CDA, Worth It?

[Blackcat31]

This is what my college's home page says about A.A and A.A.S degrees

The main difference between the A.A. degree and the A.A.S. degree is what students do with them after graduation. A.A. degree programs include general education and elective classes at the expense of the degree major.

Thereby, A.A.S. degree graduates tend to use their degrees to further their education by enrolling in a bachelor's degree program afterward. A.A.S. degree programs focus on the major and do not require many unrelated classes. Therefore, A.A.S. graduates learn more about their major and usually enter the workforce after graduation.

HTH

[melilley]

This is what my college's home page says about A.A and A.A.S degrees

The main difference between the A.A. degree and the A.A.S. degree is what students do with them after graduation. A.A. degree programs include general education and elective classes at the expense of the degree major.

Thereby, A.A.S. degree graduates tend to use their degrees to further their education by enrolling in a bachelor's degree program afterward. A.A.S. degree programs focus on the major and do not require many unrelated classes. Therefore, A.A.S. graduates learn more about their major and usually enter the workforce after graduation.

HTH

Thank you so much! I have always wondered and did some research, but didn't find the right info. I feel silly, you would think I would know what my own degree is....

[Blackcat31]

Thank you so much! I have always wondered and did some research, but didn't find the right info. I feel silly, you would think I would know what my own degree is....

Hey, don't feel bad...I actually had to ask AFTER I enrolled and my advisor explained it to me but then when you posted asking the same question, I had to go find the info again .... because I couldn't remember

[Play Care]

This is what my college's home page says about A.A and A.A.S degrees

The main difference between the A.A. degree and the A.A.S. degree is what students do with them after graduation. A.A. degree programs include general education and elective classes at the expense of the degree major.

Thereby, A.A.S. degree graduates tend to use their degrees to further their education by enrolling in a bachelor's degree program afterward. A.A.S. degree programs focus on the major and do not require many unrelated classes. Therefore, A.A.S. graduates learn more about their major and usually enter the workforce after graduation.

HTH

The reason I got my AA was because I wanted to go on to get a BA and was told an AA was the way to go. I was told that an AAS was more for people who wanted to go right to work after the two years.

[Blackcat31]

The reason I got my AA was because I wanted to go on to get a BA and was told an AA was the way to go. I was told that an AAS was more for people who wanted to go right to work after the two years.

LOL!! :: Apparently it is different for all colleges....

Like I said above, I could be totally wrong about it but that is how it was explained to me....and I copied what my college says about it....

Now I am going to have to look further into it....

Maybe the confusion lies in the fact that apparently there are 3 different types of degrees offered in my state;

A.A., A.S., A.A.S

Degree Definitions

Associate in Arts (AA Degree)

An associate in arts degree is awarded upon completion of a 60-credit academic program in the liberal arts and sciences without a named field of study and is designed for transfer to baccalaureate degree-granting institutions. An associate in arts degree requires completion of at least a 40-credit general education curriculum that fulfills the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum goal areas. An associate in arts degree may have one or more emphases of at least 9 credits each in liberal arts and science fields, provided there is an articulation agreement with a baccalaureate major offered by at least one system university. At least 20 credits in the associate in arts degree shall be taught by the faculty recommending the award. This requirement may be decreased upon recommendation of the faculty and approval by the president of the college or university.

Associate in Science (AS Degree)

An associate in science degree is awarded upon completion of a 60 credit academic program in scientific, technological, or other professional fields designed to transfer in its entirety to a related baccalaureate program by way of an articulation agreement. The associate in science degree is designed to transfer in its entirety to a related baccalaureate program by way of an articulation agreement. An associate in Science degrees may be awarded in either a broad or specific field of study.

Broad Field
A broad field associate in science degree transfers to all system universities offering related baccalaureate programs through a statewide articulation agreement. Broad fields may include areas such as (1) agriculture, (2) business, (3) computer and information sciences, (4) education, (5) engineering, (6) engineering technologies, (7) environmental sciences, (8) health sciences, and (9) natural sciences.

Specific Field
Specific field associate in science degrees may be designed for both transfer and employment. A specific field associate in science degree requires at least one articulation agreement between a community college, community and technical college, or technical college and a system university awarding a baccalaureate degree in a related discipline, unless the chancellor grants an exception.

