General Education & Residency Requirements

Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning: 3 credits, 1 course

Students learn how to use numbers, data and logic to solve problems and make decisions. These courses focus on real-world applications of math and data analysis.

Pre-requisite of 100 level mathematics & quantitative reasoning course OR minimum math placement level of 30 OR other equivalent course work

Communication & Literacy: 6 credits, 2 courses

Students build strong writing, speaking, reading and listening skills that are essential in any field. These courses focus on clear communication, critical thinking and using information effectively.

Passing grade in English 102 or equivalent AND 3 additional credits, OR place out of English 102 AND complete 6 additional credits with any courses in this CGER category.

Civics & Perspectives: 6 credits, 2 courses

Students explore how identity, history and government shape people’s lives and communities. These courses help students understand different perspectives and how people participate in civic and democratic life.

Humanities & Arts: 6 credits, 2 courses

Students explore ideas, culture, creativity and human expression. These courses help students understand how people think, communicate and create meaning across time and cultures.

Natural Science & Wellness: 6 credits, 2 courses- at least one must be a lab

Students explore how the natural world and human health work. These courses focus on science and understanding health and well-being. One lab course is required.

Social & Behavioral Science: 3 credits, 1 course

Students study human behavior, society and culture. These courses help students understand how people and communities interact and change over time.

Reading & Writing (3 Credits)

This requirement assists you in developing effective communication through the mastery of reading and writing skills. Some students may be exempt from the Reading and Writing Skills requirement on the basis of test scores, while others may be required to complete ENGL 100 in addition to ENGL 101. 

The UW Flexible Option general education competency set, CGS ENG 102x, may be used to satisfy this category if needed.

Computational Skills (3 Credits)

This requirement assists you in developing effective basic computational skills necessary to an informed citizenry and provides support for other disciplines. While some students may be exempt from the Computational Skills requirement on the basis of test scores, other students may be required to complete a course or courses in computational skills (e.g. MATH 10 or MATH 15) in addition to MATH 111, 103 or 102. 

Ethnic Diversity (3 Credits)

The ethnic diversity requirement is defined by UW System policy to include study of Native American, African American, Latino, and/or Asian American populations in the United States. 

Select UW Flexible Option general education courses may be used to satisfy this category if needed: CGS CTA 210x (Introduction to Intercultural Communications) CGS MUS 273x (Jazz History & Appreciation); CGS HIS 102x (History of U.S. Civil War to Present).

Social Sciences (12 credits)

Credits must come from three or more disciplines. 

Select UW Flexible Option general education courses can fulfill this category if needed: CGS ANT 100x (Gen. Anthropology); CGS BUS 101x (Intro. to Business); CGS GSW 101x (Intro Women’s Studies); CGS HIS 102x (History of U.S.: Civil War to Present); CGS PSY 202x (Intro. Psychology); CGS SOC 101x (Intro. Sociology).

Natural Science (12 credits)

Credits must come from three or more disciplines. 

Select UW Flexible Option general education courses can fulfill this category if needed:  CGS BIO 141x (Heredity); CGS BIO 190x (Introduction to Environmental Sciences); CGS CHE 124x (Food Chemistry with Lab); CGS GEO 125x (Physical Geography with Lab); CGS HES 209 (Nutrition and Weight Control).

Humanities (12 credits)

Credits must come from three or more disciplines. 

Select UW Flexible Option general education courses can fulfill this category if needed: CGS GSW 102x (Women’s Voices); CGS MUS 173x (Music & Literature Appreciation); CGS ART 161x (Introduction to Photography); CGS CTA 103x (Introductory Public Speaking); CGS REL 101x (Introduction to the Study of Religion); CGS MUS 273x (Jazz History & Appreciation).

Earned Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree from a Regionally-Accredited Institution

All general education requirements and all BSBA electives are satisfied if you have earned this level of degree.

Completion of a Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree (AAS) from a University of Wisconsin branch campus

All general education requirements and all BSBA electives are satisfied if you have earned this degree.

Completion of a Liberal Arts Associate Degree from a Regionally-Accredited Institution

All general education requirements and all BSBA electives are satisfied if you have earned this type of degree.

Completion of Other Associate Degrees

Associate degrees earned in applied science or applied arts and associate degrees from other institutions do not automatically fulfill general education requirements. However, coursework will be evaluated on a case by case basis to ensure maximum applicability to general education or elective credits. Any remaining general education or elective requirements may be satisfied through academic work offered within the UW Flexible Option, additional transfer work having an appropriate UW­-Parkside credit equivalency, or through credit-by-examination with the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).

Successful Completion of General Education Requirements through Prior Coursework

We will evaluate your transcripts with some college-level academic work but no qualifying degree (as listed above) on a case-by-case basis to determine how your prior academic work satisfies general education requirements. Any remaining general education or elective requirements may be satisfied through academic work offered within the UW Flexible Option, additional transfer work with UW­-Parkside credit equivalency, or through credit-by-examination with the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).

Successful Performance on Tests

You may request evaluation of test results in lieu of coursework to satisfy the Reading & Writing Skills and/or Computational Skills general education requirements.

• Test options that waive or grant credit for the Reading & Writing Skills requirement include:
  • AP English Language & Composition exam score of 4 or 5; students receive equivalent credits
  • IB English Writing Exam Score (Higher Level) of 4 or higher; students receive equivalent credits
  • CLEP Exam Score of 55 on the ‘College Composition’ exam; students receive equivalent credits
  • A score on the UW System English Placement Exam that places the student at a level beyond English 101. The test must have been completed within the last 12 months. No credits are awarded; however, students are waived from the English Composition requirement
• Test options that waive or grant credit for the Computational Skills requirement include:
  • CLEP Exam Score of 60 on the ‘College Algebra’ exam; students receive equivalent credits
  • A score on the UW System mathematics Placement Exam that places the student at a level beyond Math 111. The test must have been completed within the last 12 months. No credits are awarded; however, students are waived from the computational skills requirement.

Exams may be used to satisfy additional degree requirements beyond just the Reading & Writing and Computational Skills base requirements. For a complete list of exams and the way they transfer in, you can view the credit-by-exam table.

Satisfying Program Competency Area Requirements through Prior Coursework

You may transfer credits to satisfy projects in the following six competency areas only:  Business Economics I and II, Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Business Algebra, and Business Statistics.  You must have earned a minimum of a C (or equivalent) grade in such coursework for it to be considered for transfer.  For transfer credit considered equivalent to the aforementioned competency areas, the courses embedded in the competency areas are considered completed unless otherwise noted.

Only academic work completed at institutions accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation are eligible for transfer credits.