Most people know about bachelor’s degrees and how they typically take four years to complete – but how long does it take to get an associate degree in business online?
A key factor is understanding how many credits you need to complete your program. Associate degrees typically require 90 quarter credits (60 semester credits) and are usually designed to be concluded in two years of full-time study.
However, the time it will take you to complete your associate degree depends on a few variables. For example, your enrollment status, degree type, and the number of transfer credits you bring in can all affect your time to completion.
- Enrollment status (full-time or part-time): Some people wish to keep working while they earn their associate degree or perhaps have other commitments they can't ignore. Therefore, they might only attend school part-time since the structure for part-time students allows for balancing other life demands. These students might take a little longer to complete the degree than full-time students. Of course, there are programs that still give students the opportunities to both work and study full-time, like the Campus online associate degree in business program! Our classes take place at night, allowing for many of our students to keep their day jobs and take classes in the evenings.
- The type of degree (program requirements): What program of study do you wish to pursue? Some programs have requirements that can affect the time it takes to earn the degree. Some examples of associate degrees that may take longer than the average two years of full-time study time frame are healthcare careers, such as dental hygiene, and occupational therapy. These programs may ask students to satisfy over 90 credits, for example.
- Transfer credits: People who transfer credits from a previous institution, or those who earn prior learning credits from work experience, may have an advantage in completing their degree more quickly than those who don’t. Commonly, the more credits you bring to the program, the less time it takes to get an associate degree.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Associate Degree in Business Administration Online?
The time it will take to complete an associate degree also varies for online students. An online associate business degree program could take more or less than the average two years.
Online students, just like traditional students, can generally decide how many classes they wish to complete each term and may finish the associate degree program in less than two years. They may also take fewer classes at once, balancing their education with work and family obligations and prolonging the two years of online schooling. However, by studying full-time online, students generally can graduate in two years.
The Campus business program is on a quarter, not semester, schedule. A quarter schedule breaks the year into terms lasting 10-11 weeks from start to finish (10 weeks of classes plus finals/exam week).
To earn an associate degree in business administration online, you would be expected to earn 90 credits to graduate, which usually means around twenty courses. In the quarter system, a full-time student enrolled in three quarters per year would earn 45 quarter credits a year, 15 during each of the three quarters (excluding summer). The Campus program requires 92 credits to graduate, which – while slightly higher than the usual credit requirement – can still be completed in two years of full-time, year-round study.
With this faster pace of learning, the quarter system is perfect for working students who want periodic fresh starts, the ability to understand the material quickly, and the flexibility to experiment. It's a great match for students with solid time-management skills and self-discipline – it’s also a great opportunity for students to improve those skills.
Online Business Degree Programs Offer Flexibility, So You Can Get Your Degree on Your Timeline
Pursuing an online degree has gradually grown from an often overlooked option to the foremost choice for many students who need the convenience. Most online degree programs are designed for full-time and part-time working students balancing a 9-to-5 job and juggling a challenging class timetable.
You will have tremendous flexibility when you take courses for your program without the confines of having to be at a specific location at a specific time. Campus's online program takes place in the evenings when full-time and part-time working students usually return from their day job. Our online business students also don’t have classes on Fridays, freeing up their entire Friday for personal matters or rest.
You can log in, meet the deadlines of required coursework, study, and do assignments at your convenience, instead of scrambling your schedule to work around conventional class times. This flexibility makes it possible to earn a degree for those who need to cater to a family or do not wish to quit their part-time or full-time job for other reasons.
Upon completing your online associate degree in business administration, you will be equipped to use the techniques and principles in various areas within the business sector. Your career path is wide open to many management positions in almost any industry and every department, from front-line or office managers to sales supervisors and business unit managers. At the end of the day, it's important to know how to find the right program based on your needs.
Conclusion
Locating the time to achieve the higher education and training needed to advance a career can be tough when balancing that education with an already hectic work schedule and personal life. But now, you can earn your associate degree in business administration online in as little as two years! The less time it takes to conclude your degree, the quicker you can enter the workforce and earn.
The Campus online associate degree in business program can jumpstart your career in almost any industry and for nearly any kind of organization. Whether your passion is technology, film, sports, finance, or music, every sector needs highly qualified, enlightened, and competent business leaders to grow.
Learn more about Campus and our online community college program by requesting more information today.