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If you’d like to learn more about the University Transfer - Social Sciences program, we’d love to talk with you.
We’re here to answer any questions and guide you through our application process step-by-step.
Send us your contact information, and we’ll help you get started right away!
Financial Aid Available
Program Transfers
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Program Overview
If you’re interested in a career with opportunities to help people and positively impact society, the social sciences might be an ideal fit for you!
You’ll thrive in a social sciences program if you’re curious about human behavior, find yourself questioning the world around you and have a deep desire to understand people and society.
Explore the Social Sciences
The social sciences include a wide range of disciplines, from psychology to political science. At Madison College, you’ll have the opportunity to follow your interests and discover new passions as you work toward a bachelor’s degree.
Pursuing a degree in a social science field will help you gain knowledge and skills that are valuable to employers, and crucial for addressing the world’s biggest challenges:
- A deep understanding of human behavior, societal structures and cultural dynamics.
- Analytical abilities, data-driven critical thinking and research and problem-solving skills.
- Communication, interpersonal and intercultural skills.
- Empathy and awareness of diverse perspectives within society.
You’ll be able to apply your highly-valued skills to land roles in various industries and fields, like government, non-profits, research, education, law, business and more!
Social Sciences Pre-Major Goals
You’ll receive a foundational general education while furthering your understanding of human behavior, interactions, social patterns and the world around them. In addition, you’ll develop valuable critical, analytical and creative thinking skills that will help you succeed in the classroom and beyond.
Your Social Sciences pre-major coursework will prepare you for success in a variety of majors that you can pursue after you transfer to a four-year institution. This pre-major is an excellent choice if you’re considering any of the following future majors:
- Anthropology
- Criminology / Criminal Justice
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Sociology
Get a Customized Transfer Plan
When you enroll in the University Transfer Social Sciences program, we’ll ensure the courses you take at Madison College meet the requirements of your destination four-year college or university.
You’ll have access to knowledgeable advisors who will work with you to create a customized academic plan that aligns with your academic and career goals.
- If you’ve decided on a specific major and know where you want to earn your bachelor’s degree, we’ll help you design a plan based on your intended major and the transfer college or university of your choice.
- If you’re exploring different social science majors, or change your mind about what you want to pursue, we’ll guide you on a transfer path that matches your interests.
Flexible and Affordable Course Offerings
- Enjoy small class sizes and personal attention.
- Study close to home, whether in Madison or regionally at our Reedsburg, Portage, Fort Atkinson or Watertown campuses.
- Take classes in-person, online or other flexible hybrid offerings.
- Attend full- or part-time.
- Save money with the lowest per-credit tuition in the region.
- Experience a top-quality education that transfers!
Ready to Learn More or Get Started?
For more information about how Madison College’s University Transfer Social Sciences program can help you meet your education and career goals, contact faculty advisor Jackie Jebens at jjebens@madisoncollege.edu.
If you’re ready to apply, create an account and begin the application process. Select the “Education and Social Sciences” area of study and then choose “University Transfer - Pre-major: Social Sciences.”
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Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2025-2026 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.
Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:
- Progress toward your specific requirements
- Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements
If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.
