Associate Degree Programs

Overview

An Associate Degree Program (AA, AS, AAS & AAA) is an undergraduate academic program that focuses on specific fields chosen by students who have completed secondary education with qualifications or achievements at the O-Level. At The CPS Institute, the Associate Degree Program Qualifications are typically awarded to students after the successful completion of 60 semester credit hours over two years. This allows for the articulation of credit transfer processes to facilitate a transition to the third year of a Bachelor’s Degree program. The CPS Institute offers Associate Degree programs (ADP) in various areas with a market-driven curriculum and high-quality teaching methods. These programs are skill-oriented and tailored to prepare graduates for early entry into the workforce or entrepreneurship. Additionally, the program aims to equip students with technical, academic knowledge, and transferable skills to meet the demands of globalization in various occupational industries. Our program standards meet the minimum requirements and guidelines set by the Ministry of Higher Education Science and Technology. As a self-accrediting higher education provider, The CPS Institute is responsible for ensuring that programs adhere to Course Accreditation Standards. This Schedule outlines the detailed principles and criteria for the self-accreditation process for each Associate Degree award conferred by the Institute and its partner institutions.

Categories

  • Occupational Associate Degrees
  • Transfer Associate Degrees

Occupational associate degrees focus on specific career skills, while transfer associate degrees emphasize general education and preparation for further studies. The most common types of occupational degrees include AAS, AAA, AOS, and AAT, while transfer degrees include AA and AS. Both types of degrees include general education requirements, but occupational degrees are geared towards immediate workforce entry, while transfer degrees are meant for transferring to a four-year college or university studies. Other liberal arts-oriented associate degrees include AAT, AES, and AFA.

The main difference is that ‘applied’ courses focus on practical vocational skills for specific careers, while AA and AS programs prepare students for advanced academic studies leading to a bachelor’s degree. The curriculum is designed to provide essential skills for entering a profession or as a stepping stone to a bachelor’s degree.

Associate in Arts (AA) Degree

The AA degree provides a broad academic foundation in writing, humanities, and social sciences, along with career skills. It can be used as a standalone qualification for entering the job market or as a pathway to a bachelor’s degree.

Associate in Science (AS) Degree

The AS Degree provides specialized skills for a career in a specific field or can be used as a stepping stone to a Bachelor’s degree in a science-related discipline. The most common associate degrees are AA in liberal arts, humanities, and social sciences, and AS in natural, applied, and formal sciences. Vocational program graduates can earn terminal degrees like AAA or AAS.

Associate of Applied Arts (AAA)

An AAA degree provides specialized training in performing or visual arts to prepare individuals for quick entry into the job market. Students also take general education courses to enhance their educational experience.

Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree equips graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge to embark on a career immediately upon completion of their studies. These degrees have long been regarded as terminal degrees, signifying that they mark the end of a student’s formal education. Furthermore, AAS degrees also serve as transfer degrees, offering students a solid academic foundation to pursue further studies if they choose to do so.

Entry Requirements

  • Be 18 years old at the start of classes.
  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
  • Meet GPA standards set by Australian accredited educational institutions.
  • Show English proficiency through tests like IELTS or TOEFL.
  • Provide official academic transcripts.
  • Submit a statement of purpose, writing samples, personal statements, and letters of recommendation.

Associate’s Degree Programs

  • Security Management and Public Policy.
  • Criminology and Paralegal Studies.
  • Computer Forensic and
  • Cyber Security and Forensic Computing.
  • Digital Forensic and Cyber Security.
  • Computer Forensics.
  • Computer Forensic.
  • Software Security.
  • Forensic Computing and Cybercrime Investigation.
  • Cyber Technology.
  • Networking and Cyber Security.
  • Information Technology & Network Security.
  • Information Technology and Computer Forensics.