"Baccalaureate" é um curso de graduação, normalmente com 4 anos de duração.

"Associate Degree" é um curso de graduação mais curto, com 2 anos.



The degree granted by two-year colleges.
essc.unt.edu/finaid/glossary.htm

The degree awarded after a two-year period of study; it can be either "terminal" (vocational) or "transfer" (the first two years of a bachelor's degree).
www.educationusa.state.gov/study/glossary.htm

The Associate Degree is granted upon completion of a program of at least two, but less than four years of college work. ...
www.pueblocc.edu/StudentServices/CollegeTerminology.htm

A two-year college degree.
www.americanstudentloan.org/tools/glossary

A degree granted by the community college to students who complete a specified program of study, usually totaling 60 units. Associate degrees are awarded in arts and science and are sometimes called two-year degrees, in contrast to the four-year or bachelor’s degree awarded by a university.
cms.cerritos.edu/transfer-center/college-terms

An Associate in Arts or Associate in Sciences degree, awarded by a community college upon completion of a set program of study, usually done in two years (fulltime), though completion time may exceed two years.
www.ivc.edu/help/pages/glossary.aspx

An undergraduate degree that can be earned at most two-year colleges. The associate of arts (AA) or associate of science (AS) degree is granted after students complete a program of study similar to the first two years of a four-year college curriculum. ...
www.iseek.org/static/awards.htm

An award that requires the completion of at least two academic years of college-level work or the equivalent in an academic or occupationally specific field of study, and which meets institutional standards for otherwise satisfying the requirements for this degree level.
www.ohiolearns.org/faqs/definitions.php

The award designating the completion of an academic program requiring two years of full-time preparation. Associate degrees are awarded by all of the freshman/sophomore UW Colleges and several of the UW comprehensive institutions.
www.uwsa.edu/opar/ssb/define.htm

is a degree granted for the successful completion of a subbaccalaureate program of studies, usually requiring at least 2 years (or equivalent) of ...
nces.ed.gov/programs/youthindicators/index.asp

This degree is granted upon completion of a prescribed educational program of at least 60 credit hours at a two-year institution. If you are attending full-time, this takes approximately two years or four semesters.
www.tulsacc.edu/page.asp

A program of study that includes at least 60 hours of credit.
www.austincc.edu/acc101/glossary.html

A degree (Associate in Arts, AA, or Associate in Science, AS) granted by a community college which recognizes a student’s satisfactory completion of an organized program of study consisting of a minimum of 60 degree applicable semester units.
catalog.lacitycollege.edu/pages/glossary.htm

A two-year degree.
www.csi.cuny.edu/academicadvisement/glossary.php3


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Note added at 3 hrs (2008-09-14 14:22:29 GMT)
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Os equivalentes no Brasil seriam cursos "sequenciais" e "tecnológicos"

"Uma opção para quem terminou o ensino médio e não quer fazer um curso de graduação de pelo menos quatro anos pode ser os cursos seqüenciais, que duram, em média, apenas dois anos. Os seqüenciais são cursos de nível superior em campos do saber, ou seja, divisões específicas de carreiras abrangentes -chamadas de áreas de conhecimento."

"Os cursos superiores de tecnologia, como o nome diz, conferem aos alunos diploma de nível superior. Isso significa, na prática, que ele pode se apresentar como candidato para qualquer vaga que exija a formação universitária, desde que não haja restrição quanto a uma área específica. Nas universidades, os cursos superiores de tecnologia são equivalentes ao bacharelado e à licenciatura, permitindo que o aluno faça qualquer tipo de pós-graduação depois de sua conclusão. Outra vantagem dos cursos tecnólogos é a duração. Com algumas exceções, que exigem até quatro anos de estudo, a maior parte não se prolonga além dos três e alguns chegam a durar apenas dois anos."