| Degree | Refers to the type of diploma students receive after graduation and differs based on the number of credit hours students complete. |
| Credit Hours | Represent the number of clock hours you spend in each class every week during a term and the number of credits you will earn if you satisfactorily complete a course. For example, a one-credit course generally meets once a week for 50 to 60 minutes. |
| Degree Programs |
| Certificate Program | Certificate programs include a set number of courses (usually 30 credits) that prepare students to complete a specific task or educate them about one particular aspect of a field to be able to obtain entry-level positions. For example, an Emergency Medical Technician certificate program prepares students to enter the field of emergency medicine and start working as first responders. |
| Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Science (AS) | These programs carry about 60 credits and allow students to transfer to four-year programs to obtain bachelor's degrees. |
| Associate in Applied Science (AAS) | These programs carry about 60 credits focused on training students for a specific profession or career. The AAS degree has fewer transferable credits than the AA or AS degrees. |
| Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) | Four-year programs that carry about 120 credits. |