This document contains a brief history of the development of the associate degree in British Columbia and reviews the degrees presently conferred. A major portion of the document focuses on newly approved (May 30, 2000) requirements for the Associate Degree of Arts (AA) and the Associate Degree of Science (AS). The associate degree formally became a degree in 1991; between 1993 and 1998, 1,350 students earned one. The report examines associate degree standards, simplicity, and transfer, and recommends: clarifying the intent of the degree; changing overall grade point average requirements; and allowing statistics courses to count towards the Associate of Arts degree. The associate degree is designed to prepare students for work, good citizenship, and a more enriching life. It is also designed to prepare students for further study. The AA and AS degrees both require 60 semester credits, including 6 credits of English. The AA degree requires 9 credits in science (math, computing science, statistics, laboratory science), 36 credits in arts (social science, humanities, English, creative and performing arts), and nine additional elective credits. The AS degree requires 6 credits in mathematics, 36 credits in science, 6 credits in arts other than English, and 6 elective credits. (LD)