Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a federal parliamentary republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers. Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern market economy with low unemployment.

An associate degree is an undergraduate degree that typically awarded by community colleges, technical colleges and 4-year colleges. If pursued on a full-time basis, an associate degree usually takes two years to obtain.