L&S Graduate-Level Courses for Undergraduate Degree Credit

The following section provides information for L&S undergraduate students who, on the rare occasion, are permitted by an instructor to take a graduate-level course for degree credit.
All courses numbered 700 or above are graduate courses.  Enrollment in these courses is strictly limited to only graduate-level students.   

As of May 21, 2007, L&S undergraduate students who are permitted on the rare occasion to enroll in L&S graduate courses may count these credits toward completion of their Liberal Arts and Science (LAS) credits requirement.   These credits may be used to satisfy the requirements related to mastery of intermediate/advanced level work in the College of Letters & Science.  However, graduate courses do not satisfy breadth or general education requirements (GER).

L&S undergraduate students who are permitted on the rare occasion to enroll in non-L&S graduate courses may count these these credits as part of their free electives in the degree if they matriculated to college after May 21, 2007 or started college prior to May 21, 2007 and elect to opt into the 2007 degree requirements.  These credits do not satisfy breadth or level requirements.

L&S students who matriculated to college prior to May 21, 2007 and do not elect to follow the 2007 degree requirements will need to work with their undergraduate advisors for guidance regarding non-L&S graduate courses.  Non-L&S graduate courses do not carry degree credit in L&S for students who are not under the 2007 degree requirements.
  • Grades earned in graduate courses are factored into the GPA calculations for L&S undergraduate students.
  • Departments have the discretion to impose restrictions on graduate course enrollment.
    • Student may ask to enroll in a graduate course; however, instructors are not obliged to grant permission to undergraduate students since enrollment in graduate courses is strictly limited to only graduate students.
    • Course content will not be modified to accommodate an undergraduate student interested in taking a graduate-level course.
    • Undergraduate students may not take or earn degree credit for graduate-level Directed Study, Independent Reading, Independent Study, or Individual Enrollment courses (e.g., 799, 899, 999).
    • Undergraduate students may not take a graduate-level course for pass/fail if granted permission to take the course.

For additional information, see graduate courses in the Guide.

Resources for Questions: 
L&S Student Academic Affairs: (608) 262-0617, lsdeans@saa.ls.wisc.edu
Graduate School: (608) 262-2433, gsacserv@grad.wisc.edu