MADISON, Wis.—The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents today approved liberal arts transfer associate degrees at eight Wisconsin technical colleges that will guarantee that students can transfer credits to UW System universities.
The associate degree approvals result from months of discussion between UW System and Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) academic experts and cover hundreds of courses. One program reflects credits needed to earn an Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies degree and another program reflects the credits needed to earn an Associate of Science in Liberal Studies degree.
“The approval of the liberal arts transfer associate degrees smooths the transfer pathway at a time when students seek multiple avenues to a higher education,” said UW System Interim President Michael J. Falbo. “It’s a sign of what we can do when we work together and put students first.”
The approval of the liberal arts transfer associate degrees will increase transfer opportunities for technical college graduates and grow the number of baccalaureate degree holders who live and work in Wisconsin by creating flexible options for students seeking to transfer to the UW System. They build upon the existing Universal Undergraduate Credit Transfer Agreement between the UW System and WTCS.
The programs are made up of 60 credits, including 39 to 41 credits of general education and 19 to 21 credits of electives.
Students who earn an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree at a WTCS college will be guaranteed admission to a four-year UW university as a transfer student with junior standing so long as all requirements are met. Students will be able to enter a variety of majors to complete a baccalaureate degree.
The University of Wisconsin System serves approximately 165,000 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, the UW System is Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Nearly 90 percent of in-state UW System graduates stay in Wisconsin five years after earning a degree – with a median salary of more than $66,000. The UW System provides a 23:1 return on state investment. UW System universities also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy.