I’m toying with the idea of filling my spare time by obtaining a two-year degree in mathematics at the local community college. I’m really just doing it to keep my brain occupied and have something which demonstrates critical thinking ability to put on my resume. However, is there anything I could actually do with it? Do statisticians employ technicians to do the drudge work, for example? Are there any other technical positions for which an AS degree would make me employable? The degree requirements are three semesters of calculus, one semester of applied differential equations, one semester of linear algebra, two semesters of C++, and a couple of physics courses. Would I just be stuck in a cubicle somewhere writing code, or is there anything more interesting that I could apply it to?
I got one long ago solely to ensure that when I transferred to a 4 year school ( a top engineering school) that they had to accept all of my credits since they formed the basis of a degree in the same state. It worked.
Worth more than this?
Probably not much, unless you intend to transfer the credits toward a full bachelors degree.
I don’t think there is any such thing as a “two-year degree.” The so-called “Associate’s Degree” is IMHO completely bogus (unless you use it to transfer to a 4-year program, but then you’re just transferring and don’t have a “degree”). I believe the A.A. “degree” was invented as part of the trend to make everyone feel good about him/herself even if s/he doesn’t accomplish anything. Like pass-fail grades and “electing” the valedictorian instead of awarding that honor to the person with the highest grades.
Not saying you can’t learn anything in two years. I am currently attending a community college just for the knowledge (but I already have a BA and an MA, and I’m doing this just for fun).
So go to school to keep your brain active, by all means, but the 2-year degree isn’t going to impress anyone. Kind of like having an “aol” email address.
ThelmaLou, is this true? I agree with your post; but I have never heard of ‘electing’ a valedictorian. That is really stupid. Every school I’ve ever gone to it was based on GPA, and then extracurricular activities to break a tie.
Oh, and I got my AA a long time ago. It never helped me get a job; but I’m glad I got it all the same. For me it was a milestone that I’d accomplished something for going to school full time, working full time, and was raising a family that started out with a 17 year old pregnant girlfriend turned wife. 15 - 20 years later I got my Bachelors and then my Masters degree, but I’ve never regretted getting the Associates degree; even though it never helped me professionally at all.
Alas, yes. The high school that my exBF’s daughter graduated from in 2005- they elected the valedictorian. It was essentially a popularity contest. Blew my mind. I don’t know how common this is… this was in Texas. 
Check out this story…
“Question:I was elected valedictorian for my high school (in 1990) but understand that it’s usually the top student. Isn’t there a danger that the best student won’t be a great speaker? Or is there a greater danger that the winner of a vote will simply be the most popular but not most deserving student?” More
If you google “elected” “valedictorian” you’ll find more examples. I guess it’s quite common now.
Valedictorians are now ELECTED?
Ok, its official. America is fucked. Wonder if New Zealand or Australia has room for me and my peeps?
This is a spectacularly ignorant post.
Ok, that was mean.
Maybe this isn’t the place, but I’m going to ask you to reconsider this thinking. The pass/fail grades I received came with an extensive written evaluation, and trust me you’d rather have a “C” than have “ThelmaLou tended to fall asleep in class…” on your transcript. They can be absolutely merciless in calling out when, where and how you failed to meet the standards.
Well, at the very least it’s simply not entirely true. Until very recently, community college graduates in the fields of nursing and respiratory therapy were snapped up as fast they came off the assembly line. My wife made $50/hr. (full time, consistently) as an RT with just an AS degree.
As far as I know, two-year (Associate’s) degrees in academic subjects like mathematics would be aimed at students who intend to go on to complete a four-year degree in the field. The courses you mentioned are an essential foundation if you go on to more advanced study in mathematics, physics, engineering, or computer science, but AFAIK they have relatively little direct, real-world application without that additional study.
With that kind of background, you might be able to find some work tutoring mathematics, but other than that, I can’t think of any job it would qualify you for. An Associate’s Degree in mathematics is not going to be a credential that any employers are going to be specifcally requiring or looking for, though it might (or might not) be a point in your favor if you applied for a job that you were otherwise qualified for.
Bachelor’s in math aren’t really worth a ton either. Unless you get them with something else, then you look like a badass.
It will give you a competitive advantage over someone with only a HS diploma.
But FWIW, I have a BA in Math, and didn’t take much more than the courses you listed to get it (although I took a lot of other non-math courses), so it sounds like you would have a very solid base if you wanted to go on and get a four-year degree.
But if you are thinking you might do that, it would probably be better to enter a four-year program from the start. Even if you end up only doing two years, I would guess that two years of college is two years of college on a resume, whether or not you got an AA.
Finally, if you are truly doing this mostly for personal enrichment, and you don’t happen to know about the online option, be sure to check out MIT’s Open Courseware, and similar programs from other top schools. They are free, and many of them have a full series of lectures on videotape, as well as all the class notes, assignments, and exams.
I didn’t say you couldn’t get trained for a job. But it’s not a college degree. It didn’t start being referred to as an Associate’s Degree until very recently.
I’m not exactly sure about math, but in accounting, there’s all different levels of accountants. (All iirc) A CPA was something like an MA, an accountant had a 4 year degree, a bookkeeper had a 2 year degree, and someone doing data entry had a high school diploma.
Depending on your state, a 2 year degree in math might be enough to teach at the elementary school level along with a teaching certificate.
Some jobs (I’m not sure they’re math related) have a minimum requirement of a 2 year degree.
???
In my neck of the woods “very recently” was 20 to 30 years ago…
You could possibly use it in public employment where the statutory pay scale provides for pay based on education. E.g. if you want to be a cop, depending on jurisdiction, there might be an automatic raise for certain degree levels (e.g. maybe 2k for an Associate’s, and 5k for a Bachelor’s). You certainly wouldn’t be likely to use a lot of the math, but just getting the degree makes you a more educated person.
Not even close. The first widespread accredited associate’s programs were set up after WWII to take advantage of the GI Bill. And of course it’s a college degree; it’s just not a baccalaureate degree, and nobody ever claimed they were equivalent.
Almost every university will transfer an accredited associate’s degree as equivalent to the first two years of a baccalaureate program, without regard to specific classes, which makes it a lot more convenient than transferring schools and having to fight over transfer credits.
It’s a useful tool for a great many people who want postsecondary education but don’t have the opportunity or desire to attend a four-year program. It’s also a fantastic way to get your required 101s out of the way for a fraction of the price if your end goal is a bachelor’s from a private school.