60 credits minimum to complete the program by satisfying the all requirements as defined.English and Speech (9 credits)Six credits must be in composition - English 1 and one other composition course. Three credits must be in public speaking. (Students should consult with an advisor to determine the best choice for their second composition course.)Composition CoursesPublic Speaking CoursesKinesiology/Health/Wellness (1 credit)Completion of one of the listed courses is required.Kinesiology CoursesHumanities/Fine Arts (12 credits)Completion of courses from three disciplines is required. Choose courses from the following disciplines: art, art history, drama, film, literature, music, philosophy, world languages, writing and communication, and interdisciplinary humanities. Remaining credits to fulfill the requirement can be selected from any Humanities and Fine Arts courses offered within the AA degree.Art CoursesArt History CoursesDrama CoursesFilm CoursesLiterature CoursesMusic CoursesPhilosophy CoursesWorld Language CoursesWriting and Communication CoursesInterdisciplinary Humanities CoursesMathematics and Natural Science (10 credits)Select one mathematics course at the level of Intermediate Algebra or higher. Select one biological science course and one physical science course; one of the courses must include a laboratory. If lab is a stand-alone course, the associated lecture component is also required.Mathematics CoursesBiological Science Lab CoursesBiological Science Courses - without LabPhysical Science Lab CoursesPhysical Science Courses - without LabStatistics (Recommendation)Completion of one course is recommended.Consult with your advisor to determine which statistics course is best for your intended transfer program (major and transfer institution).Option 1: Statistics for Social Sciences*Preferred statistics recommendation. Recommended for all Social Science Pre-major students, especially those interested in Psychology and Sociology paths. Course may count towards the social science requirement or electives.Option 2: Basic Statistics*Acceptable alternate to statistics recommendation. Course may count towards the math/science requirement or electives.Social Science (12 credits)Required Options: Completion of two of these courses is required.Completion of courses from at least one additional disciplines is required. Choose courses from the following disciplines: anthropology, economics, education, history, political science, psychology, sociology, and interdisciplinary social science. Remaining credits to fulfill the requirement can be selected from any social science courses offered within the AA degree..Anthropology CoursesEconomics CoursesEducation CoursesHistory CoursesPolitical Science CoursesPsychology CoursesSociology CoursesInterdisciplinary Social Science CoursesElectives (16 credits)Select any courses offered within the University Transfer program or from the list of additional electives below. Most Internships and Honors Project credits may also be applied (20-code courses only).Consult with your advisor to determine which courses are best for your intended transfer institution and program.Ethnic Studies (One course)Course may also count toward Humanities/Fine Arts, Social Science, or Electives.World Languages (One course)May be met with one year in high school with a grade of "C" or better OR one semester in college. College courses may also count toward Humanities/Fine Arts or Electives.Email enrollmentservices@madisoncollege.edu if requirement was satisfied with high school course work.See World Language Courses under the Humanities and Fine Arts Requirement above. -
Admission
To Apply
Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities, so apply today!
International students who wish to apply for, maintain, or transfer their F-1 student visa status to Madison College are required to complete the International Admission Process.
Note: It is recommended to only apply for a semester that has already started if you are currently enrolled in classes or you have verified that classes are still available for that semester.
Application Dates
Summer 2025
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is July 15, 2025
Fall 2025
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is November 15, 2025
Spring 2026
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is April 15, 2026
Admission Requirements
All materials must be submitted by the application deadline.
1. Admission Application
The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.
2. Education Completion
Submit official transcripts from the institutions you attended that indicate one of the following:
- High school completion (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
- GED/HSED completion
- College transcript or Madison College experience showing:
- Completion of an associate degree or higher, or
- At least 30 credits completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4-point scale
- The credits must be completed at a single college and cannot be combined with other transcripts
- Any transfer credit listed on a transcript does not count toward the 30-credit minimum
- Credits completed at Madison College are evaluated and do not require a transcript
All high school and/or college transcripts are recommended to be submitted for Credit for Prior Learning evaluation.
Additional Notes
- Class capacity is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis.
- Course prerequisites differ from admission requirements; admission into a program does not guarantee eligibility to enroll in courses or success in the program. Refer to program curriculum for details.
After Acceptance
Once you are admitted into your program, review the Start of Semester Checklist to prepare for your first day of classes at Madison College.
Questions?
Contact the Enrollment Center at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
Get Started!
Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your University Transfer - Social Sciences career.
