Education building

The Individual Major provides undergraduates with an opportunity to develop a unique course of study; one that is interdepartmental and not reflected in existing degree programs. Completion of the Individual Major does not lead to a professional license or certification, although graduates may be interested in pursuing alternative educational careers or graduate work. Graduates earn a BS–Education degree.

How to Get In

Admission Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • earn a 2.75 cumulative GPA on the UW–Madison campus.1
  • complete a minimum of 54 credits
  • receive approval of major program proposal submitted by the applicant.
1

 For alternative calculation of cumulative GPA, see Last 60 Credits Rule.

Last 60 Credits Rule

Two grade point averages will be calculated to determine candidates' eligibility to the program. GPAs will be calculated using

  • all transferable college-level coursework attempted, and
  • the last 60 credits attempted.

The higher GPA of these two will be used for purposes of determining eligibility. If fewer than 60 credits have been attempted, all credits will be used to calculate the GPA. Graded graduate coursework will also be used in all GPA calculations. ("Attempted" coursework indicates coursework for which a grade has been earned.) More information on this rule is available here.

Application Procedures

Once a committee of three persons has been chosen in accord with the guidelines and required courses have been selected, students should proceed as follows:

  • Submit an Individual Major in Education proposal form.
  • Submit the program plan and narrative with the transfer application for associate dean's approval. The three-member committee must sign the proposal in the spaces indicated. Failure to submit a program narrative will void the transfer.

Once an application form has been submitted, changes must be approved by both the chair of the committee and the associate dean. Changes must be recorded on the program plan. If more than two program changes are made, a new application form must be filed by the student.

University Requirements

All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later. 

Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.

Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements

Civics & Perspectives 3 credits of Civics & Perspectives coursework.
Communication & Literacy 6 credits of Communication & Literacy coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. More information: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingenglishplacement
Humanities & Arts 6 credits of Humanities & Arts coursework.
Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning 6 credits of Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. More information: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingmathplacement
Natural Science & Wellness Complete both:
  • 6 credits of Natural Science & Wellness or Natural Science & Wellness + Laboratory coursework.
  • one course must be in Natural Science & Wellness + Laboratory coursework.
Social & Behavioral Science 3 credits of Social & Behavioral Science coursework.
Total Credits 30 credits.

For more information see the policy.

University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements

All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.

Total Degree 120 degree credits.
Residency Complete 30 credits in residence. A course is considered “in residence” if it is taken when in undergraduate degree-seeking status and:
  • is offered by UW-Madison and completed on the UW-Madison campus or at an approved off-site location, or
  • is offered by UW-Madison in an online or distance format, or is completed during participation in a UW-Madison study abroad/study away program.
Quality of Work Achieve at least the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, and/or academic program.
Math Demonstrate minimal mathematics competence by:
English Language If required to take the UW-Madison English as a Second Language Assessment Test (MSN-ESLAT), demonstrate minimal English language competence by:
  • earning credit for ESL 118, or
  • achieving a qualifying MSN-ESLAT placement test score.
Language Complete one:
  • 2 high school units of a single language other than English, or
  • one course with the second semester Language designation.
Major Declaration Declare and complete the requirements for at least one major.

School of Education Degree Requirements

Communication: Breadth and Depth

Courses designated as Communication A (Comm A) and Communication B (Comm B) help students learn how to gather and assess information from a variety of sources and to present different kinds of information, insight, and analysis to diverse audiences. Comm A courses focus on essential communication skills and Comm B courses teach research, writing, and communication skills within a disciplinary area. 

Communication A Complete either:
  • one course with the Communication A designation, or
  • satisfaction of Communication A based on UW Placement Test.
Communication B One course with the Communication B designation.

Quantitative Reasoning: Breadth and Depth

Quantitative Reasoning A courses provide students with foundational skills in mathematics, computer science, statistics or formal logic that are needed for dealing with quantitative information. In Quantitative Reasoning B courses, students use quantitative tools in the context of other disciplines or course material.

Quantitative Reasoning A Complete either:
  • one course with the Quantitative Reasoning A designation, or
  • satisfaction of Quantitative Reasoning A based on UW Placement Test.
Quantitative Reasoning B One course with the Quantitative Reasoning B designation.

Liberal Studies Requirements

All students are required to complete a minimum of 40 credits of Liberal Studies coursework. This requirement provides an opportunity to do some academic exploration beyond the scope of the major. Students take courses in areas of particular interest and also have an opportunity to sample the wide selection of courses offered across the university. Coursework is required in humanities, social studies (social science), science, and cultural and historical studies. Some elective coursework is also needed to reach the required number of credits.

The School of Education’s Liberal Studies requirements can be used to satisfy the campus-wide Core General Education requirements. Communication A and B, and Quantitative Reasoning A and B coursework can also be used towards Core General Education and other requirements. Academic advisors can suggest courses that will count in multiple places.

A basic outline of the liberal studies is included below. Students must consult the detailed version of the requirements for more information about course selection and how the liberal studies requirements apply to this major.

Are you interested in switching to the School of Education? If so, you should run a “what-if” DARS report. It will show how many of these requirements you have already met and are unmet.

Humanities

Complete a minimum of 9 credits from these categories.