The associate in science degree requires a minimum of 30 general education credits selected from at least six of the ten goal areas of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. At least 20 credits in an associate in science degree shall be taught by the faculty recommending the award. This requirement may be decreased upon recommendation of the faculty and approval by the president of the college or university. A waiver may be granted to exceed a length of 60 credits when (1) the waiver criteria in Subpart C are met and (2) an articulation agreement specifies the transfer of a greater number of credits.

Associate in Applied Science (AAS Degree)

An associate in applied science degree is awarded upon completion of a 60 credit academic program in a named field of study in scientific, technological or other professional fields. An associate in applied science degree prepares students for employment in an occupation or range of occupations. An associate in applied science degree may also be accepted in transfer to a related baccalaureate program. An associate in applied science degree requires a minimum of 15 general education credits selected from at least three of the ten goal areas of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. At least 30 credits shall be in the academic program's occupational or technical field of preparation. An associate in applied science degree may have one or more emphases of at least 9 credits each when there are at least 30 credits in the major that are common to the emphases. At least 20 credits in an associate in applied science shall be taught by the faculty recommending the award. This requirement may be decreased upon recommendation of the faculty and approval by the president of the college or university. A waiver may be granted to exceed a length of 60 credits when (1) the waiver criteria in Subpart C are met and (2) an articulation agreement, where applicable, specifies the transfer of a greater number of credits.


Does that help? Maybe every state is different. I am confused by all the initials for everything now days....

[Unregistered]

I'm working on my CDA in Kentucky, does anyone know it would be valid if i moved to Rhode island once it's completed. Just wondering if they can travel with you or would I need to do it all over for the state of RI

[Blackcat31]

I'm working on my CDA in Kentucky, does anyone know it would be valid if i moved to Rhode island once it's completed. Just wondering if they can travel with you or would I need to do it all over for the state of RI

A CDA is a credential recognized in all states.

It doesn't matter where you got it.

[daycarediva]

I don't want it because I think parents would pay more - I realize there is a cap to that But am hoping it would generate more interest in my program and keep my spots full. I am hoping that by year 3, my degree(s) will be finished and I will be working outside the home.

I am (beyond) ready at this point to be done with my 55+ hour work weeks and have my home just be my home...

imho, no. I have it and it is about to expire. I am not renewing it. My AA (now BA) in ECE has attracted more attention to my program than the CDA. Most parents don't even know what it is, and the ONE parent who did called it the "CNA of the child care field"

Can you take online courses towards your AA in ECE or EC development?

Right now, jobs in ECE in my area are either AA in a related field, or CDA/significant experience. They pay pretty low (imho) 10-12/hr.

BA in a related field + experience jobs locally are 15-17/hr+ and are mostly desk jobs. I know, I just applied for two.

[Play Care]

imho, no. I have it and it is about to expire. I am not renewing it. My AA (now BA) in ECE has attracted more attention to my program than the CDA. Most parents don't even know what it is, and the ONE parent who did called it the "CNA of the child care field"

Can you take online courses towards your AA in ECE or EC development?

Right now, jobs in ECE in my area are either AA in a related field, or CDA/significant experience. They pay pretty low (imho) 10-12/hr.

BA in a related field + experience jobs locally are 15-17/hr+ and are mostly desk jobs. I know, I just applied for two.

I had completely forgotten about this thread!

I am currently getting my CDA but only because it's being paid for by the union. I am going to take that, along with my AA in LA to SUNY's online college (where I also have a ton of extra credits hanging around ) and see if I can parlay that into an AA in ECE. That would at least get me a TA position. Right now my Liberal Arts degree qualifies me for nothing but maybe answering phones (and probably not even that as my computing skills are gone ) Ideally I would like to work at Head Start to start and then move on to a UPK once I get my BA (which I would use any financial aid from HS to get as our HS does that) But we will see. I like working with kids, and I like the idea of NOT being a lead teacher. I'm at the point that I want to go in, do what they tell me to, and leave.

[daycarediva]

oh my gosh I thought this was a recent thread! I never look at the dates! OOOPS!

Good plan! I am the same way at this point. One last chance of DC in spring at the new house and then I'm calling it quits.