What is an Associate Degree?

An associate degree typically represents completion of two years of full-time coursework.

If you¡¯re not familiar with college degrees, here¡¯s how the associate degree fits in:

Why should you get an Associate Degree?

Having An Associate Degree …

Shows the world that you can FINISH what you started.

Looks GREAT on your resume.

Increases your EARNING POWER if you are working while earning your bachelor¡¯s degree.

Makes you ELIGIBLE to apply for jobs requiring a minimum of an associate degree.

Is a requirement for PROMOTION in some jobs.

Makes you LESS LIKELY TO BE UNEMPLOYED, even in tough economic times.

May increase the odds that you will COMPLETE YOUR BACHELOR¡¯S DEGREE.

Is much more VALUABLE than having ¡°some college, no degree.¡±

Okay, how do I earn an Associate Degree?

To earn an associate degree, you must be attending or have attended one of the following institutions in the University System of Georgia that grants associate degrees:

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Albany State University
Atlanta Metropolitan State College
Clayton State University
College of Coastal Georgia
Columbus State University
Dalton State College
East Georgia State College
Georgia Highlands College
Georgia Southern University
Georgia State University (Perimeter College)
Gordon State College
Middle Georgia State University
Savannah State University
South Georgia State College
University of North Georgia
Valdosta State University

If you are currently enrolled in one of these institutions, go to the registrar¡¯s office and tell them you want to be awarded an associate degree when you have earned it. Ask what you have to do to be eligible for your associate degree. (You can also look in DegreeWorks, which should give you a pretty good idea.)

If you are no longer enrolled at one of the associate degree institutions, but you are enrolled at a bachelor¡¯s degree-awarding USG institution, you can still earn your associate degree without leaving your current institution or losing any of the credit you have earned.

The secret: Most of the requirements for the associate degree are the 42 hours of ¡°core curriculum.¡± The core curriculum requirements are the same for all USG institutions, so if you have met these requirements at one institution, you have met them at all institutions. Your current institution can send a transcript back to your associate degree institution to show that you have met those requirements. Chances are good that credits earned at your associate degree institution and your current institution can count toward the same requirements at both.

Stuff you need to know to make this work:

You must have completed at least 15-20 credit hours toward the degree at your associate degree institution. Check with your associate degree institution on this.

You must have earned a grade point average of at least 2.0 at your associate degree institution.

You must have accumulated at least 60 course credits that can count toward the degree between your associate degree and bachelor¡¯s degree institutions.

You May Already have Earned Your Associate Degree!

Step 1. If you are currently enrolled in one of the institutions below (that do not award associate degrees) and you left your associate degree institution without a degree, request a transcript from your current institution to be sent to your associate degree institution. Click on one of the links below to request a transcript from your current institution.

Augusta University
Fort Valley State University
Georgia College and State University
Georgia Gwinnett College
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Southwestern State University
Kennesaw State University
University of Georgia
University of West Georgia

Step 2. Contact the registrar at your associate degree institution to let them know that you would like to have your transcript evaluated for award of your associate degree, and that you have requested a transcript, which will be arriving soon. Institutions get lots of transcripts, and they will not know to evaluate yours for an associate degree unless you ask them to look for it for this purpose. Clicking on one of the links below will allow you to send an email to the registrar at your associate degree institution.

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Albany State University
Atlanta Metropolitan State College
Clayton State University
College of Coastal Georgia
Columbus State University
Dalton State College
East Georgia State College
Georgia Highlands College
Georgia Southern University
Georgia State University (Perimeter College)
Gordon State College
Middle Georgia State University
Savannah State University
South Georgia State College
University of North Georgia
Valdosta State University

Questions? Need help? Please email Dr. Barbara Brown.