Literature Complete a course with the Literature designation, minimum of 2 credits
Fine Arts Complete a minimum of 2 credits from the list of courses below.
Humanities Courses to total 9 Humanities credits. Select from:
  • Courses with the Humanities or Literature designation.
  • Fine Arts courses from the list below.
  • Courses with the Language courses designation.
  • ENGL 201
  • ENGL 207
  • COM ARTS 181
Fine Arts Courses
AFRICAN/​AFROAMER  220HipHop, Youth Culture, and Politics in Senegal3
AFRICAN/​AFROAMER  233Global HipHop and Social Justice3
AFROAMER 154Hip-Hop and Contemporary American Society3
AFROAMER 156Black Music and American Cultural History3
AFROAMER 225Introduction to African American Dramatic Literature3
AFROAMER/​ART HIST  241Introduction to African Art and Architecture3
AFROAMER/​ART HIST  242Introduction to Afro-American Art3
AFROAMER/​GEN&WS  267Artistic/Cultural Images of Black Women3
AFROAMER/​DANCE/​MUSIC  318Cultural Cross Currents: West African Dance/Music in the Americas3
AFROAMER 338The Black Arts Movement3
AFROAMER/​GEN&WS  367Art and Visual Culture: Women of the African Diaspora and Africa3
AFROAMER/​AFRICAN  413Contemporary African and Caribbean Drama3-4
AMER IND 325American Indians in Film3
Any ART course
Any ART HIST course
COM ARTS 350Introduction to Film3
COM ARTS 357History of the Animated Film3
Any DANCE course
DS 120Design: Fundamentals I3
ENGL 207Introduction to Creative Writing: Fiction and Poetry Workshop3
ENGL 307Creative Writing: Fiction and Poetry Workshop3
ENGL 407Creative Writing: Nonfiction Workshop3
ENGL 408Creative Writing: Fiction Workshop3
ENGL 409Creative Writing: Poetry Workshop3
ENGL 410Creative Writing: Playwriting Workshop3
ENGL 411Creative Writing: Special Topics Workshop3
ENVIR ST/​HIST SCI/​HISTORY  125Green Screen: Environmental Perspectives through Film3
FOLKLORE/​MUSIC  103Introduction to Music Cultures of the World3
GERMAN 253Introduction to German Cinema3
GERMAN 267Yiddish Song and the Jewish Experience3-4
ILS 203Western Culture: Literature and the Arts I3
ILS 204Western Culture: Literature and the Arts II3-4
LITTRANS 207Slavic Science Fiction through Literature and Film3
LITTRANS 231Manga3
LITTRANS 232Anime3
LITTRANS 233Russian Life and Culture Through Literature and Art (to 1917)3-4
LITTRANS 234Soviet Life and Culture Through Literature and Art (from 1917)3-4
LITTRANS/​FOLKLORE  327Vampires3
LITTRANS/​THEATRE  335In Translation: The Drama of Henrik Ibsen3-4
Any MUSIC course
Any MUS PERF course
Any THEATRE course

Social Studies

Social Studies Complete 9 credits with the Social Science designation.

The following programs have specific requirements:
  • Kinesiology: PSYCH 202
  • Art Education, Elementary Education, Elementary Education and Special Education, Physical Education, Special Education: POLI SCI 104 or 205

Science

Complete a minimum of 9 credits, including Physical and Biological Science. A laboratory science course is also required. The lab course can count toward the Biological or Physical Science requirement if it has the requisite breadth designation.

Physical Science Complete one course with the Physical Science designation.
Biological Science Complete one course with the Biological Science designation.
Lab Science Complete one course with the Biological, Physical, or Natural Science designation with a lab component; see Course Search and Enroll. Additional eligible courses are listed below.
Science Elective(s) If needed, complete a course with the Biological, Physical, or Natural Science designation to total 9 Science credits.
Laboratory Courses
ANTHRO 105Principles of Biological Anthropology3
ATM OCN 101Weather and Climate4
BOTANY 100Survey of Botany3
BOTANY/PL PATH 123Plants, Parasites, and People3
FOOD SCI/​MICROBIO  324Food Microbiology Laboratory2
GEOSCI 100Introductory Geology: How the Earth Works3
PHYSICS 109Physics in the Arts3
PLANTSCI 110Introduction to Plant Science and Technology4

Cultural and Historical Studies

Complete three requirements met by separate courses. Any of these courses can also be used to meet other requirements if it has the relevant breadth designation. A single course cannot satisfy more than one of the three Cultural and Historical Studies requirements listed below.

