Students at Valencia College will have an easier path transferring into STEM majors at the University of Central Florida (UCF) due to the approval of five new Specialized Associate in Arts Transfer (S.A.A.T.) degrees. The State Board of Education gave its approval on September 25, enabling students to complete all necessary math and science courses before moving on to UCF.
Previously, students who reached 60 credit hours—the requirement for a standard Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree—would lose eligibility for federal financial aid even if they had not finished all prerequisites needed for their chosen STEM major. The introduction of these new S.A.A.T. degrees means students can remain enrolled longer, finish all required preparatory coursework, and transfer as juniors without needing to pay out-of-pocket expenses.
“These new degrees will enable students to maintain their eligibility for financial aid while completing their (associate) degree, and they also create an extremely clear pathway for students to know which courses to complete for a smooth transition into their major,” said Kathleen Plinske, president of Valencia College, during the State Board of Education’s meeting in Fort Walton Beach.
The newly approved S.A.A.T. programs include biology, health sciences, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. These programs are designed to reduce barriers related to financial aid and academic requirements for Valencia College students transferring to UCF.
Legislation allowing this type of A.A. degree was introduced by Rep. Jennifer Canady (R-40) in 2024 and later signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis. The legislation permits state college students pursuing certain majors to take all lower-division courses—including common program prerequisites—at state colleges so that they may enter state universities as juniors.
“Once students complete the requirement for a (traditional) Associate in Arts degree, they are no longer eligible for federal financial aid,” Plinske told the board. “This early transfer is detrimental. It reduces the chance of them completing their bachelor’s degree.”
Transfer success data from both Valencia College and UCF indicate that students who finish all prerequisites before transferring have graduation rates that are 12% to 14% higher than those who transfer before completing such requirements.
The S.A.A.T. degrees will allow Valencia College and other Florida state colleges to include common program prerequisites from the state university system within graduation requirements for S.A.A.T.-designated areas.
