What Is an Associate of Arts Degree? What You’ll Study and Where It Leads

If you’re considering an Associate of Arts (AA) degree, you may be wondering whether it’s the right destination or a step toward a bachelor’s degree. For many students, it’s both. An associate degree in liberal arts builds real skills and sets up a clear route to a bachelor’s degree.

This guide covers what an Associate of Arts (AA) in liberal arts is, what you’ll study and where it leads. Adelphi University’s online AA in Liberal Arts program illustrates how the degree works in practice.

What Is an Associate of Arts Degree?

An AA is a two-year undergraduate credential in general education.According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), an associate’s degree is awarded upon completing a sub-baccalaureate program of study. That typically means at least two years of full-time college work.

That structure sets the AA apart from career-specific credentials. An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) program prepares students for a single occupation. An AA, by contrast, is built to transfer into almost any bachelor’s degree. That flexibility matters most for students who haven’t picked a major yet.

The term “liberal arts” refers to a broad educational foundation that includes subjects such as communication, history, psychology, literature, mathematics and the social sciences. That breadth is the whole point; it keeps options open while credits still count toward a degree.

AA vs. AS: What’s the Difference?

An AA and an Associate of Science (AS) split along one line: arts versus science. Students headed toward business, psychology or English typically choose the AA. Students pursuing biology, engineering or computer science typically choose the AS. Degree requirements vary by institution, so students should review their intended bachelor’s program before selecting an associate degree pathway.

Neither degree ranks above the other. The right choice depends on the bachelor’s degree a student expects to pursue. An associate of arts degree online usually carries the widest range of electives. That range fits students who haven’t committed to one major yet.

Some schools also offer an Associate of Applied Science for a specific trade or technical role. An AAS is built for direct workforce entry, not transfer. It typically carries fewer general education credits, and fewer of those credits move cleanly into a bachelor’s program.

What You Study in a Liberal Arts AA Program

An associate degree in liberal arts spreads coursework across writing, the humanities and social sciences. Most also add a lab science or quantitative reasoning requirement. That mix is intentional. It builds analytical thinking, research and communication skills that transfer across majors.

Adelphi University’s online AA in Liberal Arts degree follows that same model. Students complete a writing course, a lab science course, a quantitative reasoning course and a social science course. From there, 24 elective credits round out the degree across the arts, humanities and social sciences. That balance of structure and choice is what defines a liberal arts education. Together, these courses help students develop communication, research, analytical and problem-solving skills that are valuable across industries and bachelor’s degree programs.

Courses run fully online in 7.5-week terms, which keeps pace steady for working adults. Small class sizes give students direct access to faculty who regularly work with transfer and adult students. That access matters most in the first term back in a classroom.

How Long Does an AA Take to Complete?

Most full-time students finish an AA in about two years. The exact timeline depends heavily on transfer credit and course load. A standard AA runs roughly 60 credit hours. Full-time students taking five or six classes a term usually finish in four semesters.

Transfer credit changes that math directly. Every credit from a prior college, a CLEP exam or a prior-learning review shortens the path. Adelphi University’s AA in Liberal Arts online degree accepts up to 34 transfer credits toward the degree. For example, a student bringing in 30 approved transfer credits may need to complete less than half of the program’s remaining coursework to earn the degree. That can move a motivated student well inside the standard two-year window.

Can You Transfer Credits from an AA to a Bachelor’s Program?

Yes, an AA in liberal arts is built specifically to transfer into a bachelor’s degree. Not every transfer path performs equally well, though. According to the Community College Research Center at Columbia University, only 31 of every 100 community college students transfer to a four-year school. Just 15 go on to finish a bachelor’s degree.

Credit loss is a big reason why. Credits that don’t apply to the new program add time and cost. Credit loss can extend graduation timelines and increase tuition costs, making transfer-friendly programs especially important for students planning to continue their education. Adelphi University’s online AA in Liberal Arts program feeds directly into the university’s online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Liberal Studies, which accepts a minimum of 60 and up to 90 transfer credits toward the degree. For a closer look at where that path can lead, see this guide on what you can do with a liberal studies degree.

Official transcripts from every prior institution are required for admission, and transfer credits are evaluated for approval as part of that process. That review gives students a clear picture of which AA credits will count before they enroll.

Careers You Can Start With an AA in Liberal Arts

A liberal arts associate degree can help prepare graduates for a range of entry-level roles that value communication, organization, customer service and problem-solving skills, not a single narrow technical skill. Common starting points include the following:

• Administrative assistant: Handles scheduling, correspondence and day-to-day office coordination
• Customer service representative: Resolves customer questions and issues across phone, chat and email channels
• Human resources assistant: Supports hiring, onboarding and employee recordkeeping
• Sales associate: Builds customer relationships and helps close sales in retail or business settings
• Project coordinator: Tracks timelines, budgets and deliverables to keep small projects on schedule

Those roles pay off. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), workers with an associate degree as their highest credential earned a median weekly wage of $1,135 in 2025. That compares with $966 for workers with only a high school diploma. Graduates who continue to a bachelor’s degree see that gap widen again.

These entry-level roles share a common thread: They reward people who write clearly, manage several tasks and use good judgment under pressure. Graduates who continue toward a bachelor’s degree often move into research, policy or business roles that build on those same skills. See this guide to social science career options for examples of where that path can lead.

Who Is the AA in Liberal Arts Right For?

The AA in liberal arts fits students who want flexibility. That could mean an undecided major or a return to school as an adult. It could also mean a fast, affordable start toward a bachelor’s degree. According to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), community college students make up 38% of U.S. undergraduates.

Roughly a third of those students are between the ages of 22 and 39, and another 8% are 40 or older. That mix includes plenty of adult learners, not just students straight out of high school. Demand backs that up. According to Gallup and the Lumina Foundation, 57% of adults without a degree have considered enrolling in the past two years.

A liberal arts AA directly meets that need. It’s a manageable, transferable first step that doesn’t force an early bet on one career. Students who already know they need a specific technical license, such as nursing or radiography, may be better served by a targeted AAS program instead. For students seeking flexibility and transferability, a liberal arts AA can provide a strong foundation for future academic and career opportunities.

Ready to see where a liberal arts associate degree can take you? Explore Adelphi University’s online Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts program and start your path today.

About Adelphi University’s Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts

Adelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university in Garden City, New York. It has educated students for more than 125 years. Its online AA in Liberal Arts spans 30 to 64 credits across the humanities and sciences. The program is built for adult learners, transfer students and career changers.

Students can transfer up to 34 prior credits. They also work in small classes with direct access to faculty. From there, they can move into Adelphi University’s online BA in Liberal Studies program. Career support continues after graduation, with access to the Center for Career and Professional Development, including career educators, employer recruitment events and the Handshake job platform.