Ethnic Studies Complete 3 credits with the Ethnic Studies Designation.
United States or European History Complete 3 credits from the list of courses below.
Global Perspectives Complete 3 credits from the list of courses below.
United States or European History Courses
AFROAMER 154Hip-Hop and Contemporary American Society3
AFROAMER 156Black Music and American Cultural History3
AFROAMER 231Introduction to African American History3
AFROAMER 272Race and American Politics from the New Deal to the New Right3
AFROAMER/​AFRICAN/​HISTORY/​POLI SCI  297African and African-American Linkages: An Introduction4
AFROAMER 302Undergraduate Studies in Afro-American History3
AFROAMER/​HISTORY  321African American History Since 19003-4
AFROAMER/​HISTORY  322African American History to 19003
AFROAMER/​GEN&WS  323Gender, Race and Class: Women in U.S. History3
AFROAMER/​GEN&WS  324Black Women in America: Reconstruction to the Present3
AFROAMER/​GEN&WS  326Race and Gender in Post-World War II U.S. Society3
AFROAMER/​HISTORY  347The Caribbean and its Diasporas3-4
AFROAMER/​HISTORY  393Slavery, Civil War, and Reconstruction, 1848-18773-4
AFROAMER/​HIST SCI/​MED HIST  523Race, American Medicine and Public Health3
AFROAMER/​ED POL  567History of African American Education3
AFROAMER 621Slavery and Capitalism in the United States3
AFROAMER 623Women and Slavery in the United States3
AFROAMER/​GEN&WS  624African American Women's Activism (19th & 20th Centuries)3
AFROAMER/​GEN&WS  625Gender, Race and the Civil Rights Movement3
AFROAMER 626Slavery and Emancipation in the United States3
AFROAMER/​HISTORY  628History of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States3
AFROAMER 631Colloquium in African American History3
AFROAMER 671Selected Topics in African American History3
AMER IND 100Introduction to American Indian Studies3
AMER IND 185Indigenous Athletes and Sports3
AMER IND/​HISTORY  190Introduction to American Indian History3-4
AMER IND 230Indigenous Resistance and Activism3
AMER IND 250Indians of Wisconsin3
AMER IND/​ANTHRO  314Indians of North America3
AMER IND/​HISTORY  380Sovereignty and the Schoolhouse3
AMER IND/​SOC WORK  636Social Work in American Indian Communities: The Indian Child Welfare Act3
ART HIST 357History of Wisconsin Architecture, 1800-present3
ASIAN AM/​AFROAMER/​AMER IND/​CHICLA  102Introduction to Comparative US Ethnic, American Indian, and Indigenous Studies3
ASIAN AM/​HISTORY  160Asian American History: Movement and Dislocation3-4
ASIAN AM/​HISTORY  161Asian American History: Settlement and National Belonging3-4
ASIAN AM 170Hmong American Experiences in the United States3
ASIAN AM/​SOC  220Ethnic Movements in the United States3-4
ASIAN AM/​ASIAN/​HISTORY  246Southeast Asian Refugees of the "Cold" War4
ASIAN AM 253Critical Refugee Studies3
ASIAN AM 441Hmong American Social Movements in the 20th and 21st Centuries3
C&E SOC/​HISTORY/​POLI SCI/​SOC  259Forward? The Wisconsin Idea, Past and Present1-3
CHICLA/​HISTORY  151The North American West to 18503-4
CHICLA/​HISTORY  152The United States West Since 18503-4
CHICLA/​HISTORY  153Latina/Latino/Latinx History3-4
CHICLA 201Introduction to Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies3
CHICLA/​GEN&WS/​HISTORY  245Chicana and Latina History3
CHICLA/​HISTORY/​LACIS/​POLI SCI  268The U.S. & Latin America from the Colonial Era to the Present: A Critical Survey3
CHICLA 301Chicana/o and Latina/o History3
CHICLA 315Racial Formation and Whiteness3
CHICLA/​GEN&WS  332Latinas: Self Identity and Social Change3
CHICLA/​SPANISH  364Survey of Latinx/e Popular Culture3
CHICLA/​HISTORY/​POLI SCI  422Latino History and Politics3
CHICLA/​HISTORY  435Colony, Nation, and Minority: The Puerto Ricans' World3
CLASSICS/​HISTORY  110The Ancient Mediterranean4
CLASSICS 206Classical Influences on Western Art and Science3
CLASSICS/​HISTORY/​POLI SCI  362Athenian Democracy3
CLASSICS/​HISTORY/​RELIG ST  517Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean3
CURRIC/​ED POL/​HISTORY/​JEWISH  515Holocaust: History, Memory and Education3
ECON/​HISTORY  466The American Economy Since 18653-4
ED POL/​HISTORY  107The History of the University in the West3
ED POL/​HISTORY  143History of Race and Inequality in Urban America3
ED POL/​HISTORY  412History of American Education3
ED POL/​HISTORY  478Comparative History of Childhood and Adolescence3
ED POL/​HISTORY  612History of Student Activism from the Popular Front to Black Lives Matter3
ENGL/​HISTORY/​RELIG ST  360Early Medieval England3
ENVIR ST/​HIST SCI/​HISTORY  125Green Screen: Environmental Perspectives through Film3
ENVIR ST/​GNS  210Cultures of Sustainability: Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe3
ENVIR ST/​HISTORY  328Environmental History of Europe3
ENVIR ST/​GEOG/​HISTORY  460American Environmental History4
ENVIR ST/​HISTORY/​LEGAL ST  430Law and Environment: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives3
FOLKLORE/​GNS  200Folklore of Central, Eastern and Northern Europe3
FOLKLORE 442Immigration and Indigeneity in the Upper Midwest3
GEN&WS/​HISTORY  353Women and Gender in the U.S. to 18703-4
GEN&WS/​HISTORY  354Women and Gender in the U.S. Since 18703-4
GEN&WS/​HISTORY  392Women and Gender in Modern Europe3-4
GEN&WS/​HIST SCI  537Childbirth in the United States3
GEOG/​HISTORY/​POLI SCI/​SLAVIC  253Russia: An Interdisciplinary Survey4
GEOG/​HISTORY/​POLI SCI/​SLAVIC  254Eastern Europe: An Interdisciplinary Survey4
HIST SCI/​HISTORY/​MED HIST  132Bees, Trees, Germs, and Genes: A History of Biology3
HIST SCI 150The Digital Age3
HIST SCI 201The Origins of Scientific Thought3
HIST SCI 218History of Twentieth Century American Medicine3
HIST SCI/​AFROAMER  275Science, Medicine, and Race: A History3-4
HIST SCI/​HISTORY  323The Scientific Revolution: From Copernicus to Newton3
