What is the difference between Associate of Science and Associate of Arts Degree?

What is the difference between Associate of Science and Associate of Arts Degree?
The Associates of arts is designed as a fully transferable degree to a four year college or university for those pursing a Bachelors degree. It serves to complete most of the four year institution's general education cluster area, which amounts to the first two years of a four year program. It also serves to complete any perquisite courses needed for the four year institutions curriculum major and minor requirements. Students are admitted to Junior level status provided they have completed the matching associate's level degree. In other words, Business AA to Business BA, Engineering AS, to Engineering AS etc. Thus, within this degree students will be required to have a well rounded educational foundation to include English literature, history, social science, laboratory science, humanities, math, communications, etc. These courses are in addition to the student's major field of study.


Within the AS degrees there are less general education requirements, and more career oriented course work. This curriculum may specialize in nursing, engineering, some computer science and Allied Heath fields. Still, these programs should be fully transferable to four year institutions provided the degree matches that of the four year college or university's program of study.