Liberal Arts (Code 140-009)
University Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 1 | 120 |
| 39 |
| 36 |
| |
| 2.00 average |
| 2.00 average |
| 2.00 average |
| 2.00 average |
| 2.00 average |
| 30 |
| 23 |
| 12 |
| 21 |
| 25 percent of credits |
| |
| |
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 University 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 |
| maximum 12 |
| maximum 1 course |
| maximum 2 courses |
| maximum 1 course |
| maximum ¼ of total |
| maximum ½ of total |
| maximum 72 credits |
| maximum 1 credit |
| maximum 12 credits |
| maximum 4 credits |
| no maximum |
| maximum ¼ of total |
| maximum 32 credits |
Liberal Education Core
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire measures learning outcomes to ensure that its graduates have achieved a liberal education and prepared themselves to contribute to a complex society. Upon graduation, each undergraduate will have met the five learning goals of our liberal education core and the 12 learning outcomes they comprise.
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| Two (2) learning experiences |
| |
| Two (2) learning experiences |
| |
| Two (2) learning experiences |
| One (1) learning experience |
| Two (2) learning experiences |
| |
| One (1) learning experience |
| |
| One (1) learning experience |
| Two (2) learning experiences |
| |
| One (1) learning experience |
| One (1) learning experience |
| Two (2) learning experiences |
| 30 hours |
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 Liberal Education Core); all College-level degree requirements (major and minor/certificate emphases, GPAs, earning at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences course work); foreign language competency at the 102 level. Foreign language competency may be met in one of two ways: (1) Achieve a score on the foreign language placement test that qualifies the student to enter the 201-level course in a foreign language. (2) Earn a grade of at least C (not C-) or a mark of S in a 102-level foreign language course (or AIS 112 or AIS 122 or CSD 103).
Bachelor of Science Degree in the College of Arts and Sciences (B.S.)
Fulfillment of all University Graduation Requirements (which includes the Liberal Education Core); 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 140-009)
Transnational Geographies
The Transnational Geographies Comprehensive Major provides an opportunity for students to pursue their interests in human geographic processes - including economic, political, historical, migratory, and cultural flows and interconnections - that take place across national boundaries. This major is ideal for students who are interested in cross-cultural interactions, social justice, ethnographic field research, work or study abroad, or for those who desire strong preparation for careers in civic governance, policies, and planning; intercultural work in the public or private sectors, and non-profit/NGO community and regional development.
A minimum of 60 semester credits, including completion of the following:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| GEOG 104 | Planet Earth: The Physical Environment | 4 |
| GEOG 111 | Planet Earth: Human Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 178 | Planet Earth: Conservation of the Environment | 3 |
| GEOG 200 | Foundations of Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 335 | Geographic Information Systems I | 3 |
| GEOG 370 | Quantitative Methods in Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 401 | Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| 1 | |
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 6 |
| Space, Society, Subject | |
| |
| Culture and Transnational Dynamics | |
| |
| Transnational Feminism | |
| |
| 3-6 |
| Indigenous Religions of the Americas | |
| Economics of Pacific Asia | |
| Economic Development of Latin America | |
| Women and Economic Development | |
| Introduction to World/Postcolonial Literature | |
| Survey of World/Postcolonial Literature | |
| Topics in World/Postcolonial Literature | |
| Seminar in World/Postcolonial Literature | |
| Chinese Culture through Films | |
| Latin American Literature in Translation | |
| Modern East and Southeast Asia | |
| Origins of Current World Conflicts | |
| Studies in Asian/Pacific World History | |
| Studies in the History of European and Mediterranean Worlds | |
| Studies in Global and Comparative History | |
| History and Memory in Europe | |
| Twentieth Century Europe, 1900 to Present | |
| Modern France | |
| Modern Germany | |
| Twentieth Century Russia | |
| Comparative Genocide | |
| Imperialism Since 1800 | |
| Modern Africa | |
| The Vietnam War | |
| History of China | |
| History of Japan | |
| Responses to Colonialism | |
| Latin American History: Colonial to the Present | |
| Politics of Latin America | |
| Latin American Civilization | |
| Latin American Civilization: Regional Focus | |
| Global Traditions in Music | |
| Introduction to Comparative Politics | |
| Politics of the Middle East | |
| Politics of Russia | |
| Politics of Eastern Europe | |
| Politics of Asia | |
| Politics of Continental Europe | |
| Political Violence | |
| International Conflict | |
| International Political Economy | |
| Arab-Israeli Conflict | |
| Islam | |
| Buddhism: Past and Present | |
| Hinduism | |
| Chinese and Japanese Religions | |
| The Holocaust, 1933-1945 | |
| Society in Contemporary China | |
| Women and World Religions | |
| Gender, Sex, and Science in European History | |
| Women in African Literature | |
| Gender and Politics in Global Perspective | |
| 3-6 |
| Introduction to American Indian Literatures | |
| American Indian History | |
| The American Indian in Literature and Film | |
| Introduction to Contemporary American Indian Communities | |
| Wisconsin Indian History | |
| Indigenous Theory and Methodologies | |
| American Indian Autobiography | |
| Major Works in American Indian Literature | |
| Experiences of Minoritized Groups in U.S. Economy | |
| Survey of American Ethnic Literature | |
| Seminar in American Ethnic Literature | |
| Social Foundations: Human Relations | |
| Hmong and America | |
| Studies in the History of Race in the U.S. | |
| Local History, Global History | |
| Introduction to U.S. Latino History and Culture | |
| Race and Ethnicity in the U.S. | |
| Introduction to Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | |
| African-American Feminism in the Humanities | |
| Transgender Activism and Cultural Production | |
| Women of Color Feminisms | |
| Intersectionality: Critical Approaches to Identity and Injustice | |
| |
| |
Advanced Geography Approaches
Five courses from at least three advanced approaches are required for major programs. Four courses from at least three advanced approaches are required for minor programs.
