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.
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Associate degree program
Get closer to a four-year degree while earning an associate degree (A.A.) 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 program is an accessible, affordable and highly transferable degree.
The Associate of Arts degree program is also flexible and convenient: You’ll be able to take classes on our Rock County and Whitewater campuses, as well as online.
About the Associate of Arts
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.
To graduate with the Associate of Arts degree from the College of Integrated Studies, a student must:
- Complete a minimum of 60 units (15 units must be completed in the College of Integrated Studies)
- Be in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or above
- Satisfy the general education requirements
- Complete these degree requirements: One 3-unit course dealing with African American, Native American, Asian American, or Latinx American experience and one high-impact practice course, which focuses on learning that increases a student's social and intellectual engagement in higher education and challenges students to engage in higher-order thinking, including analysis, synthesis, evaluation, application, and/or creation of original work.
Pathway to in-demand careers
The A.A. features four specialty tracks in pre-education, pre-engineering, pre-food science, pre-medical sciences and pre-nursing — areas where 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 UWs
Advisors readily available to help you plan your schedule
Undergraduate research at URock
Students in the College of Integrated Studies are eligible to participate in the Undergraduate Research, Innovative, and Creative Activities (URICA) program — a high-impact practice that gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge outside of the classroom and dive deeper into their disciplines. URICA offers a variety of programs aimed to connect our students with faculty mentors and provide them with enriching research opportunities. Visit the URICA website to find out more.
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 published a book titled “Mayfly Larvae of Wisconsin,” collaborates with student researchers and coordinates a local research project monitoring bird populations. Read more about Mayfly Larvae of Wisconsin »
After the associate degree
If you’re looking to continue on to a bachelor’s degree program, you have options.
- You can earn a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing on the Rock County campus
- You can earn a collaborative engineering or nursing bachelor’s degree on the Rock County campus
- You can seamlessly transition to the UW-Whitewater campus
- UW-Whitewater at Rock County’s Guaranteed Transfer Program ensures your admission to the other four-year schools in the Universities of Wisconsin
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.
After winding journey to college, Maria Pacheco evolves into leader at URock
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.
Find out more
Want to learn more about earning an associate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Rock County campus?
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