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University Graduation Requirements
BACCALAUREATE
DEGREES
All candidates for baccalaureate
degrees must meet the minimum requirements summarized below. For the
specific requirements of each College or School and each curriculum,
consult the appropriate section of this Catalogue.
Items marked with an asterisk (*)
are more fully explained in the pages following the summary.
Summary
of Graduation Requirements
for Baccalaureate Degrees
Credit
Requirements
Minimum
total for graduation............................120 credits
NOTE: Certain programs exceed this minimum.
Upper
division credits..........................................39
credits
(courses numbered
300 and higher)
Curricular
Requirements
*English Competency (English
Composition
with a grade of C or above)..................................4-5
credits
*Mathematics
and/or Statistics Competency
Competency Examination or 3 credits
*Foreign
Language/Foreign Culture
(see
the following description)
*Cultural
Diversity....................................................3 credits
*Service-Learning....................................................30
hours
*General
Education................................................39 credits
*Wellness
Theory and Physical Activity.....................2 credits
*Major-minor
Concentration—minimum unique credit
requirement.........................................................60
credits
Grade
Point Requirements
*Total................................................................2.0
average
*Resident...........................................................2.0
average
*Major...............................................................2.0
average
NOTE:
See special requirements in each College or School.
University
Residency Requirements
*Minimum
total......................................................30 credits
*Senior
year..........................................................23 credits
*Major, in
upper division courses
*Major,
Standard...................................................12 credits
*Major,
Comprehensive..........................................21 credits
NOTE:
See special requirements for the School of Education.
Procedures
Required for Graduation
*Obtain
admission to the degree program and/or the College or School offering
it.
*Apply for
graduation on the BLUGOLD system.
NOTE:
Requirements for all graduate degrees are published in the Graduate
Catalogue.
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ENGLISH
COMPOSITION REQUIREMENT
All students seeking a
baccalaureate degree under the provisions of this Catalogue must satisfy
the English competency requirement by (1) earning five credits for Engl
110 with a grade of C or above, (2) testing out of Engl 110 if eligible
(see Engl 110 course description), or (3) earning four credits for Hnrs
101 (see course descriptions) with a grade of C or above. Students who
have partially completed their composition requirement at another
institution may be eligible to complete the competency requirement by
passing Eng 112 (see prerequisites for English 112) with a grade of C or
above.
Students who have earned
credit in Engl 110 by means of the Advanced Placement or International
Baccalaureate examinations or who have tested out of Engl 110 at UW-Eau
Claire will have met the University requirement for competency.
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MATHEMATICS/STATISTICS
COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT
A minimum competency in mathematics
and/or statistics is required of all students before completion of the
sophomore year. The required competency can be demonstrated in one of
three ways: (1) earning three credits in a university level mathematics
and/or statistics course with a grade of C (not C-) or above, or a mark of
S; or (2) achieving a satisfactory score on a mathematics and/or
statistics competency examination; or (3) achieving a score on the
mathematics placement test that qualifies the student to enter Math 112 or
114 as determined by the Department of Mathematics.
The Colleges, Schools, and some
programs have selected specific mathematics and/or statistics courses
which fulfill the requirement for their majors. For information, consult
the appropriate College, School, or Department section of this Catalogue.
For information on the competency examinations available to meet the
requirement, consult the Department of Mathematics Chair or the Advising
and Academic Testing office.
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FOREIGN
LANGUAGE/FOREIGN CULTURE REQUIREMENT
Go to the Foreign Language / Foreign
Culture web page
for a list of courses approved to meet this requirement.
All students seeking the
baccalaureate degree must satisfy the foreign language/foreign culture
requirement. The goal of this requirement is to develop an understanding
of foreign countries or regions. The requirement can be met in one of four
ways:
(a) demonstrating competency at the
102 level in a foreign language by achieving a score on the foreign
language placement test that qualifies the student to enter the 201 level
course in a foreign language or completing a 102 level foreign language
course (or AIS 112 or Cdis 103) with a grade of C (not C-) or above, or
mark of S.
NOTE: B.A. students in the College
of Arts and Sciences, and all students minoring in Global Studies, must
complete option (a). Bachelor of Music students must complete this option
in French, German, or Italian. The International Business minor requires
foreign language competence at the 201 level.
(b) earning credit in either a full
semester of study abroad or approved internship abroad; or incrementally
through a combination of short term study abroad and courses designated as
fulfilling the foreign culture requirement. The incremental value of a
short term study abroad program is available in the Center for
International Education, Schofield 111.