HIST SCI 404A History of Disease3-4
HIST SCI/​HISTORY/​MED HIST  508Health, Disease and Healing II3-4
HIST SCI/​MED HIST  509The Development of Public Health in America3
HIST SCI/​GEN&WS/​MED HIST  531Women and Health in American History3
HIST SCI/​GEN&WS/​MED HIST  532The History of the (American) Body3
HISTORY 101Amer Hist to the Civil War Era, the Origin & Growth of the U S4
HISTORY 102American History, Civil War Era to the Present4
HISTORY 109Introduction to U.S. History3-4
HISTORY 115Medieval Europe 410-15004
HISTORY 119Europe and the World, 1400-18154
HISTORY 120Europe and the Modern World 1815 to the Present4
HISTORY 124Britain since 16883-4
HISTORY 136Sport, Recreation, & Society in the United States3-4
HISTORY 145America and China, 1776-Today3-4
HISTORY 154Who is an American?3-4
HISTORY 155The Long Black Freedom Struggle from the Civil War to the Present3-4
HISTORY/​JEWISH  156The American Jewish Experience: From Shtetl to Suburb3-4
HISTORY 170East Meets West: Myth, Meaning, and Modernity3-4
HISTORY 201The Historian's Craft (topic must be approved)3-4
HISTORY/​RELIG ST  208Western Intellectual and Religious History to 15003-4
HISTORY/​RELIG ST  209Western Intellectual and Religious History since 15003-4
HISTORY/​RELIG ST  212The History of Western Christianity to 17504
HISTORY/​JEWISH  213Jews and American Pop. Culture3-4
HISTORY/​JEWISH  220Introduction to Modern Jewish History4
HISTORY 221Explorations in American History (H)3-4
HISTORY 223Explorations in European History (H)3-4
HISTORY 227Explorations in the History of Race and Ethnicity3
HISTORY/​ART HIST/​ENVIR ST/​GEOG/​LAND ARC  239Making the American Landscape3-4
HISTORY/​LACIS  243Colonial Latin America: Invasion to Independence3-4
HISTORY/​LEGAL ST  261American Legal History to 18603-4
HISTORY/​LEGAL ST  262American Legal History, 1860 to the Present3-4
HISTORY 269War, Race, and Religion in Europe and the United States, from the Scramble for Africa to Today3-4
HISTORY 270Eastern Europe since 19003-4
HISTORY 271Study Abroad in History: European History1-4
HISTORY 272Study Abroad in History: United States History1-4
HISTORY 302History of American Thought, 1859 to the Present3-4
HISTORY 303A History of Greek Civilization3-4
HISTORY 306The United States Since 19453-4
HISTORY 307A History of Rome3-4
HISTORY/​MEDIEVAL/​RELIG ST  309The Crusades: Christianity and Islam3-4
HISTORY/​JEWISH  310The Holocaust3-4
HISTORY 329History of American Capitalism4
HISTORY/​INTL ST  332East Asia & The U.S. Since 18993-4
HISTORY 344The Age of the American Revolution, 1763-17893-4
HISTORY 345Military History of the United States3-4
HISTORY 348France from Napoleon to the Great War, 1799-19143-4
HISTORY 349Contemporary France, 1914 to the Present3-4
HISTORY 350The First World War and the Shaping of Twentieth-Century Europe3-4
HISTORY/​CHICLA/​LACIS/​POLI SCI  355Labor in the Americas: US & Mexico in Comparative & Historical Perspective3
HISTORY 357The Second World War3-4
HISTORY 358French Revolution and Napoleon3-4
HISTORY 359History of Europe Since 19453-4
HISTORY/​INTL ST  366From Fascism to Today: Social Movements and Politics in Europe3-4
HISTORY 401Public History Workshop3
HISTORY 403Immigration and Assimilation in American History3-4
HISTORY/​RELIG ST  409Christianity in the Atlantic World, 1500-18003
HISTORY 410History of Germany, 1871 to the Present3-4
HISTORY/​RELIG ST  411The Enlightenment and Its Critics3
HISTORY 417History of Russia3-4
HISTORY 418History of Russia3-4
HISTORY 419History of Soviet Russia3-4
HISTORY 420Russian Social and Intellectual History3-4
HISTORY 424The Soviet Union and the World, 1917-19913-4
HISTORY/​CHICLA/​POLI SCI  422Latino History and Politics3
HISTORY/​LEGAL ST  426The History of Punishment3-4
HISTORY 427The American Military Experience to 19023-4
HISTORY 428The American Military Experience Since 18993-4
HISTORY/​SCAND ST  431History of Scandinavia to 18153
HISTORY/​SCAND ST  432History of Scandinavia Since 18153
HISTORY 434American Foreign Relations, 1901 to the Present3-4
HISTORY/​SCAND ST  577Contemporary Scandinavia: Politics and History3-4
HISTORY/​LEGAL ST  459Rule of Law: Philosophical and Historical Models3-4
HISTORY/​LEGAL ST  476Medieval Law and Society3
HISTORY/​LEGAL ST  510Legal Pluralism3
HISTORY 500Reading Seminar in History3
HISTORY/​JEWISH/​SOC  518Antisemitism in European Culture3
HISTORY/​JOURN  560History of U.S. Media4
HISTORY 607The American Impact Abroad: The Historical Dimension3
ILS 201Western Culture: Science, Technology, Philosophy I3
ILS 202Western Culture: Science, Technology, Philosophy II3
MUSIC 202Delta Blues3
MUSIC 203American Ethnicities and Popular Song3
MUSIC 317Musical Women in Europe and America: Creativity, Performance, and Identity3
SCAND ST 348The Second World War in Nordic Culture3
Global Perspectives Courses
A A E/​ENVIR ST  244The Environment and the Global Economy4
A A E 319The International Agricultural Economy3
A A E/​NUTR SCI  350World Hunger and Malnutrition3
A A E/​INTL ST  373Globalization, Poverty and Development3
A A E/​INTL ST  374The Growth and Development of Nations in the Global Economy3
A A E/​ECON  473Economic Growth and Development in Southeast Asia3
AFRICAN/​HISTORY  106Introduction to African History3-4
AFRICAN/​HISTORY  129Africa on the Global Stage3-4
AFRICAN 201Introduction to African Literature3
AFRICAN 202Introductory Topics in African Cultural Studies3
AFRICAN 203Introductory Topics in African Literature3
AFRICAN 204Introductory Topics in African Languages3
AFRICAN/​FOLKLORE  210The African Storyteller3
AFRICAN 212Introduction to African Popular Culture3
AFRICAN/​FRENCH  216Modern and Contemporary Francophone Topics3
AFRICAN/​AFROAMER  220HipHop, Youth Culture, and Politics in Senegal3
