How an Associate Degree Can Be a Stepping Stone to a Bachelor’s Degree

The 100 percent online University of Wisconsin Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS) is a great way to earn a degree and build the foundation for a liberal arts education. By completing general education requirements and prerequisite courses, it can also serve as a bridge to a bachelor’s degree program. 

The Universities of Wisconsin offer online bachelor’s degrees in a variety of subjects, including technology, science, management, and healthcare. The AAS program offers different pathways for you to pursue a bachelor’s degree, complete prerequisite courses, and if you have an unfinished bachelor’s degree or transferable college credits, it can also put you back on the path of completing an online undergraduate program. 

Below are a few examples of bachelor’s degree completion programs and how the UW AAS degree can bring you closer to reaching your educational and career goals:

Applied Computing

Want to help innovate and contribute to new platforms in the rapidly evolving technology industry? The UW Bachelor of Science in Applied Computing may be a good fit for you.

Equal parts computer science theory, programming languages, and interdisciplinary problem-solving, the Applied Computing program gives you the skills to excel in IT positions. By giving you access to hands-on experience with software engineering practices and gaining an understanding of core computer science, you can prepare yourself for a career in the tech space.

For an introduction to how tech is shaped by cultural and economic forces, the UW AAS program features UWX PH237: Technology, Values, and Society, where you can learn about the ethical issues surrounding technology and the concept of technology as a system.

The AAS program also offers UWX MA116: College Algebra, which can be taken for the Applied Computing program’s math prerequisite.

RELATED: Industry Experts Examine the Current Trends and Career Outlook for the Computing Field

“If I was not in the program, I would have had to completely put my school on break again and would not have been able to continue to get this far. I feel like the program was a godsend for me.”

—Nene Frost, University of Wisconsin Associate of Arts and Sciences graduate

Health Information Management and Technology

If you’re interested in the tech industry but also have a passion for healthcare, the UW Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and Technology gives you a foundation in both. While most roles in health information management don’t involve direct patient care, there are plenty of management and administrative positions that allow you to have an impact in healthcare. 

The program features two tracks depending on what you’d like to focus on. The Health Information Management track helps students develop skills in human resources management and strategic planning, while the Health Information Technology track offers detailed courses on programming and data security.  

The AAS program features UWX BL101: Concepts of Biology, where you’ll analyze data from lab experiments while fulfilling the HIMT program’s biology requirement. Taking an anatomy and physiology course is suggested for the program, but not required. 

RELATED: HIMT Program Director Guides Students Through Capstone Project

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Sustainable Management

As the impacts of climate change grow, more and more corporations and organizations are adopting sustainable practices for the environment. If you want to pursue a leadership role and have a passion for sustainability, consider the UW Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Management. 

Upon finishing the program, you’ll gain business skills and learn the principles of sustainability that are backed by environmental science. You’ll also be able to make informed decisions leading to sustainable outcomes and integrate sustainability concepts into various settings and projects. 

AAS students who are interested in the Sustainable Management program can take the following courses to learn more about business and the environment: 

• UWX BU101: Introduction to Business
• UWX EN210: Business Communication
• UWX ES105: Introduction to Environmental Studies

You can also take courses in college math, introductory biology, and speech/introduction to communications to meet the Sustainable Management program’s prerequisites.  

RELATED: How Can I Make Sustainability a Career?

For a full list of courses in the University of Wisconsin Associate of Arts and Sciences, take a look at the curriculum. If you have any questions about the UW AAS program, contact an enrollment adviser by calling 608-262-2011 or emailing learn@uwex.wisconsin.edu.