Undergraduate Programs
Undergrad Admissions
(Catalog pages 45-49)

WHAT EVERY APPLICANT NEEDS TO KNOW

The Admissions Office represents the point of entry to undergraduate education at the University of Delaware.

When applying for admission, most students designate a major field of study, although students may enter as University Studies (undeclared) major status. Admission requirements vary among majors, and some academic units may require evidence of special skills. Students who apply to the Music Department, for example, will be asked to perform an audition and take a music theory and ear-training placement test. In addition, students who apply to the Art major will be required to submit a portfolio of works with their application. Each college has a designated set of criteria for admission to its majors. However, acceptance to certain programs tends to be competitive because enrollment is limited.

In evaluating student applications, the Admissions Office considers a broad range of criteria, including the depth and rigor of the college preparatory program (and trend in grades); grades earned in specific courses (especially those related to an applicant’s proposed field of study); overall grade-point index; class rank (if available); standardized test scores; student essays; letters of recommendation; and self-appraisal. With Delaware’s increasing selectivity, grades of “B” and above are expected. The self-appraisal allows applicants to explain lower grades in their academic record. Evidence of special talents and abilities, recommendations from counselors and teachers, leadership qualities, and recognition in extracurricular and community activities also can support a favorable decision. Admission to the University or to a specific major will not be guaranteed on the basis of specific class rank, test scores, or pattern of high-school subjects or performance.

The University seeks a diverse student body, and it strives to provide equal educational opportunities for all students. Under special circumstances, some promising applicants may not meet all the requirements set forth in this document. The Admissions Committee, therefore, pays particular attention to applications from foreign and returning students; students with disabilities; veterans; and individuals whose secondary education, income level or background have prevented them from meeting all admission requirements. Moreover, Delaware residents whose academic credentials do not initially support admission may reapply after successfully completing courses in the Division of Professional and Continuing Studies. (For more information about this option, consult with a member of the Admissions Office.) The University of Delaware reserves the right to refuse enrollment of any applicant. In addition, as it evaluates an application, the Admissions Committee always reserves the right to consider an applicant’s personal conduct and ethical behavior as a factor in its decision.

New students (freshmen and transfers) are admitted into a specific major within one of the undergraduate Colleges, or they may be admitted without a major to the University Studies Program. Students interested in changing their major prior to enrolling should send written requests to the Office of Admission. Some majors have enrollment limits and specific course requirements. The Office of Admission will process the requests and, if appropriate, change the intended major, provided the students meet specific requirements. Once the first semester begins, students interested in changing majors should consult with the appropriate department or college to which they are seeking admission.

The University is eager to provide educational opportunities for older students, who may pursue an undergraduate degree to expand career opportunities or simply to take part in an exciting intellectual environment. In many cases, mature students can complete degree requirements by taking courses in the Division of Professional and Continuing Studies. Qualified Delaware residents who are 60 years of age or older and who have been admitted to a degree program may attend undergraduate or graduate classes on a space-available basis without paying the application, course, registration, or other fees. Such students must cover the cost of books, laboratory supplies, and shop fees.

HOW CAN I APPLY?

Prospective students may fill out an online application at www.udel.edu/apply or may request an application by calling the Admissions Office at (302) 831-8125 or sending e-mail to admissions@udel.edu. Students must submit the application (including Secondary School Report and Recommendation Form) along with a check in the amount of $70 by the deadline for their admission category. The following requirements must be met.

  1. Applicants to the University must be graduates of accredited secondary schools or have equivalent credentials.
  2. Applicants should graduate in the upper half of their high school classes, preferably in the uppermost percentiles.
  3. Applicants are required to submit SAT scores and/or ACT scores (including results of The Writing Test) directly from the appropriate testing agency. For placement and advisement purposes, applicants are encouraged to submit scores on either the SAT Subject Tests or Advanced Placement Tests in their discipline.
  4. Applicants should have a firm grasp of the basic academic skills of reading, writing, mathematics, sciences, and foreign languages, as well as a strong commitment to academic achievement and learning. In some cases, the University may consider alternate proof of ability and seriousness of academic purpose. But, the best evidence is a strong high-school record with a wide range of courses, including the following course work taken in the 9th-12th grades. While minimum units are specified below, most of our admitted students take more than the minimum. The academic profiles of the most competitive applicants well exceed the minimum requirements.
    1. Four years of college preparatory English, including courses with extensive writing components.
    2. Three years of college preparatory mathematics. (Four years is recommended. For students in business and economics, engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, nutritional sciences, and food science, four years of mathematics, including trigonometry, precalculus, or calculus, are strongly recommended.)
    3. Three years of science, including two years of a laboratory science. (For study in the sciences or in related fields such as nursing, nutritional sciences, food science, or engineering, four years of science, including three years of a lab and a physics course, are strongly recommended.)
    4. Four years of social sciences, which must include two years of history, one of which should be world history. )
    5. Two years of study in the same foreign language. (Four years of study in the same foreign language is strongly recommended.) Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree and many Bachelor of Science degrees must demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency in a foreign language. This requirement can be met in one of two ways:
      1. Completion of the intermediate level course (107 or 112) in a given language.
      2. Successful completion of an exemption examination by students who have completed four or more years of high school work in a single foreign language.
    6. Two years of academic electives in fields such as English, mathematics, foreign languages, history, and social sciences or science. Academic electives do not include, for example, sports activities or driver education. The University urges high school students to take as many mathematics and foreign language courses as possible, with special attention to the selection of senior-year courses.
    7. All entering students must submit a Personal and Family Medical History Form, verifying proper immunization against measles, mumps and rubella. See www.udel.edu/shs/immun/index.html for current immunization requirements.

