Liberal Arts (Code 080-001)
University Requirements
Course List Code Title Credits GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR BACCALAUREATE DEGREE Credit Requirements Minimum total for graduation 1120 Upper division credits (courses numbered 300 and higher)39 Core General Education 10 courses, 36 credits Academic Concentrations Grade Point Requirements 2 Total2.00 average Resident2.00 average Major2.00 average Minor2.00 average Certificate2.00 average University Residency Requirements Minimum total30 Senior year23 Major, Standard, upper division in residence12 Major, Comprehensive, upper division in residence21 Certificate25 percent of credits Procedures Required for Graduation Obtain admission to the degree program and/or the College offering it. Apply for graduation on CampS. 1
Certain programs exceed this minimum.
2
See special requirements in each College.
Applicability of Credits Toward Graduation
Junior College or Two-Year College Credits. A maximum of 72 semester credits earned in a junior college or two-year college will be accepted as degree credits at UW-Eau Claire.
Extension Credits. Credits earned in credit outreach courses offered by UW-Eau Claire are treated as resident credits. Credits earned in extension courses offered by other units of the Universities of Wisconsin System are treated as transfer credits. All other (non-UW) extension and correspondence credits are normally limited to one-fourth of the total required for graduation from any curriculum.
WTCS Credits. A maximum of 72 semester credits earned in college parallel programs at Madison Area Technical College, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Nicolet Area Technical College, or Chippewa Valley Technical College may be accepted as degree credits at UW-Eau Claire. A set number of general education courses will be accepted from other technical schools. Occupational and technical courses may also be considered for transfer if the quality and content of the course work from the technical college is judged to be comparable to course work at UW-Eau Claire. Refer to the Transfer Credit Wizard or contact the UW-Eau Claire Admissions Office for information about the current transfer policy.
USAFI Credit. UW-Eau Claire will accept up to 32 semester credits for work done through the United States Armed Forces Institute, under the provision for non-UW correspondence credit (see Extension Credits above).
Activity Credit (band, chorus, drama, KINS 100-184 courses) Students may count toward graduation no more than one credit of KINS 110-184 courses. Students may count toward graduation no more than four credits earned in any single activity course and no more than 12 credits resulting from any combination of activity courses (excluding KINS 110-184 courses).
Other Restricted Credits. For other University restrictions, see the following: Cooperative Education; Credit by Examination; Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Registration; Transfer of Credits. College or departmental restrictions may also be placed on Independent Study (399-499 courses), Directed Study (395-495), and other types of credits.
Course List Code Title Credits APPLICABILITY OF CREDITS TOWARD GRADUATIONCredit Restrictions Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Total degree creditmaximum 12 Major, Standardmaximum 1 course Major, Comprehensivemaximum 2 courses Minormaximum 1 course Credit by Examination Total degree creditmaximum ¼ of total Major or minormaximum ½ of total Two-Year College Credits Total degree creditmaximum 72 credits Activity credit (band, chorus, drama, KINS 100-184) Total KINS 100-184maximum 1 credit Total Band, chorus, dramamaximum 12 credits Single course band, chorus, dramamaximum 4 credits Extension credits UW-Systemno maximum Other extension/correspondencemaximum ¼ of total USAFI USAFImaximum 32 credits
Core General Education Requirements (CGER)
Course List Code Title Credits CGER Categories Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning (MQR)4 credit hours, 1 course min Communication & Literacy (CL)8 credit hours, 2 course min (including CL-W) Natural Sciences & Wellness (NSW/NSWL)6 credit hours, 1 course min (NSW-Lab required) Social & Behavioral Sciences (SBS)6 credit hours, 2 course min Humanities & Arts (HA)6 credit hours, 2 course min Civics & Perspectives (CP)6 credit hours, 2 course min CGER Totals 3 Creditsminimum 36 credits Coursesminimum 10 courses 1
University Mathematics Requirement:
Students satisfy the University Mathematics Requirement in one of four ways:
- completing an approved university-level mathematics course (MQR) with a grade of C (not C-) or above
- achieving a suitable score on the UW Math Placement Test
- achieving a suitable score on an exam such as the Advanced Placement Calculus or Advanced Placement Statistics exams
- achieving a suitable score on a Credit by Examination administered by the Department of Mathematics.
2
University Writing Requirement:
Students satisfy the University Writing Requirement in one of four ways:
- completing a Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing course (WRIT 102, WRIT 114, WRIT 116, WRIT 118, or WRIT 120) with a grade of C (not C-) or above
- achieving a suitable score on the English Placement Test (WPT ENGL)
- achieving a suitable score on an exam such as the Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition or Advanced Placement English Language and Composition exams
- achieving a suitable score on the University Writing Program Portfolio.
3
Completion via Placement Tests
- Writing: If the CL-W subcategory is satisfied through a placement test, the CGER Communication and Literacy requirement will be reduced from 8 credits (2 courses) to 3 credits (1 course).
- Mathematics: If the University Math Requirement is satisfied through a placement test, the CGER Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning requirement will be considered fully met, replacing the 4-credit (1 course) requirement.
- Students must still complete 36 credits across 10 courses, with any remaining credits or courses eligible to be taken from any CGER category.
College Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree (B.A./B.S.)
University Graduation Requirements. All candidates for degrees must fulfill the requirements for credits, curriculum, GPA, and University residency as specified in the section of this catalog titled University Graduation Requirements.
College Graduation Requirements: Grade Point Averages. All candidates for degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences must earn minimum resident and total GPAs of 2.00 in the major, the minor, and the certificate. The resident and total GPAs for the major are computed using all attempted credits applicable to the major including those offered by departments other than the major department. The resident and total GPAs for the minor and the certificate are computed similarly.
