General Letters, Online BA
Have you started working toward a college degree but find yourself with a wide variety of credits across different subject areas? The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s online Bachelor of Arts in General Letters allows you to leverage your previous coursework and earn a degree without focusing on a specific major.
With the College of Letters & Science’s general letters program, you can fulfill a personal goal and advance in your current career. You’ll develop critical thinking and communication skills across disciplines that will demonstrate your adaptability and well-rounded knowledge to employers.
An on-campus option for General Letters is also available. Learn more about it.
Learn more about Letters & Science undergraduate online education.
Start Dates: Fall, Spring or Summer
Cost per Credit: $395 (Total Cost: $47,400*)
Credit Hours: 120
*Total cost will vary based on the number of credits transferred into UWM.
Program Format
Online
Why Study General Letters at UWM?
- Take courses taught by world-class professors. Our faculty members teach both in-person and online classes.
- Combine your bachelor’s in general letters degree with one or more minors, certificates and/or microcredentials.
- Complete your online general letters degree part-time or full-time and from wherever you are in the world.
The Office of Student Financial Services is dedicated to providing financial resources and cost information for all students. Our goal is to ensure you are supported while earning your online general letters degree.
Scholarships
Review merit- and need-based scholarships available through UWM and the College of Letters & Science while earning your online general letters degree.
Scholarship opportunities may increase with academic standing. Explore the Panther Scholarship Portal regularly as you make progress on your degree.
To be considered for admission to the general letters program, you must meet UWM’s general admission requirements.
In the general letters program, you can select courses across the College of Letters & Science to complete your degree quickly or focus on areas of personal interest. There’s no major requirement, so you don’t need to accumulate credits in any particular subject area.
Previous credits can be used towards satisfying the degree’s requirements which include the university general education requirements, Letters & Science breadth requirements and minimum numbers of Letters & Science total coursework and upper-level coursework. In addition, students must complete a portfolio before graduating. You may complete minors, certificates or microcredentials alongside the program.
Since the general letters program does not have a specific course plan, you can customize your degree with a mixture of courses across subjects that align with your professional goals.
Course of Study – Bachelor of Arts in General Letters
Complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science and with 45 of the 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered above 300).
At least 15 upper-level credits must be completed in residence at UWM. The College also requires that students complete at least 30 credits overall in residence at UWM. For additional residency and transfer credit limitations, see L&S Undergraduate Policies and Regulations.
The Bachelor of Arts in General Letters does not allow completion of a major. Students may complete minors, certificates, and/or microcredentials with this degree. Students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all credits attempted, including any transfer work. The BA in General Letters cannot be completed as a second degree.
In addition to the requirements listed below, students completing this degree must submit a portfolio containing summative assessment assignments from two of their L&S 300-level or above courses, and a reflection paper in which the student discusses those assignments in relation to their learning across the degree. The student may submit this portfolio at any time after declaring this degree; it is best to submit it before or at the same time as applying for graduation.
General Education Requirements
Students completing the Bachelor of Arts in General Letters are required to complete University-wide General Education Requirements and the specific L&S requirements listed below.
College of Letters and Science Requirements
I. International Requirement
To meet the International Requirement, students must successfully complete some three course combination (minimum 9 credits) of
- language other than English (not including American Sign Language) at the 3rd semester level or above, and/or
- non-language courses with L&S approved international content (see Approved Courses for the L&S International Requirement for course options beyond language other than English courses).
II. Breadth Requirement
In addition to completing the University General Education Requirements, L&S students must complete the Breadth requirement.
The L&S Breadth requirement calls for 6 credits each in L&S courses designated L&S Humanities, L&S Natural Sciences, and L&S Social Sciences breadth. One of the L&S Natural Sciences breadth courses must be a laboratory or fieldwork course. These courses must be beyond and in addition to courses taken to satisfy General Education Requirements.
See Courses Approved for the L&S Breadth Requirement for course options.
III. The Minor
If a student chooses to complete a minor, the College requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA in all credits in the minor attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all minor credits attempted, including any transfer work. Individual departments or programs may require higher GPAs for graduation. The minor must include at least 9 credits in upper-division courses (numbered 300 and above).
Academic Advising and Admissions Advising
The College of Letters and Science provides general academic advising for all students with a major in the College, particularly as it relates to campus' general education requirements and the College's degree requirements. We also provide specialized advising for pre-professional students (pre-med, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, etc.) regardless if their major is in Letters and Science or not. Prospective students, including high school students and students seeking to transfer to a program in Letters and Science may also receive advising from our admissions counselors.
Upon admission, students are assigned an advisor in the College advising office. Academic advising is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by appointment. Appointments outside of these times may be available and phone appointments are available for online students. The advising office is located on the first floor of Holton Hall. Current students should call (414) 229-4654 to schedule an appointment or use the Student Success Collaborative website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor; online scheduling is only available if you already have a Letters & Science advisor assigned to you. Prospective students should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
When students declare a major, they will receive an additional faculty advisor located within the major department who will assist with requirements for that major. Students should read the "Declaration of Major" information on the website of the major that they are interested in. In some cases, the student will need to choose a faculty advisor as part of the declaration process.
All students are cautioned to consult their Letters & Science academic advisor AND their major advisor prior to each registration period to ensure they understand all requirements. Do not rely on pre-printed sample plans, as they are intended to be samples only and may not be right for your particular situation.
The broad nature of a general letters program prepares you for a wide range of careers. You’ll showcase problem-solving, written and oral communication, time management and other skills that are desirable in nearly every field. By tailoring your courses to your interests, you can prepare for roles in areas like business, education, government and more.