Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees

Following are the comprehensive minimum requirements for undergraduate degrees at UW-Madison.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison sets minimum standards that must be met by all students pursuing an undergraduate degree. The information in the following paragraphs provides general information about study at UW–Madison. Requirements may vary among the schools and colleges, and for specific programs. Students should learn about and understand the specific requirements for their program of study.

There are five requirement areas listed below are Major Declaration, Total Degree and Residence Credits, General Education Requirements, Academic Probation, and Graduating. Requirements related to the first three areas (Major Declaration, Total Degree and Residence Credits, and General Education Requirements) are governed by official university policy, and thus these three areas link to the relevent Policy Library documents. 

Academic Probation

Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum academic thresholds, including the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation.

Graduating

Declaration of Intent to Graduate

When students expect to graduate, they must indicate their intent by completing the graduation application available in the MyUW Student Center. It is the policy of UW–Madison that all work for the degree must be completed and all degree requirements satisfied before the degree can be conferred.

Conferral of Degrees

When students have been certified as having completed all university general education, degree, and major requirements, the degree will be awarded. When the degree is awarded, a diploma will be issued, listing the degree earned, and the transcript updated to reflect the degree, major, and any other approved academic programs completed. Students who have holds on their records will not receive their diplomas, or be able to order transcripts, until the holds are cleared. 

Commencement

Students who wish to attend the spring or winter commencement ceremony must indicate their intent by completing the graduation application available via Student Center in My UW by the posted deadline. Students may participate in the commencement ceremony, in which the chancellor and deans symbolically confer the degrees, even if all degree requirements have not been completed. Neither participation in the ceremony nor listing in the program conveys degree conferral. Students will not receive the diploma or transcript notation until all degree requirements are certified as complete by their respective school or college. Should a student’s graduation plans change, updates to the intended term of graduation must be indicated via the graduation application in the MyUW Student Center.



Keywords:
requirement, degree, major, GER, general education requirement, residence
Doc ID:
107140
Owned by:
Karen M. in Academic Planning
Created:
2020-11-12
Updated:
2024-06-25
Sites:
Academic Planning