There are a few types of associate degrees. Transfer degrees, for example, are designed to allow you to transfer to a bachelor’s degree programs at a four-year institution. If you already have an idea of the bachelor’s degree you would like to earn, make sure you research what type of associate degree would lead to that end.
In pursuing the appropriate associate degree, it is best to complete your general education courses first, this will allow you to transfer more quickly. Once you transfer into a bachelor’s program, you will have approximately two years of courses to complete and these will likely be specific to your degree program.
Many two-year and community colleges partner with outside institutions or offer bachelor's degrees themselves. Speak with your admissions counselor to find out about the pathways from an associate degree to a bachelor's degree. When you find out what institutions have an agreement with your two-year college, you can save the hassle of determining whether your credits will transfer.
If you already know where you would like to earn your bachelor’s degree, make sure they have an agreement to recognize and accept the credits from the two-year college that you plan to attend.