LASForward: Initiative to review and update the L&S BA/BS Degree requirements
AY 2025-2026
The Dean determined priorities for which recommendations to pursue (see update memo from Dean Wilcots) and outlined work for the year ahead. Unanticipated changes to UW Madison's general education structure per ACT 15 (Core Ged Ed) delayed work this year. A summary of the work completed and what is delayed to next year is below:
- Language Requirement: Convened a small Task Force to finalize a draft of unified language learning outcomes for both the BA and BS.
- Science Requirement: Further division chairs and faculty discussion around:
- Should the L&S science requirement continue to keep distinct Biological and Physical Science course and credit requirements?
- Convened a small task force to draft science learning outcomes that include and describe the essential learning in Biological and Physical Science areas.
- Continue exploring if the “Natural Science” breadth course category can be more distinctly described.
- Humanities Requirement: Convened a small task force to update Humanities requirement outcomes.
- Literature Requirement: Convened a small task force to update Literature requirement to reflect recommendations to broaden definition of literature to be inclusive of many types of texts.
- Social Science: Convene a small task force to update Social Science outcomes.
Work postponed until AY 2026-27:
- Additional consideration and feedback about change to add flexibility to how the language requirement may be met
- Simplification of the BA/BS degree and major GPA requirements.
- Circulate a proposal and/or updates to a broad L&S audience for feedback
- After a feedback period, start the formal governance process
Sept 12, 2025: Update memo from Dean Eric Wilcots summarizing the discussions and decisions made during the last few months, as well as outlining the work ahead.
AY 2024-2025: Subgroups to discuss LASForward Recommendations
Goal: Subgroups to propose recommendations around four identified opportunities for improvement as identified in LAS Forward Summary Report:
- the L&S Language requirement
- a college extension to the campus Ethnic Studies requirement
- the Literature requirement (a subgroup of the L&S Arts and Humanities requirement)
- distinctions between the three Sciences breadth subrequirements
Documents:
Summary of recommendations, 03-11-2025 memo to Dean Wilcots
Full Subgroup recommendations
Initial charge memo from Dean Wilcots
Large Group (all subgroups together) Agenda and Materials
Roster of members
Spring 2024 LASForward Working Group
Goal: to identify and prioritize several big picture items that should be explored as possibilities for updated L&S degree requirements details.
Working Group members: About 20 faculty and staff from across all four divisions of the college. In addition, L&S staff working in the advising, curricula, and academic information management areas were part of discussions, serving as the group’s Expert Consultants.
Documents:
Summary Report
Initial charge memo from Dean Wilcots
Agenda and Materials
Roster of Members
Presentations to stakeholder groups (may not be inclusive)
- L&S Faculty Senate: November 2022, March 2022, March 2024, December 2024, March 2025
- Dean’s ambassadors (students), January 2025
- L&S Advisors Consortium - April 2025
- Van Hise Chairs - May 2025
- L&S Curriculum Committee - April 2025
- L&S Academic Planning Council: April 2025
Contact Information
For questions, please contact a member of the administrative coordination team:
Kris Olds, Professor of Geography and Faculty Lead
Kimbrin Cornelius, Assistant Dean, L&S TLA
Shirin Malekpour, Associate Dean, L&S TLA