Transitioning to the Newark Campus

Students who complete the UD Associate in Arts degree are guaranteed the opportunity to study toward a bachelor's degree at the University's campus in Newark, and may choose from any of the 150 undergraduate majors and 100 minors that are offered.

You are considered "undeclared" while in the Associate in Arts Program and will be able to officially declare a major in your last semester of associate-degree study. However, you may have already chosen your intended major; if so, you have probably been discussing degree requirements with your advisor as you planned your courses. While in the AAP, you can select a specific Interest Area based upon your intended major. Students may choose one of eight Interest Areas upon which to focus their beginning course work:

• Arts & Humanities
  
• Business
  
• Elementary & Early Childhood Education
• Environmental Studies
• Life & Health Sciences
  
• Physical & Applied Sciences
• Social Sciences
  
• University Studies (undeclared)
  

You can declare your chosen Interest Area at any time by completing the UST-AA Interest Area Form.

The actual process of adding the bachelor's degree major depends on the major. Many majors can be completed in just two years upon relocation to Newark, while others will take longer based on necessary course sequencing. These majors can be declared as long as you meet the minimum requirements, generally a 2.0 grade point average. Still other majors are selective and use a competitive admissions process. Associate in Arts Program graduates compete for seats in these majors on equal footing with students from the Newark campus. Some majors may have course prerequisites for entry, or require a specific grade point average, portfolio, or audition. More information about majors and major restrictions is available from the Registrar's Office​.

There will be a two-week application period for restricted majors followed by a one-week decision period. This will allow the process to be competitive in restricted majors. Specific deadlines are available on the Registrar's website.

Use the online resources below to determine the requirements for your major of choice. It is expected that you will be working closely with the  academic advisor on your campus to ensure that you are aware of the requirements for your intended major, as well as scheduling appropriate courses for your first semester on the Newark campus. While you are an Associate in Arts student, your advisors are your connection to your intended major; you will be assigned an advisor for your bachelor's degree program when you arrive in Newark.

Useful Links: 

Registrar's Office​
College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
College of Arts & Sciences
Alfred Lerner College of Business
College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment
College of Education and Human Development
College of Engineering
College of Health Sciences

​Every student pursuing a bachelor's degree must complete at least one major, though it is certainly possible to complete more than one during your time at UD. Bachelor of Arts degrees typically require 30–36 credits in coursework in the major area, while other degrees (Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, etc.) require more coursework in the major area. A double major requires fulfilling all the requirements for two majors within the same degree (e.g., two Bachelor of Arts majors, two Bachelor of Science majors, etc.). In some cases, students are allowed to simultaneously pursue two baccalaureate degrees. In doing so, students must fulfill all requirements for both degrees, including all college requirements should the programs of study be in more than one college. The student may be awarded two degrees at the same time only if the degrees are different (e.g., Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts).

​Minors are designed for students interested in a particular field and provide programs of study less intensive and comprehensive than a major but with greater coherence than a group of courses selected at random. Minors have been approved in over 100 fields of study. (See the full list of undergraduate majors and minors in the UD Academic Catalog.) In general, a minor requires at least 15 credits of course work. Students may pursue any number of minors while working toward the bachelor's degree, though they are not required.

As part of the process for declaring a major, Associate in Arts students are encouraged to develop and follow an academic plan. It's important to understand that it's unrealistic to expect the right major to fall into your lap — you must be proactive and make a commitment to the major exploration process. As an AAP student, you are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to meet often with your advisor; this will assist you in uncovering your interests and ultimately determining your major. You are invited to meet with your academic advisors to set up an individual academic plan for your college career.

Topics include:

• Personal reflection and assessment;
• Short- and long-term goal setting;
• Ways to enhance the college experience through discovery-learning opportunities such as study abroad, undergraduate research, service learning, and internships.

Choosing a major and, eventually, a career can be a complex process, especially in a time of economic change. Career exploration takes time, energy, and a great deal of reflection. As a student, you may be wondering where to begin your search or how to choose a major that will provide you with career opportunities at the end of your academic journey. It is important to remember that a major does not necessarily equal a career. Employers want to see that you have good communication skills, technology and teamwork skills, and that you show initiative. Building a résumé of valuable skills that are useful in and out of the classroom will help you achieve a successful job placement when you leave UD.

Luckily, the University provides a variety of resources that can help you decide on a career. A good place to start the process of choosing a major or career is at the Career Services Center, where career tests and interest inventories are administered. Additionally, The Career Services Center provides a wealth of information on choosing a career. Career Services provides students with information on internships and work opportunities and leads a variety of workshops on topics such as résumé writing, interviewing, and networking. 

​Students relocating to the Newark campus for the fall semester are invited to participate in the annual Transi​tio​n Day program, which is held in August. At Transition Day, students will have the opportunity to meet others in their major, learn about academic resources, get advice from upperclassmen, and tour the campus. Students are encouraged to attend other Welcome Week activities to learn more about academic resources, student organizations, study abroad, and more.