UWM Undergraduate Catalog 2009-2010

ACADEMIC INFORMATION

• General Education Requirements
• Degree Requirements
• Course Load
• Year in School
• Grading System
• 'F' Grades – Additional Information
• Grade Point Average
• University-wide Academic Action Policy
• Academic Drop
• Incompletes
• Overloads
• Repeating Courses
• Residence Credit Requirement
• Graduation
• Excess Credits Policy
• Students Called to Military Service
• Honors for Scholarship
• Credit/No Credit Option
  

General Education Requirements

The General Education Requirements are intended to give structure to each student's education while giving the student the greatest possible freedom to design an individual academic program. These requirements include two major categories, competency and distribution.

The competency requirements are designed to assure basic proficiency in English composition, mathematics, and foreign language. The GER mathematics and English composition requirements should be completed early in the academic career to ensure acquisition of critical skills for subsequent coursework. Many UWM schools/colleges require completion of the competencies prior to advancing to the professional portion of the major. Completion of the relevant competency is also a prerequisite for some intermediate and advanced courses.

The distribution requirements are designed to provide students with a broad body of knowledge in the areas of the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences as a foundation for specialization.

In general, second degree candidates from an accredited institution and students whose first semester in a degree program at an accredited institution was prior to September 1986, are not subject to the General Education Requirements.

All degree programs have specific requirements beyond GER. Consult with an academic advisor to design an appropriate course of study.

Specific GER requirements are as follows:

COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

English Composition. Completion of the English composition requirement can be demonstrated by satisfying one of the following options:

1. earning a grade of C or higher in English 102,* or
2. transferring a grade of C or higher in a course equivalent to English 102 or higher level expository writing course,* or
3. achieving an appropriate score on the English Placement Test (EPT).

Mathematical Skills. Completion of the mathematics requirement can be demonstrated by satisfying one of the following options:

1. earning at least three credits with a grade of C or higher in Math 105, 106, 175 or equivalent courses,* or
2. achieving a placement code of at least 30 on the mathematics placement test.

* These courses may not be taken credit/no credit if they are to be used to satisfy the English composition requirement and/or mathematics requirement.

Foreign Language. Completion of the foreign language requirement can be demonstrated by satisfying one of the following options:

1. complete with passing grades, prior to enrollment at UWM, at least two consecutive years of high school-level instruction in a single foreign language, or
2. complete with passing grades at least two consecutive semesters (minimum of 6 credits) of college level instruction in a single foreign language, or
3. demonstrate foreign language ability at least equivalent to No. 2 above by means of a satisfactory score on an approved placement, proficiency, departmental or other appropriate examination.

Students who entered UWM as freshmen and/or earned transferable credit prior to September, 1999 are not responsible for the GER foreign language competency. However, individual schools and colleges may require completion of higher level foreign language courses; students are strongly encouraged to check with their advisors.

DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS

Courses taken for distribution provide the general educational background for each student. The distribution requirements comprise course choices from the following knowledge areas:

A. Standard Distribution

• The Arts. Three credits in a course in the history, philosophy, theory, or practice of the creative and interpretive arts (e.g., visual arts, dance, music, and theatre).
• The Humanities. A total of 6 credits in at least two courses.
• The Natural Sciences. A total of 6 credits in at least two courses. At least one course must include laboratory or field experience illustrating the generation and testing of data and the application of concepts and knowledge to the solution of problems.
• The Social Sciences. A total of 6 credits in at least two courses.
• Cultural Diversity. All UWM students who are subject to the GER (and entered UWM in fall 1989 or later) must complete, as part of their distribution requirements, 3 credits pertaining to the study of the life experiences of African Americans, Latino/Hispanic Americans, American Indians, or Asian Americans.

A list of GER Standard Distribution courses may be found online at www3.uwm.edu/des/web/registration/ger. Individual schools and colleges may have limitations on what GER courses from other schools and colleges can be counted; students should check with their advisor.

B. Cultures and Communities Option

Students may choose the Cultures and Communities (CC) option to satisfy their GER distribution requirements. CC courses emphasize diversity and cross-cultural literacy, community-based learning, multicultural arts, global studies, and the cultural contexts of science, health care, and technology. A Service Learning course also is required. Students who complete the CC program receive the Cultures and Communities Certificate upon graduation.

Required Areas of Study

The CC Certificate requires students to choose at least 15 of their GER credit hours according to the following plan of study. 

