What is the Associate In Arts Program?
The
University of Delaware’s Associate in Arts Program allows Delaware
students the chance to complete their first two years of college at
locations in Georgetown, Dover, and Wilmington.
The AAP is
housed on Delaware Tech campuses. However, the program offers only
University of Delaware courses – the same courses taught on the Newark
campus – taught exclusively by University of Delaware faculty.
The Associate
in Arts degree is awarded by the University of Delaware upon completion of
the required 60 credits of coursework, with a minimum GPA of 2.0.
Designed to be completed in two years, the non-residential program
begins with a freshman seminar designed to promote academic
success, along with coursework in mathematics, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and languages.
The Associate in Arts
courses simultaneously fulfill the core requirements for majors
leading to the bachelor’s degree. Associate in Arts students enjoy
an uninterrupted transition from the associate degree program to a
bachelor degree program.
Most students relocate to Newark for their junior year to complete their four-year degree.
Is the AAP the same thing as the Parallel Program?
The
UD Parallel Program was created in 1966 by the Delaware legislature; it
was designed to offer students a university education without the need
to immediately relocate to Newark.
In 2005, the UD Parallel
Program became the Associate in Arts Program. Unlike the Parallel
Program, UDAAP students receive an associate's degree after completing
the required 60 credits of coursework. Students then have the option to
relocate to Newark to complete their four-year degree. As they are
already card-carrying University of Delaware students, they enjoy an
uninterrupted transition to the Newark campus in their third year.
Can I transfer to the Newark campus before I complete my associate's degree?
No.
AAP students may take courses in Newark during winter and summer
sessions but are charged full Newark tuition rates when they do so.
However, AAP students may not take Newark courses during fall and spring
semesters unless they complete the Associate in Arts degree first.
Students
who intend to graduate in a given term but do not successfully complete
their courses will be required to drop any Newark courses they have
enrolled in and re-register for courses at their home campus until they
earn their associate's degree.
What majors can I pursue as a student in the Associate in Arts Program?
The associate in arts degree is a general degree in the liberal
arts and does not have a specific major attached to it. Upon
completion of the Associate in Arts degree, students may
choose to continue toward a bachelor’s degree in a specific
major.
If you know what major you would like to pursue when
you relocate to the Newark campus, you should discuss your
plans with your academic advisor as soon as possible so you
can create an appropriate academic plan. If you don’t know
what you would like to major in now, that is OK. Your academic
advisor can assist you in choosing courses based on your current
interests.
Students who earn the UD Associate in Arts degree are guaranteed the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s
degree at the Newark campus, choosing from more than 120
undergraduate majors. Many majors can be completed in just
two additional years, while others may require more than
two years based on necessary course sequencing. Still other
majors are selective and use a competitive admissions process.
Associate in Arts Program graduates compete for seats in these
majors on an equal footing with students from the Newark
campus. Some majors may have course prerequisites for entry, or
require a specific GPA, portfolio, or audition.
What requirements do I need to meet in order to keep my SEED Scholarship?
In order to maintain SEED Scholarship eligibility, students must:
Submit a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year
Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
Earn a minimum of 24 credits between the start of fall semester and the end of spring semester
Maintain full-time enrollment status at the Georgetown, Dover, or Wilmington campus during the fall and spring semesters
Students who take summer or winter courses to reach the 24-credit minimum will need to petition Student Financial Services
for consideration. The recommended filing deadline for the FAFSA is
March 1. Students convicted of a felony offense are ineligible for the
SEED Scholarship.
If I’m accepted into the Newark campus, can I choose to enroll at one of the Associate in Arts Program sites instead?
Some Delaware students who are accepted into a four-year
bachelor’s degree program in Newark may choose their early
courses from those offered by the Associate in Arts Program in
Dover, Georgetown or Wilmington, rather than in Newark. Students
must realize that in such a case, their course selections will be
limited and they may need extra time to complete their degree.
Students should make such intentions known as soon as possible,
so that they can work with an advisor to map their course selections
and develop a timetable for moving to the Newark campus for
completion of their degree. In most cases, we recommend that
students who are admitted to Newark should enroll there.
If I enroll in the Associate in Arts Program, will I have to stay there for a full two years before moving to the Newark campus?
All students enrolled in the Associate in Arts Program are
expected to remain in the program until the completion of
all 60 credits (62 credits for ETE students) of the requirements. For most full-time students,
completion of the requirements will take two years. Earlier
relocation to Newark is not possible — students must complete
the entire 60-credit curriculum and earn the Associate in Arts
degree to be eligible for relocation to Newark.
I have transfer credits from another school. Can I use these credits toward the Associate in Arts degree?
UD accepts transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions,
as long as the courses were completed with grades of C or higher.
Up to 29 transfer credits may be applied toward the Associate
in Arts degree; however, we prefer that transfer students enter
with no more than 12 credits from another institution.
In many
cases, the Associate in Arts Program might not be the best choice for a transfer student. The suitability of the Associate in
Arts Program for a prospective transfer student will depend on
the number of credits already earned, the nature of the courses
taken, the student’s intended major, and other factors, including
the student’s academic performance at the previous school.
Prospective transfer students are encouraged to consult the UD’s
Office of Admissions before submitting an application.
After
I complete the associate degree, will I have to submit another UD
application if I intend to continue in Newark for a bachelor’s degree?
No, it is not necessary for Associate in Arts Program graduates
to submit a second application to UD. Students are guaranteed
admission to many majors on the Newark campus, and UD staff
will assist you in completing the paperwork to enable you to
move directly into one of these majors. If you are interested
in pursuing a competitive major, our advisors will help you
understand the requirements for admission to that major
(requirements will vary by major) and assist you in creating a
back-up plan, if necessary.
How are students admitted to the AAP?
Prospective students apply for admission to the Associate
in Arts Program through the UD Office of Admissions using
the regular freshman application. There is a question on the
application supplement which allows applicants to specify
that they are applying for the Associate in Arts Program.
Students who apply after January 15 will be considered
on a “space available” basis. Applicants must demonstrate
scholastic aptitude, motivation for academic achievement,
and adequate preparation for degree completion. All
Delawareans who demonstrate the capacity to succeed will
be admitted to the UDAAP.
Applicants must be graduates of accredited secondary
schools or have equivalent credentials and must have
completed coursework at the high school level appropriate
for continued academic achievement and learning. A complete list of expected high school courses is listed on the
Freshman Application for Undergraduate Admission.
All Delawareans who apply to a four-year
program at the University of Delaware but are not admitted to
that program will automatically be considered for and may be
offered admission to the Associate in Arts Program instead.
Students must have no more than 29 credits in the liberal arts
to be eligible to apply to the Associate in Arts Program.
Does the AAP offer a Connected Degree program?
Yes. A Connected Degree is a transfer
agreement between Delaware Technical & Community
College and the University of Delaware that allows you to
graduate in a specific major with an Associate in Technology
degree from Delaware Tech, then transfer to the
University of Delaware as a junior in the corresponding major. See DTCC's Connected Degree page for a complete list of programs.
