UW–Madison Undergraduate General Education Requirements
General education requirements are the bedrock of an undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
They provide a starting point for the shared academic skills all UW–Madison undergraduate students need and establish a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world.
These requirements provide for breadth across the humanities and arts, social studies, and natural sciences; competence in communication, critical thinking and analytical skills appropriate for a university-educated person; and investigation of the issues raised by living in a culturally diverse society.
The Wisconsin Experience begins with this core of intellectual and practical skills, basic knowledge of human cultures and the physical world (and, importantly, the strategies used to understand these topics), and tools intended to contribute to their sense of personal and social responsibility. The work you do in your major(s) and to complete your degree(s) also helps you learn what you need to know not just for making a living, but also for making a life.
How General Education Requirements Work
There are two sets of general education requirements. Which one you will follow is based on when you first enrolled as an undergraduate student at any higher education institution (UW–Madison or elsewhere).
If you first enrolled as an undergraduate student at a college or university (post-high school) before Summer 2026:
You will follow your existing general education requirements.
If you first enrolled or will first enroll as an undergraduate student at a college or university (post-high school) in Summer 2026 or later:
You will follow the Core GenEd requirements.
Degree Requirements
General education requirements are just one part of an undergraduate degree.
To earn a degree, you will need to satisfy each of the following:
General Education Requirements
General education requirements depend on when you first enrolled in postsecondary education.
School or College Requirements
Schools and Colleges have their own sets of requirements you need to satisfy to earn your degree.
Look up your specific School or College in Guide for more information.
Major or Certificate Requirements
Refer to Guide for more information about individual major/certificate/program requirements.