(c) earning a minimum of nine
credits of Foreign Culture courses. Courses which fulfill the foreign
culture requirement are on the following list.
(d) earning credit in a 101- or
102-level foreign language course (or a course from AIS 111, 112; Cdis
101, 102, 103); AND earning at least six credits in foreign culture
courses.
Students who are not native speakers
of English may satisfy this requirement by completing the English
competency requirement for the baccalaureate degree and demonstrating
competency in their native language.
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CULTURAL
DIVERSITY REQUIREMENT
Go to the Cultural
Diversity web page
for a list of courses approved to meet this requirement.
All candidates for the baccalaureate
degree must satisfactorily complete the equivalent of at least three
credits of content in a course or courses dealing with the following
groups: African American, Hispanic, American Indian, or Asian American
(Southeast Asian).
Courses which fulfill the cultural
diversity requirement are listed below. Some Colleges and Schools have
identified equivalents for these courses which fulfill the requirement for
their majors. Students should consult with their advisers for details.
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SERVICE-LEARNING
REQUIREMENT
Go to the Service
Learning web page
for a list of courses approved to meet this requirement.
All candidates for the baccalaureate
degree must satisfactorily complete 30 or more hours of approved
service-learning activity. This requirement is intended to provide
students with an opportunity to serve their community, apply knowledge
gained in the classroom, and enhance their critical thinking skills.
Service-learning is a method which
promotes student learning and development through participation in
thoughtfully organized service experiences. These experiences are defined,
planned, implemented, and coordinated collaboratively by students, the
University, and the community. They offer students an opportunity to apply
their education in service to the community, which enhances their
appreciation, understanding, and respect for others. Service-learning
activities may be incorporated into courses or they may be stand-alone,
co- or extra-curricular projects.
Many students engage in activities
which serve their communities through volunteer work, as interns, and as
employees. Although these activities provide service, they do not
necessarily qualify as service-learning activities. To qualify as
service-learning, these activities must challenge students to apply their
academic knowledge and skills to meet community needs, and to reflect upon
and integrate their community experiences with their academic preparation.
Service-learning activities meet the following criteria:
1. Service activity is conducted
in and meets the needs of the community. Acceptable experiences may
include on- and off-campus activities, or volunteer, internship, or
employment opportunities.
2. Service activity is integrated
into and enhances the student’s academic major/minor or one or more of
the areas of knowledge and skill included among the eleven goals of the
baccalaureate.
3. Service activity includes
structured time for the students to reflect on the service experience.
The reflection may be in the form of a paper, oral presentation, group
discussion, or individual discussion with the course instructor or the
faculty/staff mentor of the service-learning project.
A substantive part of the required
30 hours must be spent in the service activity. The rest of the time is
devoted to preparation and reflection.
Students can meet the
service-learning requirements in one of three ways:
Credit Option - Academic Major: Students in some
majors (such as education, nursing and social work) will fulfill the
service-learning requirement through coursework required for their major.
Students should consult their adviser to determine if this option applies
to them.
Credit Option - Selected Course: A student may
complete a course designated in this Catalogue or the current Class
Schedule Bulletin as satisfying one-half (15 hours) or the full (30 hours)
service-learning requirement. In some courses, the service-learning
activity may be optional.
Non-Credit Option:
A student may fulfill the service-learning requirement—without receiving
course credit—through work with an on-campus group or off-campus community
organization. To fulfill the requirement under this option, students are
to work with the Center for Service-Learning. Students may complete
projects in the Eau Claire area or elsewhere, individually or in groups,
and during the academic year or over break periods. Projects sponsored by
local agencies ("community partners") are posted in Davies Center,
Schofield Hall, Campus School, on the Center for Service-Learning Web
site, and at the Center for Service-Learning, Schneider 113A. Students may
also devise their own projects. The Center for Service-Learning must
approve a noncredit option project before the student begins it.
A student pursuing a noncredit
option is to work with a faculty or academic staff mentor who also
approves his/her service-learning project proposal, helps establish
learning objectives, and assists the student in attaining those
objectives. The mentor also facilitates the student’s reflection upon
completion of the project, and certifies the student has met the
service-learning requirement.
Students seeking more information
about the service-learning requirement should consult their adviser or
contact the Center for Service-Learning, Schneider 113A.