• Cultures and Communities Core Course (3 cr.) Multicultural America (satisfies Cultural Diversity and Humanities or Social Science GER requirements). May be taken as Anthropology 150, English 150, Film 150, History 150, Sociology 150, Urban Studies 150, or Women's Studies 150.
• Cultures and Communities of the United States (3 cr.). Issues and methods in the comparative study of cultures and communities of the U.S. May be fulfilled by appropriate accredited GER or Cultural Diversity courses in any discipline, school, or college.
• Global Perspectives on Culture and Community (3 cr.). Issues and methods in the comparative study of cultures and communities outside North America. May be fulfilled by appropriate accredited GER courses in any discipline, school, or college or through an appropriate study abroad experience.
• Art, Culture, and Community (3 cr.). May be fulfilled by courses that relate the theory and production of art (dance, music, visual arts, film, and theater) to cultural and community contexts. Restricted to courses in the Peck School of the Arts except through special petition.
• Science, Culture, and Society (3 cr.). Includes courses that examine how scientific knowledge may be understood in relation to issues in culture and society. May be fulfilled by enrollment in classes with a Natural Sciences or Social Sciences accreditation.
• Community Engagement and Service Learning. Within their course distribution, students will take at least one class with a Service Learning component. The core course (Multicultural America) satisfies this requirement when taken in the fall or spring semesters.

(Please note: The number of credit hours and the distribution across knowledge areas must still conform to the totals listed under the GER Standard Distribution described in Part A above.)

Degree Requirements

The minimum number of credits required for graduation is 120, but many degree programs require 130 or more. Consult the appropriate school or college section in this Catalog for specific degree requirements associated with each program or major.

Class Standing/Level in School

Prerequisites for certain courses are determined by class standing. The chart below presents the number of credits for the different class standings.

Course Load

A full course load for undergraduates is considered to be a minimum of 12 credits, except for students enrolled in the Academic Opportunity Center, for whom it is 8. This definition may differ from that of the Veterans Administration, the Selective Service System, or other agencies. UWM assumes no responsibilities in this connection.

Grading System

UWM uses a letter grade system that includes "plus" and "minus" grades and is based on a 4.000 scale. For convenience in computing averages, each letter grade carries a specified number of points per credit. The scale of grades and points follows:

In addition, students may be allowed to take a limited number of courses on a "Credit/No Credit" basis, and may enroll on an "Audit" basis in courses for which they do not wish to obtain college credit. The following symbols are used where grade points are not involved:

*Except English 090/095, ESL 096, and Math 090/095. Letter grades are assigned for these courses, although they carry no degree or GPA credit.

'F' Grades – Additional Information

Effective Fall 2004, the University modified its system for assigning grades of 'F' in order to comply with federal requirements for students receiving financial aid. When reporting a grade of 'F,' instructors also will report a number corresponding to the student's "week of last participation" in the course. This is the last week of the term for which there is documented evidence of the student's participation in the course. A student receiving the grade of 'F0' would, therefore, be one who never attended or participated, whereas a student grade of 'F16' would signify completion of the entire term. The numeral for "week of last participation" will be reflected on unofficial transcripts and grade reports. On official transcripts, only the grade of 'F' will be reflected.

Grade Point Average

The number of grade points earned in a course is computed by multiplying the points for the grade by the number of credits offered for the course. (Example: a B earned in a three-credit course would give you nine grade points).

The general quality of a student's work is expressed in terms of the grade point average (GPA). This is the total number of grade points earned divided by the total number of GPA credits. The highest possible average is 4.000 or an A in every subject.

The UWM grade point average recorded on your official transcript is based solely upon credits earned or attempted at UWM on a regular graded basis. Even though you may receive credits for course work taken elsewhere, such transfer credits are not counted as part of the GPA at UWM. Some schools and colleges have different standards for GPA calculation and may include transfer work for admission or graduation; see degree requirements within each school/college for specifics. Credits granted by examination or UWM credits taken on an audit or credit/no credit grading basis also are excluded from the official UWM grade point average.

University-wide Academic Action Policy

The University-wide Academic Action Policy establishes minimum standards for undergraduate students enrolled in schools and colleges. Individual schools and colleges may adopt stricter criteria, and students should consult the school/college advising offices for specific information.

A student whose GPA falls below minimum university-wide standards for any grading period will be subject to the following academic actions.

• Academic Probation: Imposed on students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.000. The student on academic probation whose semester GPA is 2.000 or better, but whose cumulative GPA remains below 2.000, is permitted to continue on academic probation.
• Cleared Probation: Achieved when cumulative GPA increases to 2.000 or above.
• Dropped for One Semester: Imposed on any student on academic probation who fails to earn a semester GPA of 2.000.
• Final Probation: Applies to a student who is permitted to enroll after any drop action. The student on final probation whose semester GPA is 2.000 or better, but whose cumulative GPA remains below 2.000, is permitted to continue on final academic probation.
• Dropped for Two Years: Imposed on any student on final probation who fails to achieve a semester and cumulative GPA of 2.000 or better.
• Reinstatement/Readmission: A dropped student may be reinstated immediately after a drop action or readmitted after the drop period. A readmitted or reinstated student is placed on final probation.
  