TRANSFER STUDENTS ARE WELCOME, TOO!

Prospective transfer students should submit the online Transfer Application for Undergraduate Admission, official post secondary transcript(s), official high school transcript, transfer statement, and letter of recommendation. In general, transfer applications should have a minimum 2.5 GPA in all college-level work. Some majors require a higher grade-point index, along with specific course work.

To be considered for admission, transfer students must be in good standing with their current or most recently attended institution. The transfer applicant’s total academic credentials are considered, including previously achieved grade-point index, the type of institution attended, performance in specific courses relating to the proposed field of study, and statement of interest in attending the University of Delaware. Application information may be found at www.udel.edu/apply.

The University of Delaware accepts baccalaureate credits from institutions that are fully accredited by an appropriate regional accrediting association. Credits for college-level courses must be completed with a grade of “C” (2.0) or higher and be applicable to a degree program offered by the University. Pass/Fail grades are not accepted. Approved transfer coursework is universally accepted across all Colleges within the University. Except for approved Connected Degree Programs, transfer credits from community colleges are generally accepted as equivalent to lower-division (100- 200 level) coursework at the University of Delaware. The Dean’s Office within the admitted student’s College will make the final determination of how transfer credits apply to the student’s degree program and graduation requirements. Departments may require applicants to repeat outdated courses and/or course work completed more than seven calendar years earlier. The University of Delaware uses the following formula to convert quarter hours to semester hours: quarter hours x 2/3 (or .667) = semester hours.

A special agreement between Delaware Technical & Community College, Delaware State University, and the University of Delaware guarantees transferability of certain courses among the three institutions. For more information, see the online Transfer of Credit Matrix at www.central.dtcc.edu/matrix, or consult the AdmissionsOffice.

Transfer students are required to complete a minimum 30 of the first 90 or last 30 credit hours, full or part-time, at the University of Delaware. Work completed elsewhere is not included in the overall scholastic index used to determine eligibility for graduation; candidates for the baccalaureate degree must achieve at least a 2.0 grade point index for work taken at this University.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY

International students attending the University of Delaware represent over 100 countries. The Office of Foreign Student and Scholar Services assists these students in adapting to their new environment and to the American educational system. (Please see chapter on “Resources for Students.”) English tutoring, orientation seminars, “homes away from home,” educational field trips, and participation in community activities are included in the program for international students.

In addition to the online University of Delaware International Application for Undergraduate Admissions, international students must submit a Summary of Educational Experiences form, Confidential Financial form, and a certified bank statement from their sponsor showing enough funds to cover their educational expenses. These forms may be found online at: www.udel.edu/apply.

Also, non-native speakers of English are required to demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Some students may be encouraged to enroll in the University’s English Language Institute or another language institute (see “Resources for Students”), before beginning studies on the campus. Under federal law, the University is permitted to enroll nonimmigrant foreign students.

MEET THE CHALLENGE OF THE HONORS PROGRAM

Students apply to the University Honors Program by completing the Honors section of the Application for Undergraduate Admission. (Read more about this program in the "Opportunities to Enrich Your Undergraduate Education" chapter.) Honors students may select any academic major on campus. Although there are no rigid test-score or grade-point cutoffs, certain levels of achievement are typical of Honors students. Most Honors freshmen are in the top 5 percent of their high school graduating class, and nearly all are in the top 10 percent. The program enrolls fewer than 500 freshmen each year. Last year, the middle 50 percent of students admitted to Honors had high-school grade-point averages between 3.80 and 4.00 (on a 4- point scale), and Scholastic Aptitude Test scores between 1990 and 2130. The Honors Program welcomes applications from freshmanand sophomore-level transfer students. For more information, call (302) 831-1195 or visit www.udel.edu/ honors.

APPLY ON TIME!

