授予副学士学位的目的不仅仅是代表单位的积累。它象征着大学方面的成功尝试，旨在引导学生完成旨在发展某些能力和见解的学习经历模式。其中包括口头和书面思考和清晰有效沟通的能力，使用数学，理解主要学科的探究模式，了解其他文化和时代，通过经验获得见解的能力。在思考道德问题时，要发展自我理解的能力。
The awarding of an associate degree is intended to represent more than an accumulation of units. It symbolizes the successful attempt on the part of the college to lead students through patterns of learning experiences designed to develop certain capabilities and insights. Among these are the ability to think and to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, to use mathematics, to understand the modes of inquiry of the major disciplines, to be aware of other cultures and times, to achieve insights gained through experience in thinking about ethical problems, and to develop the capacity for self understanding.