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WELLNESS
REQUIREMENT
Go to the Wellness
web page
for a list of courses approved to meet this requirement.
All candidates for the baccalaureate
degree must satisfactorily complete one semester credit in wellness theory
courses and one semester credit in physical activity courses. The
requirement is designed to provide students with a comprehensive exposure
to wellness. Courses numbered Kins 100-189 may be used to satisfy the
physical activity requirement. The courses which satisfy the wellness
theory requirement are listed below. Kins 186 satisfies both the physical
activity and wellness theory requirement.
The one required credit in physical
activity courses is counted in the minimum total of 120 credits for
graduation. Additional credits may be earned in physical activity courses
but may not be counted toward the minimum total of 120 credits for
graduation (See Kinesiology and Athletics for exceptions).
The Department of Kinesiology and
Athletics provides adaptations in physical activity courses for students
who have a medical excuse from a physician and approval of the Student
Health Service. Students who have served at least one year of active duty
in the military may be exempt from the physical activity (only)
requirement upon presentation of discharge papers (D. D. 214) to the
Registrar's office.
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MAJOR-MINOR
CONCENTRATION
Each candidate for a baccalaureate
degree must present at minimum 60 unique* credits earned in either of the
following ways:
• One standard major of at least
36 semester credits plus one minor of at least 24 semester credits,
or
• One comprehensive major of at
least 60 semester credits (no minor required)
As another option, a minor may be
replaced by a second standard major. However, a student who elects this
option, or any combination of majors and/or minors beyond the minimum
required, should be aware of the UW System policy whereby credits earned
beyond 165 (or 30 credits beyond the total required for a program,
whichever is higher) will be assessed at a higher level of tuition.
A student may present for graduation
only those majors and minors authorized by the faculty of the College or
School in which the degree program is offered. Any deviation from
published requirements in any curriculum must have written approval of the
Associate Dean of the College or School from which the student is to be
graduated.
When completing two programs (i.e.,
two majors or a major-minor combination), a student must earn at least 60
unique credits betwen the two programs. In any combination of two majors,
a major and a minor, or two minors, if certain courses are required in
both programs, an overlap of no more than 12 credits is permitted. When an
overlap exists between two majors, or between a major and minor,
additional credits must be earned in the major and/or minor if needed to
meet the required total of 60 unique credits.
*To be considered unique, a
credit may be counted only once in the 60-unique-credit total required in
any major-major or major-minor combination.
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GRADE
POINT REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility for graduation is based
upon two GPAs, resident and total:
Resident GPA: The GPA
computed on all UW-Eau Claire coursework.
Total GPA: The GPA computed
on all UW-Eau Claire coursework and all transferable coursework taken
elsewhere. For second baccalaureate degree candidates, the Total GPA is
based on the Resident GPA and the GPA associated with the first degree.
The Resident and Total GPAs are
identical for the student who has completed all coursework at UW-Eau
Claire. In both computations, GPAs must meet all minimum standards.
A minimum total GPA of 2.00 and a
minimum resident GPA of 2.00 is required for graduation from all
curricula. Individual Colleges or Schools may set higher grade point
requirements. These are published, as appropriate, in the College or
School sections of this Catalogue.
Major. Minimum resident and
total GPAs of 2.00 are required in the major (2.50 in the School of
Education). Colleges or Schools of the University may set specific
requirements for GPAs in the minor as well as the major. Colleges or
Schools may also require that GPAs in the major and minor be computed on
all applicable courses attempted by the student in the respective areas.
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UNIVERSITY
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
Resident credit is earned by
enrolling in UW-Eau Claire courses, both on and off campus.
Minimum total. Residence of
one year (30 semester credits) is required of all candidates for
baccalaureate degrees.
Senior year. Twenty-three of
the last 30 credits prior to graduation from any curriculum must be earned
in residence unless special arrangements have been made by petition to the
Associate Dean of the College or School.
Major. At least 12 credits of
the upper division work (300-400 level courses) required in a standard
major, and 21 in a comprehensive major, must be taken in residence.
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CREDIT-BEARING
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
Certificate programs offer an
opportunity for an individual to earn college credit and advance towards a
credential that certifies a significant level of achievement within a
prescribed area. As the rate of change in the workplace accelerates, more
people find it necessary to engage in continuous learning to meet the
challenges of new duties and responsibilities, or changes of career. Often
their need is for in-depth study that goes beyond what is generally
provided in noncredit professional development activities.
