An Associate Degree in Pakistan is a two-year undergraduate academic degree that is awarded by both the private and public colleges and universities. It is a post-intermediate academic degree that focuses on a respective field chosen by the students.

Associate Degree has been introduced as an alternative to the BA and BSc degree in Pakistan. Students who will be awarded an Associate Degree are considered a graduate. The level of the Associate Degree is equivalent to the BA and BSc.

What is Associate Degree in Pakistan?

The University of Gujrat and Institute of Business Administration was the first institutes who have introduced an Associate Degree back in 2010. The Associate Degree was offered in the following disciplines,

• IT Management
• Textile Design
• Finance
• Education
• Accounting
• Graphic Design
• Hotel Management
• Sports and Physical Education

List of Universities that offer Associate Degree Programs in Pakistan

The team Talibilm has compiled a list of all those universities that provide the Associate Degree in Pakistan,

• University of the Punjab, Lahore
• University of Sargodha, Sargodha
• University of Gujrat
• Virtual University, Lahore
• Riphah International University, Islamabad
• Punjab Group of Colleges, Lahore
• Government Colleges

Status of Associate Degree

An associate degree is considered a completely skilled based degree that opens up many ways in the future. However, we are living in Pakistan, so the basic meaning and purpose of the Associate Degree were lost somewhere. Universities in Pakistan are simply renaming their BA and BSc degrees to the Associate Degree.

The same old syllabus of the BA and BSc is being taught but now connecting it to the Associate Degree. These universities are not even revising the syllabus.

What are the suggested courses for Associate Degree?

Below is a detailed list of all the suggested disciplines for the Associate Degree,

• Health Services and Para-Medical Technology
• Business and Commerce
• Public Service
• Data Processing and Programing
• Occupational Studies
• Physical Therapy
• Accounting, Information Systems
• Computer Networking
• Network Management
• Web Design, Web Management
• Health Information Technology
• Industrial/Production Technologies
• Health Care Administration
• Media Studies
• Labour Relations
• Tourism & Hospitality
• Applied Psychology
• Agri-Business
• Dental Hygiene
• Indigenous Community Health
• Community Management and Development
• Medical Lab Technology
• Mine Technology
• Dental Therapy
• Studio Art
• Drama and Theater
• Music
• Sales & Marketing
• Security Management

Details you need to know about Associate Degree

Total Credit Hours: 65-68

Duration: 2 years program

Semesters: 4

Number of Weeks in each semester: 16-18

In Pakistan, we should make every attempt leading to the betterment of the Associate Degree.