We offer ten fully online bachelor’s degree programs and one graduate degree:
- Art History (BA)
- Communication (BA)
- Economics (BS)
- English (open focus track only) (BA)
- General Letters (no major) (BA)
- History (BA)
- Jewish Studies (BA)
- Political Science (BA)
- Psychology (BA)
- Sociology (BA)
- Translation & Interpreting (MA)
Other UWM schools and colleges besides the College of Letters & Science also offer online programs. You can explore all of the online majors, minors, certificates, and graduate programs here.
Students can also opt to mix-and-match online and in-person classes instead of joining a fully online program.
The programs listed above can be completed entirely online if desired.
Is online education right for me?
Distance learners may be adults juggling full-time work and family responsibilities or traditional-aged students who find online courses the best solution to meet their educational needs.
The online format requires a high level of self-motivation and better than average time management skills. Online courses operate on the same semester-based schedule as in-person classes (the program is not self-paced). Fall classes start the first week of September with finals in mid-December, and spring classes start the third week of January with finals in mid-May.
How does it work?
Online students take the same courses as traditional on-campus UWM students and are taught by the same faculty. The courses are just delivered in a different format. To begin the application process for a bachelor's degree,* see apply.wisconsin.edu. Select the online version of the major you are interested in. If you are unable to locate the online major in the drop down list, contact undergraduateadmissions@uwm.edu.
Once admitted, students will work with an assigned advisor in the College of Letters & Science via phone or video. Students will also have a faculty advisor to assist with the major-specific requirements.
*Application to the master’s program would be through the UWM Graduate School.
How much does it cost?
Effective Fall 2024, students earning a bachelor's degree from the College of Letters & Science in a fully online program may be eligible for special pricing. Students who opt to enroll in the fully online version of the major will pay $395 per credit hour.** Whether the per-credit rate is the best option for a student depends on a number of factors including state of residency and whether enrolled full- or part-time. Double majors may or may not be eligible for the special pricing depending on whether the fully online major is their primary program. See more pricing details.
To receive the online pricing of $395 per credit, students must be fully online. In-person classes cannot be taken including Sports & Rec courses.
**The College of Letters & Science currently offers one fully online graduate program in Translation and Interpreting Studies which is $767 per credit.
When do classes meet?
Most of our online courses do not have a set meeting period. These asynchronous classes have weekly assignments, but a student can log in at any times during the week to complete the necessary tasks, whether that is watching a video lecture, completing a quiz, turning in an assignment, etc.
Some online classes do have a set meeting period, and students enrolled in those classes must log in and attend class at those set times. These are called synchronous classes.