We offer ten fully online bachelor’s degree programs, one graduate degree, and one graduate certificate.
- Art History (BA)
- Communication (BA)
- Economics (BA)
- English (Track O: Open Focus track only; other tracks are not available fully online) (BA)
- General Letters (no major) (BA)
- History (BA)
- Jewish Studies (BA)
- Political Science (BA)
- Psychology (BA)
- Sociology (BA)
- Translation & Interpreting Studies (MA) or joint master’s program in Library & Information Science/Translation & Interpreting Studies (MLIS/TIS)
- Translation (standalone certificate only)
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.
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.
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.
How much does it cost to go fully online?
For the 2024-25 academic year, the undergraduate rate for fully online is $395 per credit.** There are no additional campus fees, however, individual classes may have a fee associated with required course materials. Any individual course that has an additional fee will have that information in the schedule of classes so you can determine if you wish to take that particular class or not. Because students in the fully online pricing program do not pay segregated fees, they do not have access to campus services such as the Klotsche Center, free tickets to sporting events, nor the Student Health and Wellness Center.
Students should carefully review the UWM tuition and fees schedules to determine if they wish to opt into online program pricing. On that page, compare the Online Programs Fee Schedule with the Undergraduate Fee Schedule. When viewing the standard Undergraduate Fee Schedule, be sure to read the footnotes and add the Instructional Technology Fee. Students who find that standard tuition and fees is less expensive than the online program pricing do not need to opt into online program pricing and can still just register for all online courses.
For non-Wisconsin residents, the online program fee is generally the most cost-effective option, but Wisconsin residents taking a large credit load (15 or more credits per semester) might find that standard undergraduate tuition and fees (Undergraduate Fee Schedule) is more cost effective even when the Instructional Technology fee is added.
Current students can consult with their assigned advisor; prospective students can contact let-sci@uwm.edu.
**The College of Letters & Science currently offers one fully online graduate program in Translation and Interpreting Studies which is $800 per credit.
Which undergraduates are eligible to receive online pricing?
- Students who are enrolled in an eligible undergraduate program that will lead to a bachelor’s degree from the College of Letters & Science. Double majors may or may not be eligible depending on whether the eligible program is their first or second major. Students must also enroll in all online classes at all times. No in-person or hybrid classes may be taken at any time. Doing so will invalidate a student’s eligibility for online program pricing. They will be removed from online program pricing, will pay standard tuition and fees, and will not be allowed to return to the online program pricing.
- Students admitted as non-degree students (includes auditors, summer guests and UWinteriM guests) who are taking only online classes within the College of Letters & Science are eligible for online program pricing. Nondegree students taking any classes outside of the College of Letters & Science (for example, business classes or arts classes) are not eligible for online program pricing.
How do I opt in to receive online pricing?
Undergraduate Students
Incoming students for one of the eligible degree programs can select the fully online version on their application for admission. If you have done that and were admitted to the online program, you do not need to opt-in and should have received a copy of the terms and conditions during the admissions process. You can re-review those on the opt-in form.
Undergraduates looking to move from standard program pricing to online program pricing should read the terms and conditions on the opt-in form and submit it. You will be contacted when your request is reviewed.
Graduate Students
If you are a graduate student in the Master’s in Translation & Interpreting Studies (TIS) program, the joint MLIS/TIS master’s program, or the standalone graduate certificate in translation, contact your program advisor for the opt in form.
What is the deadline to opt in?
To receive online program pricing for a semester, a student must be opted into the online major by the “Last Day to Drop without W” as shown on the Registrar’s calendar. This “Last Day to Drop without W” is approximately four weeks after the first day of classes each semester.
How do I opt out of online pricing?
If you have determined that online pricing is not the best option for you and you are currently in the online version of the major, you will need to opt out and switch to the standard version of the major. Complete the opt-out form to be changed to the standard version of your program.
Contact let-sci@uwm.edu with any questions.