How are the AA-T and AS-T degrees different from the associate degrees that community colleges already offer?

Students completing an AA-T or AS-T degree receive priority admission to the CSU system. Students who have completed an AA-T or AS-T and are admitted to a CSU major that has been deemed similar are guaranteed admission at junior standing, and the opportunity to complete a baccalaureate degree with 60 additional semester (or 90 quarter) units. AA-T and AS-T degrees are recognized by both the California Community College and CSU systems as a measure of preparation and readiness for transfer to upper-division course work at the CSU.