Major-Minor and Major-Certificate Requirements. A standard major (a minimum of 36 credits) must be supplemented by a minor (a minimum of 24 credits) or by a certificate (12 to 18 credits) to meet graduation requirements for completing a first and second degree program. No minor or certificate is required with a Comprehensive Major (60 or more credits) or with two majors of 36 or more credits each.
Certain degree programs, which include Comprehensive Majors, may require more than the minimum of 120 credits for graduation.
Acceptable academic program combinations are determined at the college level. A major and a minor or a major and certificate or two majors (if available) may not be elected in the same department or program, except in the approved combinations listed here.
College Credits. Earn at least 90 credits in courses offered by the College of Arts and Sciences.
Bachelor of Arts Degree in the College of Arts and Sciences (B.A.)
Fulfillment of all University Graduation Requirements (which includes the Core General Education Requirements); all College-level degree requirements (major and minor/certificate emphases, GPAs, earning at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences course work); second language competency at the 102 level. Second language competency may be met in one of two ways: (1) Demonstrate a level of second language competency that qualifies the student to enter the 201-level course in a second language. (2) Earn a grade of at least C (not C-) or a mark of S in a 102-level second language course (or AIS 112 or AIS 122 or SLHS 103).
Bachelor of Science Degree in the College of Arts and Sciences (B.S.)
Fulfillment of all University Graduation Requirements (which includes the Core General Education Requirements); all College-level degree requirements (major and minor/certificate emphases, GPAs, earning at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences course work); mathematics competency at the MATH 111, MATH 112 or MATH 113 level. Mathematics competency can be met in one of three ways: (1) Achieve a score on the mathematics placement test that qualifies the student to enter MATH 114. (2) Earn a grade of at least C (not C-) or a mark of S in MATH 111, MATH 112, or MATH 113. (3) Achieve a satisfactory score on the MATH 112 competency test. This test may be attempted no more than two times.
Major Requirements
Liberal Arts (Code 080-001)
This emphasis provides extensive exposure to topics in ecology, field biology, and biological conservation. It is intended for students who are interested in field research, environmental monitoring and management, or natural resource conservation, or who desire strong preparation for graduate programs in ecology, environmental biology, or related fields. Research or internship is strongly recommended.
The emphasis requires completion of the core, the required credits as listed below, and biology electives to total at least 60 credits.
Core Requirements for All Biology Majors
Ecology and Environmental Biology Emphasis (Code 080-001); Microbiology Emphasis (Code 080-002); Biology, Liberal Arts (Code 080-203).
Course List Code Title Credits BIOL 221Foundations of Biology I4 BIOL 222Foundations of Biology II3 BIOL 223Foundations of Biological Inquiry2 Total Credits9
Core Requirements for Biology, Liberal Arts
All students who pursue a Liberal Arts Comprehensive Major in Biology are also required to complete MATH 114, and one of the following Chemistry sequences: CHEM 105, CHEM 106, and CHEM 109, or CHEM 108 and CHEM 109, or CHEM 115, in addition to the 60 credits required for the major.
Biology, Ecology and Environmental Biology Emphasis, Comprehensive Major
Course List Code Title Credits Required Courses BIOL 180Environmental Biology and Conservation3 or GEOG 178 Planet Earth: Conservation of the Environment BIOL 308Evolution3 BIOL 318Plant Form and Function4 or BIOL 319 Animal Form and Function BIOL 321Ecology3 BIOL 323Genetics3 BIOL 383Biostatistics4 Elective Courses Biological Sciences 1 Select at least three of the following courses General Entomology Plant Form and Function 2 Animal Form and Function Plant Systematics Conservation Biology Field Botany Vegetation Ecology Invertebrate Zoology Vertebrate Biology Field Zoology Animal Behavior Marine Biology Aquatic Ecology Biology of Fishes Additional biology courses not specifically excluded from the biology major may be used to complete the 48-credit total in biology. Physical Sciences Select any 12 credits from the following course list. Up to 12 credits maximum will be applied toward the comprehensive major. 312 Introduction to Geomorphology Geographic Information Systems I Geospatial Field Methods Geographic Information Systems II Remote Sensing of the Environment Climatology Quaternary Environments Soils and the Environment Biogeography Environmental Hazards Watershed Analysis Fluvial Processes and Landforms Geographic Information Systems III Remote Sensing Data Analytics Web Geographic Information Systems Physical Geology Environmental Geology Earth Resources and Sustainability Global Environmental Change Water Resources Hydrogeology I General Physics University Physics I Quantitative Analysis Environmental Chemistry Organic Chemistry I with Laboratory 1
May include Marine Science II – Marine Biology from the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.
2
Select the course not chosen to fulfill requirements from the required course list.
3
May include Marine Science I – Oceanography from the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students completing this program will be expected to meet the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate an understanding of foundational biological principles in the areas of cell/molecular biology, genetics, evolution, ecology, diversity of life, and structure & function of organisms.
- Understand and apply basic research methods in biology including research design, data analysis, and communication.
- Work collaboratively to explore and solve problems.
- Apply theories, concepts, findings, and methods of biology to problems/issues in society.
- Understand how biological theories, concepts, findings, and methods relate to other disciplines.
- Demonstrate competence in mathematics, statistics, and computer technology as tools for revealing and characterizing complex patterns in biological systems
- Understand and apply scientific reasoning and methods in learning science and/or in conducting biological research.
- Communicate scientific ideas and results in a variety of formats.
- Understand how to organize and evaluate data/information related to measuring diversity using field-specific recommended structures and criteria.