Physical Geography
Human-Environmental Geography
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| GEOG 270 | Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning | 3 |
| GEOG 341 | Weather and Society | 3 |
| GEOG 361 | Environmental Hazards | 3 |
| GEOG 365 | Tourism Geographies | 3 |
| GEOG 375 | Environmental Quality | 3 |
| GEOG 377 | U.S. Environmental and Sustainability Policy | 3 |
| GEOG 378 | International Environmental Problems and Policy | 3 |
| GEOG 445 | Historical Geography | 3 |
Human Geography
Geography Techniques
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| GEOG 280 | Introduction to Cartography and Visualization | 3 |
| GEOG 335 | Geographic Information Systems I 1 | 3 |
| GEOG 336 | Geospatial Field Methods | 3 |
| GEOG 337 | Geographic Information Systems II | 3 |
| GEOG 338 | Remote Sensing of the Environment | 3 |
| GEOG 339 | Applied Cartography and Geovisualization | 3 |
| GEOG 358 | LiDAR Analysis & Applications | 3 |
| GEOG 370 | Quantitative Methods in Geography 1 | 3 |
| GEOG 390 | Geospatial Applications of UAS | 3 |
| GEOG 435 | Geographic Information Systems III | 3 |
| GEOG 438 | Remote Sensing Data Analytics | 3 |
| GEOG 455 | Web Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
Regional Geography
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| GEOG 301 | Geography of Western Europe | 3 |
| GEOG 308 | Geography of Russia and Eastern Europe | 3 |
| GEOG 319 | Geography of the Middle East and North Africa | 3 |
| GEOG 321 | Geography of Latin America | 3 |
| GEOG 325 | Geography of the United States and Canada | 3 |
| GEOG 379 | Geography of Wisconsin | 3 |
Other Geography Courses
Program Learning Outcomes
Students completing this program will be expected to meet the following learning outcomes:
- Content:
- Geographic Foundation: Demonstrate geographical knowledge, understanding, and significance through analysis, explanation, and critique (Explain where things are located, why they are located where they are, what difference that location makes, and to whom).
- Skills:
- Geographic Techniques: Effectively use and apply the tools of geographic inquiry (e.g., field and laboratory to gather quantitative and qualitative geographic data; GIS to acquire, manage, display, and analyze spatial data in digital form; cartography to display spatial information effectively; and spatial statistical methods to model and make inferences about spatial relationships and patterns).
- Communication: Effectively explain how geographic approaches and perspectives are used to address socially/environmentally relevant questions and problems and why identifying the underlying spatial relationships is significant.
- Responsibility:
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI): Use geographic knowledge and skills to evaluate assumptions, representations, and institutions in order to challenge existing structures in ways that respect diversity and foster social/environmental equity and inclusivity.
- Ethics: Use geographic knowledge and skills to address social and environmental challenges in ways that maximize the benefits and minimize the harm to others.
- Dispositions:
- Interdisciplinary perspective: Synthesize the information, concepts, and methods of natural and social sciences for geographic research and applications.
- Relational perspective: Explain how people, places, and regions are linked by networks and processes across space and scale (such as local-global, within regions, globalization, trade, immigration, internet technology, climate).
- Comprehensive:
- Transnational: Recognizes the geography of cross-boundary connections and interactions of people and institutions and uses geographic knowledge and skills to critically understand and respond to them.
Geography, Transnational Geographies, Comprehensive Major, B.A.
The following is a sample degree plan, based on the current catalog. It is based on the 120-credit graduation requirement and assumes no transferred credits, no requirements waived by placement tests, no courses taken in the summer or winter, no repeated courses, and no remedial courses that may be required. This sample degree plan is intended for first-year students entering UW-Eau Claire in the fall semester. Your own degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). UW-Eau Claire cannot guarantee all courses will be offered as shown, but will provide a range of courses that may enable prepared students to fulfill their requirements in a timely period. This sample degree plan is just a guide. Please consult your advisor, your degree audit, and the catalog to create your own degree plan. Note: In order to earn the required minimum of 120 credits for the degree in four years, you should plan to take 15 credits each semester or 30 credits each year.