AFRICAN 230Introduction to Yoruba Life and Culture3
AFRICAN/​AFROAMER  233Global HipHop and Social Justice3
AFRICAN 231Introduction to Arabic Literary Culture3
AFRICAN/​AFROAMER/​ANTHRO/​GEOG/​HISTORY/​POLI SCI/​SOC  277Africa: An Introductory Survey4
AFRICAN/​AFROAMER/​HISTORY/​POLI SCI  297African and African-American Linkages: An Introduction4
AFRICAN 300African Literature in Translation3
AFRICAN/​INTL ST  302Arabic Literature and Cinema3
AFRICAN/​ASIAN/​RELIG ST  370Islam: Religion and Culture3-4
AFRICAN 403Theories of African Cultural Studies3
AFRICAN/​RELIG ST  408Everyday Religion in Africa3
AFRICAN/​RELIG ST  414Islam in Africa and the Diaspora3
AFRICAN/​COM ARTS/​L I S  444Technology and Development in Africa and Beyond3
AFROAMER/​ART HIST  241Introduction to African Art and Architecture3
AFROAMER/​ANTHRO/​C&E SOC/​GEOG/​HISTORY/​LACIS/​POLI SCI/​SOC/​SPANISH  260Latin America: An Introduction3-4
AFROAMER/​DANCE/​MUSIC  318Cultural Cross Currents: West African Dance/Music in the Americas3
AFROAMER/​GEN&WS  367Art and Visual Culture: Women of the African Diaspora and Africa3
AGROECOL 377Global Food Production and Health3
ANTHRO 100General Anthropology3
ANTHRO 102Archaeology and the Prehistoric World3
ANTHRO 104Cultural Anthropology and Human Diversity3
ANTHRO 105Principles of Biological Anthropology3
ANTHRO/​FOLKLORE/​INTL ST/​LINGUIS  211Global Language Issues3
ANTHRO 237Cut 'n' Mix: Music, Race, and Culture in the Caribbean3
ANTHRO 265Introduction to Culture and Health3
ANTHRO 300Cultural Anthropology: Theory and Ethnography3
ANTHRO/​ASIAN  305Anthropology of South Asia3
ANTHRO/​AMER IND  314Indians of North America3
ANTHRO 321The Emergence of Human Culture3
ANTHRO 322The Origins of Civilization3
ANTHRO 330Topics in Ethnology (topic must be approved)3-4
ANTHRO 333Prehistory of Africa3
ANTHRO 339Archaeology of Warfare and Human Nature3
ANTHRO 350Political Anthropology3-4
ANTHRO 357Introduction to the Anthropology of Japan3-4
ANTHRO 365Medical Anthropology3
ART HIST/​ASIAN  179Passage Through India: South Asia's Global Architectural Histories3
ART HIST 205Global Arts3-4
ART HIST 305History of Islamic Art and Architecture3
ART HIST 307From Tomb to Temple: Ancient Chinese Art and Religion in Transition3
ART HIST 308The Tastes of Scholars and Emperors: Chinese Art in the Later Periods3
ART HIST 354Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present3-4
ART HIST/​ASIAN  379Cities of Asia3
ART HIST 411Topics in Asian Art3-4
ART HIST 412Topics in African and African Diaspora Art History3-4
ART HIST 413Art and Architecture in the Age of the Caliphs3
ART HIST/​ASIAN  428Visual Cultures of India3
ART HIST 440Art and Power in the Arab World3
ART HIST 510Proseminar in Islamic Art and Architecture3
ASIAN 100Gateway to Asia: Special Topics3-4
ASIAN 205Animal Ethics in Asia3
ASIAN/​LITTRANS  212Classical South Asian Literatures3
ASIAN 252Contemporary Indian Society3
ASIAN 253Japanese Popular Culture3
ASIAN 254Korean Popular Culture3
ASIAN/​RELIG ST  274Religion in South Asia3
ASIAN 277Kendo: Integration of Martial Arts and Liberal Arts2
ASIAN 300Topics in Asian Studies3
ASIAN 301Social Science Topics in Asian Studies3
ASIAN/​RELIG ST  303Jainism: Religion and Culture of Nonviolence3
ASIAN/​RELIG ST  306Hinduism3
ASIAN/​RELIG ST  307A Survey of Tibetan Buddhism3
ASIAN/​HISTORY/​RELIG ST  308Introduction to Buddhism3-4
ASIAN 310Introduction to Comics and Graphic Novels: Theory, History, Method3
ASIAN/​SOC  334Gender, Work, and Family in East Asia3
ASIAN/​SOC  336Social Change in Contemporary South Korea3
ASIAN 351Survey of Classical Chinese Literature3
ASIAN 352Survey of Modern Chinese Literature3
ASIAN 353Lovers, Warriors and Monks: Survey of Japanese Literature3
ASIAN 355Modern Japanese Literature3
ASIAN 361Love and Politics: The Tale of Genji3
ASIAN 371Topics in Chinese Literature2-3
ASIAN 374Korean Cinema3
ASIAN 378Anime3
ASIAN 403Southeast Asian Literature3
ASIAN/​RELIG ST  405Gods and Goddesses of South Asia3
ASIAN/​RELIG ST  444Introduction to Sufism (Islamic Mysticism)3
ASIAN/​RELIG ST  466Buddhist Thought3
ASIAN/​RELIG ST  505The Perfectible Body in Religions, Medicines, and Politics3
ASIAN 533Readings in Early Modern Japanese Literature3
ASIAN 642History of Chinese Literature II3
ATM OCN/​ENVIR ST/​GEOG  322Polar Regions and Their Importance in the Global Environment3
C&E SOC/​SOC  140Introduction to Community and Environmental Sociology4
C&E SOC/​SOC  222Food, Culture, and Society3
C&E SOC/​F&W ECOL/​SOC  248Environment, Natural Resources, and Society3
C&E SOC/​POP HLTH  370Introduction to Public Health3
CHICLA/​SPANISH  215Border and Migration Studies of Latinx America3
CHICLA/​POLI SCI  231Politics in Multi-Cultural Societies3-4
CHICLA/​HISTORY/​LACIS/​POLI SCI  268The U.S. & Latin America from the Colonial Era to the Present: A Critical Survey3
CHICLA/​GEN&WS  334Feminist Social Movements Across the Americas3
CHICLA/​ED POL/​LACIS  342Education across the Americas: Empire, Capitalism, and Resistance3
CLASSICS 321The Egyptians: History, Society, and Literature3
DANCE 118African Dance1
DANCE 165Introduction to the Histories of Dance3
ENTOM/​NUTR SCI  203Introduction to Global Health3
ENTOM/​ENVIR ST  205Our Planet, Our Health3
ENVIR ST/​GEOG  139Global Environmental Issues3
ENVIR ST/​HIST SCI  213Global Environmental Health: An Interdisciplinary Introduction3
ENVIR ST/​GEOG  309People, Land and Food: Comparative Study of Agriculture Systems3
ENVIR ST/​GEOG  339Conservation and Climate Change - Local to International Strategies4
ENVIR ST/​HISTORY  465Global Environmental History3-4
FOLKLORE 100Introduction to Folklore3
FOLKLORE/​MUSIC  103Introduction to Music Cultures of the World3
FOLKLORE/​RELIG ST  352Shamanism3
