The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is organized into four colleges and two schools which offer curriculums leading to the following degrees:
The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC) is the curriculum- making body for all academic programs on the baccalaureate level. Membership of this committee is made up of faculty and students as voting members and non-voting administrative consultants. Each school and college within the university is headed by a dean who is an ex officio member of UCC.
The Committee on Academic Policies and Standards (CAPS) is the policy/standards making body for all undergraduate admissions/academic activity. Membership of this committee consists of nine faculty members, three students and two administrative consultants.
The General Education Committee is responsible for coordination, review, and assessment of the General Education curriculum. Membership consists of eight faculty, two UCC representatives, and six administrative consultants, including deans of each college.
ASSOCIATE DEGREE
Candidates for the associate degree must complete the following:
Humanistic Studies and Arts:
Minimum 9 credits; maximum 15 credits. No more than 4 credits in the fine arts. (One course must be a literature course to satisfy the primary text requirement.)
Sciences:
Minimum 8 credits; maximum 12 credits in at least two departments, including one laboratory science.
Self and Society/International and Multi-Cultural Studies:
Minimum 9 credits; maximum 15 credits in two departments.
Health and Physical Well-Being:
HPR 105, 3 credits.
Writing Emphasis:
One course required, see semester Timetable for applicable courses.
Diversity/Integrated Studies
A maximum of 6 semester credits may be included in courses which combine elements of two or more of the breadth categories as defined above.
Additional specific requirements:
Must include one course with a
historical perspective--one two-semester sequence of courses.
Note: Students should confirm the associate degree requirements with their academic dean's office.
Note: No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled within thirty (30) days after the official ending date of each term.
BACCALAUREATE DEGREES
Candidates for the bachelor of arts or the bachelor of science degrees must accomplish the following:
Second Baccalaureate Degree
A graduate who has earned one baccalaureate degree at the University of Wisconsin-
La Crosse and who subsequently becomes a candidate for a second baccalaureate degree must meet all core, professional and major requirements for the second degree and must earn at least 30 resident credits ** beyond the first degree. Students with a
previously earned baccalaureate degree from another regionally accredited institution must meet all core, professional and major requirements for the second degree and must earn at least 30 resident credits beyond the first degree. Students wishing to use credits from their first degree to fulfill requirements of a second degree must obtain approval from the dean of the college in which they are enrolled. All General Education requirements are satisfied by students who have completed the first
baccalaureate degree.
Second Major
A graduate who has earned one baccalaure-ate degree at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse who wishes to complete the requirements for another major, must meet all professional and major requirements. Notation will be made on the student's
transcript that an additional major has been completed. Students with demonstrated evidence of a previously earned baccalaureate degree from another regionally accredited institution, who wish to complete the requirements for another major at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse must enroll as a Special Student and fulfill all professional and major requirements. If all required courses are earned in residence, a notation will be made on the student's transcript indicating an additional major has been completed.
Undergraduate Residence Requirement
A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse is required for graduation. The last 24 credits to be applied toward a degree must be earned as resident credits.** The university Records and Registration Office and the appropriate academic dean may give permission for seniors to earn not more than the last ten credits at another institution. A request to earn more than the last ten credits at another institution must be submitted to and approved by the faculty through an appeal by petition to CAPS (Committee on Academic Policies and Standards).
Graduation Fee
Upon completion of 95 semester hours of credit toward the bachelors degree, each individual will be billed a $15.00 graduation fee. This is a one-time fee assessed regardless of whether or not a student chooses to attend the commencement ceremony. Students earning a second degree are also assessed the graduation fee.
Graduation Honors
Graduation honors are posted on permanent academic records if students have earned no fewer than 60 semester credits in residence at UW-La Crosse. Students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 for graduation with honors or at least 3.75 for graduation with highest honors at the end of their last term in residence.
Mailing Diplomas
Diplomas earned by graduates will be sent approximately six weeks after the ending date of the semester a student graduates, to the current legal address on the university computer system unless the Records and Registration Office has been notified differently in writing. All indebtedness to the university must be cleared before a diploma will be released.
Commencement Honors
Commencement honors determine which students may wear an honor cord (fourragere) during commencement exercises. Commencement honors are noted beside students' names in commencement programs.
Calculations for commencement honors and highest honors are based on grade point averages earned at the end of the last term in residence prior to the term of graduation. To be eligible, students must have previously earned no fewer than 45 semester credits in residence at UW-La Crosse prior to the beginning date of the term in which they intend to graduate. They must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 to wear the honor cord or at least 3.75 to wear the highest honor cord.
*Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.
**Resident credit means credit registered for and earned through UW-La Crosse.