Certificates may be earned by
degree-seeking students, as well as by members of the community who are
not pursuing a University degree. Guidelines and standards will be
identical for both groups. Certificate programs usually consist of no less
than 12 credits for undergraduate certificates (nine credits for graduate
certificate programs) and not more than 18 credits.
At least 50 percent of the credits
applied to the certificate program requirements must be taken through
UW-Eau Claire. Departments, schools, or colleges proposing certificate
programs have the right to specify (a) admission requirements for entry
into a certificate program, (b) minimum GPA requirements for course and
certificate completion, and (c) applicability of the S/U option, if any. A
2.00 GPA is the minimum requirement for certificate completion for
undergraduate programs, and a 3.00 GPA is required for graduate
certificate programs.
Specific certificates and their
requirements are listed within their applicable department, school, or
college.
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ADMISSION
TO A COLLEGE, SCHOOL, OR PROGRAM
Admission to the University does not necessarily
constitute admission to a particular College or School or to a degree
curriculum offered by a College or School. Each of the Colleges and
Schools may set specific admission requirements and procedures, which will
be found in the appropriate section of this Catalogue. As one step toward
their degrees, students must be admitted to the College, School, and/or
program from which they expect to graduate.
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ADVISING
AT UW-EAU CLAIRE
Each student is assigned an adviser
as part of new student orientation. Students who have not yet chosen a
major (undeclared) are assigned an adviser in Advising and Academic
Testing (Schofield 226). Special students and students admitted with a
conditional status are also advised in this office. A student who has
decided upon a major field of study is assigned to a faculty member from
the appropriate department. Students in pre-professional programs are
advised by faculty familiar with the requirements in those areas. Students
should also consult with an adviser in the department of their minor.
It is the responsibility of students
to meet regularly with an adviser to confer on educational matters,
including long-range academic and career planning, personal interests and
abilities, course selection and choice of major(s), work load,
dropping/adding/withdrawing from classes, and problems relating to
academic achievement.
All freshmen and sophomores, as well
as juniors and seniors who are not in good academic standing, must consult
with an adviser prior to registration (they receive a Personal Advising
Code or PAC at this time). In addition, juniors and seniors in good
academic standing are encouraged to continue meeting with an adviser at
least once a semester. All students, regardless of classification, must
meet with an adviser when withdrawing from a class or classes.
Declaring/changing a major:
Students who wish to change their major and/or minor must consult with the
desired department. The student should first obtain a "what-if" degree
audit. Exact procedures for each major and minor can be found at: http://www.uwec.edu/Registrar/chgofmajor/.
Since most majors require students to meet with an adviser prior to
changing a major or minor, students should plan ahead.
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DEGREE
PLANNING
Students should consult their
faculty advisers and develop degree plans as early as possible, so that
requirements can be met without delaying graduation. The Registrar’s
Office provides a Degree Audit for each student at the beginning of each
registration period. This Audit monitors the progress which the student is
making toward the declared degree. The Audit is a tool designed to assist
the student in course planning. Final confirmation of degree requirements
is subject to department, college or school, and university approval.
A Degree Audit is not designed to
serve as a contract—only to provide assistance to the student in planning.
Final approval of degree requirements resides with the Office of the
Registrar, but responsibility for meeting these requirements rests
primarily upon the individual student.
Catalogue Base for Degree Plan.
In planning their degree programs, students must follow the curricular
requirements of the Catalogue under which they entered UW-Eau Claire or,
upon notification to the Registrar’s office (Schofield 128), of a more
recent Catalogue. Students who are absent from the University for two or
more consecutive semesters must follow the Catalogue in effect at the time
of their re-entry. Since Degree Audits are computer-generated reports
applying an individual student’s enrollment history to degree requirements
as stated in the catalogue, any deviation from published
requirements for the degree must be authorized by a separate
waiver/substitution form signed by the student’s dean. Students who wish
to appeal an institutional decision or response relating to their request
for academic substitutions or waivers may do so by using the Student
Academic Grievance Procedures published in the Student Services and
Standards handbook available in the Office of Student Development and
Diversity, Schofield 240.
NOTE: Transfers who enter UW-Eau
Claire within two consecutive semesters of leaving another institution may
use the Catalogue in effect at UW-Eau Claire at the time they entered the
prior institution.
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APPLICATION
FOR GRADUATION
Each candidate for a baccalaureate degree must apply for
graduation via the Blugold system by the end of the first week of
undergraduate priority registration for the semester of intended
graduation. Failure to apply for graduation on time may result in the
postponement of graduation. Although only three commencement ceremonies
are held—May, August and December, students may graduate in January, May,
August or December.