GEN&WS 102Gender, Women, and Society in Global Perspective3
GEN&WS 104Gender, Sexuality, and Global Health3
GEN&WS/​HISTORY  134Women and Gender in World History3-4
GEN&WS 423The Female Body in the World: Gender and Contemporary Body Politics in Cross Cultural Perspective3
GEN&WS/​POLI SCI  435Politics of Gender and Women's Rights in the Middle East3
GEN&WS 444From Past Feminisms to Postfeminism: Feminisms for the 21st Century3
GEN&WS/​PORTUG  450Brazillian Women Writers3
GEOG 101Human Geography: Space, Place, Society, and Politics4
GEOG/​ASIAN/​HISTORY/​POLI SCI/​SOC  244Introduction to Southeast Asia: Vietnam to the Philippines4
GEOG/​INTL ST  311The Global Game: Soccer, Politics, and Identity3-4
GEOG 307International Migration, Health, and Human Rights3
GEOG/​INTL ST  315Universal Basic Income: The Politics Behind a Global Movement3
GEOG 340World Regions in Global Context3
GEOG 355Africa, South of the Sahara3
GEOG 358Human Geography of Southeast Asia (German, Nordic, and Slavic)3
GEOG/​GEN&WS  504Feminist Geography: Theoretical Approaches3
GEOG 507Waste Geographies: Politics, People, and Infrastructures3
GNS 460Readings in Turkish: Contemporary Turkey through Literature and Media4
GNS/​HISTORY  265An Introduction to Central Asia: From the Silk Route to Afghanistan3
HISTORY/​ASIAN  103Introduction to East Asian History: China3-4
HISTORY/​ASIAN  104Introduction to East Asian History: Japan3-4
HISTORY/​ASIAN  108Introduction to East Asian History - Korea3-4
HISTORY/​CLASSICS  110The Ancient Mediterranean4
HISTORY 130An Introduction to World History3-4
HISTORY 133Global Military History (5000 BCE - Present)3-4
HISTORY 137The History of War in Film3
HISTORY 139Introduction to the Modern Middle East3-4
HISTORY 142History of South Asia to the Present3-4
HISTORY 145America and China, 1776-Today3-4
HISTORY/​INTL ST  146A Global History of Now3-4
HISTORY 170East Meets West: Myth, Meaning, and Modernity3-4
HISTORY 179Afro-Atlantic Histories and Peoples, 1791-Present3-4
HISTORY 201The Historian's Craft (Latin American Topics)3-4
HISTORY/​RELIG ST  205The Making of the Islamic World: The Middle East, 500-15003-4
HISTORY 225Explorations in Third World History (H)3-4
HISTORY 229Explorations in Transnational/Comparative History (Humanities) (topic must be approved)3
HISTORY/​INTL ST/​LACIS  242Modern Latin America3-4
HISTORY/​LACIS  243Colonial Latin America: Invasion to Independence3-4
HISTORY/​CHICLA/​GEN&WS  245Chicana and Latina History3
HISTORY/​ASIAN/​ASIAN AM  246Southeast Asian Refugees of the "Cold" War4
HISTORY/​ASIAN/​POLI SCI  255Introduction to East Asian Civilizations3-4
HISTORY 273Study Abroad in History: Non-Western History1-4
HISTORY 278Africans in the Americas, 1492-18083-4
HISTORY/​MEDIEVAL/​RELIG ST  309The Crusades: Christianity and Islam3-4
HISTORY/​ASIAN  319The Vietnam Wars3-4
HISTORY/​INTL ST  332East Asia & The U.S. Since 18993-4
HISTORY/​ASIAN  335The Koreas: Korean War to the 21st Century3-4
HISTORY 336Chinese Economic and Business History: From Silk to iPhones3-4
HISTORY/​ASIAN  337Social and Intellectual History of China, 589 AD-19193-4
HISTORY 340Cultural History of Korea3-4
HISTORY/​ASIAN  341History of Modern China, 1800-19493-4
HISTORY/​ASIAN  342History of the Peoples Republic of China, 1949 to the Present3-4
HISTORY/​AFROAMER  347The Caribbean and its Diasporas3-4
HISTORY/​ASIAN  363China and World War II in Asia3-4
HISTORY/​INTL ST  375The Cold War - From World War II to End of Soviet Empire3-4
HISTORY/​RELIG ST  409Christianity in the Atlantic World, 1500-18003
HISTORY/​CHICLA/​POLI SCI  422Latino History and Politics3
HISTORY/​CHICLA  435Colony, Nation, and Minority: The Puerto Ricans' World3
HISTORY 450Making of Modern South Asia3-4
HISTORY/​ASIAN  454Samurai: History and Image3-4
HISTORY/​ASIAN  456Pearl Harbor & Hiroshima: Japan, the US & The Crisis in Asia3-4
HISTORY/​ASIAN  458History of Southeast Asia Since 18003-4
HISTORY/​HIST SCI/​MED HIST  564Disease, Medicine and Public Health in the History of Latin America and the Caribbean3
INTL BUS 200International Business3
INTL ST 101Introduction to International Studies3-4
INTL ST 266Introduction to the Middle East3
INTL ST 310International Learning Community Seminar (topic must be approved)1-3
INTL ST/​ED POL  335Globalization and Education3
JOURN 567Mass Media and Global Communication4
LITTRANS 226Introduction to Luso-Afro-Brazilian Literature3
LITTRANS 231Manga3
LITTRANS 261Survey of Chinese Literature in Translation3
LITTRANS 263Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation3
LITTRANS 264Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation3
LITTRANS 373Topics in Japanese Literature3
MUSIC 260Global Hand Drumming Ensemble: Survey of Selected Global Hand Drumming Traditions1
POLI SCI 120Introduction to Comparative Politics4
POLI SCI 182Introduction to Comparative Politics (Honors)3
POLI SCI 320Governments and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa3-4
POLI SCI 324Chinese Politics3-4
POLI SCI/​INTL ST  325Social Movements and Revolutions in Latin America3-4
POLI SCI 328Politics of East and Southeast Asia3-4
POLI SCI 329African Politics3-4
POLI SCI 336Democracy (and Its Uncertain Future)4
POLI SCI 349Global Access to Justice3
POLI SCI/​CHICLA/​HISTORY/​LACIS  355Labor in the Americas: US & Mexico in Comparative & Historical Perspective3
POLI SCI 370Islam and Politics3-4
RELIG ST/​ASIAN  206The Qur'an: Religious Scripture & Literature3
RELIG ST 400Topics in Religious Studies - Humanities (topic must be approved)3-4
RELIG ST 401Topics in Religious Studies - Social Studies (topic must be approved)3-4
RELIG ST 407Buddhism and Anti-Racism3
SOC 170Population Problems3-4
SPANISH 223Introduction to Hispanic Cultures3
THEATRE 526The Theatres of China and Japan3

