Defining the AA and AS:

A Modest Proposal

Mark Wade Lieu, ASCCC

Paul Setziol, DeAnza College
John Stanskas, San Bernardino Valley College
 ASSOCIATE OF ARTS ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE

Defining the AA and the AS:

Why do it?
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Associate Degree
Title 5 Regulation §§55061-55063
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What is the Meaning of a

California Community College
Degree?
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Survey Results
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Resolved, That the Academic

Senate for California Community
Colleges support and establish
statewide definitions for the types
of associate degrees offered by
California community colleges.
(S07)
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Defining the AA and the AS:

How might it be done?
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A Look at UC and CSU

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45
40
35
30
25 AA
20 AS
15
10
5
0
Pre 1950- 1960- 1970- 1980- 1990- 2000-
1950 1959 1969 1979 1989 1999 2007

Units for the degree, excluding general education

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• AA: Interdisciplinary Studies

• AS: Health
TOP
•
•
•
AA: Social Sciences
AS: Interdisciplinary Studies
AA: Business and Management
10
• AS: Business and Management
• AS: Public and Protective Services
• AA: Family and Consumer Sciences
• AS: Family and Consumer Sciences
• AS: Engineering and Industrial Technologies
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Associate of Science is an
associate degree in the areas of
science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) or in the area of career
technical education (CTE)
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All other associate degrees are

Associate of Arts degrees
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Some examples of how the

definition works
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• English
• Engineering
• Cosmetology
• Nursing
• Photography
• Environmental Studies
• Computer Information Systems
• Computer Science
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Defining the AA and AS:

Resolution 9.03 F08
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Resolved, That the Academic Senate for

California Community Colleges support
regulation to define the Associate of Arts
and the Associate of Science degrees; and
 ASSOCIATE OF ARTS ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for

California Community Colleges support
defining the Associate of Science degree in
Title 5 regulation as an associate degree in
the areas of science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or in
the area of career technical education
(CTE), with all other associate degrees
given the title of Associate of Arts.
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Discussion