What is the term for a two-year degree at a career/tech school or community college?

• A. Bachelor's degree
• B. Master's degree
• C. Associate's degree
• D. Doctorate

Answer: (C)

Two years of study at a career/tech school or community college yields an associate's degree. This level is designed for students who want a credential to enter a skilled job after about two years or who plan to transfer to a four-year program later. Typically about 60 credit hours are completed in two years of full-time study. There are variants like Associate of Arts and Associate of Science, often focused on transferring to a bachelor’s program, and Associate of Applied Science, which emphasizes concrete job skills. In healthcare, you might encounter an Associate Degree in Nursing, which trains nurses over about two years. Higher degrees go bachelor’s, then graduate levels (master’s and doctorates). So the two-year credential earned at these schools is called an associate’s degree because of its duration and position in the education pathway.