Victoria Said:

what can i do with a associates degree in liberal arts?

We Answered:

The AA in Liberal Arts is not a vocational qualifier - ie: it prepares you to do no jobs.

It is higher education though and has value as such. It indicates that you have a level of general knowledge above a high school diploma but below a bachelor's degree. Over 50% of the US population shares that same qualification but some of them acquired an associates degree in a trade/skill/vocation - yours is general.

It gives you an advantage for entry-level and trainee positions over that 50% that didn't go to college at all. It offers no advantage over the group that now has relevant work experience in the position.

The purpose of that degree is not to be a vocational qualifier - the purpose is to use it as the first two years of a bachelor's degree and to transfer to a senior college. If you don't transfer to a bachelor's program than most HR people see your AA in Liberal Arts as "didn't finish college" more than as a qualifier.

Unless! You can add to that degree relevant work experience, industry certifications, and/or additional college and the value increases. What you can then do depends entirely on what experience, certification, or additional college you get. In many trades where the workforce doesn't normally have an associates degree, working your way into that trade with the degree increases your chances for advancement to supervision or support. Unfortunately, the number of those occupational groups that don't require any higher education is tending to fall each year as more-and-more people earn a degree.

An example would be HVAC repair. If you were to now gain qualification as a Heating and Air Conditioning Repairperson and work in that field for a while, you'd likely be advanced faster than those without the degree. The hospitality industry is similar - with about 3 years successful experience as a front desk clerk (and your degree), you could expect advancement to front desk/front office manager. With that degree and certification in one of the IT areas, you could enter IT as a technician and expect to be advanced faster than those without a degree (but slower than those with an IT degree).

In effect, without some specialized experience or certification, you can do all of the jobs that you could get without the degree. The value will come when you have the degree, experience, AND, certifications and your coworkers don't.

Or, you could stay in school and earn a bachelor's degree. Since you're asking this question now, I'd suggest asking the same question about any bachelor's degree you decide to pursue.

Add: it was suggested "When you talk to a potential employer, ask questions about what the job will do for you: benefits, vacation, schedule and flexibility, etc." In one of my interviews (in the present economy where we have 100 applicants for every job opening), this would get you non-selected very fast. It projects an overriding self-interest that most employers aren't interested in right now. What we want to hear is what you can do for our company and why you're the best qualified candidate. When you're famous for being the best at what you do and I come to you and ask you to please come work for my company, then you can stand on the bargaining side.

Duane Said:

get an associates degree in Liberal Arts, than continue to get a Bachelors degree in Physics?

We Answered:

Liberal arts is completely different than physics you know that right?

If you are good at math and have a knack for science classes then after obtaining your AA go get your BS in Physics, if not those 2 years could really give you trouble.

Because a science major will have a whole lot of science classes.

And a whole lot of math classes.

Well good luck.

-Sizzle

Aaron Said:

What kind of job can I get with an Associates degree in Liberal Arts (psychology)?

We Answered:

There are not many jobs you can get with an associates in liberal arts. The only thing I can sugguest is if you ask the school do they have any internship jobs available etc.

Yvonne Said:

what can i do with an associates degree in liberal arts?

We Answered:

You can go to a four-year school and get a bachelor's degree.
You can get jobs in a number of fields. Secretarial comes to mind, but also probably paralegal and many other things. Check out the classifieds of your newspaper and see what qualifications the listings ask for.

Henry Said:

can i lie and say i have an associates degree in liberal arts?

We Answered:

Well you can, but you'll be fired if they find out.