Freshman Applicants
Applicants must be in good academic, disciplinary, and financial standing and eligible to return to their current or previous institution(s). The Admissions Committee evaluates all of the transfer applicant's credentials, including the type(s) of institution(s) attended, coursework relevant to your major, number of credits completed and cumulative grade point average (GPA).
You should be aware that, if you are currently enrolled in an Associates Degree program or taking courses at a community college, we normally expect you to complete two full years of transferable coursework before you enroll at the University of Delaware. However, if you took a strong college prep curriculum in high school with grades and test scores (SAT or ACT) that would have made you admissible as a freshman, then it is possible that we may offer you admission even if you have completed less than two years of coursework. Students who previously applied to the University of Delaware must submit a new set of credentials (see How to Apply) for consideration.
Some majors require entering students be admitted into an Interest Program. As part of the Interest Program, students take requisite coursework during their first year of enrollment at the University and are reviewed by the department for entrance into the major. The following academic programs function in this way: Art and Visual Communications, Athletic Training, Communication, Exercise Science, Health & Physical Education, Medical Technology, and Sport Management.
In general, transfer applicants must have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA to be considered for admission. Certain majors are more selective and require both a higher minimum grade point average and specific coursework. The following guidelines for transfer admission do not guarantee admission, nor do they preclude admission. Each applicant is reviewed individually, taking into account factors such as cumulative grade point average, rigor of coursework, trend in grades, choice of major, transferability of courses, and type of institution attended. Where requisite coursework is listed, please search our course descriptions to determine whether or not the coursework at your institution is similar in content to the required course listed in the University of Delaware Undergraduate Catalog.
**The following are guidelines for Fall 2008.**
Examples of academic requirements include:
College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
- Engineering Technology
Applicants are required to have a 2.5 cumulative GPA. For applicants with 24+ transferable credits, one course in calculus is required prior to admission. For applicants with fewer than 24 transferable credits, there must be evidence of success in math (pre-calculus or higher) and science courses.
College of Arts & Sciences
- Art (Fine Arts or Visual Communication Interest)
- Applicants are required to submit an electronic portfolio with their application for admission. Portfolio requirements can be found online. Please note that slide portfolios will not be accepted. Spring admission is limited to upper-division students only.
- Computer & Information Sciences
- Applicants should have grades of "B-" or better in each of their CISC courses taken thus far, particularly in the equivalent of CISC181. A minimum grade of "C" in each math course taken is expected. Higher grades in math courses are preferred.
- Information Systems
- Applicants should have no more than one year of college work completed.
- International Relations or Political Science
- International Relations applicants must have a "C" or better in the equivalent of POSC240
- Political Science applicants must have a "C" or better in the equivalent of POSC150
- Linguistics and Cognitive Sciences
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher; continuation in the major requires a minimum GPA of 3.25 within one year of being admitted.
- Music
- Applicants must complete the application for admission and qualify through an audition process. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. Audition information can be found online.
- Psychology
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher and have completed fewer than sixty (60) credits. Successful completion of an Introduction/General Psychology course with an earned grade of "B" or better must be included in those credits. Admission to the program is very competitive.
- Entrance to this major is limited to fall enrollment.
- Secondary Education Majors
- Applicants with more than thirty (30) hours of transferable credit must have the following minimum grade point averages:
Content Area |
Cumulative GPA |
Major in Coursework |
Economics |
2.75 |
3.00 |
English |
2.75 |
3.00 |
Foreign Languages & Literatures |
2.75 |
3.00 |
Math |
2.50 |
2.50 |
Music |
2.50 |
2.75 |
Science |
2.50 |
2.75 |
Social Sciences |
2.75 |
3.00 |
Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics
Applicants must show successful completion of a minimum of 12 credit hours, earning a "B" or better in the equivalent of MATH221 (calculus). The minimum cumulative GPA required is a 3.25 for non-residents, 2.75 for Delaware residents.
The Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB). Transfer students applying to the University and intending on majoring in Business or Accounting should consult the AACSB website (http://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/accreditedmembers.asp) to determine whether or not their previous institution holds AACSB accreditation. This may affect the transferability of major coursework. Additional questions may be directed to the Office of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Services in the Lerner College of Business and Economics (advise@lerner.udel.edu).
College of Engineering
Applicants should have a 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA and demonstrate successful completion (grades of "B" or better) of Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics. Applicants should have completed courses equivalent to those listed below:
- ALL Disciplines: MATH 241 & MATH 242
- Chemical: CHEM 103, CHEM 104, MATH 243
- Civil: CHEM 103 or PHYS 207
- Computer: CHEM 103 or PHYS 207
- Electrical: CHEM 103 or PHYS 207
- Environmental: CHEM 103, CHEM 104
- Mechanical: CHEM 103 or PHYS 207
Course descriptions can be accessed through the UD Catalog.
College of Health Sciences
- Athletic Training Interest
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
- Exercise Science Interest
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Health Behavior Science Interest
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
- Health & Physical Education Interest
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
- Health Studies - OT Option
Entrance is unavailable to transfer students; the major is available only to freshmen entering in the fall semester.
- Medical Technology Interest
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- Nursing (BSN)
Entrance for transfer students to traditional and accelerated nursing majors is limited to fall enrollment. For the traditional program, preference will be given to Delaware residents for the limited spaces available.
- Accelerated Program: Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher and need to contact Pat Drake, Nursing Recruiter, at patdrake@udel.edu.
- Nutrition & Dietetics
- Applicants should have a strong background in Chemistry.
- Sport Management Interest
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
- Entrance to this major is limited to fall enrollment
College of Human Services, Education & Public Policy
- Apparel Design
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
- Entrance to this major is very competitive.
- Early Childhood Education
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Elementary Teacher Education
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Entrance to this major is limited to fall enrollment.
- Fashion Merchandising
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Entrance to this major is very competitive.
- Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Entrance to this major is limited to fall enrollment.
- Leadership
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
College of Marine & Earth Studies
- Earth Science Education
- Applicants with more than 30 credits are required to have a cumulative GPA of 2.5, and 2.75 within major coursework.
- Applicants with more than 30 credits are required to have a cumulative GPA of 2.5, and 2.75 within major coursework.
University Studies (Undeclared)
We require that transfer students apply to a specific major at the University in order to complete their degree program in a timely manner. Therefore, University Studies (Undeclared) is not an option for transfer applicants.
University Honors Program
In considering transfer admission to the Honors Program, two factors are taken into primary consideration. First, students must present a highly competitive academic profile in substantive courses. Second, students must enter the University early enough in their college career to meet the Honors Program degree requirements. Transfer students who will have completed more than thirty (30) credits at the time of their enrollment are typically not admissible to the University Honors Program.
Associate in Arts Degree Program
Transfer students who have earned more than 28 credits in the liberal arts are not eligible for admission to the Associate in Arts program.
Students may take up to 7 credits per semester as a non-matriculated students (US Citizens and Permanent Residents only) through the Office of Professional and Continuing Studies. For more information, please call (302) 831-2741 or visit their website.