Online Associate Science Degrees

Associate of Science is a general name for a degree that covers a wide variety of subjects and majors, including social sciences and technology as well as the life sciences. A.S. degree programs often include science, mathematics and psychology coursework designed for students who intend to go on to earn a bachelor's degree with two more years of study.

In contrast, the Associate of Applied Science, or A.A.S., is focused on preparing students for entry level careers. These technical and vocational programs range from early childhood development to medical assisting, with nursing and business/information technology among the most popular degrees.

Graduation and curriculum requirements vary by institution. Coursework for A.S. programs might be distributed among communication courses, social/behavioral sciences, mathematics, humanities and fine arts, and physical/life sciences. Students who wish to go into pre-medical, pre-dental and pre-veterinary studies typically choose the biology or chemistry associate degree.