Liberal Studies Electives

Liberal Studies Electives Complete additional liberal studies coursework as needed to reach the required 40 Liberal Studies credits.

Program Structure

The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree program with an individual major has three components: 

  • Liberal studies courses expose students to a broad range of academic disciplines. The university-wide General Education requirements also encourage this breadth of study.
  • Major requirements permit in-depth study of a unique area within the School of Education. Students create their own, interdepartmental major following the guidelines established by the school. When completed, the title of the individual major is listed on the student's transcript.
  • Elective credits make it possible to pursue additional areas of interest and are necessary to reach the minimum of 120 credits required for the degree.

Requirements of the Individual Major

Development of the Major

Students must have an area of interest that they wish to develop into a 36–42 credit formalized program of study, or major. Advisors in Education Student Services, Room 139 Education Building, 1000 Bascom Mall, 608-262-1651, can discuss students' interests and help frame the written narrative required of the major. Current students can schedule an appointment with an advisor online through the Starfish app in MyUW.

Applicants must develop a narrative describing the proposed course of study and its related career goals. Information should be included which will enable a faculty committee to identify the relationship among the proposed program of study, a general interest in education, and career goals. A program title cannot duplicate the existing title of any program at UW–Madison.

Selection of Major Coursework

Select courses that support the program narrative, in consultation with the major advisor; see below. All courses in the major must be from School of Education course offerings. All credits in the major must be completed after admission into the program (IME classification).

Additional requirements regarding the major are:

  • To ensure depth and breadth of study, no more than two-thirds of the total credits in a major can be taken from any one department (i.e., if a major is 36 credits, no more than 24 credits can be in one department).
  • A sequential development of courses must be planned in consultation with the major advisor and committee, and must be approved by the committee. The course sequence must include beginning through advanced levels of work as prescribed by the credit distribution.
  • At least 20 of the IME credits must be at the intermediate or advanced levels (generally numbered 300 or above, but this varies in some departments).
  • Courses in the School of Education completed prior to admission to the IME classification may not be used toward satisfaction of the 36–42 credits in the major without the faculty committee and associate dean's approval. The credits may count toward the 120 credits required for graduation.
  • Degree candidates must complete at least 15 credits of upper-level major coursework in residence on the UW–Madison campus.
  • An individual major which essentially parallels an existing departmental major will not be accepted.
  • Directed study credits (e.g. 399, 699) are acceptable, but each course must be accompanied by a statement that includes a description of the focus of study, the requirements for successful completion of the credits, and a discussion of the applicability of content to the proposed individual major. Usually no more than 3 credits of Independent Study will be allowed. Approval of the associate dean is required in order to exceed three credits.
  • Students must complete prerequisites for all courses and, in some departments, may be required to complete foundational courses.

Selecting the Advisory Committee and Major Advisor

The applicant must create a three-member committee to oversee his or her work. Only assistant, associate, and full professors may serve on the committee; individuals holding such titles as Lecturer or Instructor cannot serve in this capacity. One of the committee members will be selected by the student to be the major advisor. The major advisor must be from a department within the School of Education and from the department in which the majority of courses for the individual major will be taken, i.e., the core area of study. The second faculty member must be from the same department as the major advisor/committee chair. The third faculty member must be from another department in the School of Education in which courses will be taken for the individual major. The associate dean serves as ex officio to the three-member committee and gives final approval to all programs and any exceptions.

Elective Credits

Elective credits make it possible to pursue additional areas of interest. Many students, for example, use their elective credits to complete an additional major from the College of Letters & Science. Some use this second major to complement their individual major, while others select second majors that are completely unrelated to their first. Elective credits are necessary to reach the minimum of 120 credits required for the degree.

GPA and Other Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements

Graduation requirements are based on UW–Madison coursework. Graduation GPA requirements may be modified by the Last 60 Credits Rule.

