The AAS is intended for students who plan to enter the workforce after completing their degree. Students enrolled in an AAS program receive education aimed at preparing them for work in their chosen field. Job skills are highly emphasized. AAS degrees are usually terminal, meaning students who earn them usually do not continue further with their education. Students who earn an AAS can transfer to four-year colleges after earning their degree, but they are typically not as well prepared for further education than are students who earn an AS degree.
The AS degree, on the other hand, is intended for students who plan to continue with their education after receiving their associate degree. Students in an AS program receive education tailored toward preparing them for college at a four-year undergraduate institution, emphasizing introduction-level courses that can usually be transferred for credit at a university. Students in AS programs can enter the workforce after earning their degree rather than continuing their education, but they are typically less prepared than students who earn an AAS degree.
Coursework can differ significantly between the AS and AAS degrees. AS degree coursework is often more theoretical and introductory-level. Students are expected to expand their education with a bachelor's degree after earning their associate degree, so the coursework at the associate level is intended more to prepare students for future coursework and less to provide a comprehensive education. AAS coursework does the latter. AAS students typically enter the workforce in their chosen field immediately after graduation, so coursework within their degree provides them with the information they need to know to succeed in their career.
Though the coursework and educational intent between degrees differs, the time to completion is usually the same. Most associate degrees take two years to earn. Some fields such as health sciences may require more intensive classes, which can lengthen the time students take to finish their degrees. Other concerns can also play a role in degree completion time, including student life events such as raising a family or working a full-time job, as well as educational factors such as failing and retaking core classes.