UW Colleges Academics
General Education Requirements
I. Core Requirements
Grade of C or better in or exemption from the following:
- Writing: ENG 102
- Mathematics: MAT 108 or MAT 110
Courses used to satisfy the writing and mathematics requirements and their prerequisites may not be used to satisfy a breadth requirement except that:
- A core course or its prerequisite will be eligible for IS credit when it is linked with another course and meets the criteria and procedures specified in Institutional Policy 101.01 for Interdisciplinary Studies.
- A student who earns credit in MAT 108 and MAT 110 with a grade of C or better in at least one of those courses may use the other course to satisfy part of the MS/NS breadth requirement.
- A student who earns a C or better in MAT 124 or in both MAT 110 and MAT 113 may use the course(s) to satisfy part of the MS/NS breadth requirement.
II. Breadth Categories
- Fine Arts and Humanities
- A student must earn a minimum of nine credits with at least one course designated as Fine Arts and at least one course designated as Humanities.
- Mathematical and Natural Sciences
- A student must earn a minimum of eleven credits in these categories. A minimum of eight of these credits must be in at least two disciplines of the Natural Sciences and must include one laboratory science course.
- Social Sciences
- A student must earn a minimum of nine credits in this category. These courses must be selected from at least two disciplines.
- Application and Performance
- A student must earn a minimum of three credits in courses designated as Application and Performance.
- Ethnic Studies
- A student must earn a minimum of three credits in courses designated as Ethnic Studies. Ethnic Studies courses may also be counted toward another breadth category.
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- A student must earn a minimum of three credits in courses designated as Interdisciplinary Studies. Interdisciplinary Studies courses may also be counted toward another breadth category.
III. Electives
A student who has met the core requirements and the other breadth category minimums may complete the 60 credit minimum requirement with courses in this category.
IV. Exemptions
Exemption from ENG 102
Students may be exempted from English 102 based on a Wisconsin English Placement Test subscore of 605 or better in English and 605 or better in Reading and demonstrated competence in academic writing. Each request for exemption is to be treated individually and the campus English Department Associate Chair or her /his designee will review the following materials to determine the student's achievement of the UW Colleges English Department Learning Outcomes for English 102 (see below).
- A portfolio of at least 10 pages of academic writing
- A portfolio cover letter assessing the student's achievement of the course learning outcomes
- A timed essay assigned by a campus faculty member in the English Department
The Associate Chair or her /his designee will inform the campus Student Services office and the Department Chair when an exemption is granted. The Department Chair will then inform the Office of the Registrar. The Associate Chair or her/his designee will also inform the Department Chair when a request for exemption is denied. Students who receive an exemption from English 102 and who plan to transfer to another institution should consult with that institution regarding its first year writing requirements. Exemption from the English 102 requirement does not constitute credit for the course.
Exemption from Mathematics Core Requirement
A student is exempt from the Mathematics Core Requirement by obtaining a grade of C or better in either MAT 124, or both MAT 110 and MAT 113, or any Mathematics course of three or more credits for which MAT 110 is a prerequisite, or placing into a 200-level course on the Mathematics placement examination.