Should Ontario’s Colleges Award the Associate Degree?

Abstract

This paper examines the suitability of the associate degree for Ontario. While the goal of the paper is to consider the pros and cons of replacing the two-year diploma with an associate degree rather than formulating a recommendation, it does raise some questions about the appropriateness of the associate degree for Ontario. The questions pertain to the relationship between the associate degree and other credentials that are awarded by Ontario colleges, and to how adoption of the associate degree would fit with different visions of the college sector. Issues are raised also about the distinction between academic and applied associate degrees, and regarding the specific titles that would be used in conjunction with the associate degree.