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Associate Degrees Open Doors
Know your goals before committing to a course program
G.I. Jobs, 2010 Guide to Military Friendly Schools By Heidi Russell Rafferty Forensic science, health care, criminal justice, and information technology: these are all hot job markets. All are attainable post-military careers with a two-year associate degree. However, not all associate degrees are created equal. It's important to know your goals, your school and your desired career before committing to a course program. These three components are integral to your long-term career strategy.
Goals The Associate of Science usually focuses on more math and science courses that are needed for specific professional training. An Associate of Arts focuses on more humanities courses that normally encompass more core courses in a bachelor's degree. A career military member should tend to favor an Associate of Arts because it allows more streamlined opportunities to earn a bachelor's degree. Traditionally, obtaining a bachelor's or associate degree is more important for military promotion than the actual choice of major. Also, liberal arts programs do not have a shelf life. An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) is typically designed for students preparing for entry-level employment or to upgrade in a specific occupation. Russell Tresner is the military coordinator for the University of Oklahoma's College of Liberal Studies. He is also a 26-year Air Force Veteran. Tresner obtained an AAS while in the military, which actually delayed his educational objectives. “If you pursue the applied degree, you're probably not getting the credits you need for most bachelor's degrees,” Tresner said. “You should go for an applied degree if you're interested in one technical area and not planning on completing a bachelor's program. The AAS is a degree that allows someone to work in a technical field.”
School
Strategy “Whether you're an infantryman or a corpsman in the hospital, look at what you want to do,” Tresner said. “What do you enjoy? Then prepare yourself while you're in the military to do what you want to do after you get out.” Once you've decided on a career field, focus initially on general studies courses in your associate degree program. This is the foundation for any degree program. Save technical coursework for the end of your program. This will ensure your education is as current as possible and that none of the equipment and software has fallen out of date. Steven Roy Goodman, educational consultant and admissions strategist and author of “College Admissions Together: It Takes a Family,” said if you're having trouble deciding what to do, take a look at each school's course offerings on the Web and decide how they match up to your military acquired skills. “You'll be pleasantly surprised,” Goodman said. “A lot of the skill sets you have are directly applicable to the courses offered.”
The Certification Route |
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![]() Strategies for Acing the College and Graduate School Admissions Process (202) 986-9431 steve@topcolleges.com 3554 Appleton Street, NW Washington, DC 20008 Skype: gotouniversity YouTube: Steven Roy Goodman |
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