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Courses that Meet the Ethnic Studies Requirement
Every UW-Madison undergraduate must complete an Ethnic Studies Requirement as part of the University General Education Requirements. Courses that meet specific criteria identified by the faculty are designated with an "e" in the Course Guide and Schedule of Courses. The requirement cannot be satisfied with courses taken pass/fail or as independent study.
- Better prepare students for life and careers in an increasingly multicultural U.S. environment,
- Add breadth and depth to the University curriculum, and
- Improve the campus climate."
The UAPC also approved a recommendation that oversight of the ESR be formally added to the responsibilities of the University General Education Committee. In 2005-06, a subcommittee of the UGEC was convened to review proposals to add courses to the ESR course array, to consider the best means by which to achieve the goals of the requirement via the University curriculum, and to regularly assess student learning in this area. The Ethnic Studies Subcommittee is appointed by the dean; the committee's responsibilities include convening regular meetings of the faculty and staff who teach ESR courses, reviewing courses proposed to meet the requirement, and evaluating students' petitions for course substitutions to meet the requirement. Since 2014, the subcommittee has been working to increase the number of ESR courses available at the elementary and introductory level, to act on recommendations arising from assessment studies and the Diversity Framework that students should complete the requirement within the first 60 credits of courses taken in residence.
For more information about the Ethnic Studies Requirement, including learning outcomes associated with these courses, the descriptive guidelines for courses meeting the requirement, and for a description of the process for adding new courses to the ESR course array, please see the General Education Requirements website.
Please note: To find courses that meet the Ethnic Studies Requirement, go to the Course Guide via My UW (if you are a student) and use the filters to choose to display all courses that carry the "e" designation. You may also filter by term offered.