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APPLICABILITY
OF CREDITS TOWARD GRADUATION
Junior College or Two-Year College
Credits. A maximum of 72 semester credits
earned in a junior college or two-year college will be accepted as degree
credits at UW-Eau Claire.
Extension Credits. Credits
earned in credit outreach courses offered by UW-Eau Claire are treated as
resident credits. Credits earned in extension courses offered by other
units of the University of Wisconsin System are treated as transfer
credits. All other (non-UW) extension and correspondence credits are
normally limited to one-fourth of the total required for graduation from
any curriculum.
WTCS Credits. A maximum of 72
semester credits earned in college parallel programs at Madison Area
Technical College, Milwaukee Area Technical College, or Nicolet Area
Technical College may be accepted as degree credits at UW-Eau Claire. A
set number of general education courses will be accepted from other
technical schools. Occupational and technical courses may also be
considered for transfer if the quality and content of the coursework from
the technical college is judged to be comparable to coursework at UW-Eau
Claire. Refer to the Transfer Information System (www.uwsa.edu/tis) or
contact the UW-Eau Claire Admissions office for information about the
current transfer policy.
USAFI Credit. UW-Eau Claire
will accept up to 32 semester credits for work done through the United
States Armed Forces Institute, under the provision for non-UW
correspondence credit (see Extension Credit, above).
Activity Credit (band, chorus,
drama, etc.). Students may count toward graduation no more than four
credits earned in any single activity course, and no more than 12 credits
resulting from any combination of activity courses (excluding Kinesiology
activity courses). Students may count toward graduation no more than one
credit of physical activity courses (see Wellness Requirement).
Other Restricted Credits. For
other University restrictions, see the following: Cooperative Education;
Credit by Examination; Wellness Requirement (physical activity courses);
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Registration; Transfer of Credits. College,
School, or departmental restrictions may also be placed on Independent
Study (399-499 courses), Directed Study (395-495), and other types of
credits.
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SECOND
BACCALAUREATE DEGREE
A graduate who has earned a
baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and who
subsequently becomes a candidate for a second baccalaureate degree from
UW-Eau Claire must:
(1) present 30 credits beyond the
first degree, of which at least 23 must be taken in residence
(2) meet all major/minor and other
degree-specific requirements of the second degree
(3) meet the cultural diversity
requirement
It is presumed that candidates for
the second baccalaureate degree have met the following University
graduation requirements: English competency, mathematics/statistics
competency, foreign language/foreign culture, general education, physical
activity and wellness, and service-learning.
All second degree students must have
their transcripts reviewed and their plan of study approved by an
Associate Dean in the College or School of their major.
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COMMENCEMENT
EXERCISES
Candidates for graduation are
encouraged to attend commencement ceremonies, which are held three times
during the calendar year: at the close of the fall and spring semesters of
the academic year, and at the close of the summer session. Caps and gowns
must be worn by all graduates.
In order to participate in a
commencement ceremony, students must file an application for graduation
and must meet at least one of the following conditions: (1) completion of
all requirements for the bachelor’s or master’s degree, or (2) current
enrollment in the courses necessary to complete all requirements, or (3)
completion of all degree requirements with exception of a mandatory
internship or other field placement course requiring no more than six
credits. Students who will complete all requirements for the degree during
the first Three-Week Summer Session are August graduates, but may request
permission to attend the May commencement ceremony. Students completing
all requirements for the degree in January may attend the December
ceremony.
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GRADUATION
WITH DISTINCTION
Graduation with distinction is
conferred at commencement exercises upon eligible students earning a first
or second baccalaureate degree. Eligibility is based on both the Resident
and the Total GPAs as defined under Grade Point Requirements. A student
must earn in both computations (Resident and Total GPAs) the minimum GPA
required at each of the three levels of distinction listed below and a
minimum of 30 credits in residence to be eligible:
Summa Cum Laude—at least
3.80.
Magna Cum Laude—at least
3.50.
Cum Laude—at least 3.20.
The announcement of graduation with
distinction made at the commencement ceremony is based on all work
completed prior to the student’s final semester. However, the actual
conferral of graduation with distinction will be based on the student’s
entire record, including the final semester.
Note: For second degree students,
GPAs from both the first and second degrees will be included in the
computation.
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