The liberal studies requirements combine students’ strengths and interests with an opportunity to explore a wide selection of courses offered across campus. Similarly, liberal studies courses can also be used to define, confirm, and explore major options while counting toward graduation credit.
These specific requirements apply only to students in the School of Education programs indicated above who began as new freshmen in the years indicated. Students who first enrolled as new freshmen in summer 2007 and later must complete the 2007 Liberal Studies Requirements. Students who are interested in teacher certification and who enrolled as new freshmen between summer 1996 and spring 2007 should consult the 1996 Teacher Certification Liberal Studies handout. Students who began as freshmen before summer 1996 should consult with Education Academic Services staff for different requirements. Students with a previous degree, regardless of when they were first enrolled as freshmen, have satisfied the liberal studies requirements.
The liberal studies requirements include course work in communication and quantitative reasoning, humanities, social studies, and science. Students will also need elective course work to reach the minimum of 36 credits. Completion of the liberal studies requirements is NOT a prerequisite to professional program application or admission. Courses taken from School of Education departments usually do not satisfy the liberal studies requirements; see details below.
Most liberal studies courses are offered by academic departments in the College of Letters and Science. Courses in other schools/colleges (excluding the School of Education) may meet a requirement if designated by a T or C in the Schedule of Classes (Timetable), or assigned a level or breadth code. Level codes may be Elementary (E), Intermediate (I), Advanced (A), or Intermediate/Advanced (D) level. The breadth (B) information in the Schedule of Classes (Timetable) identifies most course work with the following codes:
B Biological Science
S Social Science
H Humanities
W Social or Natural Science
L Literature
X Humanities or Natural Science
N Natural Science
Y Biological or Social Science
P Physical Science
Z Humanities or Social Science
For the most part, courses taken from School of Education departments may NOT be used to satisfy the liberal studies requirements. For example, PE Activ 100 Exercise, Nutrition, and Health, cannot count toward the liberal studies requirement even though it is coded as a biological science. Ed Psych 320 and RP & SE 300 cannot count toward liberal studies even though they are coded as social studies courses. Exceptions include some courses that are cross-listed in departments outside the School of Education. Some programs also allow Art and Dance department courses to count toward the humanities requirement. School of Education departments include Art, Art Education, Counseling Psychology, Curriculum and Instruction, Dance, Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, Educational Policy Studies, Educational Psychology, Kinesiology, PE Activity, and Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education.
Important notes regarding liberal studies course selection are provided below. Students should read these notes to ensure that course selections actually match their intentions.
All new freshmen must complete communication and quantitative reasoning requirements as part of the campus wide General Education Requirements. The general education requirements also include humanities/literature/arts, social studies, and natural science course work (included in the liberal studies requirements below). All courses taken to meet Comm A or Quant A can be applied toward the liberal studies requirements.
Complete GER Quantitative Reasoning Requirements Part A and B
Students who began a degree program at UW-Madison (including freshmen, transfers, and second degree candidates) starting in fall 1989 and thereafter are required to complete three (3) credits of approved ethnic studies course work. This is a requirement for graduation. Ethnic studies courses are designated with an e in the UW-Madison Schedule of Classes (Timetable). This course work may be applied toward other degree requirements.
Complete a minimum of 8 credits. Met by the following:
Note that Art, Art-BFA, Dance, and Dance-BFA sttudents will be restricted in their use of dance and art course work to meet liberal studies requirements. For instance, Art and Art-BFA students may not use courses counting toward their major or aesthetics requirements to meet this requirement.
Complete a minimum of 8 credits. Met by courses coded S, Z, W, Y in the Schedule of Classes (Timetable) or by Journalism 203, 204, 205. Kinesiology students must complete Psych 201 or 202 or 281 and can apply it toward the 8 credits.
Complete a minimum of 8 credits, to include one laboratory science course. Met by the following:
Note: PE Activ 100 cannot count toward this requirement, as it is a School of Education course.
Laboratory science. Most lab sciences are identified as such in the Schedule of Classes (Timetable). In addition, the following courses include some lab experience and meet the lab requirements for the School of Education: Astronomy 100, Atmospheric and Oceanic Studies 101, Botany 100, Botany/Plant Path 123, Geology 100, or Physics 109. Courses outside L&S which meet the lab science requirement include Agronomy 100, Food Science 235-236, Horticulture 120, Mechanical Engineering 160 and 210. An AP Biology score of 4 or 5 will alaso fulfill the laboratory science requirement.
Science Issues for Specific Programs:
Additional course work to bring the total to 36 liberal studies credits. Courses may include the general education requirements and credits from above categories.