  • 2.75 cumulative grade point average.
  • 2.75 cumulative grade point average across all major coursework 
  • 2.75 cumulative grade point average across all upper-level (numbered 300 and above) major coursework 
  • Degree candidates must complete at least 120 total credits.
  • Major residency. Degree candidates must complete at least 15 credits of upper-level major coursework in residence on the UW–Madison campus.
  • Senior residency. Degree candidates must complete their last 30 credits in residence on the UW–Madison campus.

Degree Audit (DARS)

UW–Madison uses “DARS” to document a student's progress toward the completion of their degree, including any additional majors and certificates. A DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) report shows all the requirements for completing a degree and, against courses that are planned or completed, shows the requirements that have been met, and those that are unmet. A report can offer suggestions about courses that may be taken to meet specific requirements and can assist in the academic planning and enrollment process. Students can access a DARS report in the Course Search & Enroll app or Student Center via My UW.

DARS also has a "what-if" function. This feature makes it possible to request a DARS report as if pursuing another program, major, or certificate. It is an excellent tool if considering a new or additional area of study. School of Education students in a pre-professional classification such as Pre-Elementary (PRE) or Pre-Kinesiology should request a "what if" DARS report of their professional program of interest. For example, Pre-Elementary Education (PRE) students will request Elementary Education K-9; Pre-Kinesiology (PKN) students will request the Kinesiology report. Minors have their own DARS programs and are run separately from the main degree audit.

More information (including tutorials) on how to request and read regular and what-if DARS reports is available under the Resources tab on the Office of the Registrar’s website.

DARS is not intended to replace student contact with academic advisors. It creates more time in an advising appointment to discuss course options, research opportunities, graduate school, or issues of personal interest or concern to students.

DARS is used as the document of record for degree program, major, and certificate completion in the School of Education.

Four-Year Plan

Individual Major: Sample Four-Year Plan

This four-year sample graduation plan is designed to guide your course selection throughout your academic career; it does not establish a contractual agreement. Use it along with your DARS report and the Course Guide to create a four-year plan reflecting your placement scores, incoming credits, and individual interests. Consult with an academic advisor to develop a personalized plan of study and refer to the Guide for a complete list of requirements. You will likely revise your plan several times during your academic career here, based on your activities and changing academic interests.

Development of the Major

Students must have an area of interest that they wish to develop into a 36–42 credit formalized program of study, or major. Advisors in the School of Education Student Services office, Room 139 Education Building, 1000 Bascom Mall, 608-262-1651, can discuss your interests and help frame the written narrative required of the major. Current students can schedule an appointment with an advisor online through the Starfish app in MyUW.

Applicants must develop a narrative describing the proposed course of study and its related career goals. Information should be included which will enable a faculty committee to identify the relationship among the proposed program of study, a general interest in education, and career goals. All courses in the major must be from School of Education course offerings and all credits in the major must be completed after admission into the major (IME classification). The title of the major cannot duplicate the existing title of any other major or program at UW–Madison. Consult the Guide for more information on creating an individual major and its requirements.

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Communication A (fall or spring semester)3Communication A (fall or spring semester)3
Liberal Studies course work12-15Ethnic Studies3
 Quantitative Reasoning A3
 Liberal Studies course work6-9
 15 15
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Communication B3Develop and submit major proposal for approval
Liberal Studies course work12Quantitative Reasoning B3
 Liberal Studies or General Elective course work12
 15 15
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Major course work19-12Major course work9-12
Liberal Studies or General Elective course work3-6Liberal Studies or General Elective course work3-6
 15 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Major course work (upper level)9-12Major course work (upper level)9-12
Liberal Studies or General Elective course work3-6Liberal Studies or General Elective course work3-6
 15 15
Total Credits 120
1

At least 15 credits of major course work must be upper-level (numbered 300 and above) and taken in residence.

Advising and Careers

Advising for the Individual Major

Students interested in the Individual Major should first consult with an advisor in the School of Education Student Services office, see below. Current students can schedule an appointment online through the Starfish app in MyUW. Eventually, a committee to oversee the major will be formed and also provide advising in the major.

Academic Advising in the School of Education

Dedicated to supporting and promoting student success, academic advisors are here to assist students with the adjustment to college, understanding their degree and career goals, and connecting them to resources. Advisors support prospective and current School of Education students in all programs through:

  • Course selection
  • Mentoring and advocacy for underrepresented and international students
  • Understanding degree requirements and progression
  • Interpreting academic policies
  • Helping students recognize their strengths and suggesting ways to expand their skills
  • Expanding learning through activities such as study abroad, volunteering/work/internship, and by assuming leadership roles

Advising appointments are available in person, virtually, or over the phone. Current students schedule appointments through the Starfish app in MyUW. Appointments can also be made by calling 608-262-1651, or in person in Room 139 Education Building.

Academic Dean Support staff are also here for you when facing academic or personal challenges. We provide undergraduate School of Education students support, problem-solving, advocacy, resources, and approve exceptions to policies. 

Career Advising in the School of Education

Through individual appointments, events, courses, and online resources, the Career Center provides students and alumni with the tools needed to be successful in their career development.

Career and Internship Advisors are prepared to help students with:

  • Exploration of career and academic pathways
  • Resumes
  • Cover letters
  • Job/Internship search
  • Interview preparation
  • Mock interviews
  • Graduate school search, applications and decisions
  • Negotiating job or internship offers
  • Professional networking
  • Connecting with employers

Students are encouraged to meet with their Career and Internship Advisor early in their college experience to take full advantage of the resources and support available.

To make an appointment: log into Starfish from the MyUW dashboard.

For more information, visit the School of Education Career Center website or reach out at career-center@education.wisc.edu.

Resources and Scholarships

Information related to scholarships, academic and career advising, study abroad opportunities, student well-being, and other resources for students in the School of Education can be found on the school's Resources page.