Associate Degrees

• The Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree recognizes mastery in the arts and sciences.
• The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree is designed primarily to lead to immediate employment.
• The Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) degree is designed for transfer to a four-year institution to obtain a baccalaureate degree and teacher certification.
• The Associate of Science in Engineering (A.S.E.) degree is designed for transfer to a four-year institution to obtain a baccalaureate degree in engineering.

Associate degrees consist of general education courses, area-specific courses, and electives. To qualify for an associate degree, students must complete at least 60 credits in their program and earn a minimum of a “C” (2.0) overall grade point average. A minimum of 15 credits must be completed at Howard Community College. The college, to ensure the quality of its programs, reserves the right to determine which courses students must undertake to successfully complete a specific degree.

Completion of an A.A.T. degree requires a cumulative quality point average of at least 2.75 in the specified program of study, and a passing score on an approved basic skills test (pages 173-175).

Completion of an A.S.E. degree requires a grade of “C” or better in certain courses. See program requirements for details (page 150).