To earn a degree, students must fulfill all University Graduation Requirements, including the Liberal Education (LE) Core. LE Core course work in the following sample degree plan uses abbreviations such as LE-K1, LE-S2, LE-R3, and LE-I1 to represent the learning outcomes students will meet via completion of their liberal education course work. Please click here for a description of the Liberal Education Core outcomes and requirements. Note that the LE Core may be completed through both course and non-course experiences.
Students in this major have the option to pursue either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. The degrees are distinguished by foreign language competency for the B.A. and a higher level of mathematics competency for the B.S.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| |
| |
| GEOG 178 | Planet Earth: Conservation of the Environment (LE-K1, LE-I1) | 3 |
| WRIT 114 | Intensive Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1) | 5 |
| or WRIT 116 | Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing |
| 3 |
| 4 |
| |
| GEOG 104 | Planet Earth: The Physical Environment (LE-K1 + Lab) | 4 |
| GEOG 111 | Planet Earth: Human Geography (LE-K2, LE-I1) | 3 |
| 3 |
| 4 |
| 29 |
| |
| |
| GEOG 200 | Foundations of Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 335 | Geographic Information Systems I | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| |
| a | 3 |
| 3 |
| 4 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 32 |
| |
| |
| 3 |
| |
| b | 3 |
| 3 |
| c | 3 |
| |
| GEOG 368 | Geography Field Seminar (Advanced Approach) | 3 |
| GEOG 370 | Quantitative Methods in Geography | 3 |
| 3 |
| c | 3 |
| GEOG 312 | Space, Society, Subject (LE-K2, LE-R1, DDIV) | 3 |
| |
| Culture and Transnational Dynamics (LE-K2, LE-R2) | |
| 30 |
| |
| |
| GEOG 401 | Capstone Seminar (LE-S3) | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| |
| 3 |
| 30 |
| |
Note: All students must complete the 30-hour Service-Learning Requirement via a non-credit or credit option (see University Graduation Requirements).
Course Information
- GEOG 200
is recommended prior to enrollment in GEOG 335 and GEOG 370.
- GEOG 335
is a prerequisite for GEOG 370.
- Students must take 12 credits from transnational courses from other disciplines. See catalog for specific details.
- One year before graduation, Geography majors must complete a form to certify their selected courses from the Advanced Geography Approaches. They must complete this form a second time one semester before graduation.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES (HIPs)
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire encourages all students to participate in High Impact Practices. The following information identifies any specific recommendations that faculty in this major have concerning which HIPs might be most beneficial to students, and any recommendations about when those HIPs best fit into the degree plan. Students should also consult their faculty advisor for information on HIPs. There are many additional high impact opportunities available. Talk to your academic advisor for more information about incorporating HIPs like Study Abroad, Intercultural Immersion, Internship, and/or Student/Faculty Collaborative Research into your time at UW-Eau Claire.
Required HIPs: GEOG 368
: Geography Field Seminar and GEOG 401
: Geography Capstone
Optional HIPs: Study Abroad, National Student Exchange, Faculty-led International Immersions (FLIEs),Student-Faculty Collaborative Research.
Liberal Education (LE) Core Guidance
Liberal Education Core (LE Core)
The LE Core comprises 17 learning experiences across 11 learning outcomes. Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits in courses approved for the LE Core.
-
K1 – Natural Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2).
-
K2 – Social Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2).
-
K3 – Humanities; two experiences.
-
K4 – Fine Arts; one experience.
-
S1 – Written and Oral Communication; two experiences (one experience must satisfy the University writing requirement).
-
S2 – Mathematics; one experience (must satisfy the University math competency requirement).
-
S3 – Creativity; one experience (can be fulfilled in a student’s major).
-
R1 – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity; two experiences (one experience must meet the UW System Design for Diversity (DD) requirement).
-
R2 – Global Perspectives; one experience.
-
R3 – Civic and Environmental Issues; one experience.
Additional LE Core Information
-
Most LE Core learning experiences are course based, and many courses meet more than one learning outcome (e.g., K3 and R2 or K1 and R3).
-
Some learning experiences can also be met outside of a traditional course (e.g., undergraduate research (S3), study abroad (I1)).
-
S1 – An English placement score that fulfills the University writing requirement fulfills one S1 experience.
-
S1 – A foreign Language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 102 level satisfies one S1 experience.
-
S1, R2 – A foreign language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 202 level satisfies one experience in S1 and the R2 experience.
-
S2 – A math placement score that qualifies the student to enter Math 111, 112, 113 or 114 fulfills the S2 experience.
-
S3 – Completion of two credits from any approved music ensemble fulfills the S3 experience.
