L&S undergraduates may repeat any course. However, retaking a course in which a student has already earned a passing grade (A-D) will affect a student’s cumulative GPA or total credit differently, depending on several factors.  Students are responsible for understanding these factors and the consequences of repeating a course. 

How are grades from repeated courses calculated?  

• Term and University grade point averages (GPA) include all grades (A through F) earned in all attempts at UW-Madison. All attempts also appear on the transcript. 

• • Repeating a failed course does not remove the earlier failure from the student's record or from their cumulative GPA. Multiple failures in the same course all count in the University GPA and will all appear on a student’s permanent record. 

• • Term and University GPAs also include grades for repeated courses in which a passing grade (A through D) was previously earned. (This is sometimes referred to as taking a course on a “refresher” basis.)   

• L&S quality of work requirements (below) include only the first passing grade in a non-repeatable course. 

• • a minimum 2.000 GPA on all courses in the major 

• • a minimum 2.000 GPA on advanced courses in the major; and 

• • a minimum 2.000 GPA on all intermediate/advanced-level coursework taken. 

• A course failed in residence at UW-Madison may be repeated for credit at any other educational institution.  However, the new grade earned out of residence will not be included in the student's UW-Madison GPA. 

How are credits from repeated courses calculated?  

• All credits attempted at UW-Madison are included in calculations of credit load for the term and all attempts appear on a student’s transcript. 

• A student must earn a passing grade for credits to be awarded. 

• If a student has already passed a non-repeatable course and earned credit, they will not earn additional degree credit for future attempts. Degree credit will not be granted for the same non-repeatable course more than once. 

How do I know if a course is repeatable?  Guide clearly indicates whether a course may be repeated for credit in descriptions under “View Details.” Some courses (like Special Topics or Directed Study courses) may be repeated, as long as the content of each offering differs. In the first example below, a viewer may learn that ENGL 176 is repeatable for credit, as long as the topic differs between attempts.    

However, most courses at UW-Madison are not repeatable for credit. This has an important impact on how the grades and credits for repeated attempts are calculated. The second example shows that MATH 211 is NOT repeatable for credit.    

This distinction is only visible in Course Search & Enroll if the course is repeatable for credit.  If the phrase “Repeatable for Credit” does not appear in the Course Attributes section of the Details section, the course is not repeatable. See below. 

Do I have to complete all of the work if I enroll in a course on a refresher basis?  Yes. Students enrolled on a refresher basis are required to do all of the work in the course, attend classes on a regular basis, participate in class discussions, and take all exams.