The Bachelor of Arts in General Letters (BAGL) is a major-less degree. Students take a variety of coursework and complete a portfolio to develop and demonstrate critical thinking and communication skills across subject areas. This degree features flexibility in course selection and is ideal for students who may have accumulated a significant number of college credits — at UWM or elsewhere — but don’t have a concentration of credits in any one subject area.
The BAGL can be combined with one or more minors, certificates, and/or microcredentials but cannot be combined with a major.
Bachelor of Arts General Letters Degree: Minimum 120 Credits to graduate
15 of the 45 upper-level credits must be completed at UWM.
Portfolio Requirement
Portfolio
A final portfolio consisting of two summative assessments and a reflection paper is required. The assessments must come from two upper-level classes in different subject areas. A “summative assessment” is an assignment — a paper, a project, an exam — where you demonstrate a great deal of what you learned in the class. Usually, it would be an assignment from the end of the term. The reflection paper requires that you consider your learning across disciplines and explain how the skills you have gained in your degree program connect to your life outside the university (work, community involvement, etc.).Course Requirements
45 – 70 creditsNatural Sciences
12 creditsDetails About NS Credits
Choose at least six credits (including one lab) that are marked both “Natural Science” and with the green NS designation. The other six credits are not required to have the green NS designation, but can.
There are both campus requirements and Letters & Science requirements. By choosing from our designated list, you will satisfy both requirements simultaneously.
Humanities
12 creditsDetails About HU Credits
Choose at least six credits that are marked both “Humanities” and with the orange HU designation. The other six credits are not required to have the orange HU designation, but can.
There are both campus requirements and Letters & Science requirements. By choosing from our designated list, you will satisfy both requirements simultaneously.
Social Sciences
12 creditsDetails About SS Credits
Choose at least six credits that are marked both “Social Science” and with the yellow SS designation. The other six credits are not required to have the yellow SS designation, but can.
There are both campus requirements and Letters & Science requirements. By choosing from our designated list, you will satisfy both requirements simultaneously.
Arts
3 creditsDetails About Arts Credits
In the Schedule of Classes, you can filter to find approved Arts classes in the Advanced Search feature.
Cultural Diversity
3 creditsDetails About Cultural Diversity Credits
In the Schedule of Classes, you can filter to find approved Cultural Diversity classes in the Advanced Search feature.
International
9 creditsDetails About International Credits
Approved International courses include all study abroad credits and the third- and fourth-semester of most languages other than English.
Math
Details About Math Credits
At UWM, the math requirement is called Quantitative Literacy and has two parts—A and B. In addition, L&S has a related formal reasoning requirement. Most BA students will satisfy all three requirements by taking two classes: a math literacy or logic class, and a statistics or second logic class. Other options— such as testing out, using AP credits, or taking a major-specific quantitative class — are available. Determining the exact classes to take is an important discussion to have with your advisor.
English
Details About English Credits
At UWM, the English requirement is called Oral and Written Communication and has two parts—A and B. Most students will satisfy the two-part requirement by taking three classes: two semesters of composition, followed by an advanced or specialty writing course. Determining English placement and whether composition has been completed through other means, such as AP or dual enrolled high school/college credits, is an important discussion to have with your advisor.
World Language
Details About World Language Credits
BAGL students must complete through the second level of a single language other than English. There are multiple ways to satisfy the language requirement through high school coursework, college coursework, AP credits, placing into and completing a course beyond the first-semester class, or a combination of these methods. Students should consult their advisor to find the best option for their individual circumstances.