UCF is expanding its collaboration with Disney Aspire, an education investment program by more than doubling the number of degree programs offered and extending the program to Disney employees nationwide. The program covers tuition, application fees, required books and course materials.
This new expansion adds 38 UCF programs in fields such as business, hospitality and engineering, and increases the total online programs from 10 to more than 40, including 13 fully online graduate certificates. [See below for the full list of degree offerings.]
Since UCF joined the Disney Aspire network this past May, 320 Disney hourly employees, more than half of whom were already UCF students, are taking classes for free this fall. The most popular programs are hospitality management, entertainment management, event management, hospitality and tourism management, and business administration.
Starting Spring 2020, a total of 72 UCF programs will be available to Disney’s 90,000 full- and part-time hourly employees who have at least 90 days of service, helping them reach their career goals.
Through UCF Online, Disney employees locally and nationwide have access to high-quality educational degrees that offer flexibility and accessibility from anywhere in the country.
With more than 53,000 Florida-based Disney employees, Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando is the largest single-site employment location for The Walt Disney Company and is convenient for Florida-based employees to attend UCF. Through UCF Online, Disney employees locally and nationwide have access to high-quality educational degrees that offer flexibility and accessibility from anywhere in the country.
When the collaboration was announced in May, George A. Kalogridis ’76, president of Walt Disney World Resort and a UCF sociology graduate, said the program “will provide our Cast Members with even more options to create the futures they imagine.”
The UCF-Disney collaboration is a natural combination because both are strong economic engines in the state. The program also boosts UCF’s visibility as one of the nation’s most innovative, affordable and best-value universities.
Disney has partnered with Guild Education to help administer the Aspire program. Guild provides higher-education opportunities for working adults.
Another sponsorship agreement started last month when Walt Disney World Resort became the official theme park, water park resort and cruise line destination of the UCF football team. The agreement includes shared marketing opportunities, game promotions at home football games and Disney signage inside Spectrum Stadium.
To sign up or learn more about the Aspire program, Disney employees can visit aspire.disney.com.
Program list accurate as of October 9, 2019. Contact Guild Education to find out the latest program details.
Bachelor’s Degree Programs
- Biology
- Biomedical Sciences
- Business Economics (BSBA)
- Communication and Conflict*
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Construction Engineering
- Criminal Justice*
- Digital Media
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- Elementary Education
- Emerging Media
- English*
- Entertainment Management
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Studies
- Event Management
- Film
- Finance (BSBA)
- Health Informatics and Information Systems*
- Health Sciences
- Health Services Administration*
- Hospitality Management*
- Industrial Engineering
- Information Technology
- Integrated Business
- Interdisciplinary Studies*
- International and Global Studies*
- Legal Studies*
- Management (BSBA)
- Mechanical Engineering
- Nursing RN (RN to BSN) *
- Photography
- Political Science*
- Psychology*
- Radio/Television
- Restaurant and Foodservice Management
- Secondary Education
- Statistics
- Theatre Studies
Master’s Degree Programs
- Business Administration (MBA)
- Civil Engineering (MSCE) *
- Civil Engineering, Smart Cities (MS) *
- Civil Engineering, Structural (MS) *
- Civil Engineering, Transportation (MS) *
- Civil Engineering, Water Resources (MS) *
- Criminal Justice*
- Digital Forensics*
- Emergency and Crisis Management*
- Engineering Management*
- Environmental Engineering*
- Hospitality & Tourism Management*
- Industrial Engineering (MS) *
- Industrial Engineering (MSIE) *
- Master of Public Administration*
- Mechanical Engineering*
- Nursing*
Graduate Certificate Programs
- Applied Operations Research*
- Destination Marketing Management*
- e-Learning Design, Development & Delivery*
- Event Management*
- Healthcare Simulation*
- Hospitality and Tourism Technologies*
- Instructional Design*
- Instructional Design for Simulations*
- Professional Writing*
- Project Engineering*
- Quality Assurance*
- Systems Engineering*
- Theoretical and Applied Ethics*
*Denotes programs available fully online.
