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 all of the more than 130 undergraduate majors that are offered.

Students are considered undeclared while in the Associate in Arts Program, and will be able to declare a major during the last semester of Associate Degree study.

Choosing a major for Bachelor Degree study starts with information shared during the First Year Experience course, UNIV 116, taken in the fall of the freshman year.  During the sophomore year, the Academic Advisor on each campus will provide guidance and detailed instruction for the process of declaring a major, and students will have an opportunity to meet with faculty from departments across the University during our annual Spring event, Majors and Minors on Main.

If you know what major you would like to pursue when you relocate to Newark, you should discuss your plans with your academic advisor as soon as possible so you can create an appropriate academic plan. The actual process for changing majors depends on the major. Many majors can be completed in just two years upon relocation while others will take longer based on the 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. Additional information about such restrictions can be found at the Registrar's Office website ( http://www.udel.edu/registrar/students/restmajorsinfo.html ). In addition, a limited number of four year degrees may be completed at sites in Southern Delaware.

All Associate Degree Program students will be expected to remain in the Associate Degree Program program for two years or or until the completion of the 60 credits of degree requirements.  Earlier relocation to Newark is not possible - students must complete the entire 60-credit curriculum in order to be eligible to relocate to Newark.  Associate in Arts students receive a considerable discount on tuition, and in return, they are expected to complete the entire degree before relocating to Newark.

All the courses needed to enter a particular major may not be available at all Associate Degree Program sites. Upon admission, students will receive more information about the course combinations that lead to specific majors and their availability at the various sites.

Some Delaware students who initially apply and are accepted to the Newark campus for pursuit of a four-year Bachelors degree may choose to take early coursework at Associate in Arts Program sites. Four-year degree candidates are charged full UD tuition, not the discounted rate for the Associate in Arts Program, and are not eligible for SEED Scholarships.  Students should make their intentions known at the time of application, so that the timetable for moving to the Newark campus for completion of their bachelor degree can be included in the letter of acceptance.  In most cases, we recommend that students who are admitted to Newark should enroll there.