For September (fall semester) admission, all application materials should be sent to the Admissions Office by the deadline specified in the current undergraduate admissions application; to be assured full consideration for all programs and scholarships, all materials should be received by December 1. For February (spring semester) admission, all application materials should be sent to the Admissions Office by November 1.

NO MORE EARLY DECISION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE

Since the University of Delaware has eliminated its binding Early Decision admission plan, our fall applicants hear about freshman admission in mid-March.

Early Decision offered students an admissions decision by December 15th. In return, students had to confirm that Delaware was their first-choice and agree to submit their enrollment deposits and withdraw their other college applications by January 15th. Eliminating Early Decision means that all of our freshmen have until May 1st to accept or decline our offers of admission, scholarships, and financial aid.

In recent years the Admissions Committee has become increasingly concerned about the drawbacks of a binding Early Decision plan. Families with financial need and students with outstanding academic records are at a disadvantage since Early Decision programs force them to make a decision without being able to compare other colleges’ financial aid and scholarship awards.

We want students to choose the University of Delaware, but we want this to be a considered and thoughtful choice, a choice that you make without pressure or undue haste. Eliminating Early Decision allows us to give every application the full attention and careful reading that it deserves.

HIGH SCHOOL WORK MAY = COLLEGE CREDIT

The University recognizes competencies attained through its courses, through courses completed in secondary school, and through independent study. Students may earn Advanced Placement (A.P.) or International Baccalaureate (I.B.) test credit by sending their official score report to the Office of Admissions. For more information regarding possible test credit, contact the Admissions Office or go online to http://admissions.udel.edu/apply/apibcredit.shtml.

Alternatively, credit based on examination results may be offered for some curricular areas. (See the "Earn Credit by Examination" section in the "Undergraduate Academic Regulations" chapter.)

ENTER DELAWARE AT THE TIME THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU

Admission or readmission to the University is granted for a specific semester, fall or spring. All offers of admission or readmission are contingent upon maintaining a satisfactory academic performance and a positive personal record. The University may cancel the acceptance of any student who fails to matriculate in the specified semester and/or who fails to successfully complete all coursework in progress. Any requests for deferred admission should be submitted in writing to the Admissions Office. The student’s credentials are reevaluated in such cases, and the request may be granted, depending on the availability of space. In no circumstance will the Admissions Office return applications and supporting materials once they are submitted for consideration.

ACADEMIC RENEWAL MAY ALLOW YOU TO START OVER

When a student leaves the University and later applies for admission or readmission, he or she may wish to enter with a ‘clean slate.’ Students who return to the University after a separation of at least five calendar years are eligible for academic renewal if they earn a “C” or better in each course for 12 semester hours after returning to the University. In such cases, grades from previously taken courses are not included in the calculation of the GPA.

The following regulations govern this option:

  1. Students must consult with the dean of the college in which the student plans to major, and course selection must be approved in writing before the student registers.
  2. The request for academic renewal will be processed after successfully completing 12 credit hours worth of course work.
  3. All courses and grades will remain on the student’s transcript and will be identified.
  4. Credits completed prior to readmission with a grade of “C” or better may be counted toward the degree.
  5. A minimum of thirty additional credits applicable toward the degree must be earned following the Academic Renewal. These thirty credits may include the 12 credits required under #2 above.
  6. Academic renewal can be granted only once during the student’s enrollment at the University.

DELAWORLD 101 - NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION

DelaWorld 101 is the University’s New Student Orientation. During the summer, students accomplish academic tasks that must be completed to ensure a smooth first semester, and return in the fall for programs that ease the actual transition into the University environment. DelaWorld information is mailed to all new students in early June.

Summer. During late June/July (for the fall semester) all new students are expected to spend one full day on campus, participating in the DelaWorld 101 activities. (Special orientation activities are planned for parents, too.) Student activities typically include a meeting with an academic advisor, registration for first-semester classes, and opportunities to meet new and current students. After completing these activities, students receive their official University of Delaware identification card, the UD#1 card.

Fall.To help students feel welcome and clarify their role in the University community, Fall DelaWorld takes place just prior to the fall semester. These activities, including informal meetings, group discussions, workshops, and social activities, give students a chance to meet faculty, staff, and other classmates. Students also are encouraged to explore academic and co-curricular opportunities.

New students entering for the spring semester are also strongly encouraged to participate in similar orientation activities offered in January and February.

All newly matriculated freshman and transfer students, part-time and full-time, are required to pay a one-time, $85* New Student Orientation fee to cover the costs associated with all New Student Orientation events and activities. This fee is required regardless of the student’s participation in this program.

*$70 for students matriculating in the spring semester.

EARN AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE EN ROUTE TO THE B.A. OR B.S.

