College question

[pontifex]

My community college has several associate's degree programs that are similar, like say Computer Networking and Computer Security. They both have the same core class requirements like English, Math, etc but different specialized classes dealing with that particular degree.

After you get your degree in one, could you just take the different specialized courses for the other degree and get a second associates degree?

Is it beneficial to do this if it's possible?





edited for grammar...i started typing on thing and then switched thoughts and started typing something else and it wasn't quite clear.

 

[JJChicken]

Originally posted by: pontifex
If a community college has several associate's degree programs tha are similar, like say Computer Networking and Computer Security. They both have the same core class requirements like English, Math, etc but different specialized classes dealing with that particular degree.

After you get your degree in one, could you just take the different specialized courses that for the other degree and get a second associates degree?

Is it beneficial to this if it's possible?

Where I live (outside US) this would be possible. You would get exemption for the subjects completed. However, they normally have a constraint that you have to complete a minimum X number of subjects or so sometimes. Best thing is to call them up.

 

[Superwormy]

Here in Connecticut Manchester Community College let's you do that... though there's generally a minimum required number of credits for the second degree. Some of the state universities let you do that for your bachelors degree as well.

 

[Scarpozzi]

You'll want to talk with them becuase it's different from school to school. Some require that you retake classes and some require that you enter into a 'graduate' level program so they can charge more money.

I think a lot of these schools get kick backs from the state and local governments. Once you go through, they're not making as much money off you. There's usually a limitation on how long your credits will remain 'active' after taking a class. It's sometimes better just to declare a second major at the time so you can get tuition breaks.

Of course, you can always take your associates to a 4 year school and upgrade to a bachelor's degree. Typically, that will increase your earning potential.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
You'll want to talk with them becuase it's different from school to school. Some require that you retake classes and some require that you enter into a 'graduate' level program so they can charge more money.

I think a lot of these schools get kick backs from the state and local governments. Once you go through, they're not making as much money off you. There's usually a limitation on how long your credits will remain 'active' after taking a class. It's sometimes better just to declare a second major at the time so you can get tuition breaks.

Of course, you can always take your associates to a 4 year school and upgrade to a bachelor's degree. Typically, that will increase your earning potential.

I just wanted to clarify this one statement. What he is saying here correct in a sense, but understand that the reason why credits may "expire" so to speak is not directly because of a time limit in most cases. The reason is because courses tend to change what materials they teach as they grow and adapt with the times. Therefore, what is taught in a course 10 years ago may not cover everything that the course teaches now. In light of that fact, many schools will require a student to retake a course so that they are up to date. That is not the case with every course though. Schools tend to look at things like that on a course by course basis and many courses go up for review after a certain time period. It is pretty much the same reason some credits do not transfer between schools. Same course but different required academic material.

Exceptions may include colleges and community colleges of lesser quality that choose to half ass the process instead of being efficient about it.