ARTS AND SCIENCES
Associate Degree Programs in Wisconsin
Get closer to a four-year degree while earning an associate degree as a stepping stone along the way.
Offered by UW-Whitewater’s College of Integrated Studies at the Rock County campus in Janesville, the Associate of Arts and Sciences program is an accessible, affordable and highly transferable degree.
The Associate of Arts and Sciences degree program is also flexible and convenient: You’ll be able to take classes at our Rock County and Whitewater campuses, as well as online.
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About the Associate of Arts and Sciences
This two-year degree program is grounded in a strong liberal arts and sciences degree curriculum, which will prepare you well to continue your college education, no matter what you choose to major in.
This well-rounded associate degree is also immediately applicable to the workforce. The blend of courses gives you the critical thinking, research and communication skills today’s employers are looking for.
As part of the program, you’ll take general education classes and electives in several subject areas.
View course examples
Gain an understanding of the human condition, culture, and society with classes in social sciences, humanities, fine arts and world languages:
- Introduction to Theatre
- Popular Culture in the Media
- Ancient History
- Business in Society
Get to know the workings of the natural world and physical universe with a few courses that touch on numbers and nature, such as:
- Physical Anthropology
- Biology of Women
- Astronomy
- Statics
- Chemistry in the Kitchen
Learn more about people and society, today and in the past, by analyzing issues and producing logical and innovative responses with courses related to:
- Introduction to Drawing
- Introductory Accounting
- Introduction to Programming
- Terrorism
Read, write, listen and speak more effectively as well as increase information literacy with subjects such as:
- Public Speaking
- Intermediate Composition
- Business Communication
- Interpersonal Communication
- Spanish for Spanish Speakers
Learn to live and work in diverse contexts by building cross-cultural communication, interaction, and empathy with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Courses include:
- Spanish
- Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
- Multicultural Literature
- Gender and Communication
- Multicultural Literature
Gain the foundation for lifelong learning and the intellectual tools for engaging ethically as members of society. Courses include:
- Ethics
- Personal Health and Wellness
- Introduction to Environmental Sciences
- Global Climate Change
- Introduction to Women’s Studies
Prepare for a career in today’s diverse world with courses that raise your cultural awareness and sensitivity, such as:
- History of Minorities in America
- Intercultural Communication
- Food, Culture and Identity
- Education in a Pluralistic Society
- Asian Philosophy
High-Impact Practice courses engage in higher-order thinking including analysis, evaluation, application, and/or creation of original work. Studies will complete one High-Impact Practice experience which could be a first-year seminar, writing emphasis course, undergraduate research, collaborative learning, service learning, internship, e-portfolio or internship.
Pathway to in-demand careers
The AAS features four specialty tracks in pre-education, pre-engineering, pre-food science, and pre-nursing — areas in which there is a high demand and a shortage of employees in Wisconsin and across the nation.
Your success is our priority
Small class sizes (24 students on average)
Most affordable tuition in the UW System
Advisors readily available to help you plan your schedule
Student support and organizations
Tutoring extravaganza
An annual event during finals week that helps you prepare for success as you finish the semester.
Dedicated commencement
The College of Integrated Studies holds its own commencement ceremony; with a smaller student body, this means a more intimate experience.
Student involvement
The College of Integrated Studies and our Rock County campus offer several student organizations that might appeal to liberal arts and sciences majors:
- English Honor Society
- Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Club
- Latinos Unidos
- The Alliance
- Multicultural Student Union
- Veterans Club
Our faculty
99% of our faculty have a Ph.D. or the highest degree in their field.
Our faculty members are also active researchers in their field.
For example, Tom Klubertanz, professor of biology, studies birds and mayflies. He recently published a book titled “Mayfly Larvae of Wisconsin,” collaborates with student researchers and coordinates a local research project monitoring bird populations. Read a news article about his work.
After the associate degree
If you’re looking to continue on to a bachelor’s degree program, UW-Whitewater at Rock County’s Guaranteed Transfer Program ensures admission to the four-year schools in the UW System.
You’ll also be able to transfer credits to bachelor’s programs at colleges and universities across Wisconsin and around the country; the College of Integrated Studies is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Maria Pacheco, a first generation college student, evolved into a leader during her two years on campus. Now that she has received her associate degree from UW-Whitewater at Rock County, she will begin classes on the Whitewater campus as an international business major.
Want to learn more about earning an associate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Rock County campus? Contact us »
To earn an associate degree at UW-Whitewater, you’ll typically need to complete 60 college credits. Select a program below to explore full degree requirements.
To apply to UW-Whitewater at Rock County, you’ll first complete the UW System application. You’ll also need:
- High school transcripts (or copy of GED or HSED diploma/test scores)
- Transcripts for any college work already completed