Academic Drop

Academic drop is dismissal from the University for academic ineligibility. Academic drop is initiated by administrative offices, and the student must apply for readmission and be granted permission to re-enroll by the dean of the school or college from which the student was dropped.

Incompletes

You may be given an incomplete if you have carried a subject successfully until near the end of the semester but, because of illness or other unusual and substantiated cause beyond your control, have been unable to take or complete the final examination or to complete some limited amount of course work. An incomplete is not given unless you prove to the instructor that you were prevented from completing the course requirements for just cause as indicated above.

Undergraduates are required to complete a course marked incomplete prior to the end of the next succeeding semester (excluding summer sessions and UWinteriM). If you do not remove the incomplete during this period, the report of ‘I’ will lapse to ‘F.’

Overloads

The maximum credit load for undergraduates is 18 credits in all schools and colleges, except Fine Arts (18 credits or three studio courses). Students enrolling in more than 18 credits will be assessed extra tuition above the normal full-time rate. A student must obtain approval for an overload in the office of his/her academic dean. Different credit load maximums apply during the summer and winter sessions. Consult the UWinteriM or Summer Sessions Schedule of Classes.

Repeating Courses

Unless a restriction is stated in the Schedule of Classes, undergraduates may repeat a course only once, and only the higher of the two grades will be calculated into the grade point average (GPA). Both attempts will appear on the student's transcript.

If the UWM course repeats a course for which the student received transfer credit, only the UWM course will be calculated into the GPA, regardless of grade. Both attempts will be shown on the transcript.

A student will not be permitted to repeat any course more than once without the prior approval of the student's school/college advising office. Further restrictions apply - check with the school/college or particular department. The single repeat limit also applies to courses taken for audit or credit/no credit.

Note: Exceptions to this policy are variable-topic courses, which may be taken for credit as often as permitted for that particular course, as specified in the Schedule of Classes.

Students who took a course as a repeat prior to fall, 1988 are entitled to one additional enrollment. Transfer students who did not previously take a course at UWM are entitled to one repeat at UWM of a course taken at a previous institution.

In courses of limited enrollment, students who have not taken the course previously have priority over students who are repeating the course. Individual schools and colleges may adopt stricter criteria. It is generally advisable for any student to consult an advisor before registering to repeat a course.

Residence Credit Requirement

Consult individual school or college sections for requirements regarding the number and kinds of credits a student must take in residence at UWM to be eligible to receive a UWM degree.

Graduation

Students must meet the graduation requirements of their school or college, which includes notifying the advising office in the school or college of their intent to graduate at least one semester prior to graduation. Generally, students may begin to apply for May Commencement in mid-November, and December Commencement in mid-April. To apply for graduation, log in to PAWS (www.paws.uwm.edu). From the left-side menu, select self service. Under Degree Progress/Graduation, click on "Apply for Graduation," and simply follow the instructions to complete the online graduation application.

Commencement exercises are held in either May or December. Students who graduate at the end of the summer sessions may participate in the May or December Commencement. Students who graduate at the end of the UWinteriM session may participate in December Commencement. Attendance at Commencement is optional.

Commencement Honors are listed below.

Excess Credits Policy

Effective Fall 2004, a University of Wisconsin System (UWS) policy went into effect at all UWS institutions. Under the policy, students pursuing their initial undergraduate degree(s) who have accumulated more than 165 total credits (counting all credits earned at UW campuses as well as credits taken at WTCS institutions and accepted for degree credit at UWS institutions) will be assessed an additional 100% surcharge on tuition for any additional credits (your tuition will be doubled). For more specific information about this policy, contact your academic advisor.

Students Called to Military Service

Students called into active military service should contact the Registration Center in the Department of Enrollment Services (Bolton Hall 272 or call 414-229-4876), for more specific information. Also check the website for more information (www4.uwm.edu/current_students/military_call_up.cfm).

Honors for Scholarship

¹ Beta Gamma Sigma is the national scholastic honor society in the field of business. Election to membership is available to both undergraduate and graduate students in business. Every semester students are invited to join Beta Gamma Sigma. Selection is based upon outstanding scholastic achievement.

² Applies to full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.

³ The Final University Honors criteria have been revised to make them standard across all UWM schools and colleges. The new criteria, which will take effect beginning with students who graduate in May, 2011, are as follows:
GPA (based on at least 60 graded UWM credits) / Honor Designation
3.800 or above / Summa Cum Laude
3.650 or above / Magna Cum Laude
3.500 or above / Cum Laude

⁴ Refers to GPA earned in courses in the major.

⁵ Juniors in Occupational Therapy with a cumulative 3.500 GPA in required courses, and faculty/staff sponsorship, can apply to the Honors Committee for Honors in Occupational Therapy.

⁶ Applies to Bachelor of Science in Information Resources degree program.

Credit/No Credit Option