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Transfer Opportunities
UW System Schools
This agreement is in the form of a contract. Students who earn the Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) Degree in one of the LAT Pre-Majors at Madison College, who meet requirements for admission to UW-Madison, contract requirements and who meet specified levels of academic achievement at Madison College will be granted admission to UW–Madison as a transfer student. Admission to UW–Madison under this agreement does not guarantee admission to any specific academic major or program.Students must complete the AA or AS, with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 (2.75 is required for international emphasis), be admitted to UW W and applied to the appropriate journalism emphasis. It is recommended that students take 809172 for their diversity class.Wisconsin Private Schools
MC students who earn an A.A. or A.S. degree who are admitted to Carroll University with at least 52 transfer credits will meet all GE1 distribution components in the gen ed curriculum. Transfer credit may be received for the CCD, GE2 and CCE requirements.Students with an AA, AS or AAS are Advanced Core. Advanced Core requires students to have earned at least 60 credits. Students transferring prior to completion or with less than 60 credits are standard core and credits are evaluated course by course.Students who receive an Associate of Arts or Sciences Degree from Madison College will be guaranteed admission to Edgewood College when students transfer directly from Madison College to Edgewood College within 5 years of completing the Associate Degree. Students who take coursework at another institution between the completion of their coursework at Madison College and their transfer to Edgewood College must meet Edgewood College's transfer student admissions requirements of a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all college-level coursework. Students must also meet posted admission deadlines.Student who earn an Associate Degree from Madison College can transfer a minimum of 60 credits and a maximum of 72 credits to Lakeland College to be applied to the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree.Mount Mary University will recognize an earned AA, AS, and AAS degree and guarantee those students junior standing. Outlines main transfer equivalancies.Out-of-State Schools
General university admission is guaranteed upon successful completion of the following conditions: 1) Completion of an associate degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution with a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA (Arizona residents) or 2.50 cumulative GPA (nonresidents) or 2) completion of 24 or more transferable semester credits post-high school with a minimum cumulative transfer GPA of 2.50 and verification of high school graduation or the equivalent. NOTE: Some ASU colleges and schools have additional or higher requirements for admission into their majors.Students who complete any associate degree at Madison Area Technical College will have no additional general education core curriculum requirements to meet but must satisfy the Kirkpatrick Signature Series requirement.Per the agreement, students must complete the associates of arts, associates of science or associates of applied science with an overall GPA of a 2.0 prior to transferring.Students graduating with an associate degree from MATC with a 2.0 GPA or higher are guaranteed admissions into CSU-Global and can transfer up to 64 semester credits from MATC to be applied toward earning a Bachelor’s Degree at CSU-Global.Franklin University will guarantee acceptance of Madison College graduates with an AA, AS, or AAS. Madison College graduates will have junior standing at Franklin University and may transfer up to 94 additional credits toward their baccalaureate degree. -
Career Outcomes
Social Sciences Pre-Major Program Outcomes
After completing Madison College’s University Transfer Social Sciences program, you will be able to:
- Think critically by asking relevant questions, analyzing information and making informed decisions.
- Investigate physical and social environments using appropriate scientific tools and methods.
- Conduct academic research by developing a research plan, analyzing information and synthesizing findings into a well-structured document.
- Develop self-awareness and self-management skills necessary for success in challenging academic environments.
- Use quantitative reasoning by applying mathematical, statistical and logical methods to solve problems.
- Collaborate effectively with others to achieve shared goals.
- Communicate effectively in various ways:
- Actively listening in personal and professional settings.
- Reading and comprehending academic materials at a grade 14 level.
- Organizing and presenting information for different audiences.
- Understand diverse cultures, historical periods and art forms and their positive impact on global society.
Social Sciences Careers
Students who continue their studies to earn a bachelor’s degree in a social science field will have valuable communication, critical thinking, research and problem-solving skills that can open the door to a wide range of career opportunities across all industries, including:
- Counseling
- Criminal Justice
- Economics and Finance
- Education
- Human Resources
- Law
- Marketing
- Psychology
- Public Policy
- Social Work
- Urban Planning
...and more!
