificate shall be taught by the faculty recommending the award. This requirement may be decreased upon recommendation by the faculty and approval by the institution’s president. An undergraduate certificate of less than nine or more than 30 credits in length may be approved when the academic program prepares an individual for employment.