Completion Time

• Variances exist but an associate degree typically takes about two years to complete whereas a bachelor's degree normally takes four years. Colleges offer different structures, so this timeline can be pushed in either direction. Some programs offer scheduling and course access options tailored to accommodate the lifestyle of working adults. These can accelerate the process by offering online, evening and weekend classes. The number of course hours a student carries each semester also determines time spent completing degree requirements.
  
  

Appeal to Potential Employers

• It is possible to attain a position in the business field without any sort of degree. However, the more educated a job-seeker becomes, the more it benefits him. According to Walden University, employers often require or at least prefer a bachelor's degree over an associate degree for a couple of reasons. First, the student who has undertaken two additional years of schooling exhibits a higher level of commitment to the field. Second, the amount of specialized training, the caliber of instruction, and the timeliness of the knowledge are often all far superior in a bachelor's degree program. Finally, the broader overall base of knowledge absorbed during a bachelor's degree program is often viewed as an asset for a potential employee.
  
  

Tuition and Transfers

• Taking an associate degree from a junior college is usually less expensive than going through any other type of program. A hybrid approach for students who pursue a bachelor's degree in business would involve starting off at a two-year college then transferring credits to a four-year program at a school offering the business concentration of choice. Students should plan out the entire arc of their college path before starting classes, including verifying how many credits will transfer from the two-year school to the four-year school and determining the overall credit requirements for the bachelor's degree.
  
  

Coursework

• Another reason why a bachelor's degree is often considered superior to an associate degree is the typical composition of the coursework. The bulk of a student’s first two years of college, regardless of the degree being sought, is made up of core general education classes such as English composition, lower-level math and science and humanities classes. It is typically during the next two years that the student takes courses within his major field of study that are more relevant to his eventual career path.
  
  

Concentrations

• Many college business programs offer students the opportunity to focus on specialized areas of business study as they complete their coursework. The extent to which a concentration serves a job seeker will depend upon the needs of the employers and the world's changing financial picture. Some of the top business concentrations include accounting, business administration, business management, communication studies, finance, health care management, human resources, international business, marketing and public administration.