Students who satisfactorily complete the first 50 percent of curricular requirements for certain baccalaureate programs may earn an Associate in Arts (A.A.) or Associate in Science (A.S.) degree in either of two colleges: Arts and Sciences or Agriculture and Natural Resources. A minimum of 60 credits is required for the Associate in Arts degree, while the Associate in Science degree requires a minimum of 60 to 62 credits. For part-time students, an associate degree can be a valuable intermediate goal, bridging the period between matriculation and the completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree. In some cases, it may be possible for students who hold jobs during the day to earn an associate degree by attending evening classes on a part-time basis. In addition, the entire Associate in Arts curriculum is available as a distance learning option for students who are outside Delaware. Students pursuing the Associate in Arts through the online option are advised through the ACCESS center in Professional and Continuing Studies.

The Associate in Arts Program is designed for students we believe can succeed at the University of Delaware, but only if they first strengthen their academic skills through the program’s small classes, individualized attention, and structured curriculum. As an incentive to enroll these students, the University subsidizes their tuition, and the State of Delaware provides SEED grants that cover the remaining tuition. The lower tuition and the eligibility for a SEED grant apply only to UD students who enroll in the Associate in Arts Program. Therefore, students who take advantage of the lower tuition or a SEED grant should realize that they must be willing to spend two full years in the program and to complete an Associate Degree before being permitted to enroll on the Newark campus.

Admission Requirements. Admission requirements for associate degrees are similar to the corresponding baccalaureate degree requirements. Prospective students must demonstrate scholastic aptitude, motivation for academic attainment, and adequate preparation for the degree curriculum. Successful completion of appropriate Professional and Continuing Studies courses may satisfy these requirements in some cases.

Credits from another institution may be transferred. To be eligible for an associate degree, however, the student must complete more than half the required credits at the University of Delaware. Professional and Continuing Studies students who have not yet been formally admitted to an associate-track program are encouraged to apply at the earliest possible date, and no later than earning 75 credits. (To receive an associate degree, Professional and Continuing Studies students must earn at least 12 credits after formal admission to the University.)

Degree Requirements. Specific degree requirements are listed in the Arts and Sciences and Agriculture and Natural Resources undergraduate programs chapters in this catalog. A minimum gradepoint index of 2.0 is required for all associate degrees. One semester before completing all degree requirements, students must take part in a degree-checkout session, coordinated by the office of the appropriate college dean. Except for students in the Associate in Arts Program, candidates should be enrolled in the degree-awarding college.

General Information. For more information about associate degrees and admission requirements, or for catalogs and needed forms, call the Office of Admissions (302 831-8123), the Division of Professional and Continuing Studies ACCESS Centers (302 831- 2741), the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (302 831- 2508), or the Associate in Arts office (302 831-4555). Educational counseling and academic advisement are available at the ACCESS Centers at locations in Wilmington, Newark, Dover and Georgetown. Students also may wish to refer to the College of Arts and Sciences and College of Agriculture and Natural Resources undergraduate programs chapters of this catalog.

ENJOY FLEXIBILITY WITH INTERINSTITUTIONAL DEGREE PROGRAMS

The University of Delaware, in cooperation with Delaware Technical & Community College, offers opportunities to continue toward a baccalaureate degree to students who complete associate degrees in specific technologies. Students in some majors may complete degree requirements by taking courses at University facilities in southern Delaware. It may be possible for part-time students to complete course work during the late afternoon and evening.

For information on associate/bachelor’s Connected Degree Programs currently available to graduates of Delaware Technical & Community College, please consult the contacts listed below.

Biology/Biotechnology
Professor David Usher - 831-6685

Chemistry
Dr. John Burmeister - 831-1130

Criminal Justice
Professor Eric Rise - 831-8679

Early Childhood Education
CHEP Student Support Services - 831-2301

Electrical Engineering
Professor Charles Boncelet - 831-8008

Engineering Technology
Professor William Ritter - 831-2468

Food and Agribusiness Management
Professor Steven Hastings - 831-1318

Health Behavior Science: Fitness Management
Professor Elizabeth Orsega-Smith - 831-6681

Human Services
CHEP Student Support Services - 831-2301

Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management
CHEP Student Support Services - 831-2301

Mathematics Secondary Education
Professor Jinfa Cai - 831-1879

Medical Technology
Professor Anna Ciulla - 831-2849

Nursing
Professor Lisa Plowfield - 831-0655

All telephone numbers are in area code (302).

Admission. To be eligible for the interinstitutional baccalaureate program, students must earn an associate degree or the equivalent in an appropriate technology from Delaware Technical & Community College. In most cases, associate-degree course work completed with a grade of “C” or better can be transferred to the University. The balance of the bachelor’s degree requirements